The Greatest Verse in the Bible

The Greatest Verse in the Bible

Text: John 3:16 (KJV 1900)

16 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.

Introduction:

* ‌The Bible verse John 3:16 has been called “the Gospel in a nutshell.”

* John 3:16 It is the greatest verse in the Bible.

* It is the golden text of the Word of God.

* It is known by more people than any other verse in the entire Bible.

* The love as portrayed in John 3:16 goes beyond the comprehension of man's mind.

* It defies our understanding for it tells of a God who loves people even though they don't love Him.

* This is why one of the great pulpit voices of the past, William B. Riley, wrote: “In thirty years of pastorate in one church I have dared this text but once. This neglect is not from lack of appreciation, but, on the contrary, from a conviction that its understanding and interpretation are beyond me.”

* Or as D. L. Moody, the great evangelist of past years, when speaking on this text declared: “My message is on fire tonight, and I wish it might be burned into every heart.”

I. For God…

* Who is this God?

* Well this morning I am here to tell you of the God of John 3:16.

* This God of John 3:16 is a God who demands the praise of all creation according to Psalms 148: 7-13:

Psalm 148:6–13 (KJV 1900)

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, Ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; Stormy wind fulfilling his word: 9 Mountains, and all hills; Fruitful trees, and all cedars: 10 Beasts, and all cattle; Creeping things, and flying fowl: 11 Kings of the earth, and all people; Princes, and all judges of the earth: 12 Both young men, and maidens; Old men, and children:

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: For his name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven.

* This God has many names this morning. And each name has a special meaning that tells us something about this God…

* In the Old Testament times, a name was not only identification, but an identity as well.

* Many times a special meaning was attached to the name.

* Throughout the Bible God has revealed Himself to us through His names. When we study these names that He reveals to us in the Bible, we better understand who God really is.

* The meanings behind God's names reveal the central personality and nature of the God of John 3:16.

(el shad-di')

All-Sufficient One, Lord God Almighty

* (el shad-di') refers to God completely nourishing, satisfying, and supplying His people with all their needs as a mother would her child. Connected with the word for God, El, this denotes a God who freely gives nourishment and blessing, He is our sustainer.

* My friend each one of us has been created with a desire within us to seek this All Sufficient One, El, Shaddi, the God of John 3:16. We all have a thirst within us that must be satisfied!

* My friend the only way you will ever be satisfied in this life is to seek a relationship with the “All Sufficient One,” the Satisfier of man’s soul, El-Shaddi, the God of John 3:16.

(el el-yone') The Most High God

Elyon literally means "Most High"

* The God of John 3:16 is the “Most High” God.

* There is another God this morning that seeks your soul. This other “Imposter God,” according to the Bible tried to lift his throne above the throne of God and is trying to will your allegiance to him.

* In II Corinthians chapter 4 the Bible tells us this “impostor God” is called the God of this world.

* In this same passage, we see he is out to hide the real God of John 3:16 from every man, woman, boy and girl:

2 Corinthians 4:2–4 (KJV 1900)

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

(yah-weh) Lord, Master, Jehovah

* This name of God which (by Jewish tradition) is too holy to voice, occurs 6,519 times in the Old Testament.

* The name Yahweh. Is used more than any other name of God in the Bible

* The Jewish people stopped saying this name in fear of disobeying the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (Exd 20:7).

* This Ya-weh is the God of John 3:16 this morning.

* This God, Ya-weh is so holy, that the scribes, who made copies of scriptures prior to the printing press, were required to use a fresh quill each time that they began writing the name of God.

* They also were reauired to take a ceremonial bath prior to the first stroke when writing the name of God.

* At the conclusion of each stroke of the quill that was required to write the name of God, they would repeat the bathing and the would then take a new quill to writhe the next stroke.

* The ancient Scribes who copied the Bible knew of the majesty and authority of the One Whose words they were copying.

* The God of John 3:16 has a description that is always placed before name. We call Him “Holy God.” We call his book the “Holy Bible.”

* Most people when they thing of “holy” think of the sinlessness and pureness of God. God is pure and sinless, but the real meaning of holiness, is to be “set apart.”

* The God of John 3:16 is “set apart” from all of creation because He is unique and unlike anything else in the universe.

Isaiah 55:8–9 (KJV 1900)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.

* If the God of John 3:16 had not sent his only son to die on the cross, and pay the penalty for us, and cleanse us by his blood from our sins, we could never enter the gates of Heaven and stand before a the Holy God of John 3.16.

II. So loved…

* There is no greater love than the love of God for those who come to Jesus for salvation.

John 15:12–13 (KJV 1900)

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

* There is no way to describe the depths of the love of this love in John 3:16 this morning.

* There is a song that we used to sing in our churches that tries to paint a picture of the love of God this morning, but even those words fall short of telling of the greatness of the love of God this morning:

The love of God

1). The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell; The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.

o Refrain: Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure— The saints’ and angels’ song.

o

o

2). When hoary time shall pass away, And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall, When men who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call, God’s love so sure, shall still endure, All measureless and strong; Redeeming grace to Adam’s race— The saints’ and angels’ song.

* Verse 3 was penciled on the wall of a narrow room in an insane asylum by a man said to have been demented. The profound lines were discovered when they laid him in his coffin.

Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.

Romans 8:35–39 (KJV 1900)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

III. The world…

* The world has turned it’s back on the love of God this morning. Listen to the words of Romans chapter 1:

Romans 1:18–21 (KJV 1900)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

* Notice with me in the following verses the result of a world turning its back on its creator:

1). Their understand is darkened and they become fools, who go around thinking they are wise:

Romans 1:22 (KJV 1900)

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

2). They begin to teach silly, foolish, ideas about the creation and falsely call it science:

Romans 1:23 (KJV 1900)

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

3). Because the world has turned it’s back on the creator, and refused to acknowledge God as their creator, God has darkened minds of the men and women of this world.

* God has allowed the normal ability of men to use the common sense that He has placed within us, to be blocked by our rebellion and lust.

* With a dulled, darkened, defiled, conscience, mankind has been given over to the results of our rebellion against the Creator.

* The result is that men and women defile their bodies with each other living in shameful and disgusting sin, waiting on the Judgment of God on this wicked world.

Romans 1:24–32 (KJV 1900)

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:

for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness,

fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

IV. He gave…

* God gave the greatest gift that was ever given.

Romans 6:23 (KJV 1900)

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

* The story of the birds

V. His only Begotten Son…

* The movie of the draw bridge.

VI. That Whosoever Believeth in Him…

* What does it mean to Believe on Jesus?

* You cast away any hope of salvation by any other method.

Acts 4:10–12 (KJV 1900)

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

* You come to Jesus…

John 6:37–40 (KJV 1900)

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

* You place your faith totally in him to keep you and raise you from the dead.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

* The method of salvation:

Romans 10:8–17 (KJV 1900)

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

VII. Shall not perish…

* There is a burning Hell this morning. It is real.

Luke 16:19–31 (KJV 1900)

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

VIII. Everlasting life…

John 4:13–14 (KJV 1900)

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37–38 (KJV 1900)

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Revelation 21:3–6 (KJV 1900)

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.