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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:16-17
We all know that Jesus came to Earth. We celebrate His birth at Christmas, and we celebrate His death, burial and resurrection at Easter. Even people who do not Him and have not believed on Him as their Saviour know about these historical facts. But there is m0re to the story than just the simple facts of His birth, life, death and resurrection. Many people throughout history have been born and have died. But Jesus was different. The reason He came was different. And these verses give us the reason that He came.
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” God did not send Jesus to condemn the world. The world, being in sin since Adam, was already condemned. God sent Jesus to save the world. He sent Him as the Redeemer of fallen mankind. He sent Him as the holy and perfect sacrifice for sin. He sent Him “that the world through him might be saved.”
The world was in a state of death when Jesus came. People were (and still are) born spiritually dead. God sent Jesus to give people spiritual life. And not just a temporary spiritual life – He sent Him to give people “everlasting life.” It is difficult for our human minds to comprehend the magnitude of that – we are passed from eternal death to eternal life, through Jesus Christ. But that is exactly why He came – to give us salvation and, with it, eternal life. In the words of the great hymn, “What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Jesus. What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Lord!”
Justified Freely 