Believe and Not Perish

Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 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.” John 3:11-21 ESV

 Meditate. Consider God’s love.

 

Truly, truly. In this translation, Jesus was emphasizing to Nicodemus that He was telling the truth. Other translations have the same emphasis—although they may use different words like verily, or I assure you, these translations all stress that Jesus was being truthful as He spoke to the Pharisee.

God Loved the World
He still loves the world today!
Come to the Light.

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

This is probably the most worldwide, well-known verse in the Bible. It is one that children are taught to memorize. Have you memorized it? Here, Jesus is teaching Nicodemus about God’s gift and eternal life. That is spiritual life. Everyone will live forever spiritually, and those not embracing the light—rejecting the light—are evil and thus will not be in God’s presence forever. They will not be saved. Saved from what? Eternal damnation—but Jesus did not explain it that bluntly. They will be condemned to live apart from God forever. I picture them gnashing their teeth, in a fiery pit, and moaning…forever. That is horribly sad. Where will you find yourself?

            Jesus tells Nicodemus to be saved—not condemned. Believe in the Son—but He doesn’t directly tell him that He is the Son. Nicodemus had acknowledged that Jesus was a teacher from God (John 3:2)…but not that He was the Son of God, or God Himself. There is still some insight and teaching to be done. Are you convinced that you must believe in Jesus to have eternal life with Him?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, just as You taught Nicodemus a deeper understanding of You, give us wisdom and insight to know You more. Help us to comprehend spiritual insights and nuances that we have not previously grasp. Thank You, once again, for Your sacrifice and Your tremendous gift of love that believing in You we could have eternal life—and serve You together forever.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16

What do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage?

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles,

a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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