Sermon: John 3:16-21: Believe in the Name of The Only Son of God!

Reading of God’s Word

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. 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. 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. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 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 3:16–21, ESV)

Introduction

There’s an excellent little book out there on the doctrine of salvation entitled Redemption Accomplished and Applied written by John Murray. I think it was originally published in 1955, so I guess it can be called a classic. It would certainly be one of my top picks for books that present the Bible’s teaching on salvation well.

Murray’s book is about one thing: redemption. It presents the Bible’s answer to the question, how can a person be saved from the judgment of God? But he comes at this one question from two angles, as the title implies: he first deals with the accomplishment of redemption, and then the application of it – Redemption Accomplished and Applied.

These are two very different things; but both are of great importance.

Redemption accomplished asks how salvation was earned? What did Christ do to accomplish, or to lay a hold of, salvation for all who believe? What did he do so that he could provide salvation to a fallen and condemned world?

Redemption applied deals with a different question, namely, how is Christ’s finished work applied to people as they live their lives here on this earth? How do individual people benefit from, or partake of, that which Christ accomplished in the past?

The point is this: an individual person cannot have salvation applied to them if it was not first accomplished; and salvation is not truly accomplished for the individual until it is applied to them.

Murray’s work is truly excellent, but I mention it only to point out that John 3:16-21 is structured in much the same way. Or maybe a better way of saying it is that the same categories and questions are considered within John 3:16-21. John is concerned to talk about two things: what Christ came to accomplish, and how what he accomplished is applied to people as they live in this world – and so these are the two questions that we will ask of John 3:16-21 this morning.

Q1: WHAT DID CHRIST COME TO ACCOMPLISH?

First, let’s talk about what Christ came to accomplish in his incarnation. What did he come to do according to John 3:16-21? What was his purpose for coming?

A1: CHRIST CAME TO EARN SALVATION FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE IN ALL THE WORLD.

The answer is that he came to earn salvation for all who believe in all the world.

You’ll notice that there is a bit of an overlap between this sermon and the one I preached last week. Last week I moved slowly through John 3:16, considering each word or phase. This week I’m covering 3:16-21 because these verses go together, forming a unit of thought.

Remember how I emphasized the importance of the word “that” in 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” In greek, it is the word ἵνα (hina). The word ἵνα is significant because it is used to indicate purpose or intent. The Father sent the Son with this purpose, or with this intent, is what John is saying. There is, therefore, an answer here given to the question, what did Christ come to accomplish?

It’s important to notice that there is not one – not two – but three ἵνα clauses in verses 16 and 17.  I’ll point out where they are while reading from the ESV:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that [in order that] whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to [in order to] condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

The english words “that”, “to”, and “in order that” are all used to translate the greek word, ἵνα which expresses purpose or intent. Notice that John is very concerned to communicate purpose. He want’s us to know what Christ came to accomplish.

Also, notice that John expresses the one purpose for which Christ came in three ways. It is not that Christ had three separate purposes for coming; it is not that Christ was confused about why he came; but that John is communicating the one purpose in three ways.

In the first ἵνα clause John reveals that Christ came for this purpose: to accomplish salvation so that all who believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life.

John begins with this unmistakably clear purpose statement: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that [in order that] whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, ESV)

Christ came to accomplish, earn, procure, salvation so that those who truly believe in him would have assurance of this salvation. He came to make salvation from condemnation and eternal life a sure thing for the believing ones.

I’ve found that people often misunderstand the words “should not” in our english versions of John 3:16.  “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) Should not kind of sounds like there is still a possibility that the believing ones perish – Christ came so that they should not or might not perish. It sounds as if John is saying it should work out, I think. That is not the meaning of the text (and of course that is not what the ESV is trying to communicate). I think the NIV and NASB make a good choice when they use the word “shall” – “…that whoever believes in him shall not perish…” The Net and NLT also make a good choice with the word “will” – “…so that everyone who believes will not perish…”

The meaning that all translations are trying to bring across is that this is the reason why Christ came: to accomplish salvation so that all who truly believe will certainly have it.

In the second ἵνα clause, John clarifies that Christ did not come to condemn the world.

Verse 17a: “For God did not send his Son into the world to [in order to] condemn the world…”

This is a clarification of what has already been said. Christ came the first time for the purpose of saving, not to condemn.

But why would this need to be stated? It needed to be stated because there was an expectation, especially amongst the Jewish people, that the Lord would come in judgment.

John is clarifying that the first coming of Christ was not for the purpose of condemnation; but he will judge and condemn in his second coming. Listen to Jesus’ words in John 5:25:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:25–29, ESV)

Although Christ did not come to judge fully and finally in his first coming, the judgment has, in a way, already begun as people decide to reject or believe in Christ.

