DAVID'S EMAIL BIBLE STUDY:
John 3:16
A. BACKGROUND:
During Lent ’20 we are looking at parts of John’s Gospel that are not in the other Gospels. The 12 Disciples knew Jesus the best. Peter, James, and John were his inner circle. And John was definitely extra special to Jesus – he was the only one at the cross, he was the one to whom Jesus entrusted his mother.
B.
TODAY...
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
C.
SUMMARY.
Those 25 words are called “The Gospel in a Nutshell”. You’ve got God. God’s love. God’s love for the world. God’s gift of his Son. God’s call to belief. God’s greatest promise of everlasting life. God is the initiator. Love is the motive. The world is the object. Belief is the trigger. Everlasting life is the result. All in 25 words.
D.
KEY POINTS
1.
The POWER of one verse. John 3:16 is so important that people reference it without quoting it. Tim Tebow and other athletes have put “John 3:16” in their eye black before a game. One famous person in a rainbow colored wig used to get prominent seats at major sports events like the Superbowl, World Series, and the US Open, and when he knew the cameras were on him he’d hold a sign that simply said “John 3:16”. What’s the attraction? Well, it is both concise and complete. In one verse we get to see the true character of God (loving and giving). The rest of the Bible (mine is 1,500 pages covering a few thousand years) gives broader definitions of God. We saw this in our five-month study of Psalms. God is creator, judge, king, defender, shield, tower, refuge, rock shepherd and more. All useful descriptions. But in John 3:16 the essence of God is stated: loving and giving.
2.
WORLD. “God so loves the world”. Not just Israel. Or Christians. Or humans. The world. I confess that I’m amazed there is still debate about the environment, ecology, the climate. It certainly should not be controversial among Christians or Jews. At creation God gave stewardship of the earth into the hands of we humans. Taking care of the blessings and gifts we have is central to living a Godly life. And John 3:16 declares God’s love in the most expansive way – for the world. If God loves the world, what should our relationship be to the world? It’s people and places, it’s life? God puts no limits on his love for the world.
3.
Whosoever BELIEVETH. Belief, faith is tricky business. The Bible’s own definition is the best: “faith is being sure of what we hope for; and certain of what we cannot see”. Sure in our hopes and certain of what can’t be nailed down. That’s the confidence of faith. We often talk of “exercising faith”, a good concept. Any strength comes from exercise, repetitive motion, muscle memory. Remember the phrase “use it or lose it”? Faith is that muscle that needs to be exercised in order not to atrophy. Maybe you start small. Come to church of Bible Study regularly, and see if you see a difference. Maybe start praying more regularly. Gratitude prayers are the easiest. Add “weights” from there – prayers for guidance, help, intervention, more. Keep testing, keep trying. Specifically, in John 3:16, we are told to believe in God’s “only begotten son”. Start with that. what you believe about that son, Jesus. Then what you believe in Jesus for. Start where you can. Maybe you believe in Jesus as a good guy... a holy man... a wise man... a great teacher. Keep adding “weights” to your belief. Try helper, healer, miracle worker, God’s chosen. Add more. Savior, Redeemer. Messiah. Son of God. With each added weight for exercising your faith you can test the results, determine your fitness to take on more. You’ll be surprised at what you are able to believe... and how much further your faith will take you.
