For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (ASV)
This one sentence carries the whole gospel. God loved the world, and that love moved Him to give His Son, so that anyone who believes would not perish but have eternal life. The love comes first, and the giving comes straight out of it. The door is open to "whosoever," which means it is open to you.
Jesus said this at night, to a religious leader named Nicodemus who came to Him with questions. What He wanted Nicodemus to see is that God had already made the move: eternal life is a gift to receive, there before you do anything to deserve it.
So if you have ever wondered whether God loves you, this is where to look. He showed it in what He gave, and what He asks back is to believe it.
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