What Will You Do With God s Gift? (John 3:16-21)

What Will You Do With God s Gift? (John 3:16-21) This morning, I want us to take a fresh look at what is possibly the most well-known passage of the Bible the passage that includes John 3:16. But before we begin, allow me to give a few words of caution. It is so easy to allow our brains to slip into neutral when we read through a well-known passage such as we find ourselves in this morning. The danger is to think, I know these verses I ve heard them all before. But really, verses like John 3:16 should affect us each time we read them. They should bring a renewed joy to our hearts, each time as we reflect on the sacrifice that was made for us a people undeserving of such grace. So, this morning... I want us to read this passage as if we re reading it for the first time. and my prayer is, after spending some time looking at this passage this morning, that each of you would be greatly affected by it Bringing you to love God more, for what He s done for you. Or, for those of you who have not experienced God s saving grace Bringing you to a point of decision a decision to receive God s free gift a decision to receive His Son, Jesus so that you too would be saved. Let s start by reading verses 16 to 18 John 3:16-18 (KJV) 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. 1

The 1 st thing I want to draw your attention to this morning is this: God's Gift was Very Much Needed The gift that God gave His Son, Jesus that gift, we desperately needed. Because, as verse 16 and 18 imply Without belief in the Son, we would perish Without belief in the Son, we are condemned already. These are serious statements. The God, to whom we will all give account, is making it clear Without the gift of His Son, we would all be condemned, and would perish. Notice the phrase used in verse 18 condemned already. he that believeth not, is condemned already Is this telling us that it s too late for those who ve heard, but not believed? They re already condemned there is no hope? No. What is being said here is that those who do not believe in the Son remain condemned nothing has changed. You see, the verdict is already in, for all of us and it reads GUILTY. We are condemned already. Why? Because we are all born condemned. We all begin from birth on the road to perishing (as v.16 indicates). Adam s sin was credited to each of our accounts from birth. We sin, because we re sinners and we add to our condemnation daily. We are condemned already. Romans 5:12 (KJV) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death (physical and spiritual death) passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: God has declared us all guilty because we ARE guilty. Each of us has rebelled against a holy God. We naturally exist as sinners in a state of condemnation before God. 2

In this state of condemnation, we are told there is only one way out belief in the Son belief in Jesus Christ. And if that one way out of condemnation, has not yet been traveled, we remain condemned because we are condemned already. Now, some may wrongly assume from verse 18 that the only reason we are ever declared condemned is because we ve not yet believed he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. But, what is being said here, is not that the sole reason an unbeliever is condemned is because they ve chosen to not believe in the Son. If this were true, those who ve never heard the name of Jesus those who ve never been given the opportunity to choose to believe, wouldn t be condemned because they wouldn t have chosen to not believe. But this is not the picture painted by the rest of Scripture. We must understand People are not condemned merely for rejecting the truth they ve heard. People are condemned because they ve rebelled against a holy God. May we be reminded from Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death, not simply the wages of unbelief. We are condemned because we are first of all, sinners not merely because we may later become willful unbelievers. So, what this verse is saying is that all who ve not believed in Jesus remain condemned. They ve not traveled the one and only way out of condemnation which is belief in the Son. Let me share another verse that ll help us see what s being said here John 3:36 (KJV) 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. The word translated abideth here, could just as easily have been translated remains. They mean the same thing. 3

he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains on him. Once again The wrath of God the condemnation, already exists, before unbelief. Then when a person willfully chooses not to believe in Jesus, the wrath of God God s condemnation of that person, simply remains. Let s now consider what is meant by verse 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Does this then mean no one will be condemned in the end? since Jesus did not come to condemn, but to save? No. Because, as we have already pointed out, the world is already condemned. His mission was rather to come to an already condemned world, and offer a way out of that condemnation. He came to rescue He came to save. This is why God s Gift was very much needed. Because without the gift of God s Son being given, each one of us would remain rightfully condemned and would ultimately perish in our sins. The 2 nd thing I want to draw your attention to this morning is this: God's Gift was Extremely Costly John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son The extreme cost of the gift God gave, can really only be appreciated, when we recognize the value of the gift given God s only begotten Son. The one and only unique Son of God was given as a gift to mankind. This is indeed a great gift a costly gift. But not until we see that this gift would need to suffer, can we appreciate how extremely costly this gift really was. 4

