TEXT:  John 3:16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      John 3:16.  BEST KNOWN?  MOST MISUSED!  Not the "gospel in one verse." 

                                                                                      The gospel can't be put in one verse.

B.      WHILE John 3:16 IS TRUE, THERE IS MUCH MORE GOD WANTS US TO

          KNOW WE MUST KNOW THE WHOLE COUNSEL( Acts 20:27 ).

C.      John 3:16 IS NO MORE IMPORTANT, NO LESS, THAN OTHER PASSAGES.

D.      WHILE IT IS ALL TRUE, IT IS NOT ALL THE TRUTH.

I.      WHAT DOES John 3:16 SAY?

A.      GOD'S MOTIVE - LOVE.

          1.       Love shown at a peculiar time( Rom. 5:8 ).

          2.       The perfect manifestation of love( 1 John 4:7-10 ).

          3.       God's love made known thru the love of Christ

                   ( 1 John 3:16;  John 15:13;  Eph. 3:17-19 ).

B.      WHAT GOD DID - "HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON."

          1.       He died for our sins( 1 John 4:10;  1 Pet. 2:24 ).

          2.       God sent him here for this purpose( Acts 2:22-24 ).

          3.       But he also raised up Jesus for our hope( 1 Pet. 1:3 ).

C.      FOR WHOM GOD DID THIS - THE WORLD.

          1.       God loves all of us, he wants none to perish( 1 Tim. 2:4;  2 Pet. 3:9 ).

          2.       The invitation is for all( Mat. 11:28-30 ).

          3.       Salvation can be obtained by believers( Rom. 1:16 ).

D.      WHAT OUR ALTERNATIVE IS - PERISH!

          1.       All have sinned( Rom 3:23 ).

          2.       Sin causes spiritual death( Rom. 6:23;  Eph. 2:1 ).

          3.       Jesus was sent here to deliver us from death( John 3:16 ).

E.      WHAT IS OUR REWARD?

          1.       Everlasting life( 1 John 2:24-25 ).

          2.       Notice Peter's description( 1 Pet. 1:3-5 ).

II.     SOME TRUTHS NOT FOUND IN John 3:16.

A.      FAITH ALONE CANNOT SAVE( James 2:24 ).

B.      REAL FAITH WILL NOT BE "FAITH ONLY"( James 2:26 ).

C.      John 3:16 DOES NOT TELL HOW FAITH SAVES( James 2:20-23 ).

D.      WHAT THEN DOES GOD REGARD( Gal. 5:6 ).

E.      John 3:16 DOES NOT TELL WHAT TO DO ABOUT FAITH( Rom. 1:16-17 ).

F.      WHAT ARE SOME THINGS, OTHER THAN BELIEF, THAT WE MUST DO?

          1.       Repentance is not mentioned in John 3:16( Acts 17:30 ).

          2.       Confessing the name of Jesus is not there( Rom. 10:10).

          3.       Baptism is necessary but not mentioned there( 1 Pet. 3:21 ).

          4.       Our love for one another is not found there( John 13:34-35 ).

          5.       It doesn't say anything about living faithfully( Heb. 10:26-27;  3:12 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      WHAT ABOUT John 3:16?

          1.       Do you believe in Jesus?

          2.       If you really do, you will obey him( Heb. 5:8-9 ).

B.      WHAT ABOUT YOU?