John 3:16-21 Sermon
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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.”
Background and Context
Background and Context
In our passage today we see should again remember that Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus.
Last week we unpacked .
When looking at how God so loved the world, we asked the question, “What does it mean for God to love?”
Question: What does it mean for God to love?
We saw some examples of how God loves in Scripture.
First, we talked about the unique love of the Father for the Son and of the Son for the Father.
First, we talked about the unique love of the Father for the Son and of the Son for the Father.
We read in and , where the Father loves the Son and how the Son loves the Father.
This love is unique in that this love has always existed and this love is perfectly expressed with no beginning and no end.
What is amazing about this is that God invites us in this perfect communion through the giving of His Son in order that we would be able to fellowship with Him.
Because of time last week I couldn’t include some points I wanted to make but this one I wanted to share today which comes from Jesus in what is called His high priestly prayer, said this in ,
Jesus in what is called His high priestly prayer, said this in ,
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
The love that the Father has for the Son and the Son for Father has been extended to those who would come to saving faith.
This is a love given to us not based on our merits or worth! To God be the glory!
The second example we saw was God’s providential love over all that he has made.
The second example we saw was God’s providential love over all that he has made.
9 The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Psalm 145:
In a general sense God loves the world in that He shows them common grace and mercy.
Second, We see God’s providential love over all that he has made
The last example we talked about was God’s special love for the elect.
The last example we talked about was God’s special love for the elect.
gives us the truth about God’s special love for the elect.
God gave His only Son so that those who come to saving faith in Him would not perish.
And not perishing, meaning living forever, does not mean eternal life. But rather knowing the Father and the Son is eternal life which He will give to those of saving faith!
Belief in anything/anyone other than Jesus Christ leaves one in a perishable state.
But belief in the Son gives us eternal life!
This is what Nicodemus needed see and hear.
He needed the gospel and our passage today is Jesus giving the gospel to a man of the pharisees who was a ruler of the Jews, who knew the Scriptures but he was someone who did not receive the testimony of Jesus Christ.
He was a man who believed in the signs Jesus did but was himself not a believer in Jesus Christ.
Thus his need for the gospel.
We learned last week that Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews who was from the Pharisees.At the end of chapter two we read that Jesus saw a belief without faith.
ESV23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
There were those who believed in the signs Jesus did but they had a belief only in the signs Jesus did.Jesus didn’t entrust Himself to them which meant that they did not have a genuine faith in Him.We saw that Nicodemus was an example of one who had a belief in the signs Jesus did but was without faith in Jesus.Nicodemus said in ,
ESV2 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.”
Nicodemus believed that Jesus was a teacher who came from God and that God was with him.But Jesus directly dealt with Nicodemus when He answered his statement in ,
ESV3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The following verses reveal more of Nicodemus’ problem.He was a man with an ascent or a belief in what Jesus was doing but he was without faith in Jesus Christ.And what Jesus begins to do is what we should all do when someone shows to have a professed faith without saving faith, Jesus shared the gospel.In , He tells Nicodemus his core problem.
ESV11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
Nicodemus is refusing to believe with not receiving the testimony of Jesus Christ.He is doing this while believing in the signs Jesus did.Then in verses 13-15, He begins to unfold to Him the gospel.
ESV13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 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.
After exposing his problem in needing to be born again, Jesus gives him the solution to his problem. Which was that he needed to receive the testimony of Jesus as the only begotten Son sent into the world to save those who are perishing in their sins.
Which was that he needed to receive the testimony of Jesus being the only begotten Son sent into the world to save those who are perishing in their sins.
This is why the love of God is not based on the merit or worth of the person being loved but rather it is based on God’s own character because man in himself is perished in sin and in darkness.
Outline
Outline
1. The giving and sending of the Son (v.16-17)
2. Belief and disbelief in the Son (v.18)
3. The light of the Son (v.19)
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
4. The rejection and work of the Son (v.20-21)
1. The giving and sending of the Son (v.16-17)
1. The giving and sending of the Son (v.16-17)
Read verses 16 and 17
Read verses 16 and 17
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
Both verses start with “For God.”
Verse 16 begins with “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.”
And verse 17 begins with “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world.”
