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You Must be Born Again

ByCraig

January 3

John 3 is probably one of the most familiar chapters in the Bible. A big reason for this is that John 3:16 is the most familiar verse in the Bible. Unfortunately, most Bible translations don’t render this verse as accurately as they could for today’s readers. This leads to misunderstanding and misapplication of the verse.

“What’s the problem?” you ask. Well, it all comes down to this little word “so.” See, many people read John 3:16 as “God loves us SO MUCH…” And, oftentimes, the takeaway is a belief that we are so valuable to God that He sent Jesus to die for us. We’ll explore this a little more in a few days. But this interpretation and application focus on us while the actual wording of John 3:16 focuses on God.

Notice how the Christian Standard Bible translates John 3:16 (CSB), “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” The word translated as “so” in most Bible versions is rendered as “in this way” in the CSB.

This is an important distinction. God didn’t send Jesus because we were so valuable. Instead, God sent Jesus because we were so deeply affected by the Fall—so utterly ruined—that only the blood of Jesus could pay the penalty for our rebellion against God. God demonstrated His love by sending Jesus so that if we believe, we will be given eternal life. (John 3:16, CSB; Romans 5:8)

Application

Here are two application points I want to make:


1.) Only one way has been provided for sinful people to be made right with the Holy God: He sent Jesus to be the perfect, atoning sacrifice to cover the broken, sinful condition of all who believe in Him. That belief, though, is not just acknowledging Jesus’ existence as a historical figure, but personally trusting in Him as God’s payment for our sin-debt.


2.) If you want to experience eternal life—and spend eternity with Jesus—you must put your faith/trust in Him as the atoning sacrifice for your sinful condition and become a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) No one can do this for you. It is only those who believe who are given eternal life.

If you would like more information about having a right standing before the Holy God, please reach out to me.

© Copyright 2026 Craig Beaman

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