Christ not the Cause But the Manifestation of God's Love
J. C. Jones, D. D. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish… The law of gravitation existed from the foundation of the world, it daily exerted its influence, keeping the stars in their orbits, and swinging them around their respective centres. The mysterious force, however, was unknown until discovered by Sir Isaac Newton, and published in his writings. It existed from the first; only a century or two ago was it made manifest. In like manner the love of God existed from eternity, from days of old. It burnt as hot in the days of Noah and of Abraham, as on the Incarnation morn or the Atonement eve. All through the ages it governed the world with a view to its final redemption. But in the Incarnation and Propitiation was it revealed, only then did it force itself upon the obtuse vision of the world. "Ye have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from — out of — the Father, and am come into the world." Not only He came from God, but He came out of God. John the Baptist came from God. (J. C. Jones, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. WEB: For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.