Whoever Believes in Him

John 3:1-17

How will you live your life? This text has everything to do with this

(vv. 10-11) Earthly things, heavenly things, and failure to receive them

Earthly things

Referring to the New Birth that He has been talking about

It is not that it is a natural or human thing

Rather, his point is that it happens on earth in people

It is an elementary truth of grace

Heavenly things

The higher plan of God in redemption

This is clearly connected to raising up of the Son of Man (vv. 14-15)

What is His point?

His point is that man is incapable of receiving the Truth of gospel grace with belief

(v. 11) You (Y’all) do not receive the testimony of the Triune God

It is only through the New Birth given from God that we are able to receive Christ for who He truly is

(v. 12) The authority of Jesus

Jesus is speaking with authority

He is in a class by Himself because He has dwelled in heaven and knows the glorious truths of heaven

He has the Word of Life

When He speaks we need to listen up!

We don’t need more storytellers or attention-drawing communicators!

We need men who will preach and teach the Word of God with conviction and passion

We don’t need jokes and entertainment, we need to hear the Word of God!

Mothers- your families don’t need you to be hip, cool, or like the mothers of your kid’s friends. They need you to teach them who God is and what He has said

(vv. 15-17) Whoever believes will have eternal life

Whoever means whoever

There is no exception clause in the gospel

It does not say whoever believes, except for redheads, Kenyans, and murderers

It says whoever

This is not whoever without exception, but whoever without distinction

This is not universalism

Putting New Birth together with whoever believes

The doctrine of New Birth clearly is inseparable from the doctrine of predestination

Only those who are given New Birth believe

This does not undermine the whoever of the gospel

We can go with the gospel and proclaim it to every person with confidence that anyone who believes will be saved, knowing that God is able to give New Birth in order that they might believe

John 1:9-13- The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

This changes our lives

It will make you desperate in prayer

You won’t be desperately in prayer for the salvation of souls until you know this

It will make you confident in gospel power

Your confidence in gospel power will be hindered until you know of the powerful and effective work of God in the lives of sinners for salvation

A word to mothers

Pray for your children

Pray for New Birth to happen in those who are unbelieving

Thank God for the salvation of those who have believed

Pray that He will use you to do His work in the lives of your children and family

Pray that He will daily draw your eyes back to be set on Him

Teach your children

Teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ

Teach them about the One who was raised up that whoever believes in Him will be saved

Teach them about New Birth

Teach them the whole counsel of God’s Word

Don’t buy the lie that all your children can learn is watered down Bible stories that entertain them

Teach them the rich truths and doctrines of the Bible

Have confidence in the power of the Spirit to work through the Word

Lead your children

Lead your children as those who have been Born Again

Model what a life made new in Christ looks like

Show them your need and their need for grace every day

A word to children

Pray for your parents

Obey them with joy

Love Jesus more than anyone or anything- He died that you might believe

A word to our church

Pray for our mothers and their families

That they will pray, teach, and lead well

Build them up in gospel truth extend gospel grace

Together, may we put all of our hope and confidence in the work of God to save sinners and strive to consistently proclaim that whoever will believe will have eternal life