JOHN 3:36 | NKJV
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
Yes, John 3:36 and not John 3:16. Though John 3:16 is a very important verse in the book of John, verse 36 completes what is spoken by Jesus in John 3:16. In verse 16 Jesus Christ tells us of His unconditional love that He has for mankind. The reason verse 36 is so important is because it tells us of the reward for those who live a life for Jesus and the consequences for those who do not. We see everlasting life given to the believer and the wrath of God given to the unbeliever.
How can God go from loving the entire world so much that God the Father gave His own Son to die for our sins to the wrath of God to the unbelievers all in the same chapter? Jesus Christ is telling us that actions have both consequences and rewards. Here in John chapter 3 the reward is eternal life with Jesus Christ and the consequence is receiving the wrath of God.
In Paul’s writing to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 6:1 (NKJV) “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” Grace is not receiving the punishment you deserve. When Jesus Christ went to the cross, He gave Himself to the world. This is God’s grace toward mankind, because Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself, and Jesus Christ took the punishment that belonged to us upon Himself. We see in Scripture two paths (Matthew 7:13-14), the wide that leads to destruction and narrow that leads to life. Those who are on the wide path are receiving God’s Grace in vain. Those on the narrow are using God’s Grace for the glory of God. In the same way here in John, those who receive the wrath of God are the same who receive God’s Grace in vain. The Believer has received God’s Grace and realizes that the Man on the center cross died for them in their place, and they both accept and value God’s Grace and allow that Grace to bring forth Salvation in their life.
As children of God, we are to live in the world but not be of the world. There is a difference between a believer and unbeliever, that difference is Jesus Christ.