In verse 16, we see the intent behind God giving His Son. God’s motivation came from Himself. It was His love and the result from His love was that those who would believe in the Son would:
First: Not perish
Meaning that those who believe in the Son will not be destroyed
And it meant that they would never perish because of faith in Christ which meant that...
Second: They would have eternal life
This is the result of saving faith in the Son whom God had sent for that very purpose
God’s love, which is not based on the merit or worth of the person being loved, was the motive in giving His only Son
In verse 16, Jesus is revealing to Nicodemus the motive and the result of God sending Him into the world. It was to give eternal life to those who’d believe in Jesus Christ.
God the Father wanted fellowship with us!
In verse 17, we see God sending the Son into the world.
Sending His Son compared to giving His Son shows us another layer of why Jesus came into the world.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. And He sends His only Son.
The term send is meant to convey that a mission has been assigned to someone (a messenger). Someone who is in subordination to the will of the sender.
Jesus spoke of this in John 5:19,
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
The concept of sending involves several elements: a definite mission assigned to a messenger, the messenger’s subordination to the will of the sender, the impartation of the sender’s authority to the one sent, the faithful completion of the mission by the messenger, and often the reception of the messenger by the sender when the assignment has been completed.
To be sent also meant that the one sent was expected to carry out the mission they were given.
E. F. Harrison, “Send,” ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 393.
In verse 1
had the expectation of the one sent to complete the mission they were given.
, the impartation of the sender’s authority to the one sent, the faithful completion of the mission by the messenger, and often the reception of the messenger by the sender when the assignment has been completed.
Jesus, in the gospel of John, would also be a sender:
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
1. The Holy Spirit was sent in and .
We see that the Holy Spirit who was sent was given a message.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
2. We see His disciples being sent in and .
His disciples in and
And they also were given a message.
Both examples show us, along with verse 17 of our text, that to send someone meant that the one sent was sent with a mission and a message.
Verse 17 shows us what that mission and message was.
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.
The mission of Jesus Christ was not to condemn the world but to save it.
And His message was that it was the Father who sent Him as the object of faith for salvation.
“Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” That was His message!
He did not come to pronounce guilt and a punitive sentence on us.
His mission was not to judge because that was reserved for another time.
to condemn (declare guilty) v. — to pronounce guilt and a punitive sentence on someone in a legal context.
Remember this is Jesus in His humiliation. But in His glory (which is coming) He will judge.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Matthew
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
The primary reason for the Father sending His Son was to save not condemn. This was the mission.
And the message was that Jesus is the only Son of God and that faith in Him saves.
What good news this was for Nicodemus and for all of us here today!
Matthew
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.
The sending of Jesus Christ by the Father was done so that the world might be saved through Him. Which comes from hearing and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is very gospel message being given to Nicodemus in our text.
Through Him. Meaning that in believing Him one would be given eternal life and salvation from perishing.
This is what Jesus was telling Nicodemus and this was the testimony that Nicodemus was rejecting.
Remember what Jesus told Nicodemus in :
11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
The witness given by John the Baptist in chapter one about Jesus being the Lamb of God, the Son of God and the One who was before Him, this was the testimony that Nicodemus was rejecting!
Jesus is giving Nicodemus the details of the giving and sending by the Father.
Leaving Him with no excuse for his rejection.
Either one believes and is made free because of faith in Jesus or one does not believe and rejects Jesus. Which leaves one in their condemnation.
Which is the second point in verse 18.
