The greatest love John 3:16

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Introduction

What is the greatest news people have every heard?

It was on 8th of May 1945 that Sir Winston Churchill announced the end of the war in Europe. Imagine the thrill and relief people must have felt the moment they heard the news.

This was great news indeed, but not the best news human ears can ever hear.

The best news we can hear is found in a verse that was read to us in John 3. John 3:16

Most well known verse of the Bible. Martin Luther- The Bible in miniature. It contains the greatest message we can ever hear.

Give context/ flow of argument.

God loves therefore he gave, he gave so he could save.

I. God loves

For God so loved the world

a) God’s love

God- so loved- debate whether this is intensity or man. DA Carson- intensity.

-God’s love is salvific- it is a love that wants people to be saved.

Explain Biblical salvation.

-God’s love is a holy love- God’s love is not unconcerned about sin.

-God’s love is infinite-

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

  And were the skies of parchment made;

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

  And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above

  Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

  Though stretched from sky to sky.

b) extent of God’s love

The world-

All people 1Tim 2:4

Sinners Rom 5:8

This is where God’s salvation plan began. Not with our worthiness, but with his love.

App-

God loves you- This is amazing in light of our sin.

Adolf Hitler- Declared total war-we were at total war with God. Yet God loves us and desires our salvation. He wants us to come to him.

II. God gives

that he gave his only begotten Son

a) who he gave

His Son, His only begotten.

The infinite value of his gift.

Only begotten- the same essence. Second person of the Trinity.

b) how he gave

He came to earth- incarnation

lived a perfect life

died as our substitute- atoning death

Rose from the grave

c) for whom he gave

Not for good people- Christ died for the ungodly

For the world.

App-

Many people gave their sons during WW1 and WW2, but they did so for innocent people. God gave his Son for guilty people.

What have you done with God’s Son?

III. God saves

that whoever believers in him should not perish but have eternal life

a) everyone who believes

i) repentance and faith

ii) faith means trust

iii) the object of faith

b) shall not perish

Mercy- not getting what we deserve

Not be condemned in hell forever.

c) eternal life

Grace- getting what we do not deserve

Have is in the present tense- They have eternal life the moment they believe.

Explain eternal life- John 17:3

Romans 6:23

App-

Have you done this?

If you have then you have eternal life- encourage believers.

Conclusion

In this verse we have the greatest message that human ears can hear. We are told of the greatest love that exists. We learn about the greatest sacrifice ever made. We see the greatest gift you can receive.

God loves, God gives, God saves.

Sergeant John Meikle, a railwayman at Nits hill station near Glasgow died on 20 july in the Second Battle of the Marne, aged twenty in an action which earned him the Victoria Cross. Four months earlier he had written a poem to his mother:

I fought in a battle today, mother,

The enemy’s fire was strong.

The shrapnel screamed overhead, mother,

And shrill was the bullet’s song.

And after the battle was over, mother,

And I had time to rest,

I felt so sick and sad, mother,

My heart was so depressed.

I longed to be safe, in the fold, mother,

So I fell on my knees in the mud,

And I prayed to God above, mother.

‘Oh wash me in Jesus’ blood’.

Just as I said these words, mother,

Sweet peace pervaded my soul,

I knew God answered my prayer, mother,

That he’d cleansed and made me whole.

So rejoice with your wayward lad, mother,

Who has found his God at last;

Who after your loving prayers, mother,

Into Light and Life has passed.

John Meikel got eternal life that day because God loves, he gives and he saves. If you do what he did then God will save you as well. Believe in Jesus Christ and you shall have eternal life.