The Best News Ever!

“THE BEST NEWS EVER” John 3:16

FBCF – 9/29/21

Jon Daniels

INTRO – “Best News Ever” (MercyMe) video

We all love getting good news.

- Child has been struggling in math class & comes in & tells you he got an A on the test.

- Daughter is on her way home from college. Calls & tells you there’s been a bad wreck but she’s OK.

- You’ve been working as hard as you can at your job. Haven’t gotten a raise in a long time. Boss calls you in & tells you that he’s been watching your work & wants to give you a raise.

My backpack – Was lost & now found – Email actually said: “Dear Jon, We’ve got some good news for you…”

There’s nothing like getting that doctor’s report & they say you’re cancer-free! – Jeff Jones

EXPLANATION

John 3:16 – The Gospel in miniature

The whole Bible in 25 words.

David Jeremiah: “If all the Bible were to be lost or destroyed except for John 3:16, there would be more than enough information for the entire world to be converted.”

APPLICATION - John 3:16 contains the best news ever!

GOD REALLY WANTS YOU TO KNOW:

THAT HE LOVES YOU!

WE throw the word “love” around all the time – fall, cooler weather, college football, deer hunting, a good steak, going to the beach/mountains/woods/lake, a delta sunset… Nothing wrong w/ these statements. It’s just that it may cause us to miss out on the true life-changing impact of hearing someone say, “God loves you.”

Listen: God NEVER throws that word around in a flippant way! It’s never used in a casual way in the Bible. Listen to these verses & jot them down:

- Jeremiah 31:3 – “I have loved you w/ an everlasting love…”

- In the middle to the Ten Commandments, God says that He will show His love to a thousand generations of those who love Him & keep His commandments (Exodus 20:6).

- Lamentations 3:22 – “The faithful love of the Lord never ends!...”

- John 15:13 – “Greater love has no on than this…”

- 1 John 3:1 – “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

- 1 John 4:16 – “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

You know He loves you by His:

Goodness – Our God is a good God!

- “Good, good Father…”

- “God is great, God is good…”

- Shows His goodness in SO many ways: His patience, provision, perseverance, power, presence

Grace – B/c God IS love (1 John 4:8), He operates out of love toward all of us. And out of that love, He pours out His GRACE to us, giving us that which we do not deserve.

- “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense”

Gift – Love giving gifts & watching reactions – Rachel when she got her Charger. Vicki when she found out that I had bought her tickets to Earth, Wind, & Fire concert.

But as much as I love my wife & kids, it’s nothing compared to the love that God has for us & nothing compared to the gift He’s given to us.

THAT HE GAVE HIS SON FOR YOU!

Why is that a big deal? B/c (John 14:6)

- Jesus is the Way – The manner in which Jesus said this meant, “the ONLY way.”

o Acts 4:12 – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we MUST be saved.” (NIV)

- Jesus is the Truth – Same thing – “the ONLY truth” – the source of all truth.

o John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was w/ God, & the Word was God.”

- Jesus is the Life – We all want to live. Video of woman being rescued from a house fire. As firefighters worked to get into house to rescue her, she kept screaming, “Help me!” She knew that there was the very real possibility that she would die. Her life was in the hands of her rescuers.

o Maybe you’re crying out today, “Help me!” You want to live.

o Jesus is your Rescuer! John 14:19 – “Because I live, you also will live.”

THAT YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER!

Eternal life:

- Is a free gift – And a gift must be accepted – Can’t force someone to take a gift.

- Is only for Christ-followers – You don’t get eternal life by being a good person, a churchgoing person, by giving a lot of money to the church, by being a certain race, or socioeconomic status, or by being related to someone who’s a faithful Christian. You get eternal life by willing laying down YOUR life & choosing to follow Jesus Christ as your Savior & Lord!