That’s exactly what I’ve done in my book called The Top 20 Passages in the Bible. And I’ll list all 20 passages for you here so you don’t have to wait to find out!

But what I’d love even more is to have you read through each of these passages, savoring their meaning and letting the words impact you as they’ve impacted generations, making the Bible the most quoted book in the world…and the most meaningful to me personally.

Below I’ve included a chapter from my book which also contains the most popular verse in the whole Bible: John 3:16. I’ve also included a link to today’s podcast in which I read from my book and play one of my favorite original piano songs called "Marilyn’s Theme" from my piano album Soothe My Soul.

And for your reading pleasure, here are the top 20 passages in the Bible, counting from number 20 to number 1!

• 20. Luke 1
• 19. Ephesians 5
• 18. Ephesians 1
• 17. John 3
• 16. Romans 1
• 15. Ephesians 4
• 14. Psalm 139
• 13. Psalm 1
• 12. Philippians 4
• 11. Romans 12
• 10. John 14
• 9. James 1
• 8. Matthew 6
• 7. John 1
• 6. Matthew 5
• 5. Psalm 91
• 4. Romans 8
• 3. Genesis 1
• 2. Psalm 23
• 1. 1 Corinthians 13

Watch today’s podcast here!

Get the book here!

Number 17
"The Gospel in a Nutshell"
from The Top 20 Passages in the Bible
by Eric Elder

Scripture Reading: John 3

If you were to look at a list of the top 100 verses in the Bible, you’d find a verse from John chapter 3 at the very top. It’s the most quoted verse in the Bible, and the most quoted verse of Jesus. Speaking of Himself, Jesus said:

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

John 3:16 contains the gospel in a nutshell, the good news of Jesus in compact form: that if anyone who wants to be free from the penalty of sin and death, they can do so by putting their faith in Jesus.

Jesus expanded on why this is such good news in the rest of John 3. He did so in the context of a conversation that took place between Himself and Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, who came to Jesus one night to learn more from this controversial, but impressive, teacher.

Jesus told Nicodemus: “You must be born again,” to which Nicodemus responded:

“How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4).

Jesus answered him:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

Nicodemus must have taken what Jesus said to heart, for after Jesus died on the cross, Nicodemus, along with Joseph of Arimathea, risked his life and position on the Jewish council by asking Pilate for Jesus’ body in order to give Jesus a proper burial (see John 19:38-40). May God give us all that kind of boldness in our faith!

Jesus also mentioned in his conversation with Nicodemus something significant that had happened to the Israelites about 2,500 years earlier. When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, they sinned. As a result, God sent fiery serpents to attack them, and many Israelites died from the bites. Those who were still alive repented of their sins and Moses prayed to God on their behalf. God said to Moses:

“‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live” (Numbers 21:8-9).

God heard their prayers and saw their repentant hearts and provided a way for them to be saved. Referring to this story, Jesus told Nicodemus:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

This story has become such a symbol of healing that today, the symbol of a snake wrapped around a pole is still displayed on many of our medical buildings, ambulances, and doctor’s insignias.

But it’s more than just a symbol of healing. It’s a symbol of forgiveness, a symbol of a loving God who will go to the great lengths to extend forgiveness to His people, if only they would turn from their sins and put their faith in Him.

It is in the context of this ancient story of God’s forgiveness and healing that Jesus said His most famous quote in John 3:16:

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

I bring this up because John 3:16 is not only the gospel in a nutshell, it’s the whole Bible in a nutshell! God has always been wooing His people into a relationship with Him, and offering them forgiveness if they truly desire it, so that they can come back into a relationship with Him. And that’s what God has offered to us, by sending His only Son to die for us so we can live.

God loves you, and He doesn’t want you or anyone else to be destroyed by sin. He’s willing to go to the greatest lengths possible—and He already has—to see that you will be healed, forgiven, and brought back into a new life with Him.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, Hallelujah! Let someone know about it who needs to hear this good news! But if you’ve never put your faith in Christ—been “born again,” to use Jesus’ words—there’s no better time than right now!

PRAYER

Father, thank You for loving me so much that You would send Your only Son to die for me so that I could live. I want to live again. I want to be born again spiritually so I can live with You forever. Forgive me for my sins, for the wrong things I’ve done. I am putting my faith in Christ right now. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can live the life You’ve called me to live, both here on earth, and on into heaven forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

P.S. You can get The Top 20 Passages in the Bible in audiobook, paperback, or downloadable PDF from inspiringbooks.com. The book also includes a list of the Top 100 Verses in the Bible… great for inspiration and for Scripture memory!