John Lesson 9

Introduction

A very pleasant good day to you and welcome to Let the Bible Speak. I hope that you’ll get your New Testaments open and study along with us as we continue our verse by verse study of the Gospel of John. In today’s lesson, we’re going to be studying only one verse. We’re in John chapter 3, and we’ve come to John chapter 3 and verse 16. Ordinarily we take several verses in our study as we analyze the text verse by verse. But in John chapter 3, 16, we find one of the most memorized and most oft-quoted verses of the Bible, certainly one of the most loved verses. It is sometimes referred to as the miniature gospel. I believe that it is worthy of our consideration as we examine each word, every phrase of this verse.

So meaningful and so powerful. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1. God So Loved the World

For God, the greatest being.

He’s eternal. That I am is the one who is speaking to Moses. And even in the prophet Isaiah in chapter 43, verses 10 and 11, the scripture says, before him there is no God, nor shall there be a God formed after him. He alone is the Savior. The greatest being, for God so loved the world. God so loved describes the greatest measure. When we begin to comprehend what was involved in the gift of Jesus Christ for our sins, we marvel, we are amazed. Even as the apostle wrote in 1 John chapter 3 and in verse 1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God. If God, who is eternally existing one, the one by whom the worlds have been made, he is the divine architect, and through Jesus Christ He created the heavens and the earth.

He has done what man cannot do, for man cannot make life, man cannot create a tree, man cannot create the heavens nor the earth again, if he wanted to, as intelligent as man may be. But this being, God, so loved that we could be called the sons of God, surely the greatest measure bestowed. But the scripture says, God so loved the world, and we’d have to describe that as the greatest need. When God considered the world that he had made, but he made man, inhabitants of this earth, as a creature in his own image. And he gave us free moral agency, that is choice. God did not make us robots, he did not make man as a puppet having to do what he chose, but rather we, you and I, make a choice.

But by choice, man is a sinner. We have done that which is contrary to God’s will. And therefore we are in need. Romans chapter 3 and verse 23 says, all have sin and come short of the glory of God. And as Romans chapter 5 and verse 12, describing even the how that sin was introduced in the world by Adam, says, For by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin. But then he said, Death passed upon all men for that all have sinned. And so the greatest being has given to us his love or bestowed upon us in such a great measure, understanding our need. We’re lost in sin. But considering further, John 3 16 says, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.

2. That He Gave Is the Greatest Act

That he gave is the greatest act. In Romans chapter 5, verses 7 and 8. The scripture says, For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Yet peradventure for a good man, some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. What a great gift. There are great men who’ve lived on the face of this earth. They’re good men. But would you give your child to die for one who has sinned against you? For one who is your enemy? That’s the kind of gift that God has given to us.

3. Whosoever Believeth: The Greatest Provision

Man is dis transgressed God’s will. And God gave his only begotten son. That fact, his only begotten son. It is not that Jesus was one of many, but rather Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. In first John chapter 4 and in verse 9, there the scripture speaks about the love of God in this gift when he says in this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. What a gift. That he gave his only begotten Son. But then that whosoever believeth in him. When you consider the fact that this gift of God is for all, whosoever. In 1 Timothy chapter 2 and in verse 4, the scripture says that God would have all men to be saved, to come to the knowledge of truth.

In 1 Timothy 2 and verse 6, Christ died as a ransom for all. Indeed, after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, shortly before his ascension, he gave what is sometimes described as the great commission to his apostles, and that is great because the scope of it. Jesus said, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be deaf. So you see, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, you can be saved. Anyone can be saved. God would have all men be saved. But the verse continues by saying that whosoever believeth in him, and that is the greatest provision ever made for man.

That we could be a saved individual, not by some meritorious works that we’ve done, not because we’ve lived a perfectly sinless life, not because we’ve been able to pay a great sum of money and purchase this redemption from God, but rather God has provided that through belief in Jesus Christ.

