John 3:16-18 "The Expressed Love of God"

Introduction

The idea that God loves you is not a threatening concept. As a matter of fact it can be a very affirming thing to know that as a human being we are loved by God.

It can be very therapeutic for someone that even though they may believe that no one else loves them, it is comforting to know that God still loves them.

For many of us we have been told this ever since we were knee high to a grasshopper. And probably one of the first Bible verses we ever learned by heart was John 3:16.

This is one of the most popular verses of all time. Even many atheist have heard it and some can even recite it by memory.

Billy Graham used it relentlessly in his crusade ministry. At one time the John 3:16 reference could be seen on posters between the uprights at football games and billboards would display it by the side of highways.

I think it was so popular because of what John 3:16 declares about God’s love expressed towards humanity in general.

But there is a deeper truth to be communicated from John 3:16. And it is one that can be very helpful when it comes to our evangelistic efforts towards unbelievers. Look back at verse 16 as we see the expression of God’s love being demonstrated.

I. The Expression of Love Demonstrated (16).

First we see that there is a declaration being made of God’s love for the world (16a).

It may be helpful for us to know something about the context here in order to understand what this means.

Jesus is talking to a man of the Pharisee order by the name of Nicodemus. He was a devout religious leader in Israel who came to Jesus at night to inquire of Jesus’ ministry and identity.

Nicodemus would have been thinking about Jesus from the standpoint of the Messianic implications over the nation of Israel.

But Jesus immediately takes the conversation off into a spiritual direction by emphasizing the necessity of being “born again” in order to see or enter the Kingdom of God.

It is in verses 14-15 that Jesus ties His Messianic purpose to the idea of His atoning sacrifice: 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

This story about Moses is a reference out of Numbers 21:4-9. This is where God was judging His people for complaining against Him. He sent fiery serpents into their midst and the serpents would bite the people and they would die.

Moses appealed to God on behalf of the people for mercy and God told Moses to raise up a serpent on a pole and when the people would look upon it they would live.

Jesus puts this in a comparative contrast with Himself as the Son of Man being lifted up as the object of faith for eternal life.

Nicodemus gets an ear full. He learns that the Messianic implications of God are global. For the world and not just the nation of Israel.

This love is then demonstrated through the gift of God’s only Son in order to be lifted up like the serpent on a pole in Numbers 21. This expressed demonstration was fulfilled in the Cross of Jesus Christ (16b).

I love using John 3:1-21 as a tool for communicating the gospel to others. Especially in this world where so many are confident of their hope of eternity in heaven because they believe they are good people. Usually from their moral perception of themselves or some religious practice. (Even in jail people appeal to their goodness).

Pastor you don’t want to ruin their perception of themselves do you? Yes I definitely do, because God’s imputed righteousness is infinitely better than any false perception of our own righteousness.

Believing yourself to be good is not the same as saving faith in Christ but faith in yourself and your good deeds. Asking people if they believe they are going to go to heaven when they die is a great question.

Most people I have asked over the years say they are because of the idea or concept that they are good people.

This is usually when I want to take them to John 3 and introduce them to a man named Nicodemus who was devoutly religious but according to Jesus it is of absolute necessity to be born again in order to see the Kingdom or to enter the Kingdom.

Interesting how many people can quote at least a paraphrase of John 3:16 but when you ask them what the context of John 3:16 is they have no clue.

God’s love demonstrated tells us something about the human condition that helps us define this love of God in verses 17-18. Look back at your text:

II. The Expression of Love Defined (17-18).

Christ came into the world to bring salvation, not condemnation (17).

He didn’t come to bring judgment in His incarnation. He came to be lifted up on a Cross in the place of sinners.

He didn’t come to bring condemnation simply because, as we are told in verse 18, if you don’t believe in the one and only Son of God you are already condemned.

The one and the only Son. The “mono gene” the only Son of the gene pool of the Godhead. That is who took on flesh and was born of a virgin to compensate the righteous requirements of the law. Only he can appease a Holy God because He is a Holy sacrifice offered in our place.

You can see Christian that the gift of the Son was not just to show the generosity of God expressed in demonstration of His love but it also defines the depth and intensity that God was willing to go in order to satisfy His divine justice on our behalf.

But Pastor, people need to hear about the love of God not the sacrificial requirements that the Son of God bore upon the Cross for sinners. Christian the agape love of God is not primarily an emotion. The agape love of God is a conscious evaluation and choice of God to act out in sacrifice, on behalf of the one upon whom the love is being expressed.

You can’t tell people about God’s love from the John 3:16 perspective without telling them of the Son of God’s sacrifice for sin. The gospel is the love of God.

The hope for the world, both Jew and Gentile is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christian the world may think we are promoting our religion in order to make others act in accordance with some moral religious order, or in our day the world may think we are attempting to increase our voting block. But John 3 is telling us something radically different.

It is a call to others to come in out of the storm of God’s condemnation. Believe in Christ and His finished work that you can be under His gracious protection.

The idea of God’s love without the Cross will appear contradictory to the concept of being under His just condemnation.

People will rationally argue that “if God loves me then why would He hold me in contempt?”

Such arguments reveal that there is a disconnect between the love of God and the sacrificial work of Christ on the Cross.

In this modern age of self-esteem we have appealed to the love of God as to describe love as primarily an emotion in order to avoid the bad news. No one likes to emphasize guilt and shame in a self-esteem driven world.

No one except God. And He does it truthfully for the ultimate good for all of us. The world just simply doesn’t have His standard of righteousness as their own.

And in such cases it is far easier to only speak of the love of God as an emotion than an action carried out to rid us of our sin and guilt in the Cross.

Being a full beneficiary of God’s grace in and through Christ is far better than self-esteem. Because it has the approval and love of God undergirding it with implications for all eternity.

Conclusion:

Unbeliever coming to terms with your sin before a Holy God is the most critical thing in your life. The Bible doesn’t try to deal with sin by smoke and mirrors through some type of manipulation. The Bible tells us the truth.

Christ died for sinners and you must be born again. Nicodemus couldn't cut it as a practicing orthodox Jew what makes you think you can?

You need a saviour. Believe the gospel!

Christian you should get very familiar with John 3:1-21. Using it to communicate is a great way to share the gospel with others.

You can use it in your conversations with others when you are telling them about Christ. Get equipped with some of these basic tools to make evangelism an active part of your life.

The gospel is the heart and soul of the Christian life and we need God’s grace in an ongoing manner. Confess and receive from Him.

Let’s Pray!