Sermon Title: “The Heart of the Gospel” Text: John 3:16–18 (ESV)

 Sermon Title: “The Heart of the Gospel”

Text: John 3:16–18 (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. 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.”

Introduction

Probably the best known, and quoted, scripture is John 3:16. We love it because It is the beating heart of the gospel message—the very core of God's redemptive plan for humanity. It comes to us in the context of Jesus telling Nicodemus the Pharisee that he must be born again to see the kingdom of God. 

Less familiar to most are verses 17 and 18. But, in them, we see the full scope of God's love, the purpose of Christ's coming, and the weight of our response.

I. God’s Love: The Motivation Behind the Gospel (v. 16)

“For God so loved the world…”

So, we begin with God’s love. The word “so” doesn’t mean just “very much,” as it does in popular music. Rather, refers to the manner in which God loved: God loved the world “in this way’. 

And the way God loved the world was by giving his only Son. His love is not just a warm, fuzzy feeling. It is an active, pursuing, love which seeks to reconcile a sinful, rebellious world to himself. 

The world here refers to all of fallen, sinful humanity that inherited he guilt of Adam and itself has sinned in rebellion against God. Dr. R. C. Sproul called sin a “cosmic rebellion”. It’s bad enough that John would later write that we are not to love the world or anything in it. (1 John 2:15-17)

Despite the world’s rebellion, God loved the world. His love wasn’t in response to anything lovable in us; rather it was initiated by His own character. God is love. 

And that love gave. True love always gives. In this case, God gave the most precious thing He had—His only Son.

Think of that. He didn’t loan His Son, or send Him with conditions. He gave Him—knowing He would be rejected, mocked, beaten, and crucified. That shows the intensity of God’s love.

II. Faith in Christ: The Means of Salvation (v. 16b)

In love, God provided a way of salvation, an escape from death and separation from himself: “…that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

This is the most inclusive invitation and the most exclusive path:

“Whoever” means that no matter your past, your failures, your race, your age, or your background, you can be saved. But you can only be saved by the way God provided. 

That way is belief in Jesus the Son. It is not just an intellectual agreement, but belief in who Jesus is and trusting in him as Savior.

This is the fork in the road: perishing or eternal life. There is no neutral  ground.

To perish is not just to die physically, but to be separated eternally from the presence and joy of God.

Eternal life is not just living forever—it is knowing God, beginning now, and continuing forever (John 17:3).

III. Christ’s Mission: Not to Condemn, but to Save (v. 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.” Jesus didn’t come the first time judge and condemn. He did not come with a sword in His hand but with nails in His hands.

The world was already guilty. We didn’t need more condemnation—we needed salvation.

Jesus came not to rub our sins in our faces, but to remove it. Jesus came on a rescue mission, not a punitive mission.

IV. Our Response: Believe or Be Condemned (v. 18)

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already…”

The dividing line is simple: belief.

Belief brings no condemnation (Romans 8:1).

Unbelief does not leave a person neutral—it confirms them in a state of already being condemned.

Why? Because they refuse the only means of rescue. If a lifeboat is offered in a storm and we reject it, our perishing is not just a tragedy—it’s a choice.

Conclusion:

This passage demands a response.

If you believe, take heart—your salvation is secure, your condemnation is removed, and your future is eternal.

If you don’t yet believe, God’s arms are still open. Today, will you trust Him? Will you confess your belief and faith in him? 

The gospel is both simple and powerful:

God loved.
God gave.
We believe.
We live.

Amen.