“GOD’S GREAT LOVE” John 3:16
FBCF – 4/16/23
Jon Daniels
INTRO – Simple things in life are sometimes most special & most profound:
- Sunrise or sunset
- A hug from your child or grandchild
- The power of a simple word of thanks spoken to someone, or a simple word of encouragement given to someone.
- Sitting around a firepit w/ good friends
Simple things in our kids’ lives are special, too. First things kids learn are their simple ABC’s & how to count to 10. Milestones that we celebrate & show off. “Show Pappaw how you can say your ABC’s.”
- Reese’s ABC’s
We celebrate these simple things – ABC – 1,2,3. And today, I just want to keep things simple. Not simple in a foolish way, but simple in an uncomplicated, profound way. Simple in a straightforward way. Simple in that a child can understand it & respond to it, as well as any adult can.
Let’s start w/ ABC: When it comes to how to be saved, how to become a Christian, how to become a true Christ-follower, you need to know these 3 things:
- ADMIT that you are a sinner & that you need Jesus as your Savior (Romans 3:23).
- BELIEVE that Jesus is the only way to be saved & have eternal life (Acts 4:12).
- CONFESS that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9).
Now, let’s talk about 1-2-3:
1 WAY TO HEAVEN & ETERNAL LIFE: Jesus Christ alone – John 14:6
2 OPTIONS: Accept or Reject – The choice is up to you. God’s not going to force you to accept Christ. He has given us free will to be able to accept or reject Jesus. You can choose to accept Him or reject Him today.
3 – All 3 persons of the Trinity involved in our salvation:
- The Father initiates salvation out of His eternal, perfect heart of love. He is the administrator & the overseer of the entire plan & process of our salvation, a plan that has been in place since before the foundation of the world. Ephesian 1:4 – “For He [God the Father] chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…”
- Jesus actually brings salvation to us as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The fancy word for it is “propitiation” – God’s wrath poured out on Jesus instead of on us. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He put the exclamation point on the plan that God had initiated through Him. Our salvation is achieved through Jesus.
- The Holy Spirit is the One who communicates the truth of the Gospel, the One who brings conviction of our sin & our need to be saved, & the One who gives us the courage to take that step of faith & accept Jesus as our Lord & Savior.
All of this is summed up in one powerful verse of Scripture – John 3:16.
EXPLANATION – John 3:16
Jan. 8, 2009, college football championship game – Tim Tebow, QB at Univ of Fla, wore eye black w/ inscription, “John 3:16” in it. Fla beat OK 24-14. Over 90 million people Googled “John 3:16” after that game.
Exactly 3 yrs later, Jan. 8, 2012, Tebow played first NFL playoff game as QB w/ Denver Broncos. At end of game, which Denver won, Tebow had thrown for 316 yards, averaged 31.6 yards per pass (highest in NFL postseason history), CBS’s final ratings for the game were 31.6, & Pittsburgh’s time of possession – 31:06. Tebow headed to postgame conference. PR guy stopped him. “Do you realize what happened?” “Yeah, we beat Steelers & now going to play Patriots.” “No. I don't think you realize what happened. During the game you threw for 316 yards, your yards per rush were 3.16, your yards per completion were 31.6, the ratings for the game were 31.6, the time of possession was 31:06.' During the game, 90 million people had already Googled John 3:16 and it was the number one thing trending on Facebook and Twitter. A lot of people will say it's coincidence. I say big God."
And I say this: What if ALL of that happened so that today, you would hear about God’s great love for you & give your life to Jesus? What if ALL of that was just for YOU? It could be, b/c that’s just how much God loves YOU! That’s a big God w/ a big love for YOU today!
APPLICATION – You need to know today that God’s great love is directed at YOU!
GOD’S GREAT LOVE IS FOR ANYONE & EVERYONE – “For God so loved the WORLD…”
GOD’S GREAT LOVE IS SHOWN IN JESUS – “…that He gave His only Son…”
GOD’S GREAT LOVE CALLS FOR A RESPONSE – “…that whoever believes in Him…”
GOD’S GREAT LOVE SAVES US FOREVER – “…will not perish but have eternal life.”
CONCLUSION
“It is true no matter from what angle you approach it. God loves you, as you are, in your rebellions, in your sins, & He loves you eternally. The proof of this was a Man on the cross, an historical fact, more than [2000] years ago, & yet ever true. Because this Man lives today!” (Rosalind Rinker, Prayer – Conversing with God, p. 67)
And b/c HE lives, YOU, too can live. And live eternally!
