God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This love on behalf of man, expressed in the gift of his only-begotten Son, called forth from Satan the most intense hatred, both toward the Giver and toward the priceless Gift. Satan had represented the Father to the world in a false light, and by this great Gift his representations were proved untrue, for here was love without a parallel, proving that man was to be redeemed by an inconceivable cost. Satan had tried to obliterate the image of God in man in order that as God looked upon him in his wretchedness, in his perverseness, in his degradation, he might be induced to give him up as hopelessly lost. But the Lord gave his only-begotten Son in order that the most sinful, the most degraded, need not perish, but, by believing on Jesus Christ, may be reclaimed, regenerated, and restored to the image of God, and thus have eternal life.

Thi således elskede Gud verden, at han gav sin Søn den enbårne, for at enhver, som tror på han, ikke skal fortabes, men have evigt liv Denne menneskekærlighed, som kom til udtryk ved, at han gav sin enbårne Søn, fremkaldte det bitreste had hos Satan, både mod Giveren og den uvurderlige Gave. Satan fremstillede Faderen i et falsk lys for verden, men den mægtige Gave beviste, at hans fremstilling ikke passede. Her var en kærlighed uden sidestykke, som beviste, at mennesket blev løskøbt med en ufattelig pris. Satan havde forsøgt at udviske Guds billede i mennesket for at få Gud til at opgive det som redningsløst fortabt i sin elendighed, fordærvethed og skam. Men Herren gav sin enbårne Søn, for at de mest syndige og uværdige ikke skulle fortabes, men reddes ved troen på Jesus Kristus og blive fornyet, idet Guds billede genoprettes i dem, og de på denne måde opnår evigt liv.