Why we have Good News

Introduction

Scripture

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

16 For God loved the world in this way:[e] He gave[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it,[g] so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by[h] the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Context

Today’s text contains perhaps the most well known and most quoted verses in the entire bible. So well known is it, that it is seen somewhere in the audience in most televised sports games and if generally speaking a christian has any one verse of the bible memorized, it is probably john 3:16 (and if you’re anything like me, you memorized it in a different translation and reading this one almost seems unusual).

So, what is happening in these verses? Well, if your bible has red lettering (meaning that they were words that Jesus said are in the color red), then you will clearly see that Jesus was speaking. But what was he doing? He was giving a special one on one teaching to a very important man in Israel at that time. This man was Niccodeamus, a Pharisee and member of the ruling teachers of Jews. Niccodeamus was a very influential man, and a man who we see was unlike many of his fellows of the day, in that he was honestly seeking for the Messiah, and thought me might have found Him in this Jesus who went through the nation performing miracles and speaking boldly and with authority in the name of God.

Wanting to know more and discover if this Jesus was indeed the Christ, he has a secret meeting with Jesus, under the cover of night; as in his mind “The Great Nicodemus” could come under scrutiny if he was seen meeting with this Jesus who many misguided people considered to be dangerous and a blasphemer. In Jesus teaching to Niccodemus, he is astounded (surprised) at how one of the great teachers of the land understood so little about God, that he didn’t understand that a person must be born again in The Holy Spirit if they are to be right with God. Jesus then tells him more, even telling him about how He (Jesus) must die so that everyone who believes in Him would have eternal life.

In today’s passage, a continuation of that teaching, we see Jesus reveal to us the very reason why we have the good news. That is, the very reason we have The Gospel of Jesus Christ, here we clearly see that God’s love is the reason we have been given The Gospel of Jesus. This is a fact that remains, God's love for you is so great that He sent His second person, Jesus the Christ, God the Son, to die for you and pay the penality for your sin debt so that you can be forgiven of your rebellion, your sin. So, let’s jump in and see this where, From the text, I want you to see these truths about why we have the good news.

Message

The first truth is that: God paid the highest price 16-17

16 For God loved the world in this way:[e] He gave[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Jesus teaches here that this is how much God loves the world. That God the Father gave up the person that was most important to Him, in whom He had great delight in, to us so that everyone who believes in The Son would not perish in their rebellion and know upon death the endless wrath of God (because rebellion against God, our Sin) instead, those that believe in Him would have eternal life. This is, instead of being continued punishment for your sin, you will have an eternity of restoration to God’s perfect design for the world and get to delight in the splendor and wonder of God forever. God sent His son to us not to condemn us, because all of mankind is already condemned, but so that those that believe in Him would be saved through Him (Jesus).

10 years ago, a young man sat nervously at an auction. He had a goal, a reason to be there, as there was an old police squad car, a dodge charger that he wanted very much. After several months of saving and working, he saved up enough money that he could bid on the car. The bidding began, and for a few moments, it looked like the car would be his. That is, until suddenly the bids came in and in, and before too long the young man could not pay for the car and dropped out of the bids. This young man was very upset, and everyone around could tell. Higher and higher the bids went, as the young man lost all hope. He wanted this car so bad, more than anything. Why?........ Because this dodge charger was his Dad’s old squad car, and this was an auction to help the surviving family members of police who died while on duty. Pictures, memories, and this squad car were all he had left of his dad, and he saw one of them being taken from Him. This young man’s name was Tanner, and he and his family lived in colorado. At the end of the auction the gavel banged, and a car that would normally go for around 10k at an auction, was sold for $62,500. The auctioneer handed the keys to the car over to the winner, a Mr. Wells, who then took the keys and handed them over to Tanner. This was an act of giant love and mercy.

As great as the gesture from Mr. Wells was. It in no way compares to the sacrifice God made when He sent His Son not only to earth to live with us (coming down from His throne on high to a low lost and fallen world); ultimately to die on a torture devise at the hands of treasonous rebels so that other rebels (sinners just like you and me) could be spared from the wrath that was awaiting us on the other side of eternity. This, this is an act of love beyond measure. God paid the highest price because He loves and treasures His creation (mankind, you) so much. God’s love is the reason we have been given The Gospel of Jesus.

The next truth is that you must: Believe in the name of Jesus 18

18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

Jesus continues, anyone believes, also meaning has faith/trusts in Him (Jesus) is not condemned (not guilty), but anyone who doesn’t believe/hasfaith/trusts is already condemned. What’s the core difference between the condemned and the uncondemned? Well, they are both born under the curse of sin and rebel against God. But, the difference is the belief/faith/trust in the only, Son of God. Made short, Jesus is clearly communicating, if you believe in Him you are saved, if you don’t then you are not.

A name is such an important thing. It defines you, it describes you, and no matter how hard a person may try to escape it, it is a part of you. Names having meanings, and that much is very clear to anyone that has named anyone or anything. Naming shows that you posses or care for the named person. It is an act of love to give someone or something a name, because it shows that you intend on “having something to do it” and not simply abandoning it. A name isn’t just that though, the name itself often has it’s own definition or meaning, that for example sake, a parent hopes comes to fruition through the child. So, a name describes a characteristic of someone.

Jesus here refers to The Name of the Son of God. Meaning, He describes Himself here, as having the characteristic, He is, the unique only person like Himself, who is equal to (is) God. Jesus shares the Characteristics of God because He is God. As He is God (one person of the Holy Trinity), then you must believe that He is God and came to the world and would die so that you will be whole when you put your trust in Him to pay in full the great amount of your sin debt. God did this out of love, not out of your greatness or goodness or ability or just plain old who you are. No, that has nothing to do with it. Hear me right now, God doesn’t need you. He doesn’t need anyone or anybody as the most powerful being in the universe. No, even better so, He wants you. He wants you to know Him and be His beloved child. God’s love is the reason we have been given The Gospel of Jesus. So, believe in the name of Jesus and know God as you never knew Him before.

Another truth is that: Darkness cannot abide in light 19-21

19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it,[g] so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by[h] the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Jesus shares with them, has he just had, that He did not come to the world (this time to judge the world), no. No, we have pronounced judgement on ourselves when we refuse the name of the one (Jesus) who offers us salvation. Listen to what Jesus says here, that the light (He) has come into the world, but people loved the darkness rather than the light because our sins make us evil, and evil does not like be shown. Evil likes being secret, unseen, so it can spread like an infectious disease. However, those that love the truth, that Jesus saves us from our sin when we trust in Him to save us, come to the light. When you come to the light, when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you become an instrument for God’s glory, and all the good works that your do, point towards the perfect goodness of Him.

Now, to abide means to be in or to live in. So, our point means that never ever, where there is light, will you see darkness. Anyone who has ever used a flashlight before knows this. I mean, can you imagine, turning on a flashlight in a dark room and noticing that in the middle of your flashlight beam, is an odd sphere or line of darkness? Wouldn’t that terrify you if it happened? It would, as light does not work this way. Darkness does not overcome light, no, light always overcomes darkness.

So, believer. Is there any darkness that you are trying to keep from the light? Is there a secret that you have, that you don’t want anyone to know? Well, let me tell you for starters there's no real such thing as secrets, as your God knows and sees everything. As He sees this, and yet He calls you His child if you are in Christ, you are called by your heavenly Father, ensured by your savior Jesus, and equipped by The Holy Spirit to repent of that secret sin, so that the light can shine and point towards our great God that takes wretched evil people like me and you and does wonderful things through them. Non believer, person who has not yet followed Jesus, here me. You are called to put your sin aside as well, and let the light come of Christ come into your life that the hidden evil in your life that you are so aware of, comes to a beautiful story of redemption. God’s love is the reason we have been given The Gospel of Jesus. So, let’s all know the gospel and share the gospel and this begins by believing in the name of Jesus.

Conclusion

Beloved, your light is Jesus. He is the light, the truth, that makes all things well. Here His worlds about Himself, and His gospel, His good news, Luke 8 verse 16 says 16 “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. Once you have the light, you are not to cover it, keep it secret, or keep it to yourself. No, you put up for all to see and benefit from. Could you imagine, how ridiculous it would be, if in this room for example, we were here and the power didn’t work and it was a cloudy day, and we were to all read something from our bibles. One person did have a light, and put it up here for me, but then instead of letting the light go out and share it, I put up wall between us so that you couldn’t benefit from it. This is what it is like to not share the light of Jesus. Fortunately for us, we were given a light that is to share, not because we are good, but because God loves us so much, and His love is so much that their is plenty to go around. So, now that you know why we have the good news, because of God’s love for mankind; you know more about it, which means you are to share it with others in turn. The reason we exist LaFayette Faith family, we are here is to love God, love people, and make disciples. You do all 3 of these when you share and send your light.

With all of that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.

With that, Let’s conclude. Brothers and Sisters, I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus, or have something you want to talk about, I’ll be here, don’t be afraid to come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, we thank You for who You are and what You are doing to us here in this place. May whatever it is that You are doing in each of heart here, continue as we leave go out into the world this week. Change us, mold us, make us, re-arrange us, that we can be both better lovers of You and better showers of You. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.