God So Loved The World - That we may believe

Let’s take a look at our Scripture for today. John 3:14-3:21

[This passage can be found in the bible in front of you beginning on page 887]

John 3:14–21 ESV

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

God Loves Us!!!

On what basis does God love us?

— What have we done that deserves God’s love?

The beginning point for that discussion is an acknowledgement that the

THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST — Changed the World and everyone that was or will be in it.

— For our purposes today, our discussion begins in John 3.14.

John 3:14 ESV

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

— This is one three “Lifted Up” passages in John. The other 2 in Chapter 8 and Chapter 12

— The Jews of the time would have recognized this scripture, that is part of the Pentateuch. [The first 5 books of the Bible]

— Jesus compares His eventual crucifixion to Moses' lifting up of the serpent.

In Numbers 21.5

5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”

6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.

7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”

9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

— Scholars believe the serpents in Vs 8 are designated here as “fiery serpents”. were so-called because their bite inflicted a burning fever that, if not checked, brought death.

— The picture is one of both horror and glory.

—It is horrible in that the Israelites were beset by a hoard of “venomous snakes,” so many that the people could not escape.

— But at the same time it is glorious because here we also see God’s glorious provision of healing.

— The Lord left no doubt about the application:

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.”

— The snakes are symbolic of sin—in fact, the perfect symbol of sin because it was a serpent type creature that tempted Adam and Eve in the garden, thereby bringing sin into the world.

The Lord became sin for us.

Romans 8:3 ESV

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul adds

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

— And finally Galatians 3:13

Galatians 3:13 ESV

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

— So… We have talked about the OT connection and also the numerous times that Paul uses this same language in his NT letters.

— The crux of our faith, the opportunity that we have to be redeemed, changed into something that is pleasing to God is squarely on the shoulders of Jesus Christ.

We will be saved from perishing by believing in Jesus.

— God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that those who believe will have everlasting life and enter the KINGDOM OF GOD

God does NOT want anyone to perish. Why you ask?

— The person who perishes without God or Faith in His son... will NEVER have opportunity to change, to be reborn, to be regenerated.

— To put their FAITH and allegiance to Christ alone and be saved.

— Let’s get to the verse that explains the Gospel far better than any person can/

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

— Because Jesus was lifted up on the cross we now have access to the GRACE and MERCY that comes by believing.

— Because GOD gave us Jesus, His only Son, as a sacrifice… Our belief in Jesus ordains eternal life with God!

God Gives US eternal Life

— God does not want anyone to perish or be condemned, but to be saved

— Those who believe in Jesus will not perish, but have everlasting life.

— They will not be condemned, unlike those who do not believe.

John 3:17 ESV

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

— This time, Jesus came to the earth, not to condemn but to SAVE.

— There is a time coming that Jesus will return to earth.

— to right all of the wrongs and to welcome those who “have believed.”

— Judgement will come to those without a relationship with God through Jesus

Vs. 18

John 3:18 ESV

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

— Trust in Christ prevents condemnation, for he takes our place and pays the penalty for ALL who put their FAITH in his hands.

— Without Faith,

— being born of water, just gets us clean.

— being born of the Spirit is IMPOSSIBLE

“… And this is the Judgement.

— Many people come up to Gospel.

—Sometimes they reject it and other times they times they accept The Gospel.

— Why would anyone… reject this offer of FREEDOM, FREEDOM IN CHRIST

— Why would ANYONE reject this FREE GIFT!

MANY LOVE “DARKNESS” MORE THAN LIGHT...

— Sin is fun

— Darkness represents “sin” and those who live in darkness will NOT see the light without God reworking their heart, soul and mind.

— Vs.19 & 20

John 3:19–20 ESV

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

— Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid the debt. IT WAS DONE … BUT, at GREAT COST!!!

— “Judgement” is NOT a word that we like to hear

— We see “Grace” in our lives and the lives of the people around us.

— 100% — God looks at the sinner and he cries. He mourns, AND HE waits… AND WAITS.

— He is eternal, his wait can last as long as it needs to be.

— Continuing on the path of “darkness” and sin, only drives us deeper into darkness and sin.

— When we are outside of God’s will and we continual to live there.

— God will redeem us, He will bring us back to an eternity with Him.

— But… Redemption, salvation, new or renewed birth, is COSTLY.

Vs. 20

John 3:20 ESV

20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

— Which of the “everyone’s” are you?

— Do you continue do wicked things because you are “saved?”

— Paul says we should NOT continue in sin.

— Sin is FUN, but we don’t want our dark, dark, secret “fun” to be exposed. But scripture is clear.

— Darkness WILL NOT overcome the light

“Sin,”and “wickedness” mocks the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.

We need to have some resolution, some contrast to darkness, some approach to dealing with our sin.

Vs. 21

John 3:21 ESV

21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

— Whatever we do, it’s either part of the “Darkness” or it’s part of the “Light”

— Embrace what is good, run away, far away from what is evil and dark.

— Let your “good works” shine through and pray that those “good works” are attributed to God.

— That our family members, our community would see the good works and for even an instant and say… “I want those things in my life.

Question: Are you 100% free from “evil works?”

— If you say “yes” be on guard, for satan or his minions will attack.

— If you know that evil still exits, that we live in a fallen world and we aren’t perfect, just saved… that’s a good place to start.

New Birth is a journey...

— New birth is evident in how we treat each other.

— Do we talk with each other in Hymns and Songs OR are we unloving, ungraceful, and judgmental.

— Check yourself, allow the Holy Spirit to DRIVE out darkness, evil and sin from your life.

— Speak LOUDLY against those who are unloving and judgmental and lack the Grace of God.

Call out “SMUGNESS”… This attitude that you know more, are better than, and are judgmental and suspicious of other Brothers and Sisters…

THIS MUST STOP NOW!!! There is no place for that in our body, and in our world.

— We will not stand for it...

— AND allow the Grace of God that was delivered to a sick and dying world.

— NOT so that we would parish… But that we would have life intentionally lived for and with God.

Communion

— We are going to transition to Communion now.

— Our servers will come as I read scripture

— Take some time and individually examine yourself. Confess your sin, Seek forgiveness from the only one that it really maters… God

1 Corinthians 11:23–32 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

— Body

— Bread

— As a part of our communion service, we are aware of those who are suffering and poor.

— We take a benevolent offering each communion, to offer those in our body and community help when it is needed most.

— If you are in need of assistance, please let me know, I will make it happen anonymously.