John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
 
Why didn’t God send His Son to condemn the world?  Because the world was already guilty.  From the very beginning of the Bible, we see the sin of every man.  Adam and Eve began it all with sinning against God.  Cane continued their sin by murdering his brother Abel and sins continued as is recorded on nearly every page of the Bible – pointing to the sin and guilt of the world.
 
So how can we know that God loves us?  How could God possibly love us when we are so unlovable? 
 
He extended love for us that is far beyond our imagination.  He sent His perfect Son Jesus from heaven to come to this wicked earth, live a perfect life, die the death of a criminal, so that we would be (not only forgiven) but also given eternal life.  What a trade?  Trading our sin and wickedness for the riches of heaven.  How does that not bring tears to our eyes seeing our sin, our guilt, our filth, or rebellion against God and seeing the amazing love that he showed to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus.