For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:15-17 NASB

This passage is from a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to Jesus under cover of darkness seeking to understand just who Jesus was. Something in his soul had been stirred. As they spoke, Jesus tells him that unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus is confused and asks, “How can these things be?” Jesus responds by explaining the “so that” of His rescue mission (so that the world might be saved through Him).

We don’t know the full impact of Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus. But we do know this. Despite the risk of being identified with Jesus, Nicodemus stepped out of the dark and into the light, showing up with Joseph of Arimathea to give Jesus a proper burial.

So that is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a clause of purpose or result, often indicating an action taken with a specific goal in mind. This series explores the so that of the providence of God. See here.