For God so loved the World(1)

Key Scripture: John 3:16(KJV) 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.

SUMMARY

Throughout the scripture from Genesis to Revelation we read about the great love, forgiveness and a continuous fellowship of God with His people. Our God is the ‘Great I Am’ who never leaves or forsakes us. Therefore, this season let us gaze upon the magnitude of His love who sent His only begotten Son to redeem us from our sins . God and the world represents two ends .Sin brought the divide and it was necessary that someone would bridge the gap and act as mediator. God loved the world while we were not worthy. He sent His Son , to express His great love to a fallen world. We cannot fathom with our finite minds yet the greatness of His love but one day we will find it all beyond comprehension as we walk through the gates of heaven.

SERMON POINTS

We know that John 3:16 is the most influential verse around the world. In this verse St. John has mentioned two important things; God and the world as two separate entities. To understand the magnitude of His love we need to understand the beauty of the Son.St John introduces Jesus as the Son of God using different witnesses. In chapter one, John the baptist is the witness besides Andrew and Peter. In chapter two,the wedding house at Cana stands in the witness box and in chapter three St John found a great witness in Nicodemus.

John 3:1(KJV)There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

We read that there was a certain man called Nicodemus who was the ruler of the Jews, who knew the law and had also heard about Jesus. Though Nicodemus himself was an expert in the law and teachings, he found something different about the Lord Jesus. The way He spoke and did things, it was a different proposition all together.

John 3:2(KJV) 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.

It was this inquisitiveness that led him to Jesus;

We need to understand that if the ruler of the Jews, a man who knew the law came humbly to Jesus by night how much more should we be keen in knowing the Lord. At the end of the day our reputation, dignity and stardom doesn’t really matter when we are all groping in the darkness unless we come to ‘The Light’ called Jesus. As St John mentions night, it also signifies the spiritual darkness mankind is groping under.

Genesis 1:5 (KJV) and God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

In Genesis we read that God called the light day and darkness night. Let us understand that unless we find Jesus we are in the darkness. As Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, he was also in the darkness away from the Saviour, but once he came to Jesus, the light of His glory and revelation filled Him. Similarly, when we also come seeking Jesus, our spiritual life will be uplifted and our outlook, character and mission changes forever. Nicodemus though a teacher and ruler of the law could not dispel the darkness and vacuum he had and rightly he came to the Lord Jesus. He called our Lord as “Rabbi” which means teacher.

He was convinced of the miracles and teachings of Jesus and had no doubt that He came from God.  Our Lord Jesus was the teacher David was looking for and Nicodemus came to the ultimate place.

Psalm 143:10(KJV) Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Similarly In John 4 we read about the Samaritan woman, who goes to the city of Jerusalem testifying, “The Messias cometh, had come which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.” Thus, she also affirms that God loved the world that He gave His Son Jesus who is to be preached unto all generations for an everlasting life.

John 3:3(KJV) 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.

As Nicodemus speaks to Jesus about His teachings and miracles which only signified that Jesus came from God; yet our Lord didn’t bask in the glory of men but says unto Nicodemus that until he is born again nobody could see the kingdom of God for He is the kingdom and without Him nobody could enter the kingdom of God. Remember seeing the kingdom is different from entering the kingdom of God. When we are born again we see the kingdom of God with Jesus as the King ruling the kingdom and entering His kingdom with the currency of faith.

The Criterion to Enter into the Kingdom of God:

John 3:5,6(KJV) 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Until a man repents of his sins and goes through the waters of baptism and is born of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. The one who is born of flesh will remain a flesh but one who has the Holy Spirit we will get the revelation of Jesus and will be healthy and powerful. The Spirit of God works in our lives and we are transformed from being a sinner to the image of the knowledge of His Son. Our character and desires change; our lifestyle and mission changes and we no more live for the temporal pleasures of sin, but we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit to be conformed to the image of Jesus, the Son of God.

To understand the greatness of the Son, we will come to the chapter one of St John and see the four revelations of the Son of God that acts as a fulfilment to the Law of Moses

FOUR REVELATIONS OF THE SON OF GOD FROM JOHN 1 

John 1:1(KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

1. THE WORD

St John begins his gospel by a sharp striking similarity to the Torah. Genesis 1:1 starts with “In the begininng God created…”. St John goes to the beginning before the Torah. “IN the Beginning was the Word”. The Word was with God and the Word was God. Our Lord Jesus is the Word in flesh. He is the Word that we see echoed in the Torah.

Jesus is the beginning and the end. If we have not known Jesus as the beginning then we have not known where we began. Everything was made by Him and without Him nothing could be made.

2. THE LIGHT

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”(John 1:4)

“Let there be light” and there was light. St John was introducing the Lord Jesus here as the light of the World that shines beyond the darkness. He is the light that bridges the World to God.

3. THE TABERNACLE

John 1:14(KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:14(YLT) And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth.

Our Lord Jesus tabernacled among us. Tabernacle was a significant structure to a Jew.Tabernacle was the place where God’s glory dwelt. St. John says that the word which was in the beginning was now made flesh to dwell amongst us. Jesus is the tabernacle where His glory dwelt and praise God He did tabernacle among us. Jesus is our Great High Priest who has opened a new way, so that we can experience the presence of God and hear His voice.

4. THE LAMB

John 1:29(KJV) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

For a Jew the lamb also was significant as sacrifices were of primemost importance. St John introduces the Son of God through the words of John the Baptist as the Lamb that carries away the sins of the World. A perfect Lamb to be slain for the sins of the world. He is the perfect sacrifice whose blood was shed on the cross for the remission of our sins. Hence, now we understand that Jesus is the only begotten Son sent from Father in heaven to be sacrificed for the sins of the world and that whosoever believed in Him will not perish, but have an everlasting life.

CONCLUSION.

To know God and to have a relationship with God are two different things; there can’t be a connection with the stripes when we don’t have the connection with the Healer. Otherwise, we would be like the Israelite’s who heard, knew and experienced God yet they never had a relationship with Him. Jesus is above any ruler and the Law who came from the Father in heaven. He is our Great High Priest who has opened a new way, so that we can experience the presence of God and hear His voice. Jesus was from the beginning, the Light, the Word and the perfect Lamb that was slain for us. Therefore, never forget the price He paid for us and that we were made by Him to worship, thank, honour, love and praise Him with all our heart! FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD.