Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• We live in a world of passwords and numbers - what do you choose?
• John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"
• John 3:16
• The greatest verse of the bible - translated into over 2300 languages and dialects
• Part of a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus
• What does it mean?
• Where it comes in the chapter
• Jesus starts talking to Nicodemus about the Holy Spirit
• Not how we might talk about God the Father, Jesus Christ and then the Holy Spirit
• Jesus talks first about the new birth, which is the work of the Holy Spirit
• Jesus then moves on to speak about Himself
• He speaks of Moses and the Son of Man being lifted up
• A reference to the cross of Calvary
• Jesus then speaks about God the Father
• God's love
• John copies this format in his letter – 1 John 4:12-16
• The Holy Spirit - v13
• Jesus Christ - 14/15
• God - v16

Salvation begins in the depths of God's love??

• In our experience
• Perhaps sitting in a church - hearing for the first time after maybe many years
• Perhaps a conversation with a friend
• Perhaps in a Sunday school class or other meeting
• Did it really being here (outside of our experience)?
• If you go back - you arrive at the love of God
• Our salvation began at the loving heart of the Father
• Jesus Christ explains that you must be born again
• At this time, we see our need and turn to Jesus Christ
• We trust that He died in our place and took our sins upon the cross
• Example of Spurgeon
• We look to the Lord Jesus Christ

The love of the Father

• Jesus came - because of the love of the Father
• Everything about our salvation has its roots in the love of the Father
• The depth of God's love - For God so loved the world
• Quote from John Stott
• Good has given us His precious Son
• The scope of God's love - For God so loved the world
• The whole world - regardless of nationality
• Even those who hate Him 
• His love should draw us to Himself
• The Father's love is demonstrated in His giving - For God so loved the world that He ... (examples) ... gave
• He gave His Son (who came from heaven)
• He gave Him up to be crucified - Example of Abraham and Isaac
• He did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all - Rom 8:32
• Jesus willingly gave Himself for us - Gal 2:20

The Father's love demands a response from us [check first 2 points]

• For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life
• Not just a demonstration of love - but the means of salvation
• To all people - "whoever"
• Example
• No exceptions
• Whoever believes has eternal life
• Should not perish
• Example
• We do not need to do anything to perish
• If we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ - we will not perish
• We have been born again in new life
• Not just a physical perishing but to be eternally condemned (v17-18)
• To be banished from His presence
• There is only one way to prevent perishing - believe in the Son of God
• Do not ignore the message and perish
• Not just a belief in God - it is faith in Christ that saves
• Everlasting life
• The opposite of perishing
• To be eternally welcomed in heaven
• To experience the love of God forever
• Our bodies will die but our souls will live forever
• Explanation
• Closing Remarks