We need to keep in mind God did not give His Son to a grateful world, where He would be treated fairly and be appreciated for who He was. Rather, God gave His Son to an undeserving, ungrateful, sin-loving rebellious world to be hated, beaten, tortured, and ultimately killed. The cost to God was high. Romans 5:8 (KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The one that God the Father loved immensely Jesus, His Son would be sacrificed for and sacrificed by rebels who d turned their back on Him. God gave a gift of great value His own Son. God gave this gift willingly... showing His love. God gave this gift to those who didn t deserve it showing His grace. God gave this gift to those who hated Him showing His mercy. What a valuable and costly gift God has given. The 3 rd thing I want to draw your attention to this morning is this: God's Gift was Motivated by Love John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son This was the motivating force behind God s gift to us. He loved the world and as a result, He gave. Romans 8:32 (KJV) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all The depth of such love can be seen in what was willingly sacrificed because of such love God s one and only Son. 5

Not only would His Son suffer and die, but God loved the world so much that He willingly poured out His anger onto His innocent Son the wrath that sinful mankind deserved. In fact, it says in Isaiah 53:10 (KJV) Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; On the cross hung God s beloved Son, yet it pleased God to bruise Him. How can this be? How could God take any pleasure in the death of His Son? Simply put it was because of how much God loved the world. Albert Barnes said it well when he wrote, The Lord was pleased with his sufferings, not because he has delight in the sufferings of innocence; not because the sufferer was in any sense guilty or ill-deserving; and not because he was at any time displeased or dissatisfied with what the Mediator did, or taught. But it was because these sorrows would result in the pardon and recovery of an innumerable multitude of lost sinners, and in their eternal happiness and salvation. The whole work was one of benevolence, and Yahweh was pleased with it as a work of pure love. 1 John 4:10 (KJV) 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (the satisfaction) for our sins. The 4 th thing I want to draw your attention to this morning is this: God's Gift was Given to Save Us John 3:17 (KJV) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. God s purpose in giving the gift of His Son was to save the world from condemnation. It really was a rescue mission. 6

He came to pay the debt of those who could not pay He came as a Ransom. He came to release those who were enslaved to sin He came as a Redeemer. He came to rescue those who were on the road to perishing He came as a Savior. He came to a condemned world to take the place of the condemned. This is how the rescue mission was even possible. You see A good God cannot, and will not, allow sin to go unpunished. Either, each of us will pay for our own sin for eternity, or Our sin will be seen, as having been already paid for, by Jesus on the cross. This idea of Jesus becoming our substitute, in taking the punishment we deserved, has often been referred to as substitutionary atonement. Listen For those of us who are Christians here this morning, we need to understand that our sins have been atoned for (wiped clean; forgiven) only because Jesus became our substitute, in paying for them on the cross. Our sins were charged to His account. Isaiah 53:6 (KJV) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. But not only was our sin credited to Christ s account, but Christ s righteousness was credited to our account. This idea of the perfect righteousness of Jesus, being credited to us, has often been referred to as imputed righteousness. Listen For those of us who are Christians here this morning, we need to understand that the righteousness that Jesus earned by living a perfect life unto death, has been credited (imputed or charged) to our accounts. We could never be good enough but Jesus was good enough for us. Romans 5:19 (KJV) 7

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. We see both of these truths: the idea of substitutionary atonement and the idea of imputed righteousness, both in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) For he (God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin... that s substitutionary atonement that we might be made the righteousness of God in him that s imputed righteousness What an amazing exchange! If we ve received the gift that God has offered if we are Christians: Then, Jesus Christ s righteousness, that He had earned through His perfect life, unto death has been credited to us and the penalty for our sins, that we earned since birth has been credited to Him. The result? We are saved! Romans 5:9 (KJV) Much more then, being now justified (declared righteous) by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 8:1 (KJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Each one of us in this world, condemned by our sin, has been presented a gift Jesus, the Son of God, as a substitute. The question is: What will be our response to this gift that s been offered? The 5 th thing I want to draw your attention to this morning is this: God's Gift will Often be Rejected John 3:19-21 (KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 8

