Today’s Scripture: John 3:9-21 (S.O.A.P. John 3:16-17)
Question of the Day: How did God love the world? Why did He do this?
Nicodemus replied,[a] “How can these things be?”[b] 10 Jesus answered,[c] “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?[d] 11 I tell you the solemn truth,[e] we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but[f] you people[g] do not accept our testimony.[h] 12 If I have told you people[i] about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?[j] 13 No one[k] has ascended[l] into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.[m] 14 Just as[n] Moses lifted up the serpent[o] in the wilderness,[p] so must the Son of Man be lifted up,[q] 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”[r]
For this is the way[s] God loved the world: He gave his one and only[t] Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish[u] but have eternal life.[v] 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,[w] but that the world should be saved through him. 18 The one who believes in him is not condemned.[x] The one who does not believe has been condemned[y] already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only[z] Son of God. 19 Now this is the basis for judging:[aa] that the light has come into the world and people[ab] loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.[ac]
God not only sent his Son – He gave up his Son – His ONLY begotten Son.
1) all the world was in ruin and exposed to the wrath of God
2) all people were in a hopeless condition.
3) God gave his Son, man had no claim on him; it was a gift- an undeserved gift.
4) He gave him up to extreme suffering.
5) it was for ALL the world.
A movement of love – an expression of eternal compassion – a desire that sinners should not perish forever.
What greater love could there be.