John 3:16-21

3. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 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. 18 Whoever
believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into
the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light
because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked
things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works
should be exposed. 21 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.”

4.  The world believes that:
 Eternal life is granted based on the knowledge of this verse alone.
 That there is no sin, people simply act out as they are & they are as they’re born.
 Eternal life is granted to all because God is love.
 God accepts all people as they are.

6.  Nicodemus believed that:
 Eternal life was granted on the basis of complete conformity to the law.
 God transferred the guilt, that comes with the violation of law, by animal sacrifices.
 Sacrificial ceremonies produced forgiveness.
 Eternal life was limited to those people who were either born or reborn into Israel through a
naturalization process.
 Jesus taught that:
 Eternal life was granted based upon belief upon the Son of God (John 3:16; 18).
 Rejection of God’s Son would lead to perishing (John 3:16; 18).
 His purpose in manifesting was to save (John 3:17).
 The world will be judged according to their rejection of Jesus (John 3:18).
 People in the world reject the light because their works are evil (John 3:19).
 People hate the light because it reveals their true work (John 3:20).
 Those who walk in truth have nothing to hide. Their work is shown in order that God may be
known (John 3:21)

7.  So how about you?
 Which worldview did you hold before this sermon?
 Did it line up w/Jesus’ teachings or was it contrary?
 How about now?