John 3.16 is the Bible's most famous verse, of course.

And our familiarity with it also means that this verse can easily slip into the Christian

jargon that we sling around, and we assume it.

But the verse is staggering, and in it we come to understand what it means to receive

Jesus Christ into our lives.

I've ever explained in his 2009 sermon titled, God So Love the World Part 1.

Here's what he said.

For God So Love the World that he gave his only son.

Muslims and others stumble over the idea that God has a son.

So let me say a few things, and perhaps say them in a way and specifically with verses

so that you can help your friend who stumbles like that.

God did not have sex with Mary in order to have a son.

Hear that all over the world in Muslim contexts.

God did not have sex with Mary in order to have a son.

Come with me, please, back to chapter 1, where the basic understanding that John has laid

for us, knowing this is a strange thing to say that God has a son.

That's a strange thing to say.

We Christians, we've taken it for granted for decades, but a brand new person who's never

stumbled onto Christianity, and here's that God has a son, won't have any idea how to

conceive of such a thing.

Not to add sex with some goddess or something, you know.

So John knows this is coming, John is giving us help here.

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