“THE GREATEST VERSE IN THE WORD OF GOD”



“THE GREATEST VERSE IN THE WORD OF GOD”

JOHN 3:16

INTRO: This verse has been called “the golden text of the Bible”, “the hub of the

Bible”, “the miniature Bible”, and “the Gospel in a nutshell”. Almost

every major doctrine of the Bible can be found in this one verse. Dr.

Ben Bogard, great Baptist preacher, now with the Lord, preached a

revival meeting using this verse every night for ten nights and at the

end of the meeting said, “I could preach ten more from this verse.”

No other verse in the Word of God shows us the passion and purpose

of God for man more than this verse. Let us this morning consider

THE GREATEST VERSE IN THE WORD OF GOD and reflect on one of

the great doctrines found there—SALVATION. Let us see…

(1) THE CAUSE OF SALVATION

JOHN 3:16a—“For God so loved the world…”

*These words speak of:

A. GOD’S COMPASSION. The love of God for fallen man is the cause of

salvation. God was not obligated to provide salvation for fallen man. There

was and is nothing in man which merits God’s great provision for us. But

friends, it is the very nature of God to love. 1 John 4:8b-10—“…God is

love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent

his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is

love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the

propitiation for our sins.” It tells us in our text—“For God SO LOVED the

world…”. Friends, God’s love is not fickle nor feigned but it is focused, free,

and forgiving. "Man may dismiss compassion from his heart, but God never

will." - William Cowper (Instant Quotation Dictionary, p. 65.). Ephesians 2:4-7—

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by

(grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit

together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might

show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through

Christ Jesus. “

B. GOD’S COMPREHENSION. God knew what men would do, and yet He still

loved them. He knew man would not return His love. He knew men would

reject Him. He knew that man whom He made in His image and likeness

would one day crucify Him. Romans 5:8 tells us—“But God commendeth

his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

And Romans 5:10 reminds us that “…when we were enemies, we were

reconciled to God by the death of his Son…”.

C. GOD’S CONCERN. Friends, there is not one person that God does not love

nor is there one person whom God does not desire to be saved. 2 Peter 3:

9 tells us—“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men

count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any

should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” And we read in 1

Timothy 2:4-6 speaking of the longsuffering and compassion of the Lord—

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the

truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the

man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due

time.”

THE GREATEST VERSE IN THE WORD OF GOD shows us THE CAUSE OF

SALVATION but also…

(2) THE COST OF SALVATION

JOHN 3:16b—“…that he gave his only begotten Son…”

A. A GREAT PRICE. All that God had to do to create this beautiful world of

ours was just to speak the Word and it was done but to save us from our

sins He had to give His Son to die in our place. Hebrews 2:9 tells us—“But

we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of

death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should

taste death for every man.” HIS SON FOR OUR SINS! What an exchange!

But friend, Jesus did not merely have to die for you but He had to shed His

blood for you! All the Old Testament sacrifices pointed to the perfect Lamb,

the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. When Jesus died on

Calvary and shed His blood for you and I the ultimate sacrifice was given.

NO one is redeemed nor fit for Heaven without the blood of Jesus! 1 Peter

1:18-21—“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with

Corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by

tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb

without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the

foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by

him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope might be in God.” The BLOOD OF JESUS it is:

• PRECIOUS BLOOD.

• PURE BLOOD.

• POWERFUL BLOOD.

• PLEASING BLOOD.

B. A GREAT PURPOSE. Many times the question is asked, “Why did Jesus

have to die?” Friends, God is a holy God. He could not allow sin to go

unpunished. His righteousness cannot allow sin to go unpunished. He

gave man His Law but if He would have winked at sin or overlooked sin His

righteousness would have been called into question.

To meet the righteousness demands of God Jesus died in our place. Jesus

became our substitute. Romans 6:23 tells us that—“…the wages of sin is

death…”. Our substitute died in our place! He incurred all the judgment of

sin that was rightfully ours to bear. Isaiah 53:4-6 tells us—“Surely he hath

born our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken,

smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he

was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him;

and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we

have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the

iniquity of us all.”

The righteous purpose of God demanded a righteous, perfect sacrifice for

sin and none of us were worthy so 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us—“For he

hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the

righteousness of God in him.” At the Cross, God’s justice and righteous

demands were met in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son!

THE GREATEST VERSE IN THE WORD OF GOD shows us THE CAUSE OF SALVATION, THE COST OF SALVATION, and…

(3) THE CONDITION OF SALVATION

JOHN 3:16c—“…that whosoever believeth in him…”

A. THE IMPORTANT NECESSITY OF FAITH. Salvation is solely by grace

through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. There is no

salvation apart from faith. The greatest transfer of the ages takes place

when we believe. All our sin and the penalty of it are taken off us and

placed upon Jesus Christ.

ILLUS: Faith is the key that opens the door to heaven. You could have a key

ring with lots of keys on it, they could all look somewhat alike. But if

you go to the front door of my home, you could try all those keys

except the right one and the door would not open. The right key to

heaven is called "Faith." That is what will open the door to heaven.

There is nothing else in the world that will open that door.- D. J.

Kennedy (Bible Illustrator For Windows. Version 3.0f. Copyright 1990-1998,

Parsons Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved).

B. THE INCREDIBLE NATURE OF FAITH. Friends, believing is not work.

Romans 4:5 tells us—“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that

justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Paul tells us in

Ephesians 2:8—“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of

yourselves: it is the gift of God.” We simply believe and God does the work!

ILLUS: Matthew Henry said, “The grace that saves is the free, undeserved

goodness and favor of God; and he saves, not by the works of the law,

but through faith in Christ Jesus. Grace in the soul is a new life in the

soul. A regenerated sinner becomes a living soul; he lives a life of

holiness, being born of God: he lives, being delivered from the guilt of

sin, by pardoning and justifying grace…Our faith, our conversion, and

our eternal salvation, are not of works, lest any man should boast.

These things are not brought to pass by any thing done by us,

therefore all boasting is shut out. All is the free gift of God, and the

effect of being quickened by his power.” (Matthew Henry. Matthew Henry’s

Concise Commentary. The Master Christian Library. Version 5. Copyright 1997. Ages

Digital Library. AGES Software. Albany, OR).

THE GREATEST VERSE IN THE WORD OF GOD shows us THE CAUSE OF SALVATION, THE COST OF SALVATION, THE CONDITION OF SALVATION, and lastly…

(4) THE CONSEQUENCES OF SALVATION

JOHN 3:16d—“…should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

A. A NEW HOME. Salvation not only regenerates us but it also changes our

relationship with God and our residence. Hell is no longer the destiny of

one who believes. In fact, it is not even a possibility. As far as the

Christian is concerned there is no place as hell for him or her. Friends, this

world is no longer our home but “…our conversation is in heaven; from

whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change

our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according

to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

(Philippians 3:20-21).

ILLUS: We are all sojourners here: the saints, citizens of heaven; and the

sinners, citizens of hell. Truly it has been said, that “every man speaks

the language of his own country.” Christians in prayer and praise

speak the language of heaven, while sinners in profanity and obscenity

speak the language of hell. (Rev. W. B. Godbey, A.M. COMMENTARY ON THE NEW

TESTAMENT VOL. 3: EPHESIANS – PHILEMON. The Master Christian Library. Version 5.

Copyright 1997. Ages Digital Library. AGES Software. Albany, OR).

Daily we are to be “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing

of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13). We are to be

eagerly awaiting and anticipating our new home which Christ promised us—

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my

Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I

go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will

come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be

also. (John 14:1-3).

B. A NEW HOPE. According to 1 Peter 1:3-5 salvation gives us a living

hope—“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which

according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by

the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible,

and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are

kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in

the last time.” Not only is it a living hope but it is also a lasting hope. Peter

says we are called “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that

fadeth not away, reserved in heaven…”. Everlasting life means forever

united with Christ. And we enjoy this everlasting life now in this present

time. WE are not waiting to see if we have it but it is ours NOW! According

to 1 John 3:2—“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet

appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall

be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Life with Christ is an endless hope,

without him a hopeless end. (Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the

Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry #5938)

CLOSING: John 3:16 truly is THE GREATEST VERSE IN THE WORD OF

GOD. This verse shows us THE CAUSE OF SALVATION, THE

COST OF SALVATION, THE CONDITION OF SALVATION, and THE

CONSEQUENCES OF SALVATION. But friend, the question today

is, have you experienced the Salvation promised in this verse for

yourself?

PREPARED BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING, PASTOR OF BEECHMONT BAPTIST CHURCH, BEECHMONT, KY FOR SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 1, 2008.

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