4. The Greatest Deliverance and the Greatest Reward

What a great gift. As Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 and 9 describes, for by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. The salvation that is provided by God is by grace. That is undeserved and unmerited favor. And it is not of works, not of anything that we have done that we can earn that provision. What a gift. What a provision that God has made. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish. And this could be described as the greatest deliverance. Here is man in sin. By his own sin he has separated himself from God. Ezekiel chapter 18, and in verse 20 says, The soul that sinneth it should die.

The Son shall not bear the iniquity of the Father, nor the Father bear the iniquity of the Son. But the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. That is, we all are responsible for our own condition spiritually. And if we sin, then we separate ourselves from God. But through Jesus Christ there is deliverance from sin, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish. The dividing line or the difference between the saved and the lost is belief. Even in the same text of John chapter three, verse thirty-six says, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Do you believe? Then you can have eternal life. But if you do not believe, and that’s your choice to make, for the scripture says you will suffer the consequences, the wrath of God abideth on the unbeliever. But finally, in John 3 16, the scripture says that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, the greatest reward, that there is eternal life, life non ending. That after this world, even though we may suffer physical death, there will be the great resurrection. There is that eternal reward. Revelation we have a glimpse of what heaven is like. Listen to the language in Revelation 21, verses 3 and 4, when he said, I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God Himself shall be with them and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying. Neither shall there be any pain, for the former things are passed away. Oh, when you consider John 3.16, just in a nutshell, you can see why it is such a tremendous passage. Why there are so many people who have loved it and memorized it and quoted it. It indeed tells us of the greatest being who has provided the greatest measure of love for a world that had the greatest need. The greatest act in that he gave his only begotten son the greatest gift to whosoever believe it. The greatest scope, the greatest provision, the greatest deliverance, and the greatest reward. A tremendous passage. We’re going to talk about how this verse is sometimes misused and misapplied.

5. Nothing Only Will Save

Such a tremendous passage that should give us comfort and hope and joy, yet has often been isolated and so used that it makes a contradiction with some other things the Bible has to say. Are you correctly using John 3 16? We’re going to discuss that question. I hope you’ll stay with us. We’ll be back in just one moment. John three sixteen is certainly one of the greatest passages in the Bible. And in just a short space, it tells us so much about the gift of God for us. The salvation that is provided through Jesus Christ. But unfortunately, John 3.16 is sometimes abused and misused by perhaps uh well intending people, but they have taken the verse and isolated it, and actually in their teaching, added a word that is not in it.

Sometimes it is used to teach the doctrine of salvation by faith only. The word only is not in John 3.16, and neither should this verse be taken and isolated as though it tells us all that is involved in salvation. We’ve said from the outset that the Gospel of John is sometimes referred to as the Gospel of Bief. The word believe, or at least in its Greek form, is found some 100 times in the book of John. And yet, as you go through the Gospel of John, we’re told that saving faith involves much more than just a mental agreement. And a word fistuo, that is the Greek form of it, does not tell us in and of itself whether it’s describing an obedient kind of faith or simply an intellectual kind of faith.

But there are those who will take John 3.16, and they just immediately assume that all a person has to do is just mentally agree that Jesus is the Christ. And there are those who have been led to thinking that they have salvation on some sort of an easy method by just simply saying, Oh, I believe Christ Jesus. And there are people who have never really committed their lives, accepted Christ in the in the idea of obedient faith. They may have gone their way thinking that salvation is going to be theirs when in reality, if you truly believe according to the Gospel of John, then there must be obedience. Let me illustrate it. In John chapter 12, look at the same book just a few chapters later.

In John chapter 12, verses 42 and 43 is a scene of some people who believe. But I think everyone who reads the text would agree that they are lost believers. John 12 and verse 42 says, Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on him. But because the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue, for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. The scripture definitely says they believed. But were they saved by just mentally believing Jesus to be the Christ? They wouldn’t confess him. And Jesus had taught in Matthew 10 and verse 33 that whosoever would deny him before men, that the Christ would deny those before the Father. These were lost believers, John 12, 42 and 43.

