Let me refer you to a very good book that David Pawson released some years ago: Is John 3:16 the Gospel? (Terra Nova Publications, 2007). His thesis is simple: John 3:16 as such is not the core gospel message. The righteousness of God and our unrighteousness, and how to bridge that gap in Christ is. It is not some indiscriminate love of God, or some sentimental notion that God loves everyone unconditionally sort of message.

By way of a preface to this piece, I just saw on the social media a post about ‘What is the gospel?’ It had a link to the popular American preacher Voddie Baucham and it said he answered that question in 41 seconds. I did not go to that link then, but I did go through in my own mind what I would say in less than a minute if I had to answer that question.

Well, I just now had a look at that video, and I am pleased to say that the answer that ran through my head was very close indeed to what he had shared. For those who are interested, here is the link to his reply: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzJtR1TKlvc

We both spoke of the good news of the gospel, but ONLY in light of the bad news of the gospel which must first be heard. Without presenting the entire gospel message, we will only leave people today dazed and confused. In this regard I recall hearing one non-Christian saying the following:

He was recounting how someone had come up to him on the street and asked, “Are you saved?” To which he replied, “Saved from what?” Christians use the word “saved” in a technical theological sense – a sense that would elude most pagans today. They might think of something like being saved from a burning building, but NOT of being saved from their sins and the consequences of their sins.

So if we want to properly communicate to the lost today, to the unsaved, we need to do a lot more explanation first. We need to give them the bad news in other words before we can give them the good news. Unless people understand how lost and separated they are from a holy and just God, they will never see the need to get “saved” – whatever that might mean.

Back to my title then: Ask any Christian – and perhaps a few non-Christians – to share a biblical passage that best seems to summarise and represent the gospel, and you will more often than not get John 3:16. It does seem to encapsulate some key Christian truths about what the gospel message is all about.

However, if taken alone, it could in fact become unrepresentative, and perhaps even misleading, as to what the heart of the gospel message really is. At the very least, we must take this verse in context if we are to give others a very good overview and assertion of the core Christian message. Here it is in context (verses 16-21):

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

If this entire paragraph was presented every time when someone – including an enquiring non-believer – asks what the gospel is all about, this would be a very good answer indeed. It would cover most of the key bases. We are sinners who love darkness and hate God. Unless we turn from sin, repent, and put our faith and trust in Christ and the work that he did for us on the cross, we are lost – eternally.

With all this in mind let me refer you to a very good book that David Pawson released some years ago: Is John 3:16 the Gospel? (Terra Nova Publications, 2007). Those not familiar with Pawson might want to have a read of my piece that I produced when he passed away: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2020/05/22/vale-david-pawson/

The British Bible teacher (1930-2020) was the author of numerous books and was one of the UK’s finest evangelical Bible teachers. He had helped millions of believers to better understand the Scriptures, and this book is a good example of this.

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