Soaking Up Son Light

Text: John 3:16-21 (NIV)

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,f that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.g 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”h

I.        Introduction:

II.      Appreciate The Offer of Salvation: Accept Life (vv. 16-17)

A.      God’s Driving Passion (v.16)

1.       A Passion Displaying Love

2.       A Passion Demanding Sacrifice

3.       A Passion Desiring Life

B.      God’s Rescue Mission (v.17)

1.       A Mission Wanting No Condemnation

2.       A Mission Wanting Our Salvation

III.   Avoid The Danger of Condemnation: Actively Trust (vv. 18-19)

A.      An Active Faith Avoids Condemnation (v.18a)

1.       Faith that is Decisive

2.       Faith that offers Freedom

B.      An Absent Faith Assures Condemnation (vv.18b-19)

1.       Rejecting The Son

2.       Rejecting The Light

IV.    Address The Need for of Illumination: Absorb Light (vv. 20-21)

A.      Embracing Sin Assures us Darkness: Apart from the Son (v.21)

1.       Will Not Renounce Sin

2.       Will Not Risk Exposure

3.       Will Not Risk Reproof

B.      Embracing Light Assures Deliverance: Awash in the Son (v.22)

1.       Doing Right

2.       Desiring Scrutiny

3.       Demonstrating Works

V.      Conclusion:

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f Or his only begotten Son

g Or God~s only begotten Son

h Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 15.