The unconditional love of God
John 3:1-22
Introduction-
Text: John 3:1-22 Read
People live today by falling in and out of love. There is no commitment. They do not love “Till death do us part”. They love “till I find someone better”.
True love is a choice , and we will see that God chooses to love us.
John 3
( verses 1-15)
Nicodemus the Pharisee comes to Jesus at night. Not wanting anyone to know that he has a interest in the things that Jesus is saying.
Nicodemus acknowledges to Jesus that there is something special about him. Jesus tells Nicodemus that unless a person is “born again” he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus asks Jesus how that is possible, a person having a second birth.
Jesus tells him - you are a leader of the Jewish faith, and you do not understand the difference between flesh and spirit.
I have never preached directly on this text before. I just assumed that everyone has heard a 1000 messages on the text. One of the most familiar verses in the Bible.
Jesus tells Nicodemus that God loved the world so much that he sent Jesus into this world to die for it. The only way a person can make heaven is by accepting what Jesus has done.
And so begins man’s attempt at making it harder to get into heaven, and easier to live a life without Jesus. We add to what we need to do for salvation, and we make it so complicated we justify the fact that we cannot live the life that Jesus asks of us.
Kevin said it on Wednesday night, people will make all kinds of excuses why they don’t read their Bible. They will come up with all kinds of excuses of how they did not know that was the only way to heaven. They create the God that they like. The one that fits their lifestyle instead of what God expects of them.
Illustration-
I have heard it said from the pulpit, I have heard it with my own ears. People saying that they are “Christians”, but they don’t believe like those “Born again” people. I need you to see this as we jump into this message of God’s unconditional love to you and I., to all of mankind.
If you are not one of those born again people, Christ is not your Savior.
Jesus tells Nicodemus -“You must be Born again”
Definition of Christian-
A mind that thinks like Christ. A voice that speaks like Christ. A hand that helps like Christ. A heart that loves like Christ.
If you are a believer, you think, act, speak, and mold your life as the example that Christ gave us
.Illustration-
I was never a boxer, but if you are right handed, you are to lead with your left. You use it to protect yourself, take small jabs. You look for the time when you can unload with your right hand. Your right hand is cocked and ready to give the knock out punch.
Jesus has delivered the knockout punch when he told a religious leader, a person who thought that he was okay that unless you are born again, you will never see heaven.
Pow The right hand connects.
God so loved the world that He gave he world Jesus Christ.
God love is a sacrificial love.
2 peter 2:9-
“God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
God loves you this much (extend out your hands)
Illustration-
Larry Moody
Were not in the land of the living, trying to get to the land of the dying, were in the land of the dying trying to get to the land of the living.
There are people in churches every Sunday that don’t understand it is a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is more than head knowledge. It is heart transformation.
Everything we do in ourselves to save ourselves is meaningless. It is what Jesus Christ did for us. It is accepting what He has done.
We are not robots. We have a mind, soul, spirit, and God desires all three. When we do not surrender all (give all to Him) it is where we begin to compromise.
He desires all and doesn’t settle for less.
“He does not shoot for the stars and settle for the moon”
God says I love you unconditionally.
I love you enough to direct your path.
Correct you when you stray.
Speak to you when something needs to be changed.
I also love you enough to give you the freedom of choice.
To accept what he has done or reject it. No matter how we word it, we cannot blame God ,we cannot stand before God in these United States and say that we did not know orunderstand.
Illustration-
Unconditional love of a parent means that you love your child so much, that you do not give them everything that they want, even if they cry. You correct them when they stray from your teachings. You are not concerned what others think, you have the welfare of your child at heart.
I will always love my children. I will always be my children’s father. I love them when they make mistakes, I love them when they hurt me. There will come a point in their lives where they direct their own lives, and make their own choices. I have to honor their freedom even if I don’t agree. I would not have done it that way.
People know they need to make a change.
They know they need a Savior.
They know that Jesus is available.
People like Nicodemus, come at night, ask their questions. They have head knowledge, with no heart transformation. People say,
I am a good person
What I do won’t or don’t hurt anyone else
One day I’ll get serious about making a decision.
James 2:10
“For who ever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all”
Hebrews 2:3
“How shall we escape fi we neglect so great a salvation?”
I’ll become a Christian someday.
Remember my definition of Christian.
Think like Jesus. Speak like Jesus. Act like Jesus. Help like Jesus.
Proverbs 27:1
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth”
The prefix “Un” means that you are against and do the opposite of the root word.
Un-conditional- no conditions.
Un-compromising- you will not compromise.
Un-committed- you are not committed to the task.
Un-constitutional- it is against the law established.
The way that God’s love is unconditional is that it is freely given to everyone. To all people Jesus went to the cross for every single person. He was not selective, Jesus Christ died for all. He arose for all. By accepting Him as your Savior you can have eternal life.
In that action of live, Jesus loved mankind.
What does John 3:16 show us?
1. The great love- God loved mankind enough to provide a way of unholy people being able to spend eternity with a holy God.
2. The greatest gift- To have God the Father, send His only Son and be that sacrifice and bridge to redeem mankind.
3. The greatest faith- that whoever believes or puts their trust in Him shall not perish (Promise).
4. Provides the greatest life- better life now, eternally better life later.
I have done a lot of stupid things that at one time I thought fun. But I look back and know that it was empty, meaningless. If you are honest, fun for the moment, empty, and guilt ridden as soon as it is over. God tells us and shows us that He has provided a way to make heaven your home. He has provided by the Holy Spirit dwelling in our olives, guidance and protection. He has done everything but force us to accept it as a gift.
Acts 4:12-
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men on which we must be saved”
saved is nothing less than realizing the path that you are on without Jesus, you will die in your sins. Because they have not been forgiven. It has nothing to do with being a good person.
1 John 5:12-
“He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Closing:
Our nation is/has been on a slippery slope. You look around and you see corruption at every level. We have seen it at levels that once were secrete.
The church has to bring the message To the dying world. No more living for yourself.
Christians living out their faith and no more just talking about it.
II Chron. 7:14-
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
You’re here this morning- you have never made a confession of sin and asked Jesus in your life, I am asking you to do that this morning.
Maybe you’re here and you want to acknowledge to the Lord that you have walked away for a time and now want to publically show Him that you want to return. I am asking you to do that this morning.
Old world perished- Noah and his family were spared.
People of Sodom perished, Lot was spared.
Pharaoh’s army perished, people of Israel spared.
What are you going to do this morning?
God loves us, He has given the greatest gift. Will you accept it this morning?
It is not about what you do...
Romans 3:10
“There is none righteous, no not one”
Isaiah 1:8-
“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord”
Romans 6:23-
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus”
Romans 10:9-
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”
It is that simple
Today is the day of salvation.
Altar Call:
