John 3:16
16 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.
John 3:1-3
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The verse was spoken to Nicodemus. * Nicodemus was a religious man, he was a member of the Sanhedrin, he had all first five books of the Bible committed to memory. * Jesus and John the Baptist both cried out against the Pharisees because they were hypocritical. * Nicodemus came to Jesus at night most likely because he didn’t want the other Pharisees to see him.
What if John 3:16 were not true? * The verse starts out “For God so loved the world”. Without God’s love we would have no hope. * The world would be in hopelessness and despair if God hadn’t loved the world and chose to send his only son to die for us. * The next part of that verse goes on to say that he “gave his only begotten son”. * What is instead of sending his son, he gave us what we deserve and sent us to hell. * If God hadn’t sent his son then we wouldn’t have been able to know and experience God’s love. * God’s love would be empty without the Cross of Calvary. * Real love always demands giving. * When the verse says “whosoever” it includes everyone, not just the wealthy or the fit or any of that.
Three common scenarios
1: People trying to get to heaven through good works.
• Good works are admirable but it’s not salvation.
2: People trying to get to heaven through ceremonious things or classes.
• Baptism has nothing to do with our salvation.
3: A dying thief on one of the three Crosses of Calvary.
• On the cross in the middle is Jesus Christ, who knew no sin.
• At first both thieves made fun of Jesus but after a while one of the Thieves asked for forgiveness.
• Both thieves died but one went to hell while the other went to heaven.