And so when you look more closely, even at John 3 and verse 16, you have to agree that belief, the saving belief, involves much more than just mentally or intellectually agreeing to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. Saving belief is an obedient belief. In fact, the Bible nowhere says that anything only will save. Or let me put it another way, nothing only will save. There are those who may take various scriptures and array them in such a way that it may sound as though all they have to do is just this one thing. But to isolate any verse and to separate it and teach that alone as though that is all you have to do is to mishandle the word of God. I hope that you who have been studying with us along the way have certainly identified the fact that we handle the scripture verse by verse and keeping a passage in its context, in its setting, helps us to clearly understand what that verse teaches.

In fact, do you realize John 3 16 is in a setting where Jesus was talking to the ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus? Just a few verses earlier, he had said to Nicodemus in John 3 and 3, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. And when Nicodemus inquired, how is that possible that one can be born again? Jesus said, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Now, in the space of just a few verses, and really in the same conversation, Jesus said, Whosoever believeth on Jesus Christ should not perish but have everlasting life. Has he forgotten that he’s just told Nicodemus that a man must be born of water and the Spirit?

That indeed he must be immersed or baptized in order to be saved. Surely he hasn’t. Forgotten that he just stated that to Nicodemus. But in its context, Jesus now says, Whosoever believeth should be saved. You see, I could take John 3.16, and if I were to isolate it, I could come to a wrong conclusion. I could do that with some other passages. For example, in Acts chapter 17 and verse 30, the Bible teaches repentance is necessary to salvation. But repentance alone will not save. At the time, at one time God overlooked ignorance, but now he commandeth all men everywhere to repent. God commands all to repent. Could anyone say that a person is going to be saved who does not repent? Even if he intellectually believes in Christ but he refuses to repent, he’s lost.

But I could not take Acts 17 and verse 30 and isolate it as though that’s the only passage we need to learn about what to do to be saved. Repentance is necessary, but repentance alone will not save. Or we could turn to Romans chapter 10 and verses 9 and 10. And there we could read about confession. Where the Bible said, if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Follow the heart man believeth unto righteousness with the mouth. Confession is made unto salvation. Confession is essential to salvation. And you can read Romans 10, 9 and 10 and analyze that verse says nothing about repentance. But would it be a proper handling of the verse to say, well, all you have to do is just confess.

Or just intellectually believe and confess. And that’s it. Romans 10 verses 9 and 10, and that’s all there is to the subject of what to do to be saved. That would be a mishandling of the scriptures. Yet there are some who do it that way. You see, repentance is necessary, but repentance alone won’t save. Confession is necessary, but confession alone will not save. You could even take 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 21 and teach baptism. The scripture there says the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us. Not the putting away the food of the flesh for the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Now, baptism also now saves. But baptism alone will not save.

Just as faith alone will not save. In James chapter 2 and verse 24 is the only time you’ll find expression in the New Testament by faith only. And the scripture there says, ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only. And man is justified not by faith only, not by baptism only, not by repentance only, not by confession only. But rather when you understand that by faith one truly repents of his sins. By faith, an act of faith, one confesses that Jesus is the Christ. By faith one is baptized or immersed into Jesus Christ, born of water in the Spirit. It is at this point in time that he really understands that he’s coming to the relationship with Jesus Christ, that whosoever believeth in him involves an obedient faith, a kind of faith that will obey, a faith that will repent, confess, and be baptized into Jesus Christ.

6. Saving Faith Is an Obedient Faith

Really, when we look at what the Bible says on the subject of saving faith, we understand that it teaches that we must walk by faith. Passages like 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 7. We walk by faith and not by sight. That is, we do not go by human understanding. My opinion is of no value. Your opinion is of no value. It’s a matter of what does God’s word say. You know where faith comes from? Romans 10 and verse 17 says, Faith cometh by hearing, hearing by the word of God. If you can’t read it in the Bible, it is not a step of faith. If we’re going to walk by faith, then we’ll have book, chapter, and verse for what we do. So if we’re going to be saved by faith, we’ll have to start with the word of God.

