JOHN 3:16

The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50."

The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100."

The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon. And it takes eight people to collect all the money!"

This morning I want to take some time to brag on my Father.

John 3:16 NKJV

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.

No other other passage in the New Testament, and perhaps off of literature is more widely known that this verse.

I dare say that no one listening this morning is unfamiliar with this passage.

Billy Graham said that if all of scripture was taken away except for this verse, it would be enough to save the world.

Every child is Sunday School has been taught this passage. Every preacher has heralded its truth, every missionary has shared it with the lost, every gospel singer has sung its message, and yet it is still the power of the Gospel.

These 25 words contain the message that transcends time and captures the heart of God.

What more can I say this morning? How can I add to a passage that is already clear? What new truths could I possibly proclaim of this scripture than what has already been shared?

No. This morning I can not add to it, nor should I or will I. Instead, I have resigned that it does not need my assistance, therefore I will merely share with you its divine message.

I want to begin by reading the story that led to these famous words.

John 3:1–19 NKJV

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

FOR GOD

SO LOVED

THE WORLD

THAT HE GAVE

HIS

ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

THAT WHOSEVER

BELIEVE’S IN HIM

SHOULD NOT PERISH

BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE