The Unquenchable Lamp of the Covenant. Abraham Park

(Jer 33:20).

      (3) The perfect order and harmony of the universe

      The entire universe is not in chaos, but is a world of complete order and perfect harmony under one God. This is so because the vast universe was created on the basis of perfect and precise design, and all things were arranged accurately in their own place according to the divine administration of God’s providence for salvation (Ps 103:19; Prov 3:19; Jer 10:12).

      It can be said that such orderly movement and beautiful harmony is a testimony to God’s greatness, faithfulness, and goodness for the salvation of fallen mankind. The alternation of night and day, the change of seasons, and the wondrous changes in the world of creation are proof that God’s mercy for the salvation of this world continues (Gen 8:22; Deut 4:19; Ps 136:5, 9).

      In Psalm 19:1, the psalmist confessed, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands,” and praise for the works of God’s hands has been sung without ceasing ever since the time of creation. God’s divinity is undeniably revealed as long as we are willing to witness it by opening our eyes and our ears to God’s providence of creation found in the “day” that consists of night and day (Rom 1:20).

      4. The Agape Love of the God of All

      God, who is greater than all, gave His love to save us. His love is immeasurable for it is infinite. The greatness of God reflected through the enormous universe is not irrelevant to us. It is deeply linked to our life—the very platform where the history of salvation for mankind is taking place. Beholding the heavenly bodies in the night sky is sufficient in itself to cause amazement and astonishment. However, what is even more unbelievably inspirational is having God, who created the great universe and keeps all movements and activities in order, give special attention to mankind—we who are as insignificant as dust—by bestowing the grace of salvation upon us. The psalmist declares that He is the God “who is enthroned on high, who humbles Himself” (Ps 113:5–6). David, when he saw the providence of redemption hidden in the heavens, the moon and the stars that God ordained, also exclaimed, “What is man, that You take thought of him…” (Ps 8:4). Truly, the works that the Lord carries out to save one soul are so great and His thoughts are so deep (Ps 92:5) that even the boundlessly vast universe cannot be compared to one soul, which is more precious than the heavens and the earth (Matt 16:26; Luke 9:25).

      The Bible verse that sums up this essence of salvation is John 3:16.

      John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

      This is truly the quintessence of the gospel and the way of salvation and eternal life. This is the great Bible passage that contains God’s sovereign administration and providence of redemption to save each one of us who deserved to fall into the brimstone of hell.

      (1) “God”

      The word for God in this verse refers to God the Father. The Greek word for God is , equivalent to in the Old Testament. He is the God of Trinity. There are three persons in the Trinity: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:18–20; 2 Cor 13:141). Also, God is the one and only God (John 5:44; 1 Cor 8:4, 6; 1 Tim 2:5; Jas 2:19), and He is the Almighty, who surpasses time and space (Eph 4:6). He is the God who not only created all things (Acts 17:24; Heb 3:4), but also maintains and governs them.

      (2) “so loved”

      In Greek, so loved is , a powerful declaration that begins this verse. The motivating power for redeeming sinners is God’s love and the degree of that love is expressed as “so loved.”

       signifies “thus,” “as follows,” and “so.”2 The word so or so much emphasizes the degree of sincerity in one’s act of giving his heart and efforts.

      Also, is a verb form of , which signifies the immense love given to sinful mankind. This is the love that surpasses all limits and conditions. It is the love everlasting, sacrificial, unfailing, loathing of sin, and unconditionally given by God (1 Jn 4:10, 19).3

      The great love of God, who had predestined the salvation of fallen mankind from before creation and fulfilled His love by giving His life on the cross, continues today as the motivating power that brings world history into existence. It is also the strong driving force that leads us to salvation.

      (3) “the world”

      The Greek word for world is . This word is used 185 times in the New Testament: the Apostle John used it 78 times in the Gospel of John and 24 times in his epistles. The word kosmos means “universe,” which includes all sinners.

      First, kosmos is the universe. It is a synonym of “heaven and earth” in the Old Testament (Acts 17:24).

      Second, kosmos is the dwelling place of mankind—the territory of their habitation, which is the earth (John 21:25; 1 Tim 6:7).

      Third, kosmos refers to the human race, which is the “world” in John 3:16. It signifies all mankind, the people who live in bondage of sin, including us (John 1:10; 3:17; 4:42; 2 Cor 5:19). John 1:29 mentions “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” The “sin of the world” in this verse refers to “sins of the people of the world.” John 3:17 also says, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.” The “world” in this verse also refers to people in this world. In other words, only by believing in Jesus can the people of this world be saved (Acts 4:12).

      Even great and powerful nations on this earth are like “a drop from a bucket” and “a speck of dust on the scales”; even islands that seem immovable are only like “fine dust” to God (Isa 40:15). All the nations put together are like nothing before God (Isa 40:17). Therefore, the fact that God who is greater than all, the creator of the universe has come just to find me, who is unworthy as a speck of dust, is the mystery of salvation and the love that cannot be measured.

      (4) “gave”

      The verb gave is in Greek, an aorist tense in the indicative mood of , which means to “give or bestow.” The aorist tense, in the indicative mood, refers to a completed event. Essentially, this word explains that our God of love and mercy has already given us His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as the greatest gift. The gift that God gives to mankind is a free gift apart from any human work, merit, or effort.

      Our salvation is not a result of man’s righteous works, but a gift freely given by the grace of God (Rom 5:15; Eph 2:8–9). The greatest gift of all is our Lord Jesus Christ.

      (5) “only begotten Son”

      Generally, an only begotten son means “a son without a brother or sister.” However, saying that Jesus Christ is God’s “only begotten Son” signifies that Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 Jn 4:9). This expression conveys the love of Jesus Christ, who existed in the form of God and had equality with God but came down in the incarnate form as God’s only begotten Son in order to save sinners (John 10:30; Phil 2:6). Thus, John 1:18 states, “…the only begotten of God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

      When Abraham gave his only son Isaac, God said, “For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son,