Message developed as part of series inspired by Max Lucado*s book 3:16, Numbers of Hope, study guide materials, and his sermon series by the same title. This sermon in the series contains primarily the same outline, as you will find in one chapter of the book.
Scripture: John 3:16; various texts
Title: God*s Whosoever Promise
Series: 3:16 (part 6)
INTRODUCTION
Just last weekend I was told that we have a time capsule in our cornerstone. I*ve never thought about it before, but it makes me curious to know what*s inside. Now it*s been almost 50 years since the church was built, and I asked a few people what we might find in there. Some photographs, some testimonies, a current newspaper, maybe some small reminders of the old church, and hopefully a copy of God*s Word? But I was told, "I think there*s some kind of document in there." Well that*s just not so exciting, but let me tell you a story about a time capsule that I find pretty exciting...
In Lucado*s book, he told of a time capsule that was inserted in a famous monument in London. In the city of West Minster, you*ll find "Cleopatra*s Needle." It*s a time capsule in it*s own right because it is an ancient Egyptian Obelisk, standing almost 70 feet high, weighing 180 tons, and covered with Egyptian hieroglyphs that commemorate the military victories of Rameses II.
What we call Cleopatra*s needle was carved out 3500 years ago (actually before the days of Cleopatra), and once guarded Egyptian temples. Pharaohs passed them by on their chariots, Moses likely studied in their shadow. But on September 12, 1878, one of the giants was planted on British soil. Lucado says..."Someday, when Britain goes the way of ancient Egypt, excavators will open the time capsule interred in her base to find a slice of Victorian England. They*ll discover a set of coins, children*s toys, a city directory, photographs of the twelve most beautiful women of the day, a razor, and, in 215 languages, a verse from the Bible. Yes, John 3:16, "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."
John 3:16 is a time capsule of sorts itself because it speaks to every "whosoever" that*s ever been and ever will be. And while rummagers through our building*s rubble will find only an old historical document, excavators at London*s obelisk will find a truth as fresh and relevant as today*s newspaper.
Why is John 3:16 so relevant? Because of one word...whosoever. It*s an infinite invitation that bypasses color, gender, tradition, and even time.
There were whosoever*s in the first century. During the reformation, more than ever came to realize that they too were the "whosoevers" God was speaking to. And when John 3:16 was opened to you, you realized that "I*m a whosoever." And in the future, there will never be a time when whoever reads, "whosoever will" can say God doesn*t care about me.
This morning I want you to realize that Jesus Christ was placed inside a monument of death, but on the third day He arose to make good on this one policy, that no matter the time, place or situation, Whosoever will believe on Him will not perish but have everlasting life. The whosoevers of this world can rejoice today that Jesus is alive and able to make his policy stand.
Are you a 3:16 whosoever? Of course you are because there is not a person alive who can*t be saved, anytime, anywhere. To God, Whosoever means three things: However, Whenever, and Wherever.
I. WHOSOEVER MEANS HOWEVER.
However Jesus may find you, He can save you. God takes you however he finds you. No story represents that truth more than the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. Read Luke 16:19-21.
Stop at verse 21...Jesus paints the story very clearly that we have two men on opposite sides of the tracks. One lived in posh luxury and wears the finest clothing, literally worth their weight in gold, and living without a care.
Then there is Lazarus, a homeless and hungry man, covered with filth, open infections, and no one by his side except for equally mangy dogs. Before you feel too sorry for him, just consider how you normally view such people. Think about the dirty man staggering by the roadside that you pass by, and maybe shake your head at..."drunk." Think about the diseased crack addict, that you know chose that lifestyle.
When we*re honest about how these two men compare, we idolize the first, and demonize the second. We would welcome the first to our homes, but call the cops on the second if he showed up. We would ask for a loan from the first, we wouldn*t give our scraps to the second.
But not God. In sudden drama, the curtain of death falls on act 1, and eternal destiny is revealed in act 2. Read 22-23.
Our circumstances, or our howevers don*t determine if we are accepted by God. John 3:16 says it is our belief, for whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
What are your circumstances today? Young, old, rich poor, happy, sad? If you will believe on Him, your "however" is just temporary. However the Father finds me, I know that there is nothing that takes away the promise of whosoever.
