‘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
God So Loved
John 3:16-21 (ESV)
“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.”
John 3:16 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved
2 Thessalonians 2:16 (ESV)
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace
1 John 4:9-10 (ESV)
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
John 1:29 (ESV)
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 3:16 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Why did Jesus agonize in the Garden? It wasn’t b/c he feared Rome, the Jews or the agony of the Cross – but that He fully understood the wrath that was due humanity and the separation.
Psalm 75:8 (ESV)
For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.
Jeremiah 25:15 (ESV)
Thus the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.
Revelation 14:9-10 (ESV)
… “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
What did Jesus pray in the Garden?
Matthew 26:39 (ESV)
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup (of your wrath) pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Isaiah 51:22 (ESV)
Thus says your Lord, the LORD, your God who pleads the cause of his people: “Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more
This is what Jesus was praying about in the Garden. All of God’s wrath and hatred towards sin stored up since the creation of the world, is about to be poured out on Him.
In that moment almost 2000 years ago, all the righteous wrath and justice of God due us came pouring down on Jesus!
Isaiah 53:4-6 (ESV)
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:10 (ESV)
Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Christ drank, obediently – fully aware of it’s magnitude, the full cup of God’s wrath and cried “It is Finished.”
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This is the Good News – The perfectly just and loving God of the universe considered the hopeless state of His fallen sinful creation and sent His Son to bear His full wrath against sin on the most excruciating method of torture known to man. Why? To show His Own Love for us. Yes, but also His power over sin and death in the resurrection so that everyone who puts their trust in Christ will be reconciled to God FOREVER!
That is what Easter is all about and that is why we celebrate an empty tomb and a risen savior – Halleluiah!!!!!
We have been extended an invitation to know the God of all creation! That in His death we can come to know Life!
All over the world people have come together to declare one thing!
Luke 24:5-6 (NIV)
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!
Today we celebrate His victory over death! We are free because He is ALIVE!
Because He lives so can we!
Revelation 1:18 (NIV)
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Romans 8:1-4 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Jesus’ victory over sin (my sin, your sin) and death (our death) is a permanent and eternal victory!
1 Corinthians 15:22 (ESV)
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
John 2:19 (ESV)
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Mark 8:31 (ESV)
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mark 10:32-34 (ESV)
And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
Luke 24:46-47 (ESV)
and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
1 John 3:16 (ESV)
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
John 3:36 (ESV)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 3:17 (ESV)
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.
You see it now don’t you?
When Christ was nailed to the Cross so was your sin!
And if you are included in His death, you can also be included in this new life!
When He conquered death, death was forever conquered!
If you are in Christ when He AROSE you AROSE!
When Jesus died He took sin down with Him, but ALIVE He brings God down to us and He brings us up to God.
You are dead to sin but alive to God.
He is alive, so you are alive!
That is what Jesus did!
So when you see Jesus hanging on the cross, see too your old life hanging on the cross.
You are alive with God through Christ!
“I am not sure where you are today, but I know where He was that day” – He was standing in your place! – invitation!
If Jesus is Lord of your Life – rise – please stand. If you have never trust Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior today can be your spiritual birthday……
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