God is Love

MAIN TEXT: JOHN 3:14-17

HIGHLIGHT VERSE: JOHN 3:16
“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.” (NIV)

TOPIC POINTS:

1. Lifted as a Remedy for the Sin Bite – John 3:14-15
2. Given for the Salvation of Mankind – John 3:16
3. Sent Not to Condemn – John 3:17

INTRODUCTION:

The sin of Adam, our representative, fell the world into ruin. The world was in a perishing state and powerless to save itself. Although the sin was against God and deserving of HIs wrath, He decided to save the world by providing an everlasting solution to our predicament.

God’s loving remedy is provided in His Son, Jesus Christ. He died on the cross, bearing our sin and being the atonement for them.

LIFTED AS A REMEDY FOR THE SIN BITE

– JOHN 3:14-15, NUMBERS 21:8-9

While in the wilderness, the Israelites continually sinned against God so much that He sent venomous snakes against them. After realizing their folly, they confessed their sin and He heard them. God’s remedy was for Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole so that anyone who is bitten by a snake will look unto the bronze snake and live.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was in the same manner hung on the cross for sinners to look unto and live. The world is under the poison of sin which ruins life, relationships, and businesses. God has lifted Christ as the only antidote to sin.

GIVEN FOR THE SALVATION OF MANKIND

– JOHN 3:16, 2 CORINTHIANS 13:11, 1 JOHN 4:8, ROMANS 5:8

God demonstrated HIs love in this way, in that He gave the gift of HIs Son to save the world, a gift we do not deserve. We sinned against Him and deserved to perish in the way but the all-knowing, all-powerful creator showed love to HIs own creation.

God’s love sets free from condemnation and death. It qualifies, justifies, sanctifies, and ultimately glorifies all who believe. God’s love is shown to the sinner irrespective of race, culture, language, and traditions (1 John 2:2).

SENT NOT TO CONDEMN

– JOHN 3:17, ISAIAH 49:15, ACTS 17:31

Although humans deserved condemnation, God’s love was sent, not to condemn but to save. Christ came because of this love, but His mission was not to condemn those who believe. We deserved death but Christ died in our place, we deserved to be damned but Christ was damned in our place.

This love is an unconditional non-perishing love, which supersedes the love of a husband, wife, life, wealth, etc. Let us glorify God for this kind of love and mirror it to others. We prove our love for God by showing love to one another, and confirm God as our Father (1 John 4:12-13).

CONCLUSION:

God demonstrated His love in sending Christ 2,000 years ago so that all who believe in Him will escape destruction and receive eternal life. Is your life riddled with sin, has the poison of sin infected your relationships, marriage, business, etc? Come, look to the cross where Jesus was crucified and you will be healed.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

• Recite our highlight verse
• Give a summary of our main text
• What did we deserve after the sin of Adam?
• What did God give us instead?
• How did God demonstrate His love to us?
• Explain the connection between Christ and the bronze serpent
• Christ came to condemn us, true or false?
• How should we reciprocate God’s love?