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Read the Bible

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

John 3:16

For God, so loved, the world, that, his Only Begotten Son, he gave, - that, whosoever believeth on him, might not perish, but have life age-abiding.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Condescension of God;   Faith;   Gifts from God;   God Continued...;   Immortality;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Life;   Righteous;   Salvation;   Wicked (People);   Scofield Reference Index - Perish;   Thompson Chain Reference - Christ;   Faith;   Faith-Unbelief;   Gift;   God;   God's;   Love;   Love-Hatred;   Man;   Only Child;   Only Saviour;   Salvation;   Salvation-Condemnation;   Saving Faith;   Saviour, Christ Our;   Sinners;   Universal;   Virgin Birth;   The Topic Concordance - Belief;   Eternal Life;   Jesus Christ;   Love;   Perishing;   Salvation;   Sending and Those Sent;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Anger of God, the;   Christ Is God;   Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, the;   Death, Eternal;   Faith;   Fall of Man, the;   Gifts of God, the;   Life, Eternal;   Love of God, the;   Redemption;   Salvation;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Faith;   Grace;   Love;   Nehushtan;   Nicodemus;   Son of God;   World;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Assurance;   Faith;   Justification;   Life;   Love;   Mission;   Predestination;   Propitiation;   Son of god;   World;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Assurance;   Condemnation;   Endurance;   Faith;   Great Commission, the;   Grief, Grieving;   Hell;   Jesus Christ, Name and Titles of;   King, Christ as;   Life;   Love;   Spirituality;   Testimony;   Time;   Word;   World;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Compassion of God;   Episcopacy;   Generation, Eternal ;   Love of God;   Redemption;   Son of God;   Universalists;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Atonement;   Call;   Faith;   Life;   Moses;   Nicodemus;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jesus Christ;   Love;   Mediator;   Reconciliation;   Sacrifice;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Adoption;   Anthropology;   Atonement;   Children (Sons) of God;   Conversion;   Divine Freedom;   Election;   Eternal Life;   Family;   Gift, Giving;   God;   Holy Spirit;   Immutability of God;   Life;   Love;   New Birth;   Only Begotten;   Ordinances;   Salvation;   Security of the Believer;   World, the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Death;   Election;   Ethics;   God;   Gospels;   Guilt;   Inner Man;   John, Gospel of;   John, Theology of;   Logos;   Love, Lover, Lovely, Beloved;   Mss;   Nicodemus;   Pity;   Redeemer, Redemption;   Scribes;   Trinity;   World;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Adoption;   Advent (2);   Anger;   Announcements of Death;   Apocrypha;   Atonement (2);   Attributes of Christ;   Begetting;   Brotherhood (2);   Character;   Communion (2);   Complacency;   Cosmopolitanism;   Day of Atonement ;   Day of Judgment;   Death (2);   Death of Christ;   Discourse;   Endurance;   Eternal Life (2);   Eternal Punishment;   Father, Fatherhood;   Gentiles (2);   Gift;   Giving;   God;   Gospel (2);   Grace ;   Holy Spirit;   Hope;   Humanity of Christ;   Ideas (Leading);   Immortality (2);   Justice (2);   Kindness (2);   Logos;   Lost;   Love;   Love (2);   Man;   Mediation Mediator;   Mediator;   Metaphors;   Ministry;   Mission;   Name (2);   Names and Titles of Christ;   Obedience (2);   Only Begotten;   Only- Begotten ;   Personality;   Philanthropy;   Pity;   Power;   Pre-Eminence ;   Pre-Existence of Christ;   Property (2);   Redemption (2);   Religious Experience;   Repentance (2);   Righteous, Righteousness;   Salvation;   Sanctify, Sanctification;   Sin (2);   Son of God;   Son, Sonship;   Teaching of Jesus;   Trinity (2);   Trust;   Vicarious Sacrifice;   World ;   Zeal;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Begotten;   Believer;   Eternal;   Son, the;   ;   8 To Love, Have Affection for;   1910 New Catholic Dictionary - only begotten son;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Intercession;   Regeneration;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Atonement;   Justification;   Names titles and offices of christ;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Perish;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Calling;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Anthropology;   Atonement;   Children of God;   Ethics of Jesus;   Everlasting;   Johannine Theology, the;   