Much has been written and preached about why Jesus came to earth. Three weeks ago, I began praying for a message for this morning. Almost immediately the Lord gave me the title “Love is the Reason”. I continued to pray, seeking God’s direction for the right scripture. Our text this morning is a familiar one, John 3:16-21.
In the text preceding our scripture this morning, Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Nicodemus has a tough time with this concept. He says to Jesus, “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus explains that he is talking about a spiritual rebirth, not a rebirth in the flesh. Jesus goes on to say that Nicodemus was a teacher of the law, but he still could not understand this concept. Jesus says that he must be lifted up, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, (Numbers 21:9) that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
Jesus concludes his discussion with Nicodemus in our text this morning.
John 3:16-21 New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 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 they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people 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 their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Verse 16 is one of the most famous verses in the bible. This verse is to further explain to Nicodemus how believing in Jesus would cause him to have eternal life.
- For God so loved the world
- What great love this must be, to give up one’s son for all mankind
- God’s compassion, grace and mercy
- Romans 8:38-39 New International Version (NIV)38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- That he gave his one and only son
- This helps explain the deepness of God’s love
- Just as Abraham was tested to sacrifice his son, God followed through and did what Abraham was tested in.
- Jesus was born, lived on the earth as a man, was lifted up and died on a cross for all the sins of mankind
- God gave Jesus as a gift, which represented how much he loved us
- That whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life
- Jesus summarized the gospel message in this phrase
In verse 17 Jesus says that he did not come to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. We already stand condemned as sinners, waiting for our sentence, but Jesus stood in for us and took our death sentence. He paid the price for our sins and all we need to do is believe in him.
What do we believe about Jesus?
- We believe that he is the Son of God
- We believe that he was born of a virgin
- We believe he lived on the earth as a human being
- We believe he died on a cross for our sins
- We believe he lay in a tomb for three days
- We believe he was resurrected back to life by God’s mighty power
- We believe Jesus is alive today and seated at the right hand of God the Father
Verse 19 says that this is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil. The people did not want their evil exposed and wanted to continue in their evil lives rather than repent and believe in Jesus.
Jesus illuminated the need for a savior. His purity and righteousness exposed our evil hearts. God’s love was revealed in Jesus and Jesus revealed God’s love through his life. Why is it that those who do evil hate the light? Their deeds are exposed and laid bare for all to see. Adam and Eve hid themselves from God. Those that walk-in truth seek the light, they seek to be transparent before God, because they have nothing to hide.
I want to look at another scripture this morning that John wrote about God’s love.
Please turn to 1 John 4:7-12
1 John 4:7-12 New International Version (NIV)
God’s Love and Ours
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Let us love one another, for love comes from God. God is Love and God’s love is made complete in us. This is Love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Verse 11 says: “Dear Friends, since God so loved us, we ought to love one another.
God chose to send his Son Jesus into the world to show his great love for the world. Jesus said that when you see the Son, you also see the Father. Jesus was God in the fresh, he represented everything that God is, especially his love.
Jesus gave us the blue-print for what a Christian life should look like. Jesus never turned anyone away, he always showed great compassion for people in need. He loved children and told others to have child like faith. Jesus loved people and loved ministering to them. His life reflected God’s love for mankind. He loved them so much, that he made a way for them to be reconciled to him. He wanted us to be with him in his kingdom, to enjoy each other’s company.
Does the world see God’s love through you? Are you a reflection of Jesus’ love for others? When people see you, do they see Jesus’ love? Do you want to live in the light or in darkness?
This Christmas let’s remember why God sent his Son Jesus into the world as a baby.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Love is the Reason for the Season!
Let’s give each other the gift of love this Christmas season.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for reading my blog!