John 3:16
is the gospel in a nutshell, but you cannot correctly interpret it outside of its proper context.
People are similar to words: They are known by the company they keep.
This applies to John 3:16, as well. In order to understand it, you must consider its context.
The text itself demands you look at its context.
It says, “For God so loved…” The preposition "for" introduces a purpose clause. It introduces a clause that is going to tell you the reason for something.
is the gospel in a nutshell, but you cannot correctly interpret it outside of its proper context.
People are similar to words: They are known by the company they keep.
This applies to John 3:16, as well. In order to understand it, you must consider its context.
The text itself demands you look at its context.
It says, “For God so loved…” The preposition "for" introduces a purpose clause. It introduces a clause that is going to tell you the reason for something.
John 3 records a late-night conversation with a civic-religious leader named Nicodemus. Nicodemus wanted to talk religion, but Jesus confronted him with a spiritual imperative: “You must be born again.” Nicodemus responded by asking, “How can these things be?” So, Jesus explained. John 3:14-15 says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.”
This is a reference to Numbers 21:4-9. As the children of Israel passed through the wilderness, they became impatient and complained against the Lord and Moses. The Lord sent fiery snakes into the camp that bit many people. Many died, but the children of Israel repented and asked Moses to pray for them. The Lord instructed Moses to make a fiery serpent, put it on a pole, and lift it up before the people. Moses obeyed and made a bronze serpent, put it on a pole and lifted it up before the people. Anyone who looked to the serpent was healed. This is Jesus’ explanation of what it means to be born again: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
This is a reference to Numbers 21:4-9. As the children of Israel passed through the wilderness, they became impatient and complained against the Lord and Moses. The Lord sent fiery snakes into the camp that bit many people. Many died, but the children of Israel repented and asked Moses to pray for them. The Lord instructed Moses to make a fiery serpent, put it on a pole, and lift it up before the people. Moses obeyed and made a bronze serpent, put it on a pole and lifted it up before the people. Anyone who looked to the serpent was healed. This is Jesus’ explanation of what it means to be born again: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
There are some who take this to mean the nature of Jesus changed on the cross from divine to demonic, but that is not the point at all. The Bible is not saying Jesus took on the nature of the serpent on the cross. Rather, there are two points of comparison that are being made.
First, Moses made a bronzed serpent. That is, it had gone through the fire. Likewise, Jesus went through the fire and was proven to be blameless before God. In Revelation 1:15, John saw the glorified and exalted Christ with feet as “burnished bronze.” This does not mean Jesus was a black man. It means He was a perfect man. He had gone through the fire and was blameless before God.
The other comparison—the main point—is that as was the serpent, Jesus was lifted up. John 3:14-15 says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” Then John 3:16 adds: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
God demonstrated His love for us by sending His only begotten Son into the world. The reason He gave His Son is so He would be lifted up on the cross for our sins.
So, you cannot know the love of God without knowing Jesus is God’s only begotten Son.
You also cannot know the love of God without knowing Jesus came to die on the cross for your sins.
First, Moses made a bronzed serpent. That is, it had gone through the fire. Likewise, Jesus went through the fire and was proven to be blameless before God. In Revelation 1:15, John saw the glorified and exalted Christ with feet as “burnished bronze.” This does not mean Jesus was a black man. It means He was a perfect man. He had gone through the fire and was blameless before God.
The other comparison—the main point—is that as was the serpent, Jesus was lifted up. John 3:14-15 says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” Then John 3:16 adds: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
God demonstrated His love for us by sending His only begotten Son into the world. The reason He gave His Son is so He would be lifted up on the cross for our sins.
So, you cannot know the love of God without knowing Jesus is God’s only begotten Son.
You also cannot know the love of God without knowing Jesus came to die on the cross for your sins.
One day, the Swiss theologian Karl Barth was asked what he thought was the most important word in the New Testament. He answered, huper. Huper is a preposition meaning “on behalf of” or “in place of.” So when Barth called huper the most important word, he meant the most important of all truths is that we are significant because Jesus took our place on the cross that we may be saved. Jesus did not come to make you rich, wealthy or happy. He came to be lifted up on the cross so your sins can be forgiven.
There are three things you need to know about God. First, God is holy. This is the defining attribute of God. It means God is not like us. God is set apart, completely unique, totally different, morally excellent and without any speck of darkness whatsoever.
Likewise, God is just. That is, God judges on the basis of a righteous standard. God judges by the standard of His own holy character.
These first two attributes of God are big trouble to us.
God is holy. We are not.
One day, you will have to answer to God for how you have lived your life.
There is nothing about you that you can commend to God in order to merit salvation. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Here is the good news: God is love. “For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Imagine you are a criminal. You have lived your life breaking the law. It finally has caught up with you. You have been arrested, charged, tried, convicted and sentenced. Your penalty is death, which is a just punishment for the crimes you have committed. So, there you sit on death row, waiting for your day of execution. You play games to keep your mind occupied, but nothing can hide the reality you face. You feel it every time you hear footsteps outside your cell. However, one day, the footsteps stop outside your door. It swings open, and in walks the judge who sentenced you to death. He has come personally to let you know you are being released. You don’t understand, but you don’t argue. You get your stuff and get out of there. While they are leading you out, you notice them leading someone else in. You ask who he is. The judge explains, “Well, when I tried your case, my heart went out to you. I know justice has to be served, but I wanted to help you. When I told that man about your situation, he shared my concern and volunteered to take your place. So, here he is; but know he is not here because he has done anything wrong. As a matter of fact, he is the best person I have ever met; and I should know because he’s my son.
There are three things you need to know about God. First, God is holy. This is the defining attribute of God. It means God is not like us. God is set apart, completely unique, totally different, morally excellent and without any speck of darkness whatsoever.
Likewise, God is just. That is, God judges on the basis of a righteous standard. God judges by the standard of His own holy character.
These first two attributes of God are big trouble to us.
God is holy. We are not.
One day, you will have to answer to God for how you have lived your life.
There is nothing about you that you can commend to God in order to merit salvation. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Here is the good news: God is love. “For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Imagine you are a criminal. You have lived your life breaking the law. It finally has caught up with you. You have been arrested, charged, tried, convicted and sentenced. Your penalty is death, which is a just punishment for the crimes you have committed. So, there you sit on death row, waiting for your day of execution. You play games to keep your mind occupied, but nothing can hide the reality you face. You feel it every time you hear footsteps outside your cell. However, one day, the footsteps stop outside your door. It swings open, and in walks the judge who sentenced you to death. He has come personally to let you know you are being released. You don’t understand, but you don’t argue. You get your stuff and get out of there. While they are leading you out, you notice them leading someone else in. You ask who he is. The judge explains, “Well, when I tried your case, my heart went out to you. I know justice has to be served, but I wanted to help you. When I told that man about your situation, he shared my concern and volunteered to take your place. So, here he is; but know he is not here because he has done anything wrong. As a matter of fact, he is the best person I have ever met; and I should know because he’s my son.
ACTION STEP: Whatever you have done allow me to remind you, there was a price to pay. Justice had to be done. Jesus took your place. You now, right now, today stand righteous before God if you have accepted the Gift of Jesus Christ as your Savior. The Great Exchange is no longer a mystery to those that are made righteous in Christ. This is good news. Go share the good news with someone who needs to know what you know.
Tomorrow we end our Series "Declaring Love" with part #5 of 5~"The Eternal Benefits of the Gift-Story"
Tomorrow we end our Series "Declaring Love" with part #5 of 5~"The Eternal Benefits of the Gift-Story"
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