The wideness of God's love John 3:16

Introduction

Last night we looked at the word’s of Jesus in John 3:14-15. This evening we are looking at the next verse John 3:16. Jesus is still speaking. He told Nicodemus that he would provide forgiveness for sin in the same way the bronze serpent provided healing. In this next verse Jesus gives an explanation of why he was going to do that.

In this verse we have the best news that broken and sinful people can hear.

This is a verse you have probably all heard before. Many of you probably memorised it in Sunday school. The danger with being so familiar with something is you lose the wonder of it.

I remember being on the Island of Rassy, just off the Isle of Skye in Scotland. We were staying with a couple there and the view from their front room window was breath taking. I remember turning to Donnie and saying “that is a beautiful view” to which he replied very casually and said “ahh its alright”. He had seen it so many times, he got used to it, I saw it for the first time and was amazed by it.

If we are not careful the same thing can happen with this Bible verse.

This verse contains the greatest truth that human ears can hear.

Many people are searching for answers today. What is the purpose of life? Why are we here? Where are we going?

In this verse we are told not only that there is a God. But that this God loves us and wants the best for us.

When we understand how sinful we really are and admit that we have rejected God. The fact that he still loves us should amaze us.

The way to know if you have really understood this Bible verse is are you amazed by it?

We see three truths about God’s love in this verse. We see God’s love is wide. God’s love is generous. God’s love is merciful and gracious. We will see what these mean as we look together at this well known verse.

I. God’s love is wide

Firstly then we see that God’s love is wide. That means it is not narrow, or restricted to a select few.

The verse begins with the words “For God so loved the world...”

Here we are told that the God who created everything loves everyone. The word world shows us that God has a universal love. He loves every person he has created.

The word world shows us the universal love of God, he loves everyone. But it also shows us particular love of God, he loves you. God loves each and every individual person.

This means that every person has value and worth because they are loved by God.

This is the complete opposite of what evolution teaches. Evolution teaches that ultimately you are an accident. You have no ultimate value, you are just evolved slime from the primordial soup.

This verse in the Bible says the opposite; you are known and loved by God. This love includes every person.

God’s love means he wants the best for us. He want’s to do us good. He cares for us.

The reason this is amazing is because of the way we as sinful people have treated God. We have turned our backs on him. We have rejected his love.

Application-

What is amazing about this verse is You have sinned against God every single day of your life. In word thought and deed. Still he loves you.

Still he has worked to bring you salvation. You have sinned against him and he has made a way for your sin to be forgiven. He calls you to himself.

He calls every single person here this evening to come to him. He will have mercy. He does not want a single person to be apart from his love.

God’s love is wide. It includes even you. Have you responded to his love? Have you repented of your sin and put your trust in Jesus? If not why not? To be separated from such a loving God is a terrible thing.

So we have seen that God’s love is wide. Next we see God’s love is generous.

II. God’s love is generous

The verse says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son

God’s love is generous. It is not stingey, or tight fisted or reluctant to give.

God loved each person so much that he decided to give what was most valuable to him, so that they might be redeemed.

The verse says God gave his only Begotten Son.

By gave it means that God sent Jesus to be a sacrifice for our sins. To die in our place. To bear the punishment we deserve. God gave Jesus to die on the cross for our sin.

He died to pay for the crimes we have committed after he died on the cross he rose again from the dead. He defeated sin and death by his death and resurrection.

A few of years ago in France, a Police officer called Beltrame, traded himself for a female hostage who had been taken by an Islamic terrorist during a supermarket siege. The woman went free and survived and Beltrame was shot several times and died. He gave his life so that the woman could go free.

That’s exactly what Jesus Christ did upon the cross. He died in our place so that we might live. Of course the great difference is that the woman was innocent but we on the other hand are guilty and dont deserve what Christ has done for us.

But we must notice who God gave. He gave his only Begotten Son. That means his one and only Son, his unique Son. He gave Jesus Christ.

God is a Trinity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God the Father sent God the Son to die for the sins of the world.

The generous love of God. God did not withhold even his Son.

We must bear in mind who God did this for. He did this not for worthy people. Not for deserving people. But for guilty people.

Christ died for the ungodly.

You may be wondering why God sent his only begotten Son. Wasn’t there another way? If there was don’t you think he would have done it. Sin is so serious it must be punished. If we take the punishment for our sin it means hell forever. The only one capable of paying for our sin and surviving is God himself. So God came in the person of his Son and died in our place.

