John 3:16

theres That wonderful word WHOSOEVER—

it's a comforting word!

It’s a word that is general, yet particular.

It embraces all of humanity, and yet it touches each and every one of us.

It means that the Gospel is for EVERYONE,

which means it’s for YOU and for ME!

—WHOSOEVER believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life!

Now think about something with me for a moment:

• Suppose God had offered salvation only to THE RICH?

People like you and me would never make it. (OPEN EMPTY WALLET)

All of us who are broke days before payday—too bad for us!

• Suppose God had offered salvation only to THE HEALTHY OR THE FIT? Some of us wouldn’t even have a CHANCE!

A snail probably gets more exercise than some of us do!

• Suppose God had offered salvation only to THE EDUCATED? –

Some would never make it to heaven because they didn't have the same opportunities as others.

What if salvation was offered only to good, and righteous people? –

Then NONE of us would have any hope of ever seeing Jesus because the Bible says that before God “there is none good, no not one.”

but Who can be saved?—WHOSOEVER!

“But you don’t know my sin,” you say. No, but God does, and He knew it over two thousand years ago when He gave this wonderful promise.

In fact, listen again to a verse I read a few minutes ago:

Romans 5:8 – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God doesn’t save us AFTER we get rid of our sin.

He saves us IN our sin—

just as we are.

God doesn’t save us once we clean up our lives to be good enough for Him.

He doesn’t save us after we’ve made ourselves holy or religious.

It’s just the opposite—He saves us IN our sin, just as we are

He saves us FROM our sin, and makes us what we should be!

You can’t get a better deal than that!

How precious it is to know that salvation IS for “whosoever.”

maybe you are here this morning with a burden of sin?

– “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

maybe you are here loaded down with cares and problems from the mess you’ve made of your life?—

well again I’ve got good news for you:

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Whosoever you are,

if you’re without Jesus as your Savior, you don't have to leave that way

you can come to Jesus today!

IV. LAST, WHAT IF GOD’S OFFER WAS NOT BASED ON FAITH ALONE? – “…that whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I’d like you to picture with me three very common scenarios today:

• Picture with me all those trying to get to God through GOOD WORKS today—

People who are SINCERE—WORKING, TRYING and DYING. Even though Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”