This is a sermon that continues in our Devotional: No Longer Tossed, “All Things New” Revelation 21: 1-5. You can watch more here.
Introduction:
– John 3: 16, most quoted, written, printed, memorized verse.
– Yet, the depth, value, and weight of it is often misunderstood and taken lightly.
– Many have heard it, yet few have responded and surrendered to it.
– John 3: 16-21 is the end part of the conversation of Jesus and Nicodemus.
– In John 3: 1-15 Jesus tells Nicodemus, a religious yet a lost man the only way to the
kingdom of God is to look upon Jesus (John 3: 15/ Numbers 21: 4-9) by faith alone (Eph
2: 8-9, Romans 1:17) not a religion, but a new birth, John 3: 3, 5.
– And new birth (salvation) is the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit alone, John 3: 8.
– And in John 3: 16-21 Jesus tells Nicodemus why and how God does such divine, costly,
sacrificial work sovereignly for us. And how the world is to respond to this act of love of
God so that the world might have everlasting life.
: Let’s read the Scriptures and listen to how God has loved us, why God has loved us, and how
the world should respond to it.
Read : John 3: 16-21.
1 ) How God loved: John 3: 16
– Gospel in nutshell / Heart of the Scriptures – Martin Luther
– For God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son, John 3: 16a.
– God gave his only begotten Son : sacrificially, it was? costly, initiated from God himself
because God himself is Love, 1 John 4: 8.
– So loved: God’s love displayed, demonstrated, acted in giving his Son, Jesus Christ.
– Jesus Christ, his eternal son, fully God fully man was given and sent for the world. And
he went to the cross, bore the judgement, died, was buried and rose again.
– That is why it is good news, 2 Cor 5: 21.
: This is how God loved the world. God’s love for the world is revealed in giving his son for the
world. His Son Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of the world willingly came down to save the
world. Being conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, went to the cross, shed his
blood, died, buried and rose again, paid the debt or wages of the sin of the world. That is why
repentance and forgiveness of our sin is possible and salvation is in Him.
(This one verse destroys the whole theology of prosperity gospel, name it claim it, word of faith-
false gospel. God did not give finance, success, but he gave His son.)
2 ) Why God loved the world : John 3 : 17
– Not to condemn the world ; but that the world through him might be saved, John 3: 17b.
– God’s love for the world is to save .
– Jesus’ mission is to rescue the world, to save the world, not to judge the world.
– John 1: 17 says grace and truth came from Jesus but the law came from Moses.
– Law condemns, law judges so law leads to the truth as teacher, guardrail.
– The world is already under condemnation and moving toward eternal judgment.
– But in Jesus; coming the salvation is offered, the way has been made and offered freely at
the expense of the sacrifice, blood and death of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
– God gave his Son, John 3: 16a, God sent his Son, John 3: 17a so the world might be
saved.
:This is why God gave his Son, eternal, begotten, fully God, fully man , Son of God , sent him to
the world so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life, John 3: 16b.
:This is the purpose of the love of God in giving and sending his son to the world to save the
world, to rescue, redeem and reconcile the world through His son Jesus Christ our Lord and
Savior, 2 Cor 5: 20-21.
Let’s talk about condemnation here,
– Read John 3: 18-20.
– Condemnation is the rejection of Christ, his name, John 3: 18b; his coming and works on
the cross and resurrection. Not trusting the fulfillment of prophecies and promises in him.
– Rejection of the Son who was given and sent for the world, John 3: 16 – 17.
– Condemnation is rejection of the Light, the truth that came. Condemnation is the choice
of loving the darkness because the deeds were evil, John 3:19b.
– So he that rejects the Son who was given and sent, not believing in him is already
condemned. And they LOVE darkness and deeds of darkness.
– But he that believes in Him, accepts the truth, trusts in Christ, there is no condemnation
because Christ has already borne that condemnation for us.
– Because they accept Christ, they confess their sins to Him so that they can be saved by
repentance and faith in him.
– The world just has to look upon Christ, behold Him and trust Him who was crucified,
buried, and raised to life, the living and glorified Lord Jesus Christ.
3) Now the question is: How do we respond to God’s love ?
– Believe, trust the Son who was given and sent for us, John 3: 16b, 17b.
– Repent from the sin.
– And walk in the light, live in Him.
Conclusion: Today, we have learnt the good news. God has already shown His love. God has
already given His Son. God has already provided salvation. God’s love is revealed in the giving
of His Son, calling the world ( sinners ) to believe, repent, and have eternal life in Him.
And I am closing, saying this: The question is not: “Does God love us?” Rather, it is: will we
come to the Light? Do we believe in him? Do we respond to his love, his call, do we accept and
trust his Son?
May we not only quote the Gospel, — may we believe it, live it, and walk in its light. Amen.
North Village Church
This sermon is brought to you by North Village Church, a non-denominational church in Austin. established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who are wanting to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. If you are a family with children or teens, we can support you with either or both our Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry.
You are welcome to contact us if you would like more information.
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