The Numbers of Hope: How John 3:16 Reveals the Gospel
John 3:16 is is perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible. It shows up on signs, posters, billboards, t-shirts and even football games. But why?
Senior Pastor David Rose unpacks John 3:16 alongside an incredible Old Testament moment: when Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4–9). Just like the Israelites had to look at the serpent to be saved from death, we have to look to Jesus—lifted up on the cross—to be saved from the poison of sin.
Salvation isn’t about trying harder or fixing yourself. It’s about trusting the One who was lifted up for you. When you really grasp that, it changes everything.
Key Takeaways
- God prepares: the history (John 3:14)
- God gives: the destiny (John 3:15)
- God loves: the reality (John 3:16a)
- God acts: the demonstration (John 3:16b)
- God provides: the response (John 3:16c)
- God saves: the pardon (John 3:16d-18)
Further Study
- John 3:15 promises that “everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” The Israelites didn’t have to clean themselves up first—they just had to look at the serpent. How does this reflect Ephesians 2:8–9’s teaching that salvation is a gift, not something you earn? Are you trusting in Jesus—or still trying to fix yourself? Take some time to prayerfully consider this question.
- John 3:17–18 says Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world—it was already condemned by sin. Christianity isn’t about making bad people feel worse—it’s about rescuing people who are already lost. How does this shift the way you talk about faith with people who think Christianity is just about judgment?
- John 3:18 makes it clear: you’re either dead in sin or alive in Christ. Romans 6:11–14 and Colossians 2:13–14 echo this: there’s no spiritual gray area. Are you trying to live in between, or resting fully in Christ’s finished work?
The Gospel
If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, we would love to talk with you about it.
Reach outThe Gospel – The Antidote for Sin
We’ve all been poisoned by sin. But to understand why we need an antidote, you have to start at the beginning.
We’re created for relationship.
God created us to know Him and live in relationship with Him. In Genesis, we see that humanity was made in God’s image, designed to reflect His goodness and glory. Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden—no shame, no fear, just perfect fellowship with their Creator. That’s how it was meant to be.
We’re broken by sin.
But it didn’t stay that way. Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s command, and sin entered the world. That sin wasn’t just a mistake—it was treason against a holy God. The result? Separation from God, spiritual death, and a broken world. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Like the Israelites poisoned by snake bites in the wilderness, we’ve been poisoned by sin. It’s in our nature—we don’t just commit sins; we are sinners. And the consequence of that sin is death (Romans 6:23). Left to ourselves, we’re already condemned (John 3:18). We can’t fix it by trying harder, being more religious, or doing enough good deeds. We need a rescue.
We need a rescuer.
That’s where John 3:16 comes in. God didn’t leave us in our sin—He made a way. Out of sheer love, God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world.
Just like Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness so the Israelites could be healed, Jesus was lifted up on the cross. On the cross, Jesus took the full weight of our sin and judgment. Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that we could be made right with God.
Jesus took the punishment we deserved, but the story doesn’t end at the cross. On the third day, He rose from the grave, proving that the debt had been paid and death had been defeated. Romans 4:25 says, “He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” His resurrection is proof that God’s rescue plan worked.
Receive it through faith.
Salvation isn’t automatic, but it is available. The Israelites in the wilderness didn’t have to fix themselves—they just had to look at the serpent and believe. In the same way, you don’t have to clean yourself up before coming to Jesus. You just have to trust Him.
John 3:16 says, “Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” That’s it. Faith—not religious effort, not moral perfection—just faith. Ephesians 2:8–9 makes it clear: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God—not from works, so that no one can boast.”
Respond to the invitation.
John 3:18 draws a clear line: you either believe and are saved, or you don’t believe and remain condemned. There’s no middle ground.
The good news is that God’s invitation is still open. You don’t have to be perfect or have it all figured out. You just have to look to Jesus and trust that He is enough.
Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That’s the offer on the table: forgiveness, freedom, and eternal life.
The Invitation
Jesus has already done the hard part. The poison has been neutralized. Eternal life is available. The only question is: will you look to Him?
If you have questions about salvation or want to know more about following Jesus, we’d love to hear from you.