John 9:39: “Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” That verse almost seems to contradict what is said here in 3:17. But a careful consideration reveals that there is no contradiction.

Christ came, not for the purpose of judgment and condemnation in a final and full sense, but he was given authority to judge even in his earthly ministry; and judgment had, in a way, begun at Christ’s first coming as people decided to either continue in darkness or to walk in the light.

The point being made by John is that the objective of Christ’s first coming was to accomplish salvation and not to bring final condemnation. That will happen in the future. The time between now and then is devoted to the ingathering of the believing ones.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, ESV)

In the third ἵνα clause, John tells us that Christ came for this purpose: that the world be saved through him.

Verse 17b: “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.”

Notice once more that if we make the word “world” to mean every person without exception then what we have here are two different purposes or objectives stated for Christ coming. In verse 16 we are told that he came to accomplish salvation for those who believe, and in verse 17 we are told that he came to accomplish salvation for all without exception. These are indeed two very different concepts. If this were true, Christ is described as having two different things in his crosshairs.

But if we take “world” to mean all the peoples of the earth – every tongue, tribe, and nation –  all peoples who live in this fallen and sin-sick place (just as we have been taking it to mean throughout John) – then we have no contradiction here. Christ came for one purpose – to accomplish salvation for all who believe – Jew and gentile – sinful and rebellious people – from all the earth. This is the only reasonable way to interpret “world” in John 3:16-17. Christ came into the world as the savior of the world so that all who believe in him – Jew and gentile – would have eternal life.

This is an important issue for Christian’s (or at least it should be). It’s important that we understand the mission that Christ came to accomplish. He had something in his sights – something in his crosshairs. His mission was not vague and undecided. It was not as if he came to this earth saying, ‘we’ll so how it goes’, or, ‘we’ll see how it all plays out’. No, John emphasizes time and again that Christ came for a very specific purpose – to accomplish the mission given to him by the Father.

Please take the time to read John 17 some time in the next week as Christ has a lot to say about how he viewed his own life and mission. Christ’s mission was anything but vague.

Here is an illustration appropriate for the season. The stereotype is that men shop like hunters whereas women shop like gatherers. Whether it’s true, I cannot say. I’m sure it is not true in every case, but it is certainly true of me. I think I’d rather chew dirt than wander through a mall for hours on end. I’d do it for my bride (with a good attitude!) but it’s not my thing. When I shop I know exactly what I need to get and I go get it. Done deal. I walk though that parking lot and through those doors like a man on a mission! Actually, my wife tends to shop like that too, thankfully. The point is that I shop with something in mind – something in the crosshairs – my purpose is clear, my intentions decided.

Christ was like that in his first coming. He came to earn salvation for all believe in all the world.

He did this by being born of a virgin, being truly and fully man, and truly and fully God. He lived in perfect obedience to the Law of God. He lived in perfect submission to the the will of the Father He did what Adam failed to do. Not only did actively keep God’s Law. he also suffered for us. He suffered in all of life, but supremely upon the cross. It was there that he took sins upon himself and paid for them in full. He bore the wrath of God. He stood in the place of those had and would believe in him, paying for their sins, really, truly, and fully. He died as our substitute, was buried, and rose again on the third day defeating sin and death.

Redemption… accomplished.

Q2: HOW DOES A PERSON BENEFIT FROM WHAT CHRIST HAS ACCOMPLISHED?

But a question remains. How does what Christ accomplished in his first coming benefit people to this present day? It’s true that Christ accomplished redemption – that he died once for all, having paid for sin. He was right when he uttered the words “it is finished”. He had accomplished salvation indeed! But how is what he accomplished applied to the individual in ?

A2: A PERSON HAS THE BENEFITS OF CHRIT’S WORK APPLIED TO THEM BY BELIEVING IN HIS NAME. 

The answer is that a person has the benefits of Christ’s finished work applied to them by believing in his name.

Belief (or faith) is the means, the instrument, the conduit through which the salvation accomplished by Christ is applied to the person.

Belief is the conduit. Consider this: It would do no good for Edison to generate electricity in the many ways they do and to fail to also install conduit. The electricity would be there stored in mass, but it would have no way to benefit you. Your lightbulb would remain unlit, your oven cold, and your tools useless. Power must be produced and conduit installed if it is to benefit the individual. So it is with salvation. Christ accomplished salvation for all who believe from all the world; faith is the conduit.

Notice that the word “belief” appears four times in verses 16 and 18.

Verse 16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Verse 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.

Belief is the decisive thing, from a human perspective. It is the one thing that people are called to do. When we preach the gospel we are to do so exhorting people to repent and believe (that is really one action and not two – turning from the world to Christ).

Notice that we are urged to believe, and not to be born again. This is significant because in Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus Jesus presented new birth as the decisive thing. Has John missed it here? Has he urged us to do the wrong thing? Jesus says what is needed is new birth and John says what is needed is faith.

