God has provided salvation for
you in Jesus Christ.
In simple, lucid language Jesus
sums up the entire Gospel for Nicodemus and us in
one beautiful sentence rich in content.
“For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life” (John 3:16).
Martin Luther said these “words
are able to make the sad happy, the dead alive, if
only the heart believes them firmly.”
Jesus revealed what is in the
heart of the LORD God. “For God so loved the world.”
The very one who came down from heaven reveals the
greatest revelation man could ever receive from the
Creator.
In these words a holy God is
saying to sinful man, “I love you.”
Depraved man could never have
conceived how much God loves sinful man. God had to
reveal and demonstrate that love to man. The best
that man and humanism could come up with was an
exaggeration of his own depravity as expressed in
world religions.
Jesus uses the word agape
denoting the highest type and form of love. It is
not a love of mere affection, friendship, or
ordinary human relationships, but the very highest
type of love that is self-sacrificial for the object
loved.
God cleansed the depraved
sinner and took him to His bosom. No human
intelligence could ever fathom such love. This
revelation of God distinguishes Christianity
radically from all the world religions.
Such love God has for a sinner
is the pinnacle of His glory. It is in fact, the
crown of all of His attributes.
“For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son . . .”
God’s own Son sat before
Nicodemus and spoke those words to him. This “Son”
is above all others who in any sense may be called
“sons.” All other “sons” are adopted “sons.” Jesus
is “the Only-begotten Son.” He is the “one and only
Son of God.”
It is strange, even
frightening, how one of the modern pagan cults of
our day can claim that Jesus was the brother of
Lucifer, Satan. Such a teaching is an abomination to
God.
Jesus used a term for Himself
“so strange, striking, unique, exalted” and
distinctive that no one else could ever be so
compared. He is “the only begotten Son of God.”
There is none other (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John
4:9). “The only begotten God, who is in the bosom of
the Father, He has explained Him.” No one else ever
could have. He was with the Father in heaven from
all eternity. He is the “true God, begotten of the
Father from eternity,” writes Luther. God gave the
very best—Himself—for us.
God the Father gave His only
begotten Son as a gift with the purpose in mind
“that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but
have eternal life.”
Jesus had already told
Nicodemus that the Son of Man must be lifted up (v.
15). That is how much God loves us. He gave His only
begotten Son up to death on the cross for sinners.
The object of our faith is “in
Him,” the only begotten of the Father. Jesus is the
object of saving faith. There is no other name that
we can call on for salvation. All other names will
send you to hell (Acts 4:12).
Those who believe on Him “shall
not perish, but have eternal life.” The word
“perish” never means to suffer annihilation as
another modern cult teaches. “To perish” denotes
total and eternal rejection by God.
On the basis of the gift of God
we receive eternal life. God loves you so much “that
He gave His one and only Son.” Believe on Him today
and you shall receive eternal life.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
Bible word studies for sermon preparation, messages, devotions and personal Bible studies with abiding principles and practical applications.
Reports on what God is doing through Bible believing evangelical Christians in Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, India and Ecuador. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7).
Study the master theme of the Bible with these prophecies and types in the Old Testament of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Free Sermons and Bible studies indexed by Scripture reference and doctrinal studies .
