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| God's Great Love: John 3:16-17 |
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One Sunday a little boy looked up at his dad and asked, "Daddy, how does God love us?" His father answer, "Son God loves us with an unconditional love."
The boy thought for a moment and then asked, "Daddy, what kind of love is unconditional love?" After a few minutes of silence his father answered, "Do you remember the two boys who used to lived next door to us and the cute little puppy they got last Christmas?" "yes." "Do you remember how they used to tease it, throw sticks and even rocks at it?" "Yes." Do you also remember how the puppy would always greet them with a wagging tail and would try to lick their faces?" "Yes." "Well that puppy had an unconditional love for those two boys. they certainly didn't deserve his love for them because they were mean to him. But, he loved them anyway."
The father then made his point: "God's love for us is also unconditional. Men threw rocks at His Son, Jesus, and hit Him with sticks. They even killed Him. But, Jesus loved them anyway. This is God's great love!!
I. The fact of God's great love (v.16a).
A. God so loved the world. He loved the whole world.
1. The idea that God loves the world is a new idea. The Jews believed that God
loved the religious (the true Jew) & hated the non-religious (the Gentile).
2. The same thoughts are held by many in every generation, especially by
religionists.
B. God loves every person, not just the religious and the good.
II. The evidence of God's great love (v.16b).
A. God gave His one and only Son.
1. God demonstrated His love in the most perfect way possible: He gave
His one and only Son for the world.
2. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his
friend (John 15:13).
B. The word "gave" has a two fold meaning.
1. God gave His Son to be separated from Him, allowing Jesus to leave
His presence, to leave the Majesty & glory, worship & honor of
heaven.
2. God gave up His Son to be separated from Him allowing Jesus to
come to earth.
III. The purpose of God's great love (v.16c).
A. To save men from perishing
B. To save men to eternal life
C. to save men through belief
IV. The proof of God's grat love (v.17).
