Introducing JESUS CHRIST

Gift of the Father to the World

JOHN 3:14-18

INTRODUCTION

Does God really love you? How do we know?

Today we will discuss about life and death. Many people are afraid of death because they
don't know where they will go when they die. I have good news for you! God loves you and
wants you to be with Him when you die. But how can it be when you know you have
committed a lot of sins?
That's the good news we are going to study today.

Let us read John 3:14-18.

A. WHY IS THIS GIFT NEEDED (John 3:14-15)?

1. What is this "Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert" all about? How is this
relevant to us today?

 It refers to an event in Israel's history recorded in Numbers 21:8-9. The Israelites were
complaining to God and to Moses about their situation in the wilderness. Although God had
given them food and water, they still complained. The Lord sent venomous snakes to kill
some of them.

 In our case, all of us have sinned. Sin is usually in the form of disobeying and rebelling
against God, and missing the mark. The consequence of our sin is death.

 God provided a cure for the Israelites at that time. God told Moses to "make a metal
snake and put it on a pole, so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and be healed"
(Numbers 21:8).Today, God also provides a cure for us.

2. What does it mean that "in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up" (John 3:14b)?

 The Son of Man refers to Jesus Christ.

Jesus being lifted up signifies His crucifixion at the cross. If we look up upon Jesus, it
signifies that we truly believe in Him.

 Are you aware that you need this gift?

B. THE GIFT (John 3:16-17)

How is John 3:16 the gospel (Good News) in a nutshell?

How does each word in that verse tell a story?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16 ESV).

For God —the greatest lover

Why is God the greatest lover? Throughout history, the gods being worshiped by people were
always being feared, always being appeased, always far and above the people. Here, for the
first time in history, it was revealed that the true God is not only holy, not only almighty — He
is love. No one can ever surpass His love.
so loved —love of the highest degree

In what way does God love us with the highest degree?

People love in different degrees. A woman loves her children much more than she loves her
pets. God not only loves us by providing for our food. He "so loved" us that He was willing to
sacrifice His one and only Son, in order that we can be cleansed from sin and be reconciled to
Him.

the world —the most fortunate recipient of God's love

The world means us. Why are we the most fortunate recipients of God's love? With all our sins
corrupting us, are we lovable? No. With all our rebellion against God's laws, do we deserve to
be loved? No. Actually, God could have just thrown us away, and create a new

human race. But God looks at all that we are, and still loves us. We are most fortunate.

that He gave —the greatest sacrifice

Why is what God gave the greatest sacrifice? Nothing that we do can ever repay God for what
He gave. And what He gave was the most important person to Him. He sacrificed what was
most precious to Him.

His only Son —the greatest gift

In what way is what God gave the greatest gift? Jesus Christ, God's one and only Son, is the
greatest gift that we could ever receive. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to
the Father except through Him. He paid for the penalty of our sins by dying on the cross on
our behalf.

that whoever believes in Him —the greatest invitation

Who are invited to receive this gift? No matter how bad we were, whatever is our race,
gender, social status, etc., all of us are invited to receive this gift. We just need to believe in
Him. We submit to Him, and stop rebelling. Let Him run our lives.

should not perish-the greatest cure

Why do we need this cure? Because of our sins, we were destined to die, not just physically
but also spiritually. Separated from God. Condemned to spena eternity in hell. But when we
believe in Jesus Christ, everything changes. We no longer perish.

but have eternal life —the greatest reward

How does this gift affect our lives? Most people are afraid of death. Even if they are terminally
ill, they still spend a lot of money trying their best to prolong their lives. But how long can
their lives be extended?
One month? One year? And how about the quality of life? Will they be able to enjoy life when
their physical organs are deteriorating one by one?

Eternal life is not a continuation of our earthly life. It is a totally different kind of life, starting
from the time a person believes in Jesus and receives Him as Savior and Lord. He immediately
enjoys a loving relationship with God. He will have an abundant life (John 10:10) filled with joy
and peace. And this will continue even after he dies physically because the Father has
prepared a place for him in heaven.
C. AN ILLUSTRATION

An engineer on a locomotive going across the Western prairie day after day saw a little child
come out in front of a cabin and wave to him; so he got in the habit of waving back to the
little child, and it was the day's joy to him to see this little one come out in front of the cabin
door and wave to him while he waved back.

One day, the train was late and it arrived at dusk in the evening. As the engineer stood at his
post, he saw by the headlights the little girl on the railroad track, wondering why the train did
not come, looking for the train, knowing nothing of her peril. A great horror seized the
engineer. He reversed the engine.

He transferred control to another man, and then he climbed over the engine, and came down
on the cowcatcher.

With an almost supernatural clutch, he caught the child by the hair and lifted her up. When
the train stopped and the passengers gathered around to see what was the matter, there the
old engineer lay, fainted dead away, the little child alive and in his swarthy arms. -Talmage'

D. THE RESULT OF NOT RECEIVING THE GIFT (John 3:18)

Suppose someone says, "I don't need this gift." What happens then?

The gift is offered to us. It is up to us whether we want to receive it or not.

If we receive the gift (truly believe in Jesus Christ), we have eternal life.

If we reject the gift (do not believe in Jesus Christ), we stand condemned already.
The choice is ours.

E. YOUR PERSONAL DECISION (NOT FOR DISCUSSION)

1. Do you deserve this gift?
If not, what does it show of God the Father that He still gives this gift to
you even though you don't deserve it?

2. Do you want to receive this gift?

If so, what do you need to do to receive this gift?

a. Repent of your sins.

1. Confess — Agree with God that you have sinned.

2. Thank God for forgiving your sins.

3. Repent - To repent means to admit that you have sinned, feel sorry for having
committed those sins, and promise God that you will not commit those sins again. I will give
you a few minutes now to reflect on the sins you have committed and to ask God for
forgiveness.

b. Believe in the Lord Jesus.

To believe does not mean that you only acknowledge that Jesus is God's
Son, that He died for you. It also means to acknowledge that God created you
and owns you, that you have rebelled against Him, but now is surrendering your
life to Him as you put your trust in Jesus.
 c. Invite Jesus Christ into your heart not only as Savior, but as Lord
and Master.
(Pray the sinner's prayer with those who are willing.)

F. CONCLUSION

God is love. He wants us to enjoy being with Him forever. So He gives us His only Son, Jesus
Christ, to bear the penalty of our sins, so that we can have eternal life. It is up to us whether
or not we will receive this gift.

G. APPLICATION/DISCUSSION
(In case your group is too big, it is better to break up into small groups to discuss the
Application questions.)

1. How important to you is your eternal destiny? What: are you doing about it?

2. What is your understanding of believing in Jesus Christ? What does it involve?

Do you think eternal life starts only after you die, or does it start the moment you
believe in Jesus Christ?

3. If some of you have believed in Jesus Christ for some time already, please share
how you are experiencing Him in your life.