The Right Response to the Gospel | John 3:16-21

Summary

John 3:16-21 summarizes the gospel of Jesus and highlights two responses to it—belief and non-belief; and two results—eternal life and condemnation. Do you believe, or are you avoiding His loving gift? Have you embraced the real Jesus and his love for you? Believers, be saturated in his gospel, and let it overflow from your life in the Spirit.

Key Takeaways

• The gospel is that God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
• The right response to the gospel is to believe in the real Jesus, leading to a new life and love.
• The result of the right response to the gospel is not condemnation, but eternal life with God.
• The result of the wrong response to the gospel is condemnation (whoever does not believe stands condemned already). So stop avoiding the gift of God’s love.
• Some will not believe because they hate the light and will not come to it for fear their evil deeds will be exposed.

Discussing and Applying the Sermon

• Are you in some way avoiding the light of Jesus for fear your deeds will be exposed? What Scripture reminds you that this is exactly what you don’t need to fear?
• Have you believed in the real Jesus who brings new life, a new identity, a new purpose, and new hope?
• Have you been focusing on a perk of faith instead of the point of faith? How could your walk with the Lord be different if He was the point of your faith instead of the perk of not perishing?
• What do you believe about God’s love for you? Do you think he loves you out of a duty? That he just tolerates you? Friends, bask in the truth that God loves you deeply and personally. Saturate in it! Romans 8:35-39, Psalm 36:5-7, Romans 5:7-8, Ephesians 2:4-7, Isaiah 54:10