The Lamb is the Only Son of God

The Lamb is the Only Son of God

John 3:16-21

INTRODUCTION

Abraham and Isaac- God provided a lamb.

John 3:16–21 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. 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.”

3 Reasons Why God Provided a Lamb

1. Love (16)

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.

John 15:13 ESV

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Love Gives Sacrificially

God is self-giving.

Only Son

Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac.

God told him to take his "only son Isaac."

Love Offers Freely- it is not forced. Eternal life is offered.

It's not free because it is cheap.

It cost God his Son.

It cost stepping away from His glory.

It is free because God paid for it and we do not have to.

Coming to Jesus like Nicodemus will not result in salvation. he had a superficial view. It will lead to confusion and frustration.

Salvation begins with God's love... NOT US.

But God's love requires us to make a choice.

Choice of Adam and Eve- he made in his image but did not force their allegiance.

Without free will there can not be love. You can not force love. Puppets don't love.

Without true love there is no relationship, only manipulation.

A proper view of God balances God's sovereignty and man's free will.

Love does not force its will on others.

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 ESV

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

Prodigal Son

Father let him go but longed for him to return.

2. Salvation (17-18)

John 3:17–18 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. 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.

Jesus did not come to condemn because man was already condemned.

We are condemned because of our sin.

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus came to save man.

Luke 19:10 ESV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The purpose of Jesus' coming was to save man from the condemnation that is to come.

Hebrews 9:27–28 ESV

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Revelation 20:11–15 ESV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

3. Light (19-21)

John 3:19–21 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. 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.”

Purpose of light is to show reality, truth. (19)

ILL- running in the dark- your eyes play all kinds of tricks on you.

every crack in the pavement is a snake ready to attack.

The light does not change the reality.

By pointing the flashlight, it is not changing a bear into a shadow.

It only reveals the truth.

Jesus and Nicodemus- Nicodemus came in the dark.

He was hiding his reality.

He came in literal darkness but it was a symptom of his spiritual darkness.

19B- do you love darkness?

Do you run from the truth.

Are you afraid to let people see who you truly are?

20- Do you hate the light?

Why does the world hate Christians? - because we are light.

Christians make those living in sin uncomfortable.

We do not have to say anything about their sin.

Our light makes them want to hide.

This is at the heart of persecution.

John 15:18–25 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

21- "comes to the light"- attracted to light or run from the light?

John 8:31–32 ESV

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Darkness will keep you captive. The Truth will set you free.

Come to the light.

CONCLUSION

Come to the light or die in darkness.

Jesus has come to us. He has come to save.

Will you accept his gift?