John 3:16 is arguably the most famous verse in the Bible. You probably don’t need reminding what it says but here goes anyway.

For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

The New English Translation that I often read on my iPhone helped me to see this verse in a new light. A subtle shift in semantics or sentence structures can transform the familiar into fresh revelation. I found myself meditating on the way God loves me through a new lens.

God loves us:

Unconditionally - it is not subject to any conditions.

Undeniably  - it is unable to be disputed.

Irrefutably - it’s impossible to deny or disprove.

Unequivocally - in a way that leaves no doubt.

Categorically - in a way that is unambiguously explicit and direct.

Evidentially - we have evidence.

All of these statements are backed up by what we learn in John 3:16. I hope you listen to the end of the recording to sing along with these weighty-words. If you have other suggested 5-syllable words for an extended version, please drop me a message.

Andy Baker - Chief Enthusiast, Homegrown Worship