But furthermore, if we’re going to be saved by faith, we understand that we must obey the Lord. A faith that says is a faith that obeys the Lord. In Hebrews chapter 5, verses 8 and 9, the scripture speaking about Christ, as though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Christ is the author of salvation to all who obey. Saving faith is an obedient faith. But also saving faith works righteousness. Now listen, it’s not my word, the word of the inspired Apostle Peter. In Acts chapter 10, verses 34 and 35, when he said, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him.

If we’re to be saved, we will work righteousness. That isn’t a work that is meritorious, that we nullify salvation by grace, for we are saved by grace. The provision of salvation is totally by grace. But man, if he is to stand in God’s grace, will work God’s righteousness. That is, by faith he’ll do what God said, in the way God said, do it. And working righteousness isn’t earning salvation, but rather it is a step of faith. You see, faith that saves is a faith that walks in the works God has ordained. In fact, look at that passage in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 and 9. The great text that says, For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

But notice the next passage, Ephesians 2, 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. God has given us some works to walk in. It is not a man’s wisdom that we walk, but rather by the word of God. And when we obey, for example, when we repent, it’s a work that God has ordained. When we confess the Christ, it is a work God has ordained. When we’re baptized, it is a work God has ordained. So we must walk in the works that God hath ordained. In fact, grace teaches us to obey. Look at Titus chapter 2, verses 11 and 12. In Titus chapter 2 and verse 11, the scripture says, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

Now you think carefully about Titus 2, 11 and 12. Here is grace bringing salvation, but it teaches us something. Here’s a man walking in one direction, he’s walking in sin. He’s walking in in ungodliness, he’s walking in worldly lust. The Bible, grace, teaches us to repent. Now, what if the man does not repent? Will the grace of God save him? Well, grace alone will not save. We’re saved by grace through faith. So the man is walking in sin, and now he believes Jesus is the Son of God. But he still will not repent. Will he be saved? Not really. If he’s going to walk by faith, the grace teaches him that he will deny ungodliness worldly lust. He’s going to turn and come back the other way.

He began to walk in a way that is sober, a way that is righteous, and a way that is godly. He began to walk in the works God hath ordained. Saving faith, you see, is an obedient faith. Even grace teaches us to walk in the works that God hath ordained. But furthermore, it is a faith that obeys from the heart. In Romans chapter 6 and verses 17 and 18, the apostle there describes some who had been the servants of sin. But he said, Now, God bethink that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you, being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. When you obeyed, but notice from the heart, that’s an act of faith.

It is in this same chapter, Romans 6, 3 and 4 that it describes baptism, that we’re buried by baptism into the death of Christ. And so that’s the form of doctrine that we obey from the heart. Baptism isn’t just an outward act, but it is an act of faith, an obedient act. As we repent and confess our faith, we’re buried by baptism into Christ. And so it is that then we become the servants of righteousness, free from sin. In fact, faith is made perfect by obedience. I urge you to take your New Testament and turn to James chapter 2 in verses 14 through 26. And there you’ll read where he discusses faith without works, and he says it is a dead faith. Faith that is obedient faith is the saving faith.

In fact, you see then how that by works, and he’s really talking there about obedience. Obedience a man is justified, not by faith only. You see, faith only is a dead faith. In fact, faith only will be a lost faith. Just as we’ve already observed in John chapter 12, the rulers of the synagogue were lost. They believed, but they were lost. The Bible also speaks about the demons as believing. James 2 19 says the devils believe and tremble, but they’re lost. Even devils who believe and confess are lost. In Luke chapter 4 and in verse 41, the scripture speaks about the devils say, crying out, saying, Thou art the Christ, the Son of God. But though they’ve confessed Christ to be the Son of God, they’re lost, because they will not repent and obey God’s will.

Conclusion

You see, if we’re going to be saved, we need to come to the Word of God and say, Lord, speak, I will keep thy will. God so loved you. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son the greatest gift by grace that’s been done, not because we deserve it or earned it. But God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth, he’s made a provision. It is your part and my part to respond in obedience. Whosoever believeth should not perish, but have everlasting life. Will you turn to God’s word and have obedient faith? Won’t you repent of your sins, confessing your faith, and be buried into his death by baptism? I bid you to do just that, that you might be saved.

May God bless you.