19:10
After praying , they explained carefully what it meant to be redeemed from all sin , and told the seekers how God looked upon the sin-cursed world and its awful wickedness , but also how He was so moved with tender love and compassion that He sacrificed the brightest Gem of glory -- even His only begotten Son -- to be a Redeemer for all who would believe on Him and turn from their evil ways . The redemption price , they said , was great ; but nothing less could have proved so well God 's great love for mankind . And they quoted from the Bible , `` 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 God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world ; but that the world through him might be saved '' -LRB- John 3:16 , 17 -RRB- ; also , `` The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost '' -LRB- Luke 19:10 -RRB- . These words were as a soothing balm to John 's aching heart . Having been fully awakened to his awful condition and made to long for the way of deliverance , he rejoiced as these rays of hope came streaming down into his soul . One by one he recalled his sins -- smoking and chewing tobacco , drinking whisky and beer , stealing , lying , card-playing , betting , gambling , and many other things ; but these he had already given up .