John 3:16 has a couple of things that most people, including Nicodemus, find objectionable. One is that believing in God’s only begotten Son is as simple as “looking on” the bronze serpent. Nicodemus assumed he needed to present his good works to God. Most people think that way. They find it “unfair” that God would condemn them as worthy of “perishing” when they are so much better than someone else. Which leads to the second difficulty people have: poisonous snakes and eternal death seem to be a little (or a lot) excessive as punishment. On one hand, too easy; on the other, too harsh. Jesus answers these objections.
o
v17-18: “For” tells us 3:17 is connected to 3:16.
Out of love, God gave His Son; the Son was God’s gift of grace to
Mankind. Then it says, God sent
His Son: this was the Father’s plan for His Son and the Son was obedient to do
it. The very purpose for the Son was
that He would be lifted up on a cross to die for our sins. Jesus used this terminology when He was
speaking with the Jews (Jn. 8:28, When you lift up the Son of Man, then you
will know that I am He), and again when He knew the time to die was at hand
(Jn. 12:32-33, ‘And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples
to Myself.’ This He said, signifying by what death He would die.) Again, what does this mean?
§ v17: That Christ did not come to condemn the world but to bring salvation.
§ v18: Therefore, believing in Christ brings salvation. It means that the one who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. The one who believes in Him is not condemned but has been saved, just like those who looked to the bronze serpent. It is that simple because Christ is the only issue in salvation, the only name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Ac. 4:12).
o
v19-21: Now, what about the punishment: is it
too harsh? No! Because there is no need
to experience the punishment. There is a
solution for everyone.
§ On the one hand, the condemnation is fair because of what people have done. They have not only determined to live in sin before the Creator; they actually love the dark life they have chosen and they hate the light that God has sent. The light is “uncomfortable” for men because it exposes what they really are. Thus, if I try to argue that I’m not all that bad (and Nicodemus almost certainly had that attitude), I am really telling a lie.
§ On the other hand, what if I come to the light? What if I look in faith to Christ, acknowledging that He is the Son of God sent to bring salvation for the world? His works will be clearly seen. And I will be removed from condemnation and will live with eternal life (Jn. 5:24 says the same thing).
You may want to argue all of this. But you should know this is what the Bible
says, what Jesus Himself said. This is
the truth regarding your eternity.
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