3:16 The Numbers of Hope

3:16 The Numbers of Hope


Max Lucado has written a book titled simply 3:16. The entire book focuses in on just one single verse from the Bible--John 3:16. This verse just may be the single most significant sentence in all of Scripture--3:16 the verse.

Preschoolers can recite it. Football fans paint boldly across cardboard signs. Tim Tebow wore it under his eyes during ball games at Florida. This caused thousands to Google John 3:16 to see what it said. Hmmmmmm! It’s brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in moment, yet solid enough to withstand 2000 years of storms and questions. It begins with God, ends with life, and urges us to do the same! Listen to the impact this verse has had on people’s lives:

If you know nothing of the Bible, begin here. If you know everything of the Bible, return here. This is the Hope diamond of Scripture!

But before we can get to 3:16, we have to set the stage. It all begins with a silent figure moving stealthily through the darkened streets of Jerusalem. Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees, the religious elite who militantly rejected Jesus. So when he decided to seek Christ out and learn from him, he had to do so in secret. Slipping through alleyways and dimly lit streets, Nicodemus finds his way to a simple house where Jesus and his followers are staying.

“Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you” (John 3:2 NLT).

Without hesitation, Jesus replies, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3). We don’t know for sure what was on Nicodemus’ mind that night, but it’s clear what was on Jesus’ mind. Christ’s ”speech” on salvation reaches it’s climax in the sixteenth verse.

“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.” John 3:16 (NIV)

In this one verse, we see the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ how it relates to us. Let’s look at this verse, starting with two simple words...

HE LOVES:

“For God so loved the world…” If those words are true, it changes everything, doesn’t it? Imagine what the world would be like without God’s love… A dark planet hurtling through space unguided, undirected. No hope. No future. Nothing to live for. No greater purpose to our existence. Every death would be an end. Every grave one’s final destination..

But God does love the world! We see it in every sunrise… every blade of grass… every fountain of water… every birth… every child’s face. God so loved the world!

Most of you have heard of Veggie Tales, which is a Christian cartoon who character are vegetables. Bob the tomato says, “Remember kids, God made you special, and he loves you very much!”

Isn’t that the message of John 3:16? Isn’t that the message the world needs to hear? God made you special and he loves very much

The Bible says, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NLT).

Max Lucado writes in one of his books, “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart...”

He loves. And because he loves…

HE GIVES:

Jesus said, …” Just to say, “I love you,” doesn’t really mean a whole lot. Love--agape love, God’s love--is a verb. It has to be visually demonstrated. It has to be proven. The Bible says, “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8 HCSB).

That sounds strange to some people. So many people in the world respect the teachings of Jesus. They admire his example. But no matter how they turn it around, they can’t see any significance in his death. One man even said, “That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t need God to give anyone for me,” he claimed. “I’ve led a good life. Held a good job. People respect me. My wife loves me. I don’t need God to give me his son.” Maybe you agree. But are we really as good as we think we are? Let’s see how well we score against God’s basic laws--the Ten Commandments:

1. “You shall not steal.” have you ever stolen anything? A paper clip, a peanut? That makes you a thief.

2. “You must not lie.” Those who claim they never have, just did.

3. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” Ever let God’s name slip passed your lips in anger or frustration? The Bible calls that blasphemy.

4. “You shall not commit adultery.” Before you excuse yourself from this one, Jesus said that if you so much as look at a woman with lust, you’ve committed adultery in your heart.

And that’s just four out of ten. We could keep going, but we probably wouldn’t we’d fair any better. If we think well we are not a murderer, look what Bible says in 1 John 3:15, “Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart.” Most sincere people, when we’re honest (when we’re alone at night with just our thoughts), we know that we’re really not all that good. We all have regrets. We’ve all made mistakes. The Bible calls that sin. And we do it all the time.

The Bible tells us, “Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NCV). Our sin separates us from God. So if any of us are ever going to have a real relationship with our Creator, then it’s up to him to find a way to reconcile us. That’s where Jesus comes in. He determined to build that bridge with an old rugged cross. He gave himself. He gave Jesus to bring salvation to the world through his death.

And although God loves and Jesus sacrifice was sufficient for the whole world, it is only efficient if…

WE BELIEVE:

Jesus said that God, “gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish…” This concept runs contrary to our instincts. And it’s so simple. We expect a more complicated cure, a more sophisticated salvation. And what about that Bible verse that says, “God helps those who help themselves”? Well, that’s not really in the Bible.

No other religion offers what Jesus promises. Judaism sees salvation as a Judgment Day decision based on morality. Buddhism grades your life according to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Muslim earn their way to Allah by performing the duties of the Five Pillars of Faith.

But not Christianity. Jesus calls us to do one thing: believe! Listen to what the Bible says:

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NIV)

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:18 NIV)

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36 NKJV)

I tell you the truth, whoever believes has eternal life. (John 6:47 NCV)

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38 NKJV)

And remember the jailor who asked Paul and Silas after the prison doors were opened by the power of God “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” (Acts 16:31 NLT)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

Maybe you’re thinking what about baptism, repentance and a changed life? Are you saying those things aren’t necessary? No, of course not. Those things are absolutely essential. But baptism, repentance, a changed life, and things like that are not in addition to faith. They are expressions of it. They acts of faith that work together with our faith to make our faith real.

But what Jesus wants us to see is that it’s not because of what I’ve done, but because of who he is. It’s not because of who I am, but because of what he has already done! And all he asks is for us to put our trust in him, and him alone!

Conclusion:

He loves. He gives. We believe. We live.

It really is that simple. God loves this world, more than we’ll ever know. He gave his one and only Son so that we could live forever with him. Apart from him we die. With him we live. Choose life. Choose Jesus!