2. Gospel of John Series [10]
God’s Plan
Gospel of John Series [10]
John 3:16-21
August 4, 2019
Pastor Einston Han 2

3. “For God so loved the world…” (v. 16)
1. Motive
God’s PRIMARY Motive for His Plan of Saving us? Love!
  “For God so loved the world…” (v. 16)
Side note: Verb for love in greek is agapao (ἀγαπάω)
Agape simply means love; not divine, perfect, Godly love.
Example: Luke 6:32 – “If you love (agapao) those who love (agapao) you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love (agapao) those who love (agapao) them.”
What does His love mean to us?
1. Good news because even if there isn’t a special word about His love, we have a God who loves us unconditionally!
2. Without God’s initiation of loving us first, we would never have the ability to love Him (1 John 4:19)

4. 1. Motive What is NOT God’s motive? To JUDGE!
  “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (v. 17)
His purpose was CLEAR: To save! Why? Because He LOVES US.

5. 2. Problem
We’re all sinners separated from God, and we’re all condemned and we can’t save ourselves!
 “... in order that the world might be saved through him.” (v. 17b), “... whoever does not believe is condemned already…” (v. 18), “... people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (.v 19-20)
We are all totally depraved! We are not inclined to love God, or able to seek Him! We can’t save ourselves nor can we just conjure up our own faith or belief in God.
Until we are regenerated and believe in God, we are condemned already!

6. Regeneration Precedes Faith
Responsibility of Man
Inability of Man
Grace of God
To come to God, confess Him as Lord, and to believe!
He can’t go to God on his own because of his sin
Only by God’s grace and regeneration can one come to Him. He is the giver of faith. He gives us a new heart. He draws us to Himself!
“If left to ourselves, in our spiritual deadness, we would never incline ourselves to the things of God.” - R.C. Sproul

7. Regeneration Precedes Faith
Responsibility of Man
Inability of Man
Grace of God
“... whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“... people loved the darkness… rather than the Light… and does not come to the light…” (John 3:19-20)
“But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:21) 
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
“No one can come to me…” (John 6:44a)
“... unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44b)
“... confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord…” (Romans 10:9)
“... no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord...” (1 Cor 12:3b)
“... except in the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:3b)
“... he commands all people everywhere to repent…” (Acts 17:30)
“... even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it (the world) neither sees him nor knows him…” John 14:17
“God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil…” (2 Tim 2:25-26)

8. 3. Solution Good news: God sent His Son so that we may be saved!
“… that he gave His only Son…” (v. 16), “in order that the world might be saved through him (Jesus).” (v. 17)
Sola Gratia – We are saved by God’s Grace alone
Solus Christus – We are saved by Christ alone
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

9. 4. Responsibility & Promise
Believe in Jesus and receive eternal life.
“… that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (v. 16)
Sola Fide – We are saved by placing our faith in Jesus
It is not:
“… that whoever… attends church, reads the bible, prays, is a kind person…should not perish but have eternal life”
“… that whoever believes in him should not perish but have wealth, success, health, and happiness.”
Do you believe? It’s not enough to just know intellectually.
Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone is our final authority. Do you trust in God’s promise in John 3:16?

10. 5. Judgment Not all will be saved: Some will perish!
“… perish… might be saved through him… whoever does not believe is condemned already…” (v )
God would not be a JUST God if He didn’t condemn non-believers.
“A God who is all love, all grace, all mercy, no sovereignty, no JUSTICE, no holiness, and no wrath is an IDOL.” – R.C. Sproul
“Judgment of sinners magnifies God’s Justice. Saving believers magnifies God’s grace.” – John Piper

11. 6. The Result
True faith is not just an intellectual understanding of who God is, but it’s a deep conviction and belief in God that causes change to your behavior and actions to obey God’s commands.
“But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (v. 21)
There is a relationship between believing and doing. Belief and change go together!
James 2:17 – “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

12. 6. The Result
Contrast with verse 20 and 21, the evildoer versus the one who does the truth shows that true believers respond to God in not just believing in Him, but by doing something!
The evildoer embraces who they are and reflect who they are
The one who does truth embraces who Christ is and reflect who God is
“True faith that connects us to Christ always manifests itself in works.” - R.C. Sproul

13. Application
Believe in God while surrendering to God’s sovereignty by obeying His Word and living out our faith
Be missional – Share the gospel, support missions
Pray for God’s mercy on your family, friends, and the world!

14. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Who is one person that God is calling you to cry out for?
What are some things that are difficult to surrender to God or obey Him? (i.e., trusting in Scripture as our final authority for things like assurance of Salvation, the promises of God, theological perspectives like election, regeneration preceding faith; obeying biblical commands, etc)