So LovedJohn 3:16-18

How much do you love?How do you show it?

What is the most outrageous thing you have ever done for love?

John 316 “For God so loved the world that…

16 ουτως γαρ ηγαπησεν ο Θεος τον κοσμον…. 16 For so loved God the world…

God took so much pleasure in the world that He demonstrated it by doing this…God loved in this way or in this mannerTherefore, we can expect to see some outrageous thing God is going to do

We might… Compare it to what we have doneOr the things we heard others do

John 316 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…

God demonstrated his love by givingNot just something, but part of himself

Jesus ChristThe Messiah

The perfect lambThe perfect sacrifice

That leaves the question, why?Why did God feel the need to give?

What compelled him?Was it necessary?

God gave because He loves us…And without His gift we would have

no access to God

Think of all the people with which we are not able to connect

Popular peopleWealthy people

Presidents

The Pearly GatesWe can not even walk there and plead

our caseWe don’t know how to get there

Thomas was very aware of this problem

John 14“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

God gave us, in Jesus, a new wayThere was the only option until thenTo perish, to die, go to sheol / hades

A place of the dead without GodNow in Christ there is a new option

Have eternal life with God

16 “…whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. Jesus was not just saying that we must

choose between heaven and hellHe is saying that Hell was and is the

default settingIt is the only thing we can accomplish

What Jesus is really saying here is…Now, you are now able to choose

everlasting life with ChristBut it must be a choice that is madeThe default setting is still on “perish”And only we can change that setting

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The goal is to save people from their only option

Condemnation requires no actionSalvation and life requires an

active choice

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Why does God care about our destiny?Because God is loveGod is compassion

Therefore we can expect great things from God

Matthew 77 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

God has a perfect love for usHis great gift of love is salvationJesus gives us a way out of the

burning fire, the punishment and the separation we deserve

We are God’s creationOnly when we accept Jesus do we

become his childrenAs his children we are treated with

love, grace, compassion and forgiveness

God so loved that…God gave Jesus to save you and me

We are the Federated Church.Our Mission is to…

Seek Christ, Serve Christ and Share Christ.

John 3:16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”