For the World (2)

Introduction: Last week we celebrated our 50th Anniversary. And as we looked back on the 50 years of God’s Faithfulness to us here in this place, we looked back to the 25th Anniversary and how they celebrated with joy and gratefulness to God…not knowing that the world was about to change.

2 days after North Hills celebrated 25 years was 9/11/21.

Now the attacks on 9/11 were horrific and the lives lost were substantial not just on that day but in the decade long War on Terrorism.

But there was something beautiful about 9/12 when we seemed to put aside our differences to just comfort one another. And then again on Sunday 9/16, when our churches were full.

People came looking for answers to the problem of evil in the world.

It doesn’t take a lot to look at the world and see that there is something wrong with our world. Sin abounds. Evil is called good. Good is called evil. There is no personal accountability and everyone calls themselves a victim.

We all agree there is a problem but we don’t agree on the source of the problem and we certainly don’t agree with the solution.

But we are very clear

1 Corinthians 1:23 ESV

but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

Jesus is the answer. The Gospel is the answer. But it is ridiculed because it doesn’t seem to make sense as people say, “It’s not that simple.”

But what if it is? When it comes to a loving and compassionate God, would He really make it complicated? Jesus certainly doesn’t think so.

Transition to the Text: Turn with me in your Bibles to John 3:14-16. 2 weeks ago we read about the encounter Nicodemus had with Jesus. And Jesus took the teacher of Israel to school. Jesus is now going to continue His teaching and we are blessed to be a fly on the wall of this incredibly teaching moment.

And here we get one of the clearest and simplest articulations of the Gospel in the famous and widely known verses in all of scripture.

John 3:16. It transcends religion and culture because it gets to the heart of who God is, who we are and how we can have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

But so often we only look at 1 verse. Today we look at the context of this incredible verse, what it means and how it changes everything.

Introduce: Jesus teaches us that…

Big Idea: God LOVED the world by SENDING His Son. We LOVE the world by PREACHING His Son.

Read: John 3:14-21

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.”

Big Idea: God LOVED the world by SENDING His Son. We LOVE the world by PREACHING His Son.

Here Jesus establishes that he basis for our eternal life is not into what family we are born or what tribe or nation we are born into. It’s not the language of our birth or the color of our skin. It’s not about good works or even going to the right church…or in Nicodemus’ case…the right synagogue.

It all comes down to one word…Faith. And the object of our faith is Jesus Christ. Faith is often a christianeze way of saying what we believe. But it’s not belief based on blind faith without evidence. It’s about believing in Jesus and trusting in His word. And what His word says is…

1. BELIEF leads to ETERNAL life. (John 3:14-18a)

Explanation: vs. 14-15 reminds us that Jesus was Jewish and steeped in the culture of the OT.

John 3:14–15 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.

This event took place in Numbers 21:9 when the people of Israel who were constantly acting foolish and bringing up on themselves the wrath and discipline of God. God would often make a way for their sin to be atoned for and the plague to be abated. And God often uses ways that don’t make a whole lot of sense.

In numbers, God sent fiery serpents (poisonous snakes) to bite the people because they grumbled against Moses and God because they were sick of eating mana int he wilderness. A lot of people died but God in His mercy made away for people avoid death because they repented.

God told Moses to make a fiery serpent of bronze put it on a pole and everyone who looked at it would live.

Now this makes absolutely no sense. There is no scientific reason that this would work. So someone looking at a serpent had no reason to believe this would work, but in desperation they believed what God has spoken through Moses and lived.

Jesus says that this is exactly what is about to happen with Himself. The Son of Man will be lifted up on a cross and whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. Again, this doesn’t make a whole lot of sense how one man can cover the sins of all mankind and help avoid eternal judgement. But God calls us to believe hard truths. But more than that this flies in the face of the idea that Jesus came to be a good teacher and example.

The reason Jesus came was to be lifted up. And all way back in chapter 3 he is already teaching that.

The cross was not an accident. It was always the plan. John 3:16 tells us.

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.

And this is the context of John 3:16. But more than that John 3:16 gives us God’s motivation for why He had Moses create a fiery serpent out of bronze and why He sent His only begotten Son.

Love. And it goes beyond the nation of Israel and the Jewish people.

God’s love is FOR THE WORLD.

God makes a way for the world to have a relationship with Him. And it is both ugly and beautiful. It is the justice of God and the mercy of God. It is where the love of God and the wrath of God meet in perfect harmon.

We love to quote scriptures about how God is love or God loves everyone. But do we know how the love of God is demonstrated?

It’s demonstrated at the cross.

