Jesus is the Dividing Line

Open: Demographic studies that segment the population. What type of person shops at Walmart?

Transition: When you drill down to what really matters, there are only two types of people in the world: the lost and the saved. And Jesus is the Dividing Line between the two groups

The Love of God is the only reason we have Jesus as a Dividing Line ()

Explanation: God would be entirely just in His dealings with humanity if He let all who sinned against Him go to Hell. Because of His great love, however, He gave His Son. The giving was very costly and came at a high price. The Creator entered His creation and lovingly suffered on the behalf of sinners.

Illustrate: We think: a man comes upon some boys in a swimming hole. They boys are struggling and he goes in and saves them.

It’s actually like this: a group of rebels and outlaws destroys a rich patron’s house and sets in on fire. They then get trapped in the fire. The only son of the patron comes by, goes in to rescue them, and dies in the process.

Argument: God’s amazing love is the initiating force in Redemption. From Eternity Past, the members of the Godhead were in harmony and in no need. God chose to create, and He likewise chose to redeem lost sinners. We are told that “God showed His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly” ()

Application: Believers: we should never get over the love of God, and never look down on those who are yet unredeemed

Unbelievers: Know that God has love for you

Belief in Jesus divides one group for Salvation ()

Explanation: In the beginning of this teaching, Jesus told Nicodemus that the New Birth was a necessity. Now, Jesus is telling His audience how to achieve the New Birth, and emphasizes again the importance of this action. Jesus tells them the reason that He came to earth was not for condemnation, but for salvation. He is the Promised One and those who put their faith and trust in Him will be saved.

Illustrate: belief in Christ that results in salvation is not just intellectual. It is the type of faith that gets in the wheelbarrow for the tightrope walk

Argument: While this is a simple concept, we often mess it up. Salvation is a free gift. Jesus paid our sin debt on the Cross, and we add nothing to it. When and if, we accept that gift through faith, our life changes and what we do as saved people is evident. (cf )

Application: Are you trusting in Jesus alone? No one can earn salvation

Unbelief in Jesus divides the other group for Condemnation ()

Explanation: While Jesus did come to bring salvation to the world, not everyone will be saved. The two groups are contrasted in this verse with the small word but. There were those who saw heard Jesus’ teaching, saw His miracles, saw His love for humanity, and still rejected Him. Sadly, there are still those in the modern world who know about Jesus, but reject Him as Lord. They do not believe He is the Son of God and the only means of salvation

Illustrate: Harry Randall Truman and the Mt. Saint Helen’s volcano eruption of May 18,1980.

Argument: The condemnation of unbelievers is in the present tense. The default position is condemnation. All people are born with a sin nature, and as a result, each of us sins and is separated from God. We remain in the “headed to Hell” category unless we place our faith and trust in Jesus.

Application: Eternity is a long time to be wrong. The primary motivation for salvation is to receive the blessings of God through Jesus: forgiveness of sin, a Savior who loves us, and His Holy Spirit who indwells us. But, those who are in Christ do remove themselves from condemnation (Romans 8:1)

Which category an individual belongs to will be shown by his actions ()

Explanation: John makes use of his light/darkness language to illustrate the differences between members of the two differing groups. John likens believers as those who live in the light and unbelievers as those who perform wicked deeds in the darkness

Illustrate: Not much fornication takes place in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings during worship. But what about Saturday late at night?

Argument: The problem many of us have is our definition of wicked. We compare our actions to those who commit murder, or rape, or blackmail, or prostitution, or human trafficking. Compared to those things we come out looking pretty good. The problem is that is not the standard. God’s perfect holiness is the standard, and our best deeds done in the flesh do not measure up (, )

Application: Do not be guilty of trusting in your good deeds done in your own power. Only that which is done in Christ counts as light.