Sermon Notes - John 3:16 - A Message to be shared - Littleby Baptist Church - March 16, 2025

1.        We are taking a short break from Romans this morning.

2.        Today is March 16^th or 3/16.

3.        Open your Bibles to John chapter 3.

4.        John 3:16 is arguably one of the most quoted and memorized Bible verses.

5.        It is found as part of the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus.

6.        We are going to get to John 3:16, but let’s back up a bit to build in a bit of context.

7.        John 3:1

a.        Nicodemus was a religious ruler.

b.       He was a teacher of the Old Testament Law.

c.        A Pharisee.

d.       A member of the Sanhedrin, part of the rulers of the Jewish people.

e.        Under Rome the Sanhedrin helped keep the people in line.

f.          He was a religious leader and a political leader.

g.        As far as the world was concerned Nicodemus should have had the answers.

h.        Nicodemus came one night to ask Jesus some questions.

8.        John 3:3

a.        One of those hard truths that Jesus shared during their conversation.

b.       Putting it in our terms.

c.        Unless Nicodemus were to give His life to Christ to be saved from His sin.

d.       He would never be credited with righteousness.

e.        He would not be redeemed.

f.          He would not be saved.

g.        His religious upbringing and knowledge would not help him.

h.        Nic needed Jesus.

i.          Like we need Jesus.

9.        This confused Nicodemus.

a.        He did not understand what Jesus was trying to tell him.

b.       He could not comprehend how a person could be born again.

c.        It was not physically possible.

d.       He did not get it.

e.        Not surprising.

f.          Jesus would likely have stumped all of us if we only knew what Nicodemus knew.  

g.        Jesus’ message can be hard for people to hear if they are not ready or have not heard enough of it.

10.   John 3:5

a.        Knowing that this conversation is before Jesus’ death and resurrection.

b.       We know that the whole picture was not available yet.

c.        Here Jesus was telling Nicodemus that that he needed to repent of his sins.

d.       Then he needed to be baptized to enter the kingdom of God.

e.        This would not have been a normal thing for a Jewish religious leader.

f.          Let alone a Jewish person in general.

g.        Yes, John the Baptist had been baptizing people.

h.        But Jewish people did not believe they needed to repent and be baptized to spend eternity with God.

i.          Here Jesus was telling Nicodemus he needed to do just that.

11.   I suspect Jesus had the guy really confused.

a.        He was probably wondering what all of this meant.

b.       How could he be born again?

c.        What does this man mean by repent?

d.       Why would I need to be baptized like a gentile?

e.        Then who is this Spirit person that Jesus is talking about and how is one borne of Him?

12.   I doubt much of this was making sense to Nicodemus.

a.        A well learned religious leader was stumped.

b.       He was not sure what Jesus was trying to tell him.

c.        He was not sure where to go with this conversation.

13.   John 3:14-15

a.        This would have clicked with Nicodemus.

b.       He would have known the history that Jesus was referencing here.

c.        He would know all about how the people complained against God.

d.       How the snakes were moving amongst the people, biting them, and the people were dying.

e.        Moses interceded for them.

f.          God had Moses make a bronze snake and mount it on a pole.

g.        It was raised up and those who looked upon it would be healed.

h.        They would be saved from the death they were facing.

14.   Nicodemus may have understood history, but I bet his understanding was short lived.

a.        How does this bit of history relate to today?

b.       How is the Son of Man going to do the same thing?

c.        How is He going to be lifted up?

d.       How is He going to save those who believe in Him by being lifted up?

e.        What does this have to do with being born again, repenting, and being baptized?

15.   He was probably scratching his head.

16.   Then we come to John 3:16

17.   A single verse that sums up the Gospel.

18.   A verse that answers Nic’s questions, he just did not understand it yet.

19.   John 3:16

a.        Let’s break down this verse a bit.

20.   “For God so loved the world”

a.        This first bit is the why.

b.       It tells us why God did what He did.

c.        Why God put together a plan for our salvation.

d.       He did not have to save us.

e.        He could have simply judged us for our failures, for our sin.

f.          He could have given us the wages we are due.

g.        But God is love.

h.        His love for us moved Him in ways that we should be eternally thankful for.

i.          His love for us drove Him to provide a path to restoration.

j.          To allow us to be restored as His children.

k.        For God so loved us He provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him.

21.   “He gave”

a.        God gave.

b.       This was not something we could do.

c.        We could not give ourselves a way.

d.       We cannot earn it.

e.        God knew He had to do something.

f.          So, He gave.

g.        He stepped in.

h.        He provided.

i.          He took care of our needs.

j.          He did something that we could not do on our own.

k.        He did not lower the bar.

l.          He did not make it easier for us to get into eternity with Him.

m.     He did not cheapen Glory.

n.        Instead, He gave His son to be the perfect blood sacrifice for those who believe.

o.        Talk about love.

p.       For God so loved the world in this way that He gave.

22.   Gave what?

23.   “His one and only son”

a.        God gave the only sacrifice that could cover our sin.

b.       Jesus who is fully God and fully man.

c.        He is the perfect spotless lamb of God.

d.       He does not have a single blemish.

e.        He is sinless.

f.          God’s love is so complete for us that He gave His only son to die for us.

g.        To pay our debt.

24.   “So that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”

a.        Believe in who Jesus is.

b.       Believe that He being God lived a sinless life.

c.        That He died for your sins and rose again.

d.       Believe this.

e.        And salvation will be yours.

f.          All who believe.

g.        All who give their life to Jesus will be saved.

h.        A gift that is offered to all of humankind.

i.          To anyone and everyone.

j.          No matter what we have done.

k.        God’s love is so great that He gave His Son so that all who believe will not perish but will have eternal life.

l.          Thank you Father God!

m.     Thank you Lord Jesus!

n.        I wonder if this was helping Nicodemus understand?

o.        Maybe not during this conversation, but it may have later.

25.   John 3:17-18

a.        The Father sent His Son to save all who will believe.

b.       To provide a path to an eternity with Him.

c.        He did not come to judge us, but to free us from the bondage we deserve.

d.       To save us from ourselves.

e.        From our sin.

f.          Our sin has already condemned us.

g.        We will end up living in hell forever if left on our own.

h.        We will spend an eternity where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

i.          We will be separated from God if we do not turn to Jesus.

26.   There is no way we can do this on our own.

a.        We cannot be good enough.

b.       We cannot earn our way into eternity with God.

c.        Nicodemus was lost and confused, and he was a learned religious leader.

d.       He practiced the Old Testament Law.

e.        He did the best he could.

f.          But there was no way he could make it on his own.

g.        He needed to be born again.

h.        He needed to repent.

i.          He needed to put His faith in the one the Father lifted up.

j.          The one who was raised up on that cross to die for our sins.

k.        Whose blood was shed to pay our sin debt.

l.          And so do we.

m.     Some of this would have been hard to understand until after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

27.   John 3:21

a.        As we let Jesus’ light shine on us and our sins.

b.       As we turn to Him, His light will purify us.

c.        We become the new creation that we are through our faith in Him.

d.       The Holy Spirit works in us and guides us.

e.        He molds us, shapes our lives, and helps us as we seek God’s will for our lives.

f.          Let Jesus’ light shine in your life.

g.        Let Jesus’ light sine through you into the lives of others.

28.   If you know Jesus this morning, the reminder for you is that this message is for all.

a.        God loved the world… that means everyone.

b.       He wants His message to be shared with every person we can share it with.

c.        He wants us to walk beside our friends, family, and coworkers who have yet to repent and turn their lives over to Him.

d.       He wants us to be witnesses.

e.        Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in being the light that God uses to touch the lives of others.

f.          Ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen to His leading.

g.        Pray that we as a church carry forth His message.

29.   If you do not know Jesus this morning.

a.        God loves you.

b.       His love is so amazing that He sent His son Jesus to die for you.

c.        He died to pay for our sins.

d.       He rose from the dead, defeating death.

e.        Giving us new life.

f.          Today is a perfect day to repent and declare Jesus as Lord of your life.

g.        If that is you, I would love to pray with you.