2. Belief and disbelief in the Son (v.18)
2. Belief and disbelief in the Son (v.18)
Read Verse 18
Read Verse 18
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
Either one believes and is made free or one does not believe and is left condemned.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised Condemn; Condemned; Condemnation
CONDEMN; CONDEMNED; CONDEMNATION [Heb. rāša’, šāp̱aṭ, šep̱āṭîm (Prov. 19:29), ʾāšēm (Ps. 34:21f); Gk. krínō, katakrínō, kríma, krísis, katakríma, katákrisis, katadikázō, kataginṓskō, apṓleia (2 Pet. 2:3)]; AV also JUDGE, JUDGMENTS (Prov. 19:29, DAMNED, DAMNATION, WICKED (Job 9:29), DESOLATE (Ps. 34:21f), BLAMED (Gal. 2:11); NEB also “declare to be in the wrong” (Ex. 22:9), “accounted guilty” (Job 9:29), DISPARAGE (34:17), “put in the wrong” (40:8; He. 11:7), “brought to ruin” (Ps. 34:21f), “a rod (in pickle)” (Prov. 19:29), SENTENCE, JUDGE, JUDGMENT, “pass judgement” (Rom. 2:27; 8:3), GUILTY (14:23), BLAME (2 Cor. 7:3), “in the wrong” (Gal. 2:11), DOOM (Jude 4), etc.; SELF-CONDEMNED [Gk. autokatákritos]. (Tit. 3:11). The Heb. šāp̱aṭ and Gk. krínō usually mean “judge,” and kríma and krísis “judgment”; condemnation—a negative judgment—is explicit in Heb. rāšà and in the Greek terms beginning with kata- (“down,” “against”). Gk. apṓleia normally means “destruction” or “perdition.” See JUDGING. On Am. 2:8 see FINES.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised Condemn; Condemned; Condemnation
CONDEMN; CONDEMNED; CONDEMNATION [Heb. rāša’, šāp̱aṭ, šep̱āṭîm (Prov. 19:29), ʾāšēm (Ps. 34:21f); Gk. krínō, katakrínō, kríma, krísis, katakríma, katákrisis, katadikázō, kataginṓskō, apṓleia (2 Pet. 2:3)]; AV also JUDGE, JUDGMENTS (Prov. 19:29, DAMNED, DAMNATION, WICKED (Job 9:29), DESOLATE (Ps. 34:21f), BLAMED (Gal. 2:11); NEB also “declare to be in the wrong” (Ex. 22:9), “accounted guilty” (Job 9:29), DISPARAGE (34:17), “put in the wrong” (40:8; He. 11:7), “brought to ruin” (Ps. 34:21f), “a rod (in pickle)” (Prov. 19:29), SENTENCE, JUDGE, JUDGMENT, “pass judgement” (Rom. 2:27; 8:3), GUILTY (14:23), BLAME (2 Cor. 7:3), “in the wrong” (Gal. 2:11), DOOM (Jude 4), etc.; SELF-CONDEMNED [Gk. autokatákritos]. (Tit. 3:11). The Heb. šāp̱aṭ and Gk. krínō usually mean “judge,” and kríma and krísis “judgment”; condemnation—a negative judgment—is explicit in Heb. rāšà and in the Greek terms beginning with kata- (“down,” “against”). Gk. apṓleia normally means “destruction” or “perdition.” See JUDGING. On Am. 2:8 see FINES.
To be condemned essentially means that one has been pronounced guilty.
ESV
Here, Jesus is revealing the cause to someone’s salvation and condemnation.
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.
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned”
If condemnation is the pronounced guilt of someone before God it is no wonder why we are declared righteous!
25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Justification comes by faith in the Son. This is how one is freed from condemnation.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“but whoever does not believe is condemned already”
Meaning that not believing in the Son proves one’s own condemnation. It proves their already being guilty of sin.
And the cause to someone’s condemnation is:
“he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” Which is a sin. It was the sin that Nicodemus was guilty of in our text.
This is why God didn’t send his Son into the world to condemn the world because the world was already guilty because the world did not believe.
This is why Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:12,
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
To be condemned means to be guilty.
The world (the people in darkness) were already guilty before God because of their unbelief in the name of the only Son of God.
The world (the people in darkness) were already guilty before God because of their disbelief in the name of the only Son of God. Which is the case with everyone apart from saving faith.
So, rather than to leave us in our condemned state, God because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, He sent His only Son in order that we would be saved through faith in Him.
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Faith in Christ saves from condemnation and guilt before God.
Question: Have we forgotten how great of a salvation this is???
Belief in the Son means that we are not condemned
Belief in the Son brings eternal life
Belief in the Son raises one from their deadness before God
Belief in the Son removes the guilty verdict from us and He declares us righteous
Belief in the Son, not signs, brings us salvation
The cause to our already condemnation was that we did not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And the cause to our already condemnation was that we did not believed in the name of the only Son of God
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
This was Nicodemus. In fact it is anyone apart from saving faith in Jesus Christ.
The cause to our guilt before God is our refusal to believe in Jesus Christ.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
Ephesians 2
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
And the engine running our refusal is a love for the world which is what it means to be in darkness.
