Sermon Tone Analysis

Belief, obedience are essential

Weeks, weeks, we have been in John chapter 3 for weeks, and well, we are only part way through as we approach our passage tonight we need to remember a few things so to keep in context.

Open bible, bible app to Jn3!

A Pharisee, the teacher of Jews comes to Jesus at night (3:1-2)

Jesus questions and challenges (3:3-6)

Have someone read (vv.3-6)

Jn3:3-6 “3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?

He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and 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.”

What imperative do we find, are reminded of (v.3, 5)?

(Insert born again picture previously used here)

Jesus explains and marvels him (3:7-13)

You believe in the wind even when you don’t see it or know where it is going.

So believe!

I have told you earthly things (examples) now believe so you can understand spiritual things, eternal things, necessary things

Jesus illustrates for him (3:14)

What is the illustration given (v.14)?

Jesus promises Him (3:15)

What is the promise given (v.15)?

And we will pick up from there this evening.

As we start to approach the most well known verse in the bible by Christians and even the condemned.

We need to remember belief.

(Insert do you believe picture here previously used)

It is not enough to say you believe, there must be proof of your belief - you must be born again

It is not enough to say you believe, you must believe in Jesus (more on that in future teachings

it is not enough to say you believe, but it needs to be a continual belief.

It is important that we know the belief is available to all, not to Jews alone, but whosoever.

I think we can all agree that the purpose, in fact the written purpose for the gospel of John is “belief” right?

This is a belief that continues so to have life in His name and have the assurance of eternal life

The the verses surrounding Jn3:16 we see that John recording the words of Jesus classes the world, meaning the people, into two classes

Believers and unbelievers

The condemned and the not condemned.

Let me bring in context then get to our verse tonight

One more thing to bring to our thoughts, This is a conversation with Nicodemus, a teacher, or the teacher of the Jews and the things Jesus is saying has to be totally overwhelming to him and now this passage must about push him off the ledge of what he knew, what he believed.

(Transition) So, the gospel begins with God’s love, love given, love displayed through the cross and ends with eternal life for those who believe.

One commentator (Morris) said “God gave is used in two sentences.

God gave the Son by sending him into the world, but God also gave the Son on the cross.

That the acceptable atonement proceeds from the loving heart of the Father.”

So, now, tonight with great humility I want us to start to look at this verse, maybe with a deeper understanding, an overwhelming understanding that did not just impact our life one day but everyday!

Here is what I will attempt tonight.

The lover

The love

The loved

The love described

The Lover

We know the verse, maybe able to quote it, maybe even from the KJV, but we want to let the words sink in.

Look at who the lover is.

Who is the the lover (v.16)?

The greatest text, starts with the greatest love, God’s love (see 2The3:5)

Or in a paraphrase version

The love of the Father does not just give us the Son it gives us an opportunity for a greater understanding and an endurance so to believe until the end!

When you think about the love of God, outside of Jesus, what do you think of?

Now, without a doubt Nicodemus would have believed that God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob loved Israel and gave His love to Israel, but this is so much more.

This is the covenant breath of the gospel, it is the fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham

(Transition) this leads us to the next point, and where we will park some for tonight.

The love given

This love given is more than just a bumper sticker, more than a book mark, it is to bring about the saving faith that gives and assures eternal life.

Commentator Ken Gangel said “The Bible does not allows us merely acknowledge that Christ died for the world; saving faith requires a recognition that He died for each of us individually.”

One more word we should look at before we look at the love given

Perish: to suffer destruction or ruin: His valuable paintings perished in the fire.

to suffer spiritual death: Save us, lest we perish.

This is eternal perish, spiritual death in contrast to eternal life.

In context (Jn3:15-18) those who do not believe, do not accept through belief the Father’s love will perish vs. those who believe will have eternal life.

So, it is not just blasphemy that would keep you out of kingdom, indecision can!

You must chose to believe and act on that belief.

Now, I think we are ready to look at:

The love given is agape love.

It is essential (1Jn4:8)

It is eternal (Ps103:17)

Let that sink in a moment, from everlasting to everlasting!

So, in the beginning God who is love had love, gave love and will always give love for all eternity

It is sovereign (1Jn4:10, 4:19)

Eternal God loved and sent His son because of His great love for us.

His sent love became the propitiation satisfying the wrath of God.

Because of His great love, we learn what love is, what love can do and we can learn to love.

It is generous (Jon4:2)

Some words that come to mind are for me are gracious, steadfast, lavish, excessive, extreme and magnanimous.

Sorry, couldn’t help myself.

That is how generous His love is!

It is merciful (Rom5:8)

When did Christ die for us?

While we were yet sinners!

It is sacrificial (1Jn4:9)

The “we” here is the ones receiving this letter, it is the believers, so that the believers may life through the sacrifice, the love given!

It is saving (Tit3:4-5)

How were we saved according to (Tit3:5)?

Because the love of God for mankind was made known.

That love was Jesus Christ!

It is special (Rom1:7; 1The1:4)

you are beloved, you are saints

You are recipients of God’s grace and peace.

You are chosen!

and it is permanent (Rom8:38-39)

The love given is, eternal life given, given to those who believe and who are grounded in His love

Love that we continue to learn more and root more in, to understand the breadth, length, height and depth of that love that surpasses knowledge.

That love that is given, that you were instructed with, will be overflowing with gratitude.

Other scriptures used/referenced: (Eph3:17-19; Col2:7)

God so loved the world, the world that hated Him

Had no relationship with him (15:18)

That Satan rules (12:31)

That there is the evil one (1Jn5:19)