Does John 3:16 contain the full Gospel Paul preached?
No. While John 3:16 is not to be faulted, it does not contain the full Gospel Paul preached. That Gospel includes the truth that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, which must be used alongside John 3:16 to make sense today.
Les explains that he has no fault with John 3:16 and would not tell people not to use it, but John 3:16 does not have the part of the Gospel Paul preached. That part is how Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, which was not an accident but planned by God in pre-eternal existence. Paul delivered this Gospel first of all, and it must be used in conjunction with John 3:16 to make sense today.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
More Questions
Does John 3:16 alone contain the gospel?
Les teaches that you cannot find the gospel in John 3:16 alone. He explains that while John 3:16 can be used, it must be brought into full flow by Paul's gospel—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. These basic truths come from Paul, and then we can go back into other Scriptures and make applications. He gives Isaiah 53 as another favorite chapter, noting that without the knowledge of Paul's gospel, no one would get the gospel out of it. Les stresses using all of Scripture carefully and not being maligned as too narrow.