Your refusal of believing in Jesus Christ is your love for your own works which are evil.
Our love for our own works that are evil is what our condition is before God prior to salvation.
Our love for our own works which are evil is darkness.
They are evil because they are not the work of God but the works of the flesh.
That is what Jesus exposes in His incarnation.
That is what Jesus shows in our text and it is what He showed in His incarnation.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The world didn’t know Him because the world didn’t want to know Him.
The inherent problem with man is moral. We are totally depraved. Meaning we are morally bankrupt before God and unable to save ourselves.
Which is not just ignorance. Rejection of Jesus Christ happens because we are in love with something more than Him.
We loved ourselves more than God
We loved our sin more than God
We loved money more than God
We loved signs more than God
We loved the world more than God
In other words, we loved our own works more than God. Which makes all of our efforts and works evil.
The light of the only Son of God exposes this.
Verse 19 reads,
The light of the only Son of God exposes this.
3. The light of the Son (v.19)
3. The light of the Son (v.19)
Read verse 19
Read verse 19
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
We can actually start the verse by also saying and this is the verdict.
Meaning, that a decision was made from judging the facts.
Jesus is light and He has come into the world
We need the work of God in us to believe
And people loved themselves and their own works over the work of God
Jesus here is not only showing the motive and mission of God sending His Son. He is exposing that in His appearance He reveals the evil of man.
Jesus here is not only showing the motive and mission of God sending His Son. He is exposing that man is condemned already because
Jesus begins to show Nicodemus’ inherent problem which is the problem with everyone who denies and rejects Jesus Christ.
This is the set up to verse 17. Jesus begins to show Nicodemus’ inherent problem which is the problem with everyone who denies Jesus Christ.
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.
God in sending Jesus is saving but also exposing.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
Remember that God sent His Son with a mission and a message.
His mission was to save those who were lost through faith in God the Son.
And his message was:
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
The message they heard was that God is light. And Jesus is called light in the gospel of John. Which again proves that Jesus is God.
This light that has come into the world. To save those who were in darkness.
the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
But people loved the darkness rather than the light.
And they hated the light because their works were evil.
This is who we are apart from saving faith!
We were those who did not recieved the saving testimony of Jesus Christ
We were those who were perishing in our sin and rebellion
We were condemned and guilty before God
We were those who didn’t believe in the name of the only Son of God
We were those who loved the darkness (whose works were evil)
But God had a mission. God sends His only Son into the world to save us because we could not save ourselves. We were blind and in darkness.
Although we are found in our rejection those who come to saving faith come because of the work done by Him and done through faith in Him.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
By loving deeds done in the darkness. Our deeds. Our works.
In other words, you don’t do the work of God.
Belief is the work of God not man.
The work we do is rejection and disbelief in the Son.
So it took the work of God done in His only Son being sent to us, to save us.
That is why it is impossible to be saved by our works.
But we are saved by His work done in Jesus Christ!
Yet we reject it. And though we are found in our rejection those who come to saving faith come because of the work done by Him and done through faith in Him.
4. The rejection and work of the Son (v.20-21)
4. The rejection and work of the Son (v.20-21)
Read verse 20
Read verse 20
Verse 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Verse 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Hating the light here means that people apart from saving faith hate Jesus.
Jesus is the light that John is talking about here.
People in darkness are not just ignorant but we all prior to salvation were haters of God.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
This is us without saving faith!
We are haters of God apart from saving faith.
This is what rejection of Jesus Christ proves. It proves that we do not love God.
But acceptance (faith in Jesus Christ), this proves the work of God. Which is a work of God alone.
Read verse 21
Read verse 21
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
This is what belief in God proves. It proves that the belief we have in God has been carried out in God!
And faith in Christ produces works that are done in truth.
Salvation comes from grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Salvation comes from grace alone through faith in Christ alone.
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Jesus was showing Nicodemus his issue.
He showed him that his works were evil and that the only way to salvation was to believe in Him who God had sent.
He rejected the testimony of Jesus Christ
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
His condition did not change!
Salvation is a work of God that is brought by a love that is not given because of anything deserved on our part.
But a genuine belief in God proves that their faith was a work of God.
It was given because God in Himself is love.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We shall never perish. We have eternal life. And eternal life is knowing the Father and the Son.
Close in prayer.