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For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
What is the context, setting, or background behind the words in John 3:16? In chapter two, Jesus had cleansed the temple and caught the attention of a lot of people. One of the Pharisees was curious about Jesus, so he came to see him at night. Because he was a Pharisee, he had to be careful about people seeing Him with Jesus or spending time with Him. During their brief visit, the subject of faith, belief, and being born again came up. He seemed to be searching for answers to some questions that he had for a while.
Then in John 3:16, Jesus begins the verse with these two words, "For God." Nicodemus, who lived his life under the Old Testament economy, probably had questions about the new teachings that Jesus had. Jesus was going to introduce something completely new to the Jewish people, a new way of worship. There was also going to be a new way to communicate and have fellowship with God.
When Jesus was talking with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:23-24, He revealed to the woman the changes that were going to come. "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and truth."
God chose to reveal His will and purpose to a sinful woman, not a religious leader or a prominent person. He chose a woman of low social standing, who was a humble sinner; and she completely understood what He was saying. Don't you love that part; God is no respecter of persons.
Both Nicodemus and the woman at the well knew about the God of the Hebrews. But after their visit with Jesus, they were going to know God in a personal, intimate way as His children. Their lives were going to change, and the woman was going to become a real missionary. She began to witness to the people of the town, and her life of sin and immorality came to an end when she was born again from above by the Spirit of God.
The God who received Nicodemus and the woman at the well was none other than the great "I AM," who spoke to Moses. He was also the friend of Abraham and the God of Isaac, Daniel, and Jehoshaphat. He was the God who struck down Paul on the road to Damascus. This was also the God of our ancestors, the Pilgrims, and the God spoken of in John 3:16.
The Pilgrims came to this land for religious freedom. They set up Plymouth Colony on the shore of Cape Cod Bay in 1620, in Massachusetts. They were formerly a group of Protestants in England called the Puritans. They traveled to America so they could worship God the way they chose, the way they felt God was leading them. When the Pilgrims came to America, freedom of religion was not inclusive of false religions and cults, as people think today, or the various religions we have in our country. The Pilgrims and early settlers only knew one religion; it was the faith and religion of the Great "I Am," the God spoken of in John 3:16. Reference, The World Book Encyclopedia.
From about 1300 AD to 1600, people were being persecuted in England and other places. The Catholics burned the Protestants, and some of the Protestants killed the Catholics. Although the Bible was being translated from accurate sources, people chose the version they wanted, and persecuted those who wanted to make their own choice. Bloody Mary was a Catholic who would often light her garden at night by burning Christians who disagreed with her.
It was very much like today with the "KJV Only" movement. Even today people will persecute, cut off fellowship, and shun others who do not use a certain version (KJV) of the Bible. Instead of following the example of our Lord (who allowed freedom), they feel that they alone have the truth and try to force others to submit.
Like Paul in the New Testament, many of those people thought they were doing God a service by persecuting the others. Although they were serving the God of the Scriptures, their thinking was totally twisted concerning what God desired.
This also led to different groups having different Bibles, and compelling others to use the same, or be persecuted.
So here is the point I am trying to make. The "freedom of religion" that is spoken of today, is not what the Pilgrims and founders of America thought of. The idea that we can accept false religions and cults into our government and allow them to make decisions that affect the future of the country and people as well, was never taught or accepted by the Puritans and Pilgrims.
The God mentioned in John 3:16 is the only true and living God we are to worship. Are you serving the Creator God of the Universe, the one our founders worshiped? Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Are you in the Way; are you in Christ?
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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published three books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016 and Eye of a Needle in 2017 and Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children's book.