Turn in your Bibles to John 3:16:
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16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 |
At one time John 3:16 was the most quoted verse in the Bible
by people of all ages. Its great subject is the gift of
salvation. Within the boundaries of John 3:16 we find four
different principles of Biblical salvation taught. These are
(1) the cause of salvation, (2) the cost of salvation, (3)
the conditions for salvation and, (4) the results of
salvation.
I. THE CAUSE OF SALVATION.
The cause of salvation is “For God so loved the world”. l
John 4:8-10 and Proverbs 10:12 state:
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
love. 9 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.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that
he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation
for our sins. 1 John 4:8-10
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all
sins. Proverbs 10:12 |
A. The Bible Says That We Are All Sinners By Birth. Romans
3:9-12, Romans 3:22-23, Romans 5:6, Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5,
Psalm 58:3:
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no
wise: for we have before proved both Jews and
Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is
written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11
There is none that understandeth, there is none that
seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the
way, they are together become unprofitable; there is
none that doeth good, no, not one. Romans 3:9-12
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith
of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans
3:22-23
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the
world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon
all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did
my mother conceive me. Psalm 51:5
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go
astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Psalm
58:3 |
B. The Bible Says That We Are All Sinners By Choice. John
14:15 says:
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15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 |
C. We Are All Sinners By Practice. Ephesians 2:2 says:
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2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the
children of disobedience: Ephesians 2:2 |
II. THE COST OF SALVATION.
Salvation cost God the Father his only begotten son. John
3:16 says, “That he gave his only begotten Son”. Romans 8:3
and Galatians 4:4 also state the following:
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin
in the flesh: Romans 8:3
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God
sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the
law, Galatians 4:4
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A. The Lord Jesus Christ Left Heaven To Become The One And
Only GOD-MAN. The Bible states the following in John 1:1-3,
John 1:14,and Philippians 2:6-8:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in
the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by
him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made. John 1:1-3
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of
no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of
the cross. Philippians 2:6-8 |
B. The Life Of The Lord Jesus Christ In This World.
According to the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ lived in
poverty in this world. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says this:
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9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, that ye through his poverty might be
rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 |
C. The Lord Jesus Christ Was Sinless And Obedient Unto God
The Father From Birth Through The Death Of The Cross. In 1
Timothy 3:16, Philippians 2:8, Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 4:15,
and Hebrews 9:28 the Bible has this to say about him:
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified
in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory. 1 Timothy 3:16
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross. Philippians 2:8
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith; who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews
12:2
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin. Hebrews 4:15
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of
many; and unto them that look for him shall he
appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews 9:28 |
III. THE CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION.
The condition for salvation is: “That Whosoever Believeth in
Him”
A. To claim your righteousness is an exercise in futility.
The Bible has the following to say about our righteousness
in Matthew 9:12-13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31-32, and Isaiah
64:6:
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them,
They that be whole need not a physician, but they
that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that
meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I
am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance. Matthew 9:12-13
17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They
that are whole have no need of the physician, but
they that are sick: I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance. Mark 2:17
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are
whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance. Luke 5:31-32
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do
fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind,
have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us, by the
washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost; Titus 3:5
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B. You Must Admit That You Are A Sinner. Listen to what Luke
19:10, Romans 3:10, and Luke 18:9-14 state:
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost. Luke 19:10
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no,
not one: Romans 3:10
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God; Romans 3:23
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which
trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and
despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple
to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a
publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with
himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other
men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even
as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I
give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the
publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so
much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his
breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I
tell you, this man went down to his house justified
rather than the other: for every one that exalteth
himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:9-14 |
C. You must Be Willing To Be Saved. Romans 10:13-14 and
Revelation 22:17 state the following :
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on
him in whom they have not believed? and how shall
they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and
how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans
10:13-14
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely. Revelation 22:17 |
IV. THE RESULTS OF SALVATION.
There is a deliverance and a change that is wrought in
salvation. That deliverance states that we: “Should not
perish but have everlasting life”. With that deliverance,
there will come some changes. The Bible declares this in 2
Corinthians 5:17:
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17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 |
There will be a change of heart, a change of hearing, a
change of heritage, and a change of destiny.
A. There Will Be A Change of Heart For Those Who Are Saved.
The Bible states this about that change in Ezekiel 36:26 and
Hebrews 10:16:
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you: and I will take away
the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give
you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws
into their hearts, and in their minds will I write
them; Hebrews 10:16 |
B. There Will Be A Change of Hearing For Those Who Are
Saved.
1. God will send a famine of hearing to those that are lost.
Amos 8:11 and Hebrews 5:11 state it this way:
11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I
will send a famine in the land, not a famine of
bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the
words of the LORD: Amos 8:11
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to
be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. Hebrews
5:11 |
2. There will be a willingness to hear in the ears of the
believer. Acts 17:11-12 puts it this way:
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11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of
mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them
believed; also of honourable women which were
Greeks, and of men, not a few. Acts 17:11-12 |
C. There Will Be A Change of Heritage For Those Who Are
Saved. The Bible says that we are heirs to a goodly heritage
that includes an incorruptible inheritance that includes
everlasting life. Our Bibles state the following in
Galatians 3:29, Galatians 4:7, 1 Peter 1:3-5, John 3:36,
John 5:24-29, John 6:47, John 10:28-29, and Psalm 16:5-6:
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s
seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians
3:29
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son;
and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Galatians 4:7
3 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, 4 To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who
are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1
Peter 1:3–5
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting
life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not
see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John
3:36
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth
my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming,
and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of
the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he
given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And
hath given him authority to execute judgment also,
because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this:
for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in
the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come
forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil,
unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5:24-29
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth
on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out
of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is
greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them
out of my Father’s hand. John 10:28-29
5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of
my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are
fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a
goodly heritage. Psalm 16:5-6 |
D. There Will Be A Change of Destiny For Those Who Are
Saved. Outside of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ all
those that are born of a woman are predestined to go to
hell. However, all those that are born again of God the Holy
Ghost are predestined to go to heaven. John 3:3, John
3:17-18, and Revelation 20:13-15 put it this way:
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily,
I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him
might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not
condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it;
and death and hell delivered up the dead which were
in them: and they were judged every man according to
their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:13-15 |
Conclusion: All men everywhere are commanded to repent of
their sin and to put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
according to Acts 17:30-31and Acts 20:21:
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at;
but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he
will judge the world in righteousness by that man
whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him
from the dead. Acts 17:30-31
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the
Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21 |
Have you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and
repented of your sin? Do you know for sure that if you were
to die today that you would not go to hell and be cast into
the lake of fire where the fire is never quenched and where
you will burn for ever and ever and never be able to be
burned up?? Isaiah 33:14 asks the following two all
important question for everyone:
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14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness hath
surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell
with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell
with everlasting burnings? Isaiah 33:14
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Friend, will you dwell with the devouring fire with the
everlasting burnings?!? Think about it! The Bible warns you
in Luke 12:5 that you should fear hell more than death
itself!
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