No, John has not missed it. For one, the two things are connected. Those born again, believe, and those who believe have been born again. Two, it is impossible to command someone to be born again given that this is something done by God alone. New birth is the ultimate decisive thing – but it is God’s act – something done to us. We cannot choose to be born again – God breaths new life according to his sovereign will –  you cannot command someone to be born again any more than you can command someone to be born. But man must be called to believe. Man must be called to repentance and faith. That is something that man can and must do from the heart if he is to benefit from the work that Christ accomplished.

Verses 18-21 have a lot to say about the way that people respond to Christ. That Christ has accomplished salvation is clear. That belief is the conduit is also clear. But questions remain concerning why some believe and others do not.

Many things could be said about verses 18-21. I’ll make three observations.

Observation 1: Notice that, according to vs. 18, every person on the planet is in a relationship with God: some are under condemnation, and others are not under condemnation. 

It is common to hear Christians say that what people need is a relationship with Jesus Christ. There  is truth to that statement. People do need a relationship with Jesus. But what is often missed is that everyone already has one: they are either standing condemned or justified. They are either standing under his wrath or under his favor. A relationship exists between every person and God. The question is, is it the right kind of relationship?

Verse 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.” (John 3:18, ESV)

Notice that condemnation (judgment) is not merely a future thing – it is a state that many live in here and now. If you have not believed in the Son you stand condemned. If you have not believed in the Son you live in your sin and under the wrath of God.

Notice also that eternal life is not merely a future thing – it is a state that many live in here and now. Those believing in the Son are not condemned, even now. They have eternal life the moment they believe. Of course we all long for the day when we will have eternal life in the final, full, and consummate way – but we have a taste of it now! Those who are in Christ know what it is to be forgiven, pardoned. Those who are in Christ have been given the Holy Spirit and have experience the fruits of the Spirit. Those who are in Christ know what it is to have God as Father and to be called children of God.

In verse 18 John divides humanity into two broad categories – those pardoned and those condemned. Every person on the planet is in a relationship with God – some are under condemnation, and others not under condemnation.

Observation 2: Notice, in verse 19a, the basis given for this bold judgement concerning the condemned: rejection of Christ.

“And this is the judgment [and this is the basis for the judgement]: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light…”

Why can John speak in such a black and white way concerning those standing condemned and those not condemned? Because Christ has come. He was and is the light of the world. Men and women either love the light or they hate it. There is no middle ground.

When Christ came he brought division and separation. When people are presented with Christ they must take one of two paths – they either run to him or away from him. There is no middle ground.

You say, but I know many people who, though they are not for Christ, do not seem to be against him either. Jesus said something about that.

Matthew 12:30: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30, ESV)

That is the effect that Christ has upon people. People are either, like a moth, drawn to the light, or like a roach, repelled by it.

John is saying that he is able to judge in this way because there really is no middle ground. As people are confronted with Jesus Christ they are either for him or against him.

And how do people respond, according to John? “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light.”

You would hope it would be the other way. You would hope that as the true light came into the world that he would have been greeted warmly. Instead, he was rejected.

Observation 3: Notice that, in verses 19b – 21, we are told why people respond in the way that they do.

Why do people reject the light? Verse 19b tells us, “…because their works are evil.”

Verse 20 says, “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

Why do people reject the light? Because they love the darkness, because their deeds are evil, and because the last thing they want is for their evil deeds to be exposed. Light is the last thing that people with dark hearts and dark deeds want. They would rather remain in the dark.

John tells us that this is how the world responded to Christ’s coming.

Perhaps the greater question is why do people come to the light? The world rejected Christ, according to John. People hated the light because their deeds were evil. Why do any come to Christ? That is the real question!

John tells us that “…whoever does what is true comes to the light…” There are some who are true in heart and true in deed. To do what is true is to live according to truth. These come to the light, rejoice in the light, love the light of Christ.

But why? Why do some come and other run? Why do some do what is true and love the light while others do not? Verse 21 tells us: “…so that it may be clearly seen that his [or her] works have been carried out in God.”

These have their hearts and deeds carried along by the power of God. God has worked in them and through them. That is the difference!

This is important. It is not as if there are some who are better than others in the world. It is not as if there are some who are intrinsically more moral or more spiritual than others. It is not as if there are some who, in and of themselves, are light lovers where as others are darkness dwellers. No! All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All have walked in darkness and have loved darkness. Those who love light and do what is true make it plain that their works have been carried out in God – in the power of God.

Conclusion

Church, redemption has been accomplished by Christ really, truly, and fully. We should rejoice and take comfort in that. He did not leave anything undone. He earned redemption most fully so that he could give it most freely. Have you received it? Has it been applied to you? Have you believed in the name of the only Son of God?