John 3:19-21 "The Universal Problem"

Introduction:

When I studied psychology in my undergraduate program my professor told us that he had a difficult time finding a suitable text book for the class.

The problem was in finding one that taught psychology from a Christian worldview.

The book he settled on only brought up Christianity when it gave contrasting perspectives on what constitutes the indwelling nature of man.

There were three perspectives set in contrast to one another.

The Christian worldview of total depravity was one of these.

Then there was the view proposed by Rousseau that man is a noble savage.

And finally the view proposed by John Locke was that man was born as a blank slate. It is this view that has largely gained the greatest acceptance in our modern day.

This is not the view that we see taught in the Scriptures. If we believe that humanity is born as a blank slate without a disposition towards sin we will have a distorted view of Christianity.

Dealing with the Biblical doctrine of original sin and the moral depravity of humanity not only informs our own understanding of our selves but it also informs our understanding of our evangelistic efforts as well.

Remember Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus and He is informing Nicodemus of God’s work in bringing about the new birth. Mankind outside of Christ is under the condemnation of God and Jesus declares what that looks like in verse 19:

I. The Declaration (19).

Man is already under the condemnation of God. Jesus didn’t have to bring it. It was already there. His presence in the world as the light of the world reveals the state of the human condition.

Humanity loves the darkness and this is clearly shown by their deeds on a universal scale. The fallen nature of man informs our affections and desires. And those affections and desires direct our actions.

No mistake that the same word for love is being used here as it is in verse 16. God’s love is being expressed in His actions contrast Mans love being expressed in His actions.

Christ came into the world in full awareness that fallen man would reject Him out of their love for darkness. Fallen man loves His sinful and evil works.

Our actions reveal certain truths about about the condition of our heart and nature.

We so often make choices on impulse without even stopping to think about what is driving those choices.

If we are left to ourselves all of those choices are in the end being orchestrated by our fallen nature. This is the universal problem with humanity. It is what Luther referred to as the “Bondage of the Will.”

This reminds us that in our evangelistic efforts that it is not just a mere argument that needs to be made correctly that in the end brings a decision for Christ .

Believing by faith is not just an intellectual ascent but it discloses that there is something else at work.

Look back at your text to verses 20-21*

II. The Disclosure (20-21).

First we see that the one who does wicked things hates the light for a reason.

Man in his nature fears that his works will be exposed and therefore doesn’t come to the light. Light exposes the unrighteous deeds and the sinful motives that drive them.

This in the end results in guilt and shame because the futility of the works of the wicked. Their works are self serving to their own desires and pleasures.

They live as to serve themselves even though they have been created to serve the living God. We do this due to our nature.

This is why the criminal runs from the police. This is the same reason humans love to try to cover their tracks whenever they are doing things unethical.

I will never forget the first time I caught one of my daughters in a lie.

I don’t remember the issue but an act of disobedience had been committed and I asked her if she was the one who did it.

She quickly answered “no” but with an expression on her fave that I have never seen before. I then asked if she was lying and her head dropped and she began to cry because the guilt was too much for her and she cried out “yeeeees!”

Adults do it too. And some even do it and claim to be Christians.

Me and her mother never once sat her down and told her, “today Daddy is going to teach you how to lie.” She didn’t need to be taught because here slate isn’t blank and neither is her Daddy’s.

This context is set in contrast to verse 21 where full disclosure is made about how man is freed from his bondage.

The one who does what is true comes to the light so that the light exposes that his works are carried out in God (21).

God initiated His sovereign grace into the life of the one who comes into the light. They once were lost but now they’re found was blind but now they see.

They come to the light because God came to them first and gave them the new birth so they could see the kingdom and enter the kingdom.

Men born not of blood nor of the will of man but born God and given the right to be called children of God John 1:12-13.

God in His grace quickened the dead nature and liberated the will to freely choose the gospel.

III. Application: Why is this critical for us to know when it comes to our evangelism?

It reminds us that it is not because of human intellect that salvation is initiated. Not of the hearer nor of the one doing the evangelism.

Arguments can be made but in the end salvation is of the Lord. And the only difference between you and the unbeliever that you are preaching to is sovereign grace.

Understanding this keeps humility as the posture of our attitude. It helps us to love sinners and to be concerned about their place in eternity.

Second it reminds us of the absolute necessity of prayer being coupled with evangelism. Because it takes God to initiate His grace in order to see them changed.

God does the work of redemption all the way down to initiating it in the heart of the believer. It is all of God.

Therefore our appeal to Him on behalf of the wicked is the reminder to us of who saves the lost even as He uses us to proclaim His gospel.

In connection with that it is critical, thirdly, because it directs our faith to be rooted in God to bring the transformation. Not confidence in ourselves to make persuasive arguments but to believe in the God who is good and who has promised that His word will not return void.

This is helpful because this means that we can’t loose in doing evangelism out of obedience to God. He will regenerate sinners and the only way you can fail is to just not do it.

When God called Jeremiah to preach He told Jeremiah that you will preach but the people won’t listen. But Jeremiah was still called to preach and He did.

No one will come unless God initiates it in them. That is the only reason anyone comes to the light. Salvation is utterly dependent on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: No one comes to the Son unless the Father draws him first (John 6:44).

If man is a blank slate all it would take is a rational argument and a great intellect. And heaven could be a great celebration of the work of Christ and the incredible intelligence and reasoning capability of the human mind.

We could talk about the weak intellect of unbelievers and how we are superior to them because we could figure it out but they can’t.

And to think Jesus was saying all of this to one of the smartest men in Israel.

Christian hear this from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31--26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Sounds like to me that Paul is telling those Christians at Corinth that if it required great intellect they wouldn’t have made it.

I think it is true of us too. And of our hearers. Christian are you not eternally grateful to God that salvation is of the Lord by sovereign grace?

Confess your sin to Him and rest in His provision.

Unbeliever you need a Savior and it doesn’t come by your intellect. It comes by grace through faith. It is initiated by God. Believe today unto salvation.

Let’s Pray!