Divine Service
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Where are we in the Bible?
The 3rd chapter of John begins as a dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus. Even though Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night in an effort to conceal his connection with Christ, he quickly expresses his awareness of Christ’s significance in verse 3: “…we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him.” From there, the conversation centers on what it means to be born again, and highlights the eternal implications of being born of water and the Spirit (3:5).
Some biblical writers consider the final section of the chapter (3:16- 21) as a shift from a dialogue between Jesus and Nicodeums to a monologue centered on Jesus alone. It opens with one of the most well-known verses in all of Scripture, where the divine intention embodied by Jesus and His mission is summarized, and God’s fundamental love for the world is declared.
Summary:
Even though God created us for eternal life, the choice is ultimately ours: we may choose to live eternally with God or without Him, making this freedom both a wonderful and weighty responsibility. Out of His love and mercy, God reaches out to humanity first, giving His most precious gift, Jesus Christ, and opening the path to Himself; whoever accepts Christ in faith and follows Him receives the gift of eternal life, with faith in Him as its condition.
Foundational Reading
Scripture: John 3:1-21
Catechism: 9.6-9.6.3
Services held in both Houston locations