Faith In Christ

John 3:16-36

7. FAITH IN CHRIST

Free. Many of us ask, What’s the catch? Above the entrance to the concentration camp in Auschwitz, Germany were the words Arbeit Macht Frei. The words mean “Work makes free.” There was a catch. It was a boldfaced lie suggesting that if the prisoners worked hard, they would be given liberty. The promised freedom was a horrifying death.

Heaven? Salvation? Free? There must be a catch. So many people believe that if they do their best good works they will earn Heaven. This, however, is false. They will learn too late that good works do not earn freedom.

It is Christ’s blood that liberates. He died to give us freedom from the penalty of our sin.

All you have to do is believe. If we could choose one word to sum up the Gospel of John; believe would fit the bill. The deepening and growing experience of imperishable life is given to whomever believes in him. God’s wonderful gift cannot be earned or inherited

Let us Pray

16 “For God so loved the world,[a] 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.”

I. THE SALVATION—vv. 17–24

A. Savior—v. John uses the word believe 4 times in verse 16-18. 16-18 form one, continuous thought, 16 “For God so loved the world,[a] 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.

For God so loved. The Greek had words for love. Eros – the passion type of love between a husband and wife. Philia which is a deep friendship. Ludus with is a playful love. Mania possessive/dependent love. Philautia self-love. Pragma longstanding love loyal, time tested love and agapao Agape – selfless love for all. Godly love. John uses this word over 36 times more than double any other New Testament letter or book.

God so agapao the world, God so selflessly love everyone in the world, past, present, future – not God so loved the Jews, the Nation of Israel, or those that believed in Him. God so loved the world.

Christ did not come to judge or condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 14:6. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

B. Salvation—v. 18. Those who believe will escape God’s judgments—John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life. Revelation 20:11–15 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

When we believe and put our faith in Jesus as the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again on the third day our name is written in the Book of Life. We bypass hell and stay in heaven. Jesus said Himself, Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.

You may think that is closed minded. Oprah Winfrey and many others believe this is not inclusive enough, that heaven, paradise, there are many paths. We can debate this all day long but God said it. And God made it all inclusive. Whoever hears my words and believes the one who sent me has eternal life. Whoever. How much more inclusive can that be?

And He doesn’t force us. Whoever chooses to believe. No gun to the head, no sword to the throat, no threat to be buried alive but whoever wants to eternal life – choose it. It can’t be earned or bought or achieved – it is freely given and all we have to do is choose. And why don’t some choose?

Notice the word already in verse 18. Those who do not believe are already condemned. We are born into sin. And you may ask well what about kids, they don’t know what sin is. And you are right, but while they may not know what sin is, they still partake in it. How many parents here no matter how kids you have also have a son or daughter NOT ME?

As adorable as they are kids lie. They are not taught to lie its in their nature. We are born in sin but the blood that Jesus shed on the cross washes us as clean as the new fallen snow, His blood creates a barrier between us and our sin as far as the east is from the west. How far is that? Infinity. I’ll prove it.

If you had shoes that would allow you to walk on water and you headed east from here and I told you that you could stop walking when you were facing west, you would never be able to stop walking. And this was written when the earth was thought to be flat. The gap His blood creates between you and your sin is infinity when you choose to accept that gift.

Isaiah 64:6-7 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in[a] the hand of our iniquities.

C. Sin—vv. 19–20. 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.

Men love the dark because it light reveals sin. If sin were not enjoyable, not pleasurable, no one would do it. If eating liver and onions was a sin, you would never see me eat it. I would never participate in it. I can’t stand it, but if chocolate were sin, I would probably be caught on several occasions with many hidden stashes.

Nicodemus came at night. Jesus was betrayed with a kiss, why? It was at night and the temple guard needed to know who to arrest. His trial was at night. Peter denied him at night. Violent crimes peak around midnight. Why are adult clubs, bars and taverns dark? Most people don’t want to be identified, they want to partake in sin in secret and want to hide their guilt and shame.

But …..

D. Showing—v. 21. Those doing right and living right are not ashamed of the light but are anxious to show their good work. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus tells us, In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Why do people reject God? Failure of the church to understand their need? No time for hearing the truth? Insufficient evidence to affirm the gospel? John tells us they refuse light because it shows up the darkness in their own lives

Based on Jesus’ own words

, remember –

· Believers possess eternal life but unbelievers do not.

· Believers are not condemned, but unbelievers are condemned already.

· Believers live in the light while unbelievers live in the darkness.

E. Sacrament—vv. 22–24. After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).

John practiced water baptism. He baptized by immersion—v. 23. Water baptism is important to the new convert.

Salvation was our first point and people’s response to Jesus determines their destiny. Which brings us to our second point.

II. THE SAVIOR—vv. 25–29 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete

A. Problem—v. 25. The Jews questioned whether John’s baptizing was legal. The Jews were more strict about outward cleansing than inward cleansing. Inwardly their hearts were far from God.

B. Person—vv. 26–27. John was not jealous of Jesus. John was interested in building God’s kingdom, and not his kingdom. Both Johns state a clear biblical truth here – man can receive only what is given from above

C. Preparation—v. 28. John’s ministry was to introduce people to the Christ. John was not the Messiah—he prepared the way for Christ, the Messiah.

D. People—v. 29. Christ is the Bridegroom and the church (all born-again Christians) is the Bride. John the Baptist is basically saying in modern terms, I am only the best man, Jesus is the groom and I am here for Him, to support Him. All people rejoice to see the bride and the groom. John rejoiced at Christ’s popularity. Again he was the voice in the wilderness preparing the way for the Messiah to do His work.

III. THE SON—vv. 30–36 He must increase, but I must decrease.”[b] 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.

34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

A. Praise—v. 30. Christ must be praised. Self must be forgotten. He must increase but I must decrease.

B. Person—v. 31. Christ came from heaven. He is supernatural. Our natural minds are too small to understand this. We accept Him and His Words by faith, without question!

In these 7 verses we get the Christology – the nature and role of Jesus

· Jesus comes from above; he is sent from God (vv. 31, 34)

· Jesus is above all; he has all things in his hand (vv. 31, 35).

· Jesus speaks things he has seen and heard from the Father (vv. 31, 34).

· Jesus gives the truth to those who receive him (v. 33).

· Jesus gives the Spirit to those who trust in him (v. 34).

· Jesus is loved by the Father for he is the Son (v. 35).

· Jesus can communicate life which is everlasting (v. 36).

C. Problem—v. 32. “He tells what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!”—LB.

D. Person—vv. 33–35. “Those who believe him discover that God is a fountain of truth. For this one—sent by God—speaks God’s words, for God’s Spirit is upon him without measure or limit. The Father loves this man because he is his Son, and God has given him everything there is”

He speaks the words of God, this is not the Greek word logos but Greek word Rhema which means living voice. Basically the Word of God incarnate

E. Promise—v. 36. If we believe, we have eternal life. If not, God’s judgment will be upon us—Mark 16:16 sums it up Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Your response to the Son of God, your response to Jesus determines your destiny – There is a literal hell and it is not what we are living in right now. There are only two sides of a line –

Truth or lie – no in between

Light or darkness – nothing in the middle

Saved or Not saved – no median

Heaven or Hell – eternal life or eternal wrath

The choice is yours – God is not forcing us into heaven – not forcing us to accept his free gift.

But to close – for those of you that have accepted and believed – where are you on the scale of life – is it more you or more God in you actions, choices, words? Have you increased and decreased God in your life – what do you need to do, what changes and choices do you need to make so that you decrease and God increases?

Let us pray!