Justification;   Life;   Love;   Only Begotten;   Papyrus;   Punishment, Everlasting;   Redeemer;   Repentance;   Righteousness;   Salvation;   Son of God, the;   Truth;   World (General);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Christianity in Its Relation to Judaism;   Nicodemus;   Son of God;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for December 29;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for August 31;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 4;   Faith's Checkbook - Devotion for July 6;   Today's Word from Skip Moen - Devotion for December 4;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for March 13;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For God so loveth the worlde yt he hath geven his only sonne that none that beleve in him shuld perisshe: but shuld have everlastinge lyfe.
Hebrew Names Version
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
International Standard Version
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9;">[xr]
New American Standard Bible
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
New Century Version
"God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.
Update Bible Version
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Webster's Bible Translation
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
English Standard Version
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
World English Bible
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, may not perish, but have everlasting life.
Weymouth's New Testament
For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For God louede so the world, that he yaf his `oon bigetun sone, that ech man that bileueth in him perische not, but haue euerlastynge lijf.
English Revised Version
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Berean Standard Bible
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Contemporary English Version
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
Amplified Bible
"For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
American Standard Version
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Bible in Basic English
For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life.
Complete Jewish Bible
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed.
Darby Translation
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.
Etheridge Translation
For so loved Aloha the world, as his Son, the Only-begotten, he would give, that every one who believeth in him might not perish, but have the life which is eternal.
Murdock Translation
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but should have life eternal.
King James Version (1611)
For God so loued ye world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.
New Living Translation
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
New Life Bible
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God's Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever.
New Revised Standard
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For God so loued the worlde, that hee hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.
George Lamsa Translation
For God so loved the world, that he even gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.
Revised Standard Version
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For God so loued the worlde, that he gaue his only begotten sonne, that whosoeuer beleueth in hym, shoulde not perishe, but haue euerlastyng lyfe.
Good News Translation
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.
Christian Standard Bible®
For God loved
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life.
Literal Translation
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Young's Literal Translation
for God did so love the world, that His Son -- the only begotten -- He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For God so loued the worlde, that he gaue his onely sonne, that who so euer beleueth in hi, shulde not perishe, but haue euerlastinge life.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have eternal life.
THE MESSAGE
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
New English Translation
For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
New King James Version
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.
Simplified Cowboy Version
"This is how much the Boss loves his hands, he sent his only Son, the Top Hand, that everyone who believes in him shall not perish, but live forever on God's outfit.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Legacy Standard Bible
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Contextual Overview

