For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life....
John 3
V 1–12: LOST LEADER Jesus tells Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, that he must be born again to understand and enter the kingdom of God. This is the work of God’s Holy Spirit. Nicodemus confesses his ignorance. V 13–18: GOD’S GOSPEL Jesus reveals that Moses’ lifting up of the bronze serpent on a pole in the wilderness is a picture of how He Himself will be lifted up on the cross to take the punishment for the sins of all those who will turn from their sin and believe in Him. The only alternatives are condemnation or eternal life. The deciding factor is whether there is deliberate personal belief in Christ. Verse 16 is probably the best known verse in the Bible, and has been called ‘the gospel in a nutshell’. V 19–21: CONDEMNATION’S CAUSE People will be judged according to the light they have received. Through our evil deeds we have rejected the light and the truth of God. Only repentance and faith in Christ’s death on the cross can restore this. Those knowing the truth of the Light of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ, can have no cause for complaint if they fail to turn to Him. V 22–24: JOINING JOHN Jesus and His disciples identify with the work of John the Baptist, later to be imprisoned and beheaded. By being with John as he baptises, Jesus identifies with and ratifies the Baptist’s calls to repent. Through His disciples’ involvement in baptism, Jesus is said to baptise, though He personally baptises no one, as the next chapter reveals.V 25–36: SON’S SUPREMACY Some of John’s disciples resent the fact that people are flocking to Jesus, where He, through His disciples, is baptising. John is quick to show that his role is only as the ‘best man’ at the wedding, and that the bridegroom must be centre stage. That bridegroom is Christ. John says, ‘He must increase, but I must decrease,’ and focuses on Jesus, who has come from heaven as the co-equal Son. Jesus alone can give everlasting life to those who believe in Him. He alone can turn people from the wrath of God, which abides on those who will not trust in Christ. The Son is the supreme and unique Saviour.
Jesus Teaches of Being Born Again
John 3:1-36
John 3King James Version (KJV)
3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on HIM is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten SON of GOD.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:16 "For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life."
This is the most quoted Scripture in the entire Bible. You can easily see why; because it is full of so much hope. We need to take a very good look at it. “God so loved” - this is a love so far above anything man knows that we really do not understand.
The word loved here is translated from Agape which means to love much in a moral sense. This love goes way beyond the human ability to love. This type of love is not because, but in spite of. He loved us with this love so much, that while we were yet in sin, He sent His Son to die on the cross to save us: not because we deserved it, but because we didn't deserve it.
The Son’s mission is bound up in the supreme love of God for the evil, sinful “world” of humanity that is in rebellion against Him. The word “so” emphasizes the intensity or greatness of His love. The Father gave His unique and beloved Son to die on behalf of sinful men.
Jesus came to save the lost. It is so simple and yet so hard. Believeth here, again, means continues to believe. You see, salvation is a way of life. Everyday when we get up we must remember all over again and believe. This is not something we do causally. This belief means to believe in God and love Him more than anything or anyone else.
Matthew 22:37 tells us what this love and belief is, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
You see, if you really believe, you will practice the verse above. God will be first in your life, or He will not be in your life at all. There is no way to perish if you are in this right standing with God. He has prepared for us a place to spend all of eternity with Him.
A Powerful 29-minute biblical depiction of the life and ministry of the Savior, Jesus Christ
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