John 3:16 - Love and Judgment in One Verse
Introduction
John 3:16 is often called 'the gospel in a nutshell.' It captures the heart of God's plan for humanity. But while it shines with the warmth of God's love, it also carries a solemn warning of His righteousness and the reality of judgment.

God's Great Love
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...
God's love is universal (the world) - it extends to all people, not just Israel. (Romans 5:8)
God's love is sacrificial - He gave His only begotten Son, the greatest gift possible. (1 John 4:9-10)
God's love is initiating - He made the first move toward us while we were yet sinners. (Romans 5:8)
Application: God's love is not distant or theoretical - it is personal, active, and directed toward you.

God's Righteous Warning
...that whosoever believeth in him should not perish...
The word perish (Greek apollymi) means ruin, destruction, or eternal loss - not mere physical death but eternal separation from God. (Matthew 10:28; Revelation 20:14-15)
This highlights God's righteousness: sin must be judged. Love does not cancel justice; it provides a way to escape it. The alternative to believing is not neutrality - it is perishing under judgment. (John 3:18)
Application: The love of God cannot be fully appreciated until the danger of perishing is understood.

God's Gift of Life
...but have everlasting life.
Everlasting life is more than endless existence - it is fellowship with God, beginning now and fulfilled in eternity. (John 17:3) This is a free gift through faith, not earned by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The contrast is absolute: eternal life versus eternal perishing.
Application: Eternal life is not just future hope; it is present reality for all who believe.

The Balanced Gospel
John 3:16 must be read in context with verses 17-19:
God's intent is salvation. (v.17)
Unbelief brings condemnation. (v.18)
Rejection of the light reveals the love of darkness. (v.19)
Thus, the verse holds together two essential truths:
God's love provides salvation for all.
God's justice demands judgment for those who reject His Son.

Addendum: Clarifying a Common Misunderstanding
John 3:16 is sometimes misunderstood as saying that unbelief itself is the ultimate cause of perishing: "if you don't believe in Jesus, you will perish." In reality, Scripture teaches that people perish because of sin, which is falling short of God's perfect standard of righteousness. As Romans 3:23 declares:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
God's holy character demands perfect righteousness (Matthew 5:48), and apart from Christ no one meets that requirement.

Belief in Jesus is therefore not an arbitrary condition, but the only way to escape a judgment we already deserve. Our own works, however sincere, cannot make us righteous. (Isaiah 64:6; Galatians 2:16) The Father sent His Son so that His righteousness might be imputed to those who trust Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) When Jesus bore our sins on the cross, He satisfied the justice of God (1 Peter 2:24), making it possible for believers to stand before the Judge clothed in His perfect righteousness.

To put it plainly, unbelief does not create guilt—it leaves a person with no remedy for the guilt already present. Faith in Christ is the God-given means by which His saving work is applied to us. As Jesus said,
He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)

Key Cross-References
Romans 6:23 - Wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
2 Peter 3:9 - God is patient, not willing that any should perish.
1 John 5:11-12 - Life is in the Son; without Him, there is no life.
Revelation 20:15 - Those not found in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire.

Conclusion
John 3:16 is both a love letter and a legal notice. It reveals the depth of God's mercy and the reality of His judgment. The greatest invitation - to believe and live - is also the greatest warning - to reject and perish.