Hiding From the Light

We want to welcome you back to our devotional time through John. The last couple times we have talked about the need of a new birth that nicodemus had, and the old testament proof of the need of this spiritual birth.

Today we are going to focus on our need of that spiritual birth and what Christ had to say about this.

John 3:14–21 KJV 1900

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

I want to remind you that the serpent in the story of Moses was simply a type or image of Christ.

Those that believe on Christ will have eternal life.

It is a simple thing but its simple many people believe that it would have to be harder than this. God who can not lie has promised if you believe in Christ you shall be saved you will have eternal life. Its a simple thought and yet for some the most profound thing they will ever hear.

Those who don’t believe on Christ will be condemned.

If you don’t believe on Christ you have chosen to pay for your sin yourself. The cost is separation from God and this will last an eternity. The bible is clear that this will be served in a great lake of fire.

Some people however here would say that Christ then came to condemn the world but this can’t be the case according to scripture.

I want to define love here real quick, love it what one is willing to give up on behalf of the object that is loved.

God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Listen God love you so much that he was willing to pay the ultimate price to pay off your sin and restore the relationship that you had ruined.

Thats like a child giving up his mom and dad for a stranger, or a parent giving up their child on behalf of another. The list can go on. It seems unfathomable, but God was willing to do it for you.

Christ is not here to condemn the world, but to save it.

Because we see Gods love we see the price he was willing to pay. Now maybe you have struggled in your life with debt or maybe your a person who has never been able to buy a house.

This would be like someone offering to pay your debt, or a person offering to buy that house and you decide that you cant take it, even though their motives are pure and pursued by love and wanting the best for you. Now the debt aligns more simply because its something you owe. But the fact is people who reject Christ snub their nose at a gift that God was willing to give them for free.

The wicked love the dark even though the light is in the world.

Many people have used the excuse i would trust God but i would have to change. I dont want to give things up. They are virtually saying they want the darkness and not to be in the light.