John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
(John 3:16, ESV)

So famous... so quoted... so memorised... but is it now so familiar that we don't stop to grasp the significance of this verse?

This verse is a flow on from Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus regarding being born again.  Jesus has shown that the kingdom of God is at hand, a completely new life if on offer which does not dwell in slavery to sin.  Something all the world has dealt with for all of history is being made new.  A life without sin is attainable.   Why has this happened?

Because even in its sin God has loved the world so much... so much that He has now sent His Son to come and pave the way into that new kingdom. Jesus takes the punishment for that sin that we have dealt with for so long, so that anyone who has faith in Him doesn't need to pay for their sin and can live forever just like God planned it in the beginning.

This verse outlines the Gospel in such a complete and succinct manner... I know that's why it has become so quoted, but let's not allow its familiarity to tarnish the impact of Gospel truth into our lives.