All posts tagged the Gospel

NICODEMUS – GOD’S LOVE #4

Tonight is the last message in our series of Nicodemus, we will conclude with the last section of chapter three verses thirteen through twenty one. Tonight let’s see a show of hands, ARE YOU A SINNER? Do you know what that means? (Wait for student responses)

Open your Bibles to Romans chapter five verse eight;

Romans 5:8  ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We saw this verse last week and talked briefly on the topic of sin. So, tonight the question of this moment is, what is Sin? (Again wait for student responses) Wayne Grudem defines sin as this: Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude or nature[1]. Grudem says that not only is sin an act, like stealing, killing or committing adultery, he is also stated that sin is an attitude such as coveting your neighbor’s house. The last thing Grudem says about sin is that our nature, unless conformed to God is sinful. Our nature consists of our internal character; the very essence of who we are can be sinful. These standards tell me, that unless I am perfect, which I am not, I sin! You sin! We all SIN. So now we must find out what God’s answer to sin is: THE ANSWER

John 3:13-17   ¹³No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. ¹⁴Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. ¹⁶“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. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The answer to sin is simple! God Loved the WORLD! Jesus couldn’t have been clearer to Nicodemus about who God loves and offers salvation to! The WORLD. Does this mean that everyone is going to heaven one day? If everyone believes in Jesus Christ whole-heartedly, sure. But we know of those who have died before us without have that relationship with Jesus.

Does God Love The Sinner? The clear answer is YES. Does God love the sinner’s sin? NO.

John 3:18-21   ¹⁸Whoever 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. ¹⁹This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.

If I were to ask you tonight, Who in this room is afraid of Hell, many would raise their hand. But I charge you tonight in saying this, Jesus did not come to give you a get out of Hell free card. No, Hell is not the problem! Sin is the Problem! Sin is what separates us from God and sin is what will be judged!

Everyone who respond to the Gospel with unbelief there will be a judgment from Christ Himself. Jesus gives Nicodemus a picture of this in a positive way and a negative way. The positive being that, all who believes in Christ will not be judged, and the one who does not believe has been judged already, this reflect the negative. Jesus describes judgment using the contrast of Light and Darkness. Unbelievers hate light because it reveals their sin. As a result they see their own condemnation because they reject the One who can save them from Spiritual Darkness.[2]

In Closing, Nicodemus eventually accepted this free gift from Jesus and became a follower of Christ. We know this because of John chapter seven:

John 7:50-51 ⁵⁰Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ⁵¹“Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”

Nicodemus was one of their number! You can be one of their numbers too! Make sure that before you leave here tonight you do not refuse the one who is speaking (Jesus). Jesus demands that in order for us to be in the Kingdom of God we must be born again. Tonight if you have made a decision during this series see a counselor before you leave.

[2] MacArthur, John The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, Moody Publishers 2006) 118