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.’
To fully understand the completeness of the meaning of John 3;16, one must view it in the context of Jesus’ entire conversation with Nicodemus which is captured in verses 1-21 of John’s Gospel.
There you will find that the conversation of Jesus with this ruler of the Jews and teacher of the Israelites was to enlighten him “Nicodemus” on things that he should have already known and taught. - after all, Nicodemus was “a member of the Jews council”
In the text, we find that Jesus challenges Nicodemus’ worth (or merit) as a teacher by asking;“Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?” John 3:10
I believe it was the intent of Jesus to move Nicodemus to a deeper level of thinking and understanding of Himself as the Word of God and as the rightful King of the Kingdom of God; also to bring Nicodemus into the personal revelation of the reason for God’s Kingdom. You will notice that Nicodemus came with a “we” approach;
John 3:2 (KJV) “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.”
But left with a “me” or “I” approach.
Matthew 7:28-29 “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teacher of the law.
For the 1st time, Nicodemus has come face to face, eyeball to eyeball with the Living Word, of which he was responsible for teaching and upholding.
Mark 1:22 "And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.”
Can you imagine actually feeling the weight and authority of the Word of God, as Jesus speaks? Now the interviewer is being interviewed.
Luke 24:32 (KJV) “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”
In Jesus’ eye, it was imperative that upon Nicodemus’s departure, regardless of the hour, Nicodemus had to understand three imperatives (or Must Haves); for him to remain a teacher of God’s Word and for him to see the Kingdom of God.
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.”
I.) God’s Love. II.) God’s Gift III.) God’s Grace
I.) God’s Love John 3:16a “For God so loved the world. . . .”
As a teacher, Nicodemus you must understand that;
God’s love is unconditional:
Unconditional: wholehearted, unqualified, unreserved, unlimited, unrestricted, never questions.
God’s love does not require reciprocity:
Reciprocity: the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, especially privileges granted by one country or organization to another.
God’s love is Universal:
Universal: Widespread, overarching, omnipresent, all-embracing
God’s love is extended from heaven to earth for all who accept and believe to receive.
1 John 4:9 (NIV): “This is how God's love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.”
Psalm 86:15 “But you, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”
“Love gives, and does not require” Elliott Commentary
Matthew 5:45. “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Romans 5:8 “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
“A true understanding of God’s love for you begins with one’s delight in knowing about Him; followed by one’s continuously seeking and desiring to be near Him - to hear from.” - Pastor Paul E. Davis
God sees the heart of the person and while overlooking the condition of their life. God’s extend love is not predicated you getting right with Him, His love is already given to you.
Here the take home point for us today:
II.) God’s Gift. John 3:16b "that he gave His only begotten Son”
The true gift given in the verse and to humanity from the beginning of time is “understanding”. God has gift man with the ability to perceive, to comprehend, to reason, to apprehend a thought, to graph the meaning of something greater than themselves.
Psalm 8: Appreciation for the Gift
O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
9 O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!
As a Pharisee and teacher of the Jews, Nicodemus should have understood the true meaning of giving up one’s son in obedience to God, as this was his teaching of Abraham with Isaac, Genesis 22:1-19; Though he was a teacher of God’s Word, Nicodemus had not truly grasped that Jesus was God and acting on our half for God.
God saw it not a problem or an issue to give up His very best for us. . . 1st knowing that the worst sin “corruption of man” required the very best from heaven.
III.) God’s Grace John 3:16c “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
I am deeply thankful for this blessed text; for if I am a lot unmentioned in any other catalogue, I know that this includes me: I am beyond all question under the shade of "whosoever." No end of odd people come to the Tabernacle, or read my sermons; but they are all within the range of “whosoever." (C. H. Spurgeon.)
2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Romans 3:22 “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”
James 4:6 “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Regardless of how you come to Christ, your departure should be of public notice - One that is not ashamed.
God’s Grace Surrounds Us:
It is said that some years ago a vessel sailing on the northern coast of the South American continent, was observed to make signals of distress. When hailed by another vessel, they reported themselves as "Dying for water!" "Dip it up then," was the response, "you are in the mouth of the Amazon river." There was fresh water all around them, they had nothing to do but to dip it up, and yet they were dying of thirst, because they thought themselves to be surrounded by the salt sea. How often are men ignorant of their mercies? How sad that they should perish for lack of knowledge! Jesus is near the seeker even when he is tossed upon oceans of doubt. The sinner has but to stoop down and drink and live. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
