Hello, friend. Welcome back to Authorized Sword Ministries.

We're so glad you're here again.

Where We've Been

In Lesson One, we learned that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

In Lesson Two, we learned what sin pays. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

And we ended with a question. Why would God give such a gift at all? Why would He give eternal life to people who earned death?

Today is Lesson Three. It's called "God So Loved the World." And the answer comes down to one word. Love.

Our Key Verse

Here is our key verse. John 3:16.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." — John 3:16 (KJV)

Maybe you learned that verse as a child. But friend, don't let it get old to you. Every phrase in it is a treasure. Let's walk through it slowly.

For God So Loved

It starts with God. Not with us. We didn't go looking for God. God came looking for us.

And why? Because He loved. The apostle John tells us that love is not just something God does. It's who He is:

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." — 1 John 4:8 (KJV)

And God's love is not here today and gone tomorrow. He said through the prophet Jeremiah:

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." — Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)

The World

Now look at who God loved. "The world."

Not just the good people. Not just the church people. The world. That means every nation, every family, every sinner. And friend, that means you.

You might think you've gone too far. You might think God could never love someone like you. But you are part of the world. And God so loved the world.

He Gave His Only Begotten Son

Next, look at what love did. "He gave."

Real love doesn't just talk. Real love gives. And God gave the very best He had. His only begotten Son.

John says it again in his first letter:

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." — 1 John 4:9-10 (KJV)

That's a big word, "propitiation." Here's what it means in plain words. Jesus took the punishment our sins deserved, so that God could forgive us and still be just. Remember last time? "He was wounded for our transgressions." The wage was ours. Jesus paid it.

While We Were Yet Sinners

Now here's our second key verse. Romans 5:8.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." — Romans 5:8 (KJV)

Notice when Christ died for us. Not after we cleaned up our lives. Not after we proved we were worth it. "While we were yet sinners."

Most of us love people who love us back. Most of us are kind to people who are kind to us. But God loved us when we were still His enemies, still wandering like lost sheep.

Paul says it this way in Ephesians:

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" — Ephesians 2:4-5 (KJV)

There's that little word again. "But." We were dead in sins. "But God." Friend, those two words change everything.

Whosoever Believeth

Now let's go back to John 3:16 and look at the last part. "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

"Whosoever." That's a big door, and it's wide open. It doesn't say whosoever is good enough. It says whosoever believeth in him.

And look at the promise. "Should not perish." That's the second death we talked about last time. "But have everlasting life." That's the gift.

Jesus didn't come to push you away. Listen to the very next verse:

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." — John 3:17 (KJV)

God's Love Is for You

So, friend, if you ever wonder whether God loves you, don't look at your circumstances. Look at the cross.

God so loved the world that He gave His Son. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. That's how much God loves you.

Next Time

In Lesson Four, we'll look at how this salvation becomes yours. Not by working for it, but by grace through faith.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." — Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

A Prayer

Before we go, let's pray together.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this friend who is listening right now.

Thank You that You are love, and that You loved us with an everlasting love.

Thank You for giving Your only begotten Son, and that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.

Help each of us to believe Your love, and to trust in Jesus, so that we will not perish, but have everlasting life.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Thank you for spending this time with us.

We'll see you in Lesson Four.

From all of us at Authorized Sword Ministries, God bless you.