Text: John 3:16
Intro: By common consent and wide acclaims (John 3: 16) is the greatest verse in the Bible.
There are probably two reasons for this.  The first is that, there is no other verse that is more full of the gospel. Though it contains only 25 words, it gives a complete survey and declaration of God's provision and plan of salvation for sinners.
    1. It declares God to be the Source of salvation.
    2. It declares love to be the motivating force in God's plan.
    3. It declares grace to be the greatest cause.
    4. It declares the deity of Christ.
    5. It declares faith to be the point at which one is saved.
    6, It declares Christ to be the only way of salvation.
    7. It declares the damning result of not believing in Jesus Christ.
    8. It declares the eternal security of those who trust Christ.
The  second reason for it being the greatest verse in the Bible is because it is the best-known Scripture.
I believe it is the greatest verse in the Bible because…
I.  IT TELLS OF THE GREATEST POSSIBLE LOVE.
    A. An eternal love( John.17: 23-24). I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world
        may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. ~ Father, I will that they also, whom thou
        hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me
        before the foundation of the world.
        1. “And hast loved them, as thou hast loved me”—means that God loves you as much as He loves the Lord Jesus
            Christ. That boggles the mind!
        2. There are other creatures on the earth, but God made man for fellowship.
        3. God created man with a free will; and, even though we have sinned, God wants our fellowship.
    B. God’s love is an infinite, inexpressible love (Eph. 2:4; Eph. 3:19).
    C. An unending love (Jer. 31:3). 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.
        1. God loves us, not because of anything He sees in us but it is because of who He is.  “Herein is love, not that we loved
            God, but that he loved us…” (1 John 4:10). Now that is love.
        2. The love of God toward us comes from love, and has no other cause above or beside itself, but is in God, and
            remains in God,
    D. An unchangeable love (John. 13:1). Jesus knowing that “he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having
         loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
        1. He went to the Father because He loved His own.
        2. He died to save His own, and He lives to keep them saved.
        3. We have a wonderful Savior, and He loves us right on through to the very end.
        4. God loves us with an everlasting love; we cannot keep Him from loving us.
    E. It tells of a love that one cannot be separated from (Rom. 8:35-39).
        1. “For I am persuaded” means that he knows.
        2. “Death” cannot separate us—in fact, it will take us into His presence.
            a. The response of many of the early Christian martyrs when they were threatened with death was, “Thank you, you
                will transport me right into the presence of my Savior.” You can’t hurt people like that.
        3. “Life”—often it is more difficult to face life than to face death.
            a. But life’s temptations, failures, disappointments, uncertainties, and sufferings will not separate us from the love of
                God that is in Christ our Lord.
        4. “Angels” (fallen angels)
        5. “Principalities and powers” are spiritual enemies of the believer (see Eph. 6:12).
        6. “Things present” means present circumstances.
        7. “Things to come” refers to the future.
        8. “Nor height, nor depth”
        9. “Any other created thing” this includes anything else you want to mention. 11.
        10. Absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God.
II. IT TELLS OF THE GREATEST POSSIBLE GIFT.
    A. He gave His Son that we might become sons (Jn. 1:11-12).
    B. He gave His Son that we might receive the adoption of sons (Gal. 4:4-5).
    C. He gave-His Son that we might have everlasting life (Rom. 6:23; John 10:10).
III. IT TELLS US OF THE GREATEST POSSIBLE PLAN, "that whosoever believeth in Him”
    A.  Salvation is by grace through faith (Jn. 3:16,18,36; 5:24 Eph. 2:8-9).
    B. It is by faith in Christ (Acts 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:15).
    C. Hearts are purified by faith (Acts 15:10-11).
    D.  Salvation has always been by faith in Christ (Acts 10:43; Acts 15:10-11).
    E. Faith is the only sure way (Romans 4:16). Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might
        be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the
        father of us all,
        1. Faith, as the Bible uses it, is not just head knowledge.
        2. Many people ask, “You mean all that I have to do is believe?” Yes, that is all you have to do, but let’s see what that
            implies.
        3. With the verb “to believe” there is always a preposition—sometimes ?? (in), sometimes ??? (into) or sometimes ???
            (upon).
        4. You must believe into, in, or upon Jesus Christ.
        5. Let me illustrate.
            a. I am standing beside this chair and I believe it will hold me up, but it is not holding me up. Why?
            b. Because I have only a head knowledge. I just say, “Yes, it will hold me up.”
            c. Now suppose I believe into, in or upon the chair by sitting in it.
            d. See what I mean? I am committing my entire weight to it and it is holding me up.
    F. Is Christ holding you up? Is He your Savior? It is not a question of standing to the side and saying, “Oh, yes, I believe
        Jesus is the Son of God.”
        1. The question is have you trusted Him, have you believed into Him, are you resting in Him?
        2. This chair is holding me up completely. And at this moment Christ is my complete Savior. I am depending on Him; I
            am resting in Him
IV. John 3:16 TELLS OF THE GREATEST POSSIBLE DELIVERANCE, "should not perish..."
    A. Without Christ you are condemned (John. 3:18).
    B. Without Christ yon are under the abiding wrath of God (John 3:36).
    C. Without faith in Christ you will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8).
    D. Without Christ you will perish. Text
    E. Faith delivers from perishing immediately (Rom. 8:1).
    F. Faith delivers from perishing permanently (John 10:28).  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
        neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand (Jn. 4:14).
V. IT TELLS OF THE GREATEST POSSIBLE POSSESSION."but have everlasting life.”
    A. The believer possesses a life that can never be forfeited (John 5:24; 3:16).
    B. The believer has an attachment that can never be severed (Rom. 8:35-39-).
    C. The believer has a relationship that can never be abolished (Gal. 3:26; 1 Jn. 3:1-2).
    D. The believer has a righteousness that can never be tarnished (Rom. 3:25-26; 11 Cor. 5:21).
    E. The believer is sealed with a seal that can never be broken (Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 2 Tim. 2:19).
    F. The believer has an inheritance that can never fade away (1 Pet. 1:3-5).
    G. The believer has a source of supply that can never be depleted (Phil. 4:19).
    H. The believer has a peace that can never be destroyed (Rom. 5:1).
    I. The believer has a Mediator who can never be disqualified (Heb. 7:25).
    J. The believer has a destiny that can never be changed (John 10:27-30).
Conclusion: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for you. Don’t turn Him away.