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (or exposed). But he that doeth truth (in other words, he that is a Christian ) cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Here s the truth light has come into this world. Light that illuminates, exposes, and dispels darkness light that is pure and bright that kind of light has come into this world. Light that reveals the truth concerning a person s spiritual condition that kind of light has come. And there s only one person who could bring such light and that person is Jesus Christ God the Son, who took on flesh God s gift to mankind. John 12:46 (KJV) I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. Listen If we were to gaze into a mirror while standing in a dark room, I m sure you d agree that our wrinkles and blemishes would be hard to see. In fact, if it were dark enough, even I might look pretty handsome. But if we were then to step into a well lit room, with that same mirror, all of our wrinkles and blemishes, that weren t visible before, would then be seen The light would have revealed them. They would no longer be able to be denied. The truth would be seen. And you know what? That truth might hurt because, truth hurts sometimes, doesn t it? Well, verse 19 tells us that in a similar way, condemned men love the darkness. Their deeds are evil and so they choose to avoid the light. Why? Because They don t want their deeds to be exposed. They don t want the truth to be revealed. They d rather live in the dark. They d rather live in denial of their true spiritual condition before God. 9

You see, Jesus is light light that is pure and bright. He is the standard by which all men are judged. As one commentator said, The best way to reveal the crookedness of one stick is to place a straight stick beside it. And when we line ourselves up beside Jesus when we allow His light to shine on us, our true condition of sinfulness is exposed. This brings feelings of guilt and shame which is why it s easier to stay in the dark easier to stay away from Jesus, and the light He brings. This is why so many reject the gift God has offered. It s simply too painful to allow the light of Jesus to expose their sinfulness. But let me tell you something else about this light it s warm. Once you willingly enter its scrutiny once its initial work is done and you are humbled before almighty God as a child of His, you love the light. It becomes inviting enjoyable. It actually becomes a comfort. Plus, you desire to dwell in the light that Jesus brings, because you want others to know, that any goodness in you is only because God lives within. V.20 - But he that doeth truth (or he that is a Christian ) cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. The 6 th and final thing I want to draw your attention to this morning is this: God's Gift was Meant to be Received Verse 16 says that, whosoever believeth in Him will not perish. Verse 18 says that, He that believeth on Him is not condemned. This is how we can receive the gift we so desperately need. We must believe IN Jesus. Now, many people.when they think of belief, they think primarily of giving intellectual assent to something. But the meaning of belief in Scripture is actually much different. 10

In fact, the Greek word translated believeth, carries with it the idea of placing your faith in, entrusting yourself to, or committing yourself to something or someone. So It s not those who believe Jesus existed, who are rescued from perishing It s only those who want to receive God s gift and therefore entrust themselves and commit themselves to Jesus, who are actually saved. We need to understand Only those who receive God s gift will actually have God s gift. And This gift is not received through church membership or the sacraments. This gift is not received through church baptism or through good deeds. You cannot earn this gift through effort or contribute to it in any way. You cannot even be sorry enough for your sin, to make your sin go away. Only through turning to Jesus in faith personally and sincerely entrusting yourself to Jesus believing in Him and what He s done. Only through placing your faith in Jesus and faith alone, relying completely and only on what Jesus did, while renouncing all effort to add to what Jesus did renouncing all effort to contribute to your salvation in any way. Only through faith alone in Christ alone can we be saved from perishing. Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Look at the beautiful invitation that Jesus gives in Matthew 11:28 (KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 11

His promises are true I can testify that they are! There is rest at the foot of the cross. There is peace in the arms of God. Burdens are truly lifted at Calvary! Perhaps you came here this morning with a lack of understanding. You never fully understood that without personally placing your faith in Jesus, that you d remain condemned and on the road to perishing. OR Perhaps you came here this morning unwilling to come into the light. You knew that such light would expose your sin causing guilt and shame. But you weren t willing to be humbled by such a light. But perhaps now, after seeing the depths of God s love for you, that motivated Him to give such a costly gift to you perhaps now, you no longer want to refuse such a gift. If this is true of you Allow me to lead you in a simple prayer. There are no magical words, but perhaps this prayer would represent your heart s cry this morning Father in heaven, I know I m a sinner unworthy of your love and mercy. But I also know you cared about me, so much, that you made a way for me to be brought back into fellowship with you. I believe your Son, Jesus, died for me paying the penalty that I deserved. Father, I want a relationship with you, and a relationship with your Son. I want to spend eternity with you, God. I want salvation. So, I ask you this morning: please come into my life make me your child. And help me live the rest of my life in a way that would honor you. Amen. If you prayed this prayer this morning, please come see me after the service. I d love to talk with you, and help you, begin your new life in Christ. (Closing Hymn) 12