God's Saving Grace in a Single Verse

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16 is arguably the most well-known verse in the Bible.  It is known at least by reference by believers and non-believers alike.  But what makes this verse so well known?  Is it because someone with a painted face holds up a poster behind the goalposts at a football game with "John 3:16" on it, and millions of people see it on TV?  That may be a part of it, but I think the reason this verse is so well known is because it is utterly remarkable in its presentation of the entire Gospel message.

Let's consider all of the components of the Gospel message that are found in this single verse:

a.       Who orchestrated all of this?  Answer: God  ("For God so loved the world...")

b.      What emotion drove Him to do what He did?  Answer: Love  ("For God so loved the world...")

c.       What role did we play in this?  Answer: None - it is God's gift  ("...He gave His One and Only Son...")

d.      Who did He send?  Answer: His Son  ("..His One and Only Son...")

e.      What is required of us?  Answer: Belief  ("...that whoever believes...")

f.        Who are we to believe in?  Answer: Him  ("...that whoever believes in Him...")

g.       What does He save us from?  Answer: Perishing, or death  ("...shall not perish...")

h.      What does He provide instead?  Answer: Eternal life  ("...but have eternal life...")

There it is.  If you know this one verse and all it communicates, you know the entire Gospel message.  The depth of Truth that can be mined from a single verse among hundreds of pages of the Bible continually amazes me.