The generous love of God. God didn’t have to do this. He doesn’t have to rescue sinners. He has done so because he is abounding in steadfast love.

Application-

Maybe there has been times in your life when you have questioned the love of God. Maybe a loved on died and you thought if God loved me why did this happen.

If you ever have doubts of God’s love just look at the cross. The death of Jesus proves God’s love for you.

God wants your soul to be saved. He wants you to come to him and find forgiveness for your sin. He is rich in mercy, he gave his only Son. Christ gave his life on the cross for you.

How can you reject such a loving God?

Can’t you see the generous love of God this evening? You hadn’t given God a thought yet he gave his Son for you. You have rejected Jesus to this day, and yet he died for you.

Your response this evening should be repentance. Turn from living life your own way. Turn from your unbelief. God’s love is wide it includes you. God’s love is generous he gave his Son to save you.

He has done this so you might have true happiness in him. He did it for your good. For your benefit. For your eternal well being.

God’s love is wide, God’s love is generous. Finally we see God’s love is merciful and gracious.

III. God’s love is merciful and Gracious

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.

God’s love is merciful and gracious

Mercy means not getting what do you deserve. Grace means getting what you do not deserve.

God’s love is merciful;

The verse tells us God sent his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him should not perish. That means every person that repents of their sin and puts their trust in Jesus will not get what they deserve. Which is hell. The word perish refers to the eternal destruction every person deserves for their sin and rebellion against God.

Last night we spoke about the justice of God. God is righteous and his righteousness demands justice for our sin, but God in his love sent Christ so that sinful people could be saved from hell. The mercy of God.

God’s love is gracious;

God sent his only begotten Son so that whoever believes will have everlasting life. That means every person who repents and puts their trust in Jesus will receive new life from God.

This everlasting life begins the moment you believe in Jesus. God gives you a new nature, his Spirit comes to dwell in you. The Bible calls it being born again, you pass from spiritual death to spiritual life. It begins now in a small way but it is fully experienced in heaven. Everlasting life means life with God forever.

This is what God gives to those who believe. This is the complete opposite of what they deserve. But that is the grace of God. God’s love is gracious he gives people what they do not deserve.

How can we picture what God has done for us? We are rebels against the king of the universe. We deserve his punishment. Yet he offers us terms of peace. He has done this by sending Jesus to die in our place. Now if we believe he doesn’t just let us go free which is mercy. Much more than that he gives us a seat at his table, a place in his family, a part of his kingdom. That is grace.

God’s love is merciful and gracious.

But there is a very important point we must emphasise in this verse. If you fail understand this then you were better off not knowing.

The Verse says “ 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.”

The love of God is wide, it is generous, it is merciful and gracious. It is offered to everyone, but it is only given to those who believe.

A person must repent of their sin. That means to change their mind about the way they have been living, and to decide to live for God. They must repent and they must believe. To believe is to put their faith in Jesus to save them from their sins.

A person who believes in Christ does not trust in their own good works, but in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. A person who believes acknowledges they are guilty before God and cannot save themselves but they have received Christ as their Saviour and all their hope is in him.

It is those who believe who do not perish but have everlasting life. Those who do not believe do perish and do not have everlasting life.

Application

But I want you to see the love of God this evening. He calls you to believe. He wants you to come to him. He want’s you to turn from living away from him. He want’s you to live for him. He calls you to repentance this evening because he loves you. He wants the best for you.

The best thing for you is eternal life with him. Look at how easy God has made salvation this evening. He calls you to believe. He doens’t ask you to try and save yourselves, that would be impossible, he sees you in your helpless state, sends his Son to rescue you and the only thing he asks is to believe and follow him.

Have you done that? If not when will you do it?

The best time to do it is now. Do not boast yourself of tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Do not go to hell, when God in his love offers you a place in heaven.

Conclusion

In this verse we have the amazing love of God. God’s love is wide. For God so loved the world. It includes everyone and it includes you.

God’s love is generous. He gave his only begotten Son. Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins and three days later he rose again from the dead.

God’s love is merciful and gracious. God offers you mercy and grace. Salvation from hell and a place in his kingdom. A seat at his table.

This loving God calls you to himself this evening. Will you believe in Jesus. Will you let God save you. Will you repent this evening. Look at how much God loves you. How can to reject him any longer?