The Gospel of John: John 3.11-21

Read and meditate on John 3.18.
Nicodemus needed to understand that there are serious consequences to failing to believe the Good News of God’s Son, and to receive the gift of eternal life He offers. That’s as true today as it was in Jesus’ day.

                                                              ¹⁸Everyone
who trusts in Him, in God’s eternal Son,
is not condemned; but who does not believe
in Him is judged, and ready to receive
eternal condemnation, choosing not
to trust in God’s own Son, Whom He begot
from all eternity.

- John 3.18

Reflect
1.  What does Jesus mean by “condemned”? Why, according to Jesus, will some people be condemned? Complete this prayer: Lord, help me to see the people of this world as You do, that I may understand that…

2.  Who is not condemned, according to Jesus? What does it mean to believe in the Son of Man? If they who believe are not condemned, what do they have? How do they have it? Do you have this precious gift? How do you know? I know, Lord, Whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that…

3.  In this conversation, Jesus is using “Son of Man” (Dan. 7 and elsewhere) and “Son of God” (Psalm 2 and elsewhere) interchangeably. What do these ideas tell us about Jesus? Why does the fact that He is each of these uniquely qualify Him to accomplish salvation? Let me know You, Lord Jesus, more fully and completely, because in knowing You, I…

4.  Jesus insisted that “he who does not believe is condemned already…” Is the world already and even now under some kind of condemnation? How would Paul answer this (cf. Rom. 1.18-32)? Should the fact of condemnation – now and yet to come – be part of our Gospel presentation? Explain. I don’t like to talk about judgment and wrath, Lord, but…

5.  In effect, Jesus says to Nicodemus, “If you do not believe in Me, that I am Son of God and Son of Man, and that I bring from heaven the gift of eternal life and entrance into the Kingdom of God, then you will die in your sins, and be condemned forever.” How is this “Good News”? Is this part of the Good News as you share it? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“Separation from God is death, and separation from light is darkness. Separation from God consists in the loss of all the benefits that he has in store.… This is the same thing that happens in the case of a flood of light: those who have blinded themselves or have been blinded by others are forever deprived of the enjoyment of light. It is not that the light has inflicted on them the penalty of blindness, but it is that the blindness itself has brought calamity on them. Therefore the Lord declared, ‘He who believes in me is not condemned,’ that is, he is not separated from God, for he is united to God through faith. On the other hand, he says, ‘He who believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God,’ that is, he has separated himself from God by his own doing.” Irenaeus of Lyons (135-202 AD)

The Good News about condemnation is that it doesn’t have to happen. People today are under the wrath of God because of their sin, even though He continues to love them and care for them. But a day is coming when that love of God will cease, and eternal separation from God to an eternity of vile self will ensue. The Good News is that there is a Way to avoid this, and to know full and abundant life with God. Whom can you tell about this Good News today?

Closing Prayer
Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?
The goodness of God endures continually.
Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
You love evil more than good,
Lying rather than speaking righteousness.
Selah
You love all devouring words,
You deceitful tongue.
God shall likewise destroy you forever;
He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place,
And uproot you from the land of the living.
Selah
The righteous also shall see and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,
“Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

Psalm 52.1-8

Psalm 52.1-4, 8 (Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
Why do the mighty boast in sin? God’s love endures, it knows no end!
They with their tongues vain boasts repeat, and like a razor, work deceit.

Men more than good in evil delight, and lies prefer to what is right.
They utter words, both harsh and strong, with their devouring, deceitful tongue.

But as for me may I be seen in God an olive, ever green!
Ever in God, most kind and just, shall I with joy and gladness trust!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.