[But that is not all Whosoever promises, it also promises that ...]
II. WHOSOEVER MEANS WHENEVER.
Let me explain... Have you ever searched through your wallet to find just the right coupon for what you need, only to look closely enough to see that it just expired? Max Lucado said that he actually found a gift card that he found while cleaning out his car. It had $50 on it for some restaurant. And yep, you guessed it. It had just expired.
When it comes to coupons and gift cards sometimes you can wait too long, but not with God. His invitation still stands for you. It*s not too late for anyone in this room to be a "Whosoever believes." To convince you, Jesus told a parable about an eleventh-hour grace. READ Matt. 20:1-9.
You see the wage agreed on by all of the workers was the same amount. No matter if the worker was employed at 9 in the morning, 3 in the afternoon or even just an hour before quitting time, they all received the same wage. I don*t know employer that would be that gracious. No one pays a day*s wage to one-hour workers, does he? God does. We wouldn*t do it. In fact, even the workers in Jesus story complained. READ Matt. 20:10-12.
Whosoever promises that whenever you come to the Savior, you will be heard, you will be loved, you receive the same promise of eternal life that every long-time saint counts on. How is grace like that possible? Jesus explained in His parable this way. Verse 15., "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?"
That*s why at Easter time, we point to the repentant thief on the cross, and we say he believed. He believed moments before his death on the cross. READ Luke 23:39-43.
Although the story of the criminal on the cross demonstrates that, whenever you believe, God will take you, the Bible warns us to repent now, without waiting another moment. The Bible warns us life is just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away (James 4:14). We are not instructed to consider converting someday, but to believe today! "Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7-8, 14; 4:7).
2 Corinthians 6:2 declares, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God*s favor, now is the day of salvation."
None of us knows how much time we have left in this life or what the circumstances of our death will be. But we do know the promise of God is for whosoever will believe. [http://www.gotquestions.org/death-bed-conversion.html]
[Whosoever is a promise of however and whenever. And one more...]
III. WHOSOEVER MEANS WHEREVER.
Wherever you are, you*re not too far to come home. The prodigal son assumed he was. He had spurned his father*s kindness and "journey to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living." Luke 15.13. Read Luke 15:11-13.
Jesus paints the picture of one who wasted what was promised him. The word wasted or squandered is the same Greek verb used by Jesus to describe the action of a farmer broadcasting his seed. He scatters handfuls of the seed onto the tilled earth. (Make the motion, "He wasted his life to the limits of sinful excess.")
He went as low as a good Jewish boy could go. Read Luke 15:14-16. He*s so low that he can never return home right? Wrong. Not in God*s economy. Read Luke 15:17-24.
Whosoever means wherever you go, I*m waiting for you to return.
Whosoever means wherever you go, I*m saving your place.
Whosoever means wherever you go, you*re never to far to come home.
The father is waiting to embrace men and women today who think they*ve wandered too far, and wasted their lives. If people like this son can thumb his finger at the Father, walk away and lose everything, and the Father still rejoices over his return, then you better believe that wherever you have gone, wherever you have been, He rejoices today to accept you as a son or daughter come home, come alive.
[That is the promise of that one word. Whosoever. That means you. That*s all of us, we*re all the whosoever*s of the Gospel of John 3:16. In fact, that is the promise you find all over Scripture...]
CONCLUSION
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father
in heaven. (Matt. 10:32)
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matt.
10:39)
Whoever does God*s will is my brother and sister and mother. (Mark 3:35)
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned. (Mark 16:16)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever reject the Son will not see
life, for God*s wrath remains on him (John 3:36)
Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst (John 4:14)
Whoever comes to me I will never drive away. (John 6:37)
Whoever lives and believes in me will never die (John 11:26)
Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free give of the
water of life (Rev. 22:17)
Jesus died on the cross, and rose from the grave to make good these "whosoever promises," that...
However God finds you today, He wants you.
Whenever you believe, He accepts you.
Wherever you have been, it*s not too far.
