The essence of the Gospel

John 3:16-21 NIV Bible

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] 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. 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.[g] 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."[h]

Message:
Content:



1. （v16）God gave His one and only Son through whom mankind could have eternal life. 

2. （v17）Jesus Christ did not come to condemn but to save the world. 

3. （v18）Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already. 

4. （v19）The world is condemned because of its evil deeds. 

5. （v20-21）Everyone who does evil fears the light, but whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.

Theme:

1. The essence of the Gospel.

2. God loves the world.

3. Jesus is the Light to the world. 

4. Whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life. 



II. Who is God? Who is Jesus Christ? Who is Holy Spirit?

（v16）God who loves the world.
（v16）God who gave His one and only Son.
（v16）God who gives eternal life to the world.
（v17）The incarnated Jesus Christ.
（v17）Jesus Christ through whom the world is saved. 

（v19）The Light to the world-Jesus Christ. 

（v20）The rejected and hated Jesus Christ. 




III、What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, and warning)? 


1. The Gospel’s true meaning

Though this passage is not very long, it completely describes the Gospel of salvation. These are the main points: 
a. Salvation is from God. 
b. God is love, and His love is for all mankind. 
c. Salvation work is done through His one and only Son Jesus Christ. 
d. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ is saved from sin and death, and will enter the Kingdom of eternal Life. 


Reflection: Do I fully understand the true meaning of the saving grace (the gospel of salvation)? Do I really embrace its goodness? 
 



2. The true meaning of “believing” 
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (v16)
The Bible clearly says that whoever believes in God’s one and only Son Jesus Christ will not perish but have eternal life. However, what does it take to believe? Some people rationally accept or believe the fact that Jesus Christ is the Savior; but that’s not all it requires. Other than that, those people need to take a further step to fully rely on Him and entrust their lives to His guidance, this is true believing in Jesus.

Reflection: What is it to believe in Jesus? Do I just rationally accept the fact that “He is the Savior”? Do I fully entrust my life to Him and not to worry about anything? 
 



3. Believe and disbelieve
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.[g]
People responded in two different ways when Jesus Christ (the Light) came into the world, some believed and some disbelieved. The Bible tells us that those who believe will not be condemned; those who do not believe stand condemned already. It does not mean that Jesus initiated the condemnation, but to objectively show their sins. As the Law shows the sin of men, the Light exposes the sin in the darkness. In fact, all sins are committed by human self. 
Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, his sin burden is carried by Jesus Christ; those who disbelieve carry their own sin burdens. This is the difference between those who believe and disbelieve.

Reflection: Do I truly believe in Jesus Christ and rely on His salvation work? 



4. 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."[h]
There are two kinds of people in the world, the first are those who follow the Truth and walk in the Light; the second are those who live in the state of sin, and live in the darkness. Jesus Christ is the Light to the world, these two kinds of people respond differently when the Light comes into the world. The first are those who walk in the light come into the Light showing that their walk is through the Lord. The second are those who walk in the darkness, because their deeds are evil and shameful, so they hate, reject and escape away from the Light.

Reflection: Which kind of people do I belong to? Do I love or hate the Light? 
 



5. God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son to the world, that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life. Though God anticipates that way and has done all the preparation work, He never forces people into accepting Jesus Christ. He grants the freedom of choice to all people. In verse18, “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.[g] .” It indicates two kinds of people; some believe in Jesus and some do not believe.
In other verse, 20-21, “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."[h It tells of two kinds of people, one hates the Light and escapes from it; the other comes into the Light. On the one hand it indicates different results of different choices, and on the other it shows even though that He anticipates and provides the salvation for all mankind, God does not force the world to accept the Gospel. It is because of that He gives the freedom of choice to all, and theologically that is called the “Freewill.”

Reflection: How do I manage the freedom of choice (freewill) granted by God? How do I choose? Do I choose the right way or the wrong way?


IV. Prayer/ Life Application



Translated by 曾秀娟 姊妹