But did you catch the switch in Jesus’ words that would have taken Nicodemus by suprise.

Nicodemus would have expected “For God so loved the children of Israel…” Instead Jesus says “the World.”

So much of the OT was about getting the Hebrews to follow the law of God and enter into His rest. Nicodemus would have expected, “If the children of Israel would just believe…” Jesus say, “ Whosover believers…”

A lot of people want to make the wrong theological argument about “Whosoever…”

Jesus is simply saying what He will say again again. John 10:16

John 10:16 ESV

16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Illustration:

Application: For God so love the world, that He sent His son. Not just for the people of Israel but for all who will believe in His name will have eternal life.

What is required for salvation? Belief.

Because Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to save it (vs. 17). But the only want to avoid condemnation is to believe.

But Nicodemus knows that this belief will cost him everything.

And even for us today, that belief comes with are responsibility.

To preach the name of Jesus to the world so that people will be given the opportunity to believe.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2. Warning the WORLD of the coming JUDGMENT is LOVE. (John 3:18b-21)

Explanation: Now my guess is that the majority of people who could quote John 3:16 by heart do not know the verses that come after especially 18-21.

Because the love of God quickly turns to judgement and condemnation.

To start, we are told that whoever does not believe is condemned already in their unbelief.

Jesus defines the judgement. The light has come into the world, and the people have loved the darkness rather than the light.

It’s interesting that Jesus says He didn’t come into the world to condemn the world but it would appear that His very presence in the world brings about condemnation for so many people who refuse to believe in the light of the world. But that’s not what He is saying, because, salvation even in the Old Testament was based on the promises of God through the coming Messiah. This wasn’t a new thing. The Messiah was coming. Even the samaritans knew that.

Because light exposes. That’s what Jesus did.

In some cases, the exposure leads to belief. Zacheus the tax collector when the light of Jesus shined on his wicked deeds, he repented, made things right and believe in Jesus. His believe led to eternal life.

On the other hand, Jesus’ light shining on the wicked deeds of the Pharisees and Sadducees led to their condemnation because they refused to believe.

The wicked naturally hate Jesus because He exposes their works as wicked.

And even here, Nicodemus’ future is still up in the air.

Because Jesus is shining light in darkness (remember he came at night) and the question is how will nicodemus respond to this?

Illustration:

Application: Now what does this mean? Why is telling people about what happens if we don’t believe in Jesus a loving act?

First of all, the very part of the Gospel is the acknowlege that we ourselves are sinners in need of a savior.

We love to look at the world and see the sinful, wicked and evil ways of other people. But the Bible calls us to be introspective to see that our own works apart from God are wicked and evil. And that we need a savior.

The wicked are afraid of the light because it exposes things they have no desire to change, but those who love the light love that it convicts them of sin so that God can deal with it and they can continue to live in harmony with God and His word.

If you are messing up and leading a life that will lead to eternal damnation apart from God….wouldn’t you want someone to tell you?

Wouldn’t you think that keeping that information to yourself to be unloving?

Because belief in Jesus is the only way to eternal life. It’s the only way to have a relationship with God. All other paths lead to death.

Anyone outside of that is living in a perpetual state of unbelief and is condemned already. Simply never hearing about Jesus does not give you a pass into heaven. That’s never stated or implied in scripture. John 14:6

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

But that’s so judgmental and hateful. Only if it’s not true.

If it’s not true, it’s nonsense.

But something we often miss is that study after study show us that Christians lead happier, joy filled, and meaningful lives than those who self identify as atheists or even other religions.

Not talking about what you read online. The regular every day Christian, reading God’s Word, serving in the church and raising their kids to know and serve the Lord.

They face trials differently. They face life differently with a meaning and purpose that transcends this life.

Because they are looking to their eternal reward. And I’ve never met a Christian that looked at the sinful and wicked lifestyles of those in the world and though, man I really missed out.

Telling people about Jesus and leading them to believe doesn’t just give them eternal life, but abundant life now.

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Response: Are you READY to BELIEVE?

Summation: This is why we do missions to the Philippines and to Thailand so that people can come to know Jesus, the only source of life now and into eternity.

We go to the nations because God loves the World.

But let us not forget to go into our community because God loves those in California as well.

And let’s be honest, the World has come to us.

So we have a responsibility to tell everyone about Jesus. To invite them to come and see the goodness of our God.

In our communities, schools, work places, in our homes. Even in our churches.

But it starts with you.

Have you embraced Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Have you come to the light, allowed it to exposes the thoughts and intentions of your hearts that you can repent?

May you believe in Jesus and have eternal life.

Closing Illustration:

Let’s pray.