1 There was however, a man from among the Pharisees, Nicodemus, his name, - ruler of the Jews. 2 The same, came unto him, by night, and said unto him - Rabbi! we know that, from God, thou hast come, a teacher; for, no one, can be doing, these signs, which, thou, art doing, except, God, be with him. 3 Jesus answered, and said unto him - Verily, verily, I say unto thee: Except one be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him - How, can a man be born, when he is, old? Can he, into the womb of his mother, a second time, enter, and be born? 5 Jesus answered - Verily, verily, I say unto thee: Except one be born of water and spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which hath been born of the flesh, is, flesh, and, that which hath been born of the spirit, is, spirit. 7 Do not marvel, that I said unto thee: Ye must needs be born from above. 8 The spirit, where it pleaseth, doth breathe, and, the sound thereof, thou hearest; but knowest not, whence it cometh and whither it goeth: Thus, is every one who hath been born of the spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered, and said unto him - How, can these things, come about? 10 Jesus answered, and said unto him - Art, thou, the teacher of Israel, and, these things, knowest not?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

God: Luke 2:14, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21, Titus 3:4, 1 John 4:9, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:19

gave: John 1:14, John 1:18, Genesis 22:12, Mark 12:6, Romans 5:10, Romans 8:32

that whosoever: John 3:15, Matthew 9:13, 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Timothy 1:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:2 - Take Deuteronomy 30:15 - General Psalms 2:7 - this Psalms 36:7 - How Psalms 40:10 - lovingkindness Proverbs 8:4 - General Proverbs 8:24 - I was Proverbs 8:35 - whoso Isaiah 9:6 - unto us a son Isaiah 51:6 - my salvation Isaiah 55:4 - I have Ezekiel 2:1 - Son Ezekiel 47:9 - every thing Zechariah 9:17 - how great is his goodness Matthew 7:11 - how Matthew 17:5 - This Matthew 21:37 - last Matthew 25:46 - the righteous Matthew 26:63 - the Christ Matthew 27:43 - I am Mark 1:1 - son Mark 1:11 - Thou Mark 9:7 - This Mark 16:16 - that believeth and Luke 1:78 - tender Luke 9:35 - This Luke 20:13 - I will John 1:34 - this John 3:36 - that believeth on John 4:10 - If John 5:24 - He that John 5:43 - come John 6:29 - This John 6:47 - He that John 6:51 - the life John 7:29 - for John 8:51 - If John 10:28 - I give John 14:4 - and the John 20:31 - believing Acts 16:31 - Believe Romans 1:3 - his Son Romans 4:11 - father Romans 5:15 - But not Romans 8:39 - love 1 Corinthians 2:9 - eye 2 Corinthians 1:19 - the Son 2 Corinthians 5:15 - that they 2 Corinthians 5:18 - all 2 Corinthians 9:15 - his Galatians 2:20 - the Son Galatians 4:4 - God Colossians 1:15 - the firstborn Colossians 3:3 - your 2 Thessalonians 2:16 - which Titus 1:2 - eternal Hebrews 1:2 - spoken Hebrews 1:6 - And again Hebrews 2:3 - so Hebrews 2:9 - by Hebrews 5:5 - Thou Hebrews 10:39 - but Hebrews 11:17 - only 1 John 3:1 - what 1 John 3:16 - perceive 1 John 4:14 - the Saviour 1 John 5:10 - that believeth on 1 John 5:11 - God Revelation 2:18 - the Son

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
Now, the serpent, was more crafty than any living thing of the field which Yahweh God had made, so he said unto the woman, Can it really be that God hath said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Genesis 3:6
And, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was desirable to the eyes and the tree was pleasant to make one knowing, then took she of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and she gave to her husband also, along with her, and he did eat.
Genesis 3:7
Then were opened the eyes of them both, and they knew that, naked, they were, - so they tacked together fig-leaves, and made for themselves girdles,
Genesis 3:8
Then heard they the sound of Yahweh God, walking to and fro in the garden at the breeze of the day, - so he hid himself - the man with his wife, from the face of Yahweh God, amid the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:9
And Yahweh God called unto the man, - and said to him, Where art thou?
Genesis 3:10
And he said, The sound of thee, heard I in the garden, and I was afraid, for, naked, was I, so I hid myself.
Genesis 3:11
And he said, Who told thee that, naked, thou wast? Of the tree whereof I commanded thee not to eat, hast thou eaten?
Genesis 3:12
And the man said, - The woman whom thou didst put with me, she, gave me of the tree, so I did eat.
Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman, he said, I will, increase, thy pain of pregnancy, In pain, shalt thou year children, - Yet, unto thy husband, shall be thy hinging, Though, he, rule over thee.
Genesis 3:17
And, to the man, he said, Because thou didst hearken to the voice of thy wife, and so didst eat of the tree as to which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it, Accursed be the ground for thy sake, In pain, shalt thou eat of it, all the days of thy life;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For God so loved the world,.... The Persic version reads "men": but not every man in the world is here meant, or all the individuals of human nature; for all are not the objects of God's special love, which is here designed, as appears from the instance and evidence of it, the gift of his Son: nor is Christ God's gift to every one; for to whomsoever he gives his Son, he gives all things freely with him; which is not the case of every man. Nor is human nature here intended, in opposition to, and distinction from, the angelic nature; for though God has showed a regard to fallen men, and not to fallen angels, and has provided a Saviour for the one, and not for the other; and Christ has assumed the nature of men, and not angels; yet not for the sake of all men, but the spiritual seed of Abraham; and besides, it will not be easily proved, that human nature is ever called the world: nor is the whole body of the chosen ones, as consisting of Jews and Gentiles, here designed; for though these are called the world, John 6:33; and are the objects of God's special love, and to them Christ is given, and they are brought to believe in him, and shall never perish, but shall be saved with an everlasting salvation; yet rather the Gentiles particularly, and God's elect among them, are meant; who are often called "the world", and "the whole world", and "the nations of the world", as distinct from the Jews; see Romans 11:12, compared with Matthew 6:32. The Jews had the same distinction we have now, the church and the world; the former they took to themselves, and the latter they gave to all the nations around: hence we often meet with this distinction, Israel, and the nations of the world; on those words,

""let them bring forth their witness", that they may be justified, Isaiah 43:9 (say b the doctors) these are Israel; "or let them hear and say it is truth", these are "the nations of the world".''

And again c,

"the holy, blessed God said to Israel, when I judge Israel, I do not judge them as "the nations of the world":''

and so in a multitude of places: and it should be observed, that our Lord was now discoursing with a Jewish Rabbi, and that he is opposing a commonly received notion of theirs, that when the Messiah came, the Gentiles should have no benefit or advantage by him, only the Israelites; so far should they be from it, that, according to their sense, the most dreadful judgments, calamities, and curses, should befall them; yea, hell and eternal damnation.

"There is a place (they say d,) the name of which is "Hadrach", Zechariah 9:1. This is the King Messiah, who is, ורך

חד, "sharp and tender"; sharp to "the nations", and tender to "Israel".''

And so of the "sun of righteousness", in Malachi 4:2, they say e,

"there is healing for the Israelites in it: but the idolatrous nations shall be burnt by it.''

And that f

"there is mercy for Israel, but judgment for the rest of the nations.''

And on those words in Isaiah 21:12, "the morning cometh", and also the night, they observe g,

"the morning is for the righteous, and the night for the wicked; the morning is for Israel, and the night for "the nations of the world".''

And again h,

"in the time to come, (the times of the Messiah,) the holy, blessed God will bring "darkness" upon "the nations", and will enlighten Israel, as it is said, Isaiah 60:2.''

Once more i,

"in the time to come, the holy, blessed God will bring the nations of the world, and will cast them into the midst of hell under the Israelites, as it is said, Isaiah 43:3.''

To which may be added that denunciation of theirs k

"woe to the nations of the world, who perish, and they know not that they perish: in the time that the sanctuary was standing, the altar atoned for them; but now who shall atone for them?''

Now, in opposition to such a notion, our Lord addresses this Jew; and it is as if he had said, you Rabbins say, that when the Messiah comes, only the Israelites, the peculiar favourites of God, shall share in the blessings that come by, and with him; and that the Gentiles shall reap no advantage by him, being hated of God, and rejected of him: but I tell you, God has so loved the Gentiles, as well as the Jews,

that he gave his only begotten Son; to, and for them, as well as for the Jews; to be a covenant of the people, the Gentiles, the Saviour of them, and a sacrifice for them; a gift which is a sufficient evidence of his love to them; it being a large and comprehensive one, an irreversible and unspeakable one; no other than his own Son by nature, of the same essence, perfections, and glory with him; begotten by him in a way inconceivable and expressible by mortals; and his only begotten one; the object of his love and delight, and in whom he is ever well pleased; and yet, such is his love to the Gentiles, as well as Jews, that he has given him, in human nature, up, into the hands of men, and of justice, and to death itself:

that whosoever believeth in him, whether Jew or Gentile,

should not perish, but have everlasting life;

Isaiah 43:3- :.

b T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 2. 1. c Ib. fol. 4. 1. Vid. T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 91. 2. & Bereshit Rabba, fol. 11. 3. d Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 24. 1. Jarchi & Kimchi in Zech. ix. 1. e Zohar in Gen. fol. 112. 2. f Zohar in Exod. fol. 15. 1, 2. g T. Hieros. Taaniot, fol. 64. 1. h Shemot Rabba, sect. 14. fol. 99. 4. i Ib sect. 11. fol. 98. 3. k T. Bab. Succa, fol. 55. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For God so loved - This does not mean that God approved the conduct of men, but that he had benevolent feelings toward them, or was “earnestly desirous” of their happiness. God hates wickedness, but he still desires the Happiness of those who are sinful. “He hates the sin, but loves the sinner.” A parent may love his child and desire his welfare, and yet be strongly opposed to the conduct of that child. When we approve the conduct of another, this is the love of complacency; when we desire simply their happiness, this is the love of benevolence.

The world - All mankind. It does not mean any particular part of the world, but man as man - the race that had rebelled and that deserved to die. See John 6:33; John 17:21. His love for the world, or for all mankind, in giving his Son, was shown by these circumstances:

  1. All the world was in ruin, and exposed to the wrath of God.
  2. All people were in a hopeless condition.
  3. God gave his Son. Man had no claim on him; it was a gift - an undeserved gift.
  4. He gave him up to extreme sufferings, even the bitter pains of death on the cross.
  5. It was for all the world. He tasted “death for every man,” Hebrews 2:9. He “died for all,” 2 Corinthians 5:15. “He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world,” 1 John 2:2.

That he gave - It was a free and unmerited gift. Man had no claim: and when there was no eye to pity or arm to save, it pleased God to give his Son into the hands of men to die in their stead, Galatians 1:4; Romans 8:32; Luke 22:19. It was the mere movement of love; the expression of eternal compassion, and of a desire, that sinners should not perish forever.

His only-begotten Son - See the notes at John 1:14. This is the highest expression of love of which we can conceive. A parent who should give up his only son to die for others who are guilty if this could or might be done - would show higher love than could be manifested in any other way. So it shows the depth of the love of God, that he was willing. to give his only Son into the hands of sinful men that he might be slain, and thus redeem them from eternal sorrow.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 3:16. For God so loved the world — Such a love as that which induced God to give his only begotten son to die for the world could not be described: Jesus Christ does not attempt it. He has put an eternity of meaning in the particle ουτω, so, and left a subject for everlasting contemplation, wonder, and praise, to angels and to men. The same evangelist uses a similar mode of expression, 1 John 3:1: Behold, WHAT MANNER of love, ποταπην αγαπην, the Father hath bestowed upon us.

From the subject before him, let the reader attend to the following particulars.

First, The world was in a ruinous, condemned state, about to perish everlastingly; and was utterly without power to rescue itself from destruction.

Secondly, That God, through the impulse of his eternal love, provided for its rescue and salvation, by giving his Son to die for it.

Thirdly, That the sacrifice of Jesus was the only mean by which the redemption of man could be effected, and that it is absolutely sufficient to accomplish this gracious design: for it would have been inconsistent with the wisdom of God, to have appointed a sacrifice greater in itself, or less in its merit, than what the urgent necessities of the case required.

Fourthly, That sin must be an indescribable evil, when it required no less a sacrifice, to make atonement for it, than God manifested in the flesh.

Fifthly, That no man is saved through this sacrifice, but he that believes, i.e. who credits what God has spoken concerning Christ, his sacrifice, the end for which it was offered, and the way in which it is to be applied in order to become effectual.

Sixthly, That those who believe receive a double benefit:

1. They are exempted from eternal perdition-that they may not perish.

2. They are brought to eternal glory - that they may have everlasting life. These two benefits point out tacitly the state of man: he is guilty, and therefore exposed to punishment: he is impure, and therefore unfit for glory.

They point out also the two grand operations of grace, by which the salvation of man is effected.

1. Justification, by which the guilt of sin is removed, and consequently the person is no longer obnoxious to perdition.

2. Sanctification, or the purification of his nature, by which he is properly fitted for the kingdom of glory.


 
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