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John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 records the words of
Jesus during a conversation He had with a Pharisee named Nicodemus.
The correct understanding of this verse of scripture depends on a proper
and thorough understanding of the context. Bobby Stafford examines
the overall context of John 3:16 and presents a sermon on how best to
understand what Jesus meant while He was talking to Nicodemus on this
occasion.
Context of John 3:16
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Scene: Jesus and many others were in Jerusalem