John 3:16

4TH and 1
Part 8: John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

1. John 3:16 is, perhaps, the most famous verse of the Bible.
2. In light of these verses, it may be inaccurate to say that God ‘sends people to hell.’ We are facing death b/c of our sin.
3. Christianity is both inclusive (anyone is welcome) and exclusive (one must believe in Christ).

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.

1. John 4:2 clarifies that Jesus, himself, didn’t baptize people.
2. John is a great example to us of humility.
3. In NT culture, the friend of the bridegroom (best-man) was responsible for making everything ready for the wedding.
4. John picked up the bridegroom/bride metaphor from the Old Testament (Isaiah 62:5, Jeremiah 2:2, Hosea 2:14-20).

31 “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

1. John sees himself as earthly and Jesus as heavenly.
2. John sees Jesus and God as sharing words/sovereignty.
3. John sees the Holy Spirit as not only remaining with Jesus (1:32), but is given to Him w/o limit (3:34).
4. Rejection of the Son is met by the wrath of God.