Two Kinds of People

Last week Jesus explained to Nicodemus that in order to see and understand spiritual truths and to enter the kingdom of God one must be born again by the Holy Spirit. At the close of their conversation Jesus hints that this new birth where one is freed from sin is possible only by his death upon the cross. This week we will look at the effects of Jesus death. That ultimately his purpose was to bring salvation to the world yet many would reject him and in doing so reject their only hope for salvation. Thus the world is divided into two kinds of people the saved and the lost.

This week we are going to look at the most well known verse in the Bible, and yet it is one of the most misinterpreted Scriptures as well. One must always keep the context in mind when looking at Scripture. In today’s passage we find John commentating on Jesus conversation with Nicodemus and explaining to us that Jesus purpose was to come to save the world from sin, and he did so out of love. While some have chosen to accept Jesus Christ loving act of sacrifice on the cross others have chosen to reject that love and live their lives without God. Thus John describes two kinds of people, those who placed their faith in Jesus and those who did not. Look with me at John 3:16-21 as we contrast these two kinds of people.

John 3:16–21 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. 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. 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. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 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.”

Jesus Purpose

John 3:14–17 ESV

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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.

Not God loved the world so much

For God - transition from the previous statement to give reason why Christ died on the cross

so loved - loved in this way

Jesus died on the cross to reveal God’s love for the world.- the Method God used to show his love

Why? - whoever believes in him would have eternal life

Jesus purpose was to offer gift of salvation

Many claim that Jesus is sending “good” people to hell but that is not the case he came not to condemn but to save

The issue is the choice we make

The Choice

John 3:18–19 ESV

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. 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.

You can choose to put your faith in Jesus or not

God forces no one:

It is as though we are all hanging from a cliff about to fall and God has thrown down a rope and says grab hold. The problem is in order to grab the rope you have to let go of the cliff. Right now you still can hold yourself up, maybe you can make it you think to yourself, but if i let go and grab that rope, what if it breaks what if it doesnt hold, what if the knots come undone or what if what if? At the end of the day it takes faith to let go our grip on the rock and take hold of the rope. In the same way God has offered salvation to us through Jesus death on the cross but you have to let go of your own control of your life and give it to him. It can be a scary thing, you may have lots of questions, and doubts but the Bible says He is the only hope you have. Its your choice will you grab onto Jesus or not?

Notice the judgement is that people loved the darkness rather than the light

People are born with a sinful nature a desire to do wrong - their works were evil

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The reality is due to our sin our payment is death - eternal seperation from God in hell, but God in his mercy and grace has given us life - a full restoration of our relationship with God the One who fulfills us and gives us purpose and meaning, whose love satisfies our cravings.

But we must choose light or darkness. Sound familiar it should John is presenting the same choice again. Will you choose to put your faith in Jesus Christ or will you place it elsewhere?

Two kinds of People

John 3:20–21 ESV

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 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.”

The first kind of people are the lost - those who have not placed their faith in Christ.

All of us are born with a sinful nature and due to our sinful nature we hate the light because it exposes our sin

ever have anyone point out your sin to you

I hate that - I know my sin - I already feel bad about it then someone points it out to me and I feel worse why cause its in the light. Now everyone knows my sin

Now I just want to hide in the corner under a rock and if we are not careful we will go hide in the very darkness that caused us the pain to begin with.

So we hide in the darkness and run from the light out of self-preservation

This is the state of the lost

Ultimately the lost hate the bible, hate Christ, and hate Christians because the light reveals their sin. Until they are broken over their own sin and come to God in a state of repentance- that is turning away from their sin and back to God, they will hate the light and love the darkness.

The consequences for the lost -

They are condemned for their sins - pronounced guilty

Will perish - eternal seperation from God in hell

Then there are those who are saved - those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ

Notice that they come to the light

so that their works may be seen by all to have been of God

Ultimately the works of a Christian are the works of God because it is he who saved us, it is He who cleanses us, it is he who prepares the works for us, it is he who empowers us to do them, and therefore it is he who should receive the glory.

What right does the shovel have to be glorified for digging the hole when it did so because it was made for that purpose, the energy to do so came from human hands, the knowledge/aim/ability etc all came from a human. It would be foolish to praise the shovel for digging a hole

Yet when God uses us to perform his work we think we take the credit: I did this for God. No God did this through me. He allowed me to take part in His work.

The consequences for the saved

They are not condemned for their sins - pronounced Forgiven

They will receive eternal life - reunion with God forever getting to enjoy his presence in heaven.

Invitation

John shows us two kinds of people those who reject Jesus Christ and are lost sinners condemned by their own sin to spend eternity in hell separated from the love of God. Not because he loves them less or he chose to send them there but that they rejected him as did Satan and therefore they will receive their just punishment for their sin. Yet for those who choose to put their faith in Jesus Christ God graciously offers forgiveness of sin. This forgiveness is available to all who would accept Jesus as Lord and Master of their lives, placing their faith in Him not only to save them from their sin but to lead them down the paths of righteousness. It matters not what sins you may have commited, how many times you may have done so, only that you turn away from them now and turn back to God. Jesus death on the cross is sufficient for all sins and all sinners no one needs to perish, only choose him today. Will you choose him? Will you choose him today? Do not wait none is promised tomorrow, please do not wait let today be the day of your salvation. Let today be the day you begin to conquer the sin in your life through the blood of Christ. Will you choose him as we sing.