The Bible In A Nutshell

“The Bible in a Nutshell”

John 3:1-18

By

Dr. Steven G. Cook

I. Introduction

A. Read the story of Nicodemus

B. Many young people have often asked me, “What is the Bible all about?” “Why do I need to be saved?”

C. In John 3:16, one of the most familiar, simple, yet profound verses of Scripture in all of the Bible, we have all the Gospel that we need to answer all the questions that you might have.

D. I call this verse - “The Bible in a Nutshell” because it contains Three (3) Important Aspects of Biblical Salvation:

1. The Problem of Mankind

2. The Provision for Mankind

3. The Promise to Mankind

II. The Problem of Mankind (John 3:16)

A. The Key Word - “Perish!”

B. Mankind is in danger of Perishing as a result of our SIN.

C. Perish does not mean to be annihilated or to cease to exist; It means “to be separated from God; eternal death; eternal punishment.”

D. Matt. 25:41 - “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

E. Matt. 25:26 - “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

F. The ROOT of mankind’s Problem is SIN!

G. Mankind’s 2 Possible Destinations - We will go into eternal punishment & death OR we will go into eternal life.

H. Explain the difference between “Conduct” & “Condition” - mankind’s problem is not of Conduct; it is a problem of Condition.

I. Jesus told Nicodemus what his problem was - He Had Been Born Wrong - Sinful - Depraved.

J. Eph. 2:1-3 discusses our Conduct & Condition -

1. Conduct - we were born into this world with a tendency to “walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air..

2. Condition - our condition was “Dead in trespasses and sins; children of disobedience; under condemnation of God.”

K. Our Problem is that of Condition, not Conduct - We need to have a new condition!

L. Conduct is important, but conduct will not Save YOU From SIN.

M. Rom. 3:23 - “ALL have SINNED and COME SHORT of the Glory of God!”

N. ROPE TRICK - (Mean Mike; Everybody’s Friend Freddy; Nice Boy Nick) Show how that we see people Differently, but God sees everyone the Same - Sinners who have come short of the Glory of God.

III. The Provision For Mankind (John 3:16)

A. God Gave His Only Begotten Son - Jesus Christ - as a Sacrifice for our Sins!

B. 1 Tim. 1:15 - “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS….”

C. 1 John 2:2 - “….He is the propitiation for our sins and not our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world.”

D. Nothing that YOU or I could ever do could satisfy God’s demands for sins - “The wages of sin is DEATH!”

IV. The Promise To Mankind (John 3:16)

A. Eternal Life - Everlasting Life - Forgiveness of Sins - Salvation from Perishing is the Promise to mankind from God Himself.

B. There is one condition - YOU MUST BE BORN-AGAIN!!!

C. Not only does God Promise - Quantity of Life (Everlasting), but He also Promises - Quality of Life - Abundant Life in Christ!

D. We have a Loving Heavenly Father who cares so much for us that He was willing to give His only Son to die in our place!!! That’s the Good News of the Gospel!!!

V. How Can YOU Be Born-Again? (Rom. 10:9-10; 13; 6:17)

A. My friend, there is not a better time to be saved than today!

B. Jesus could come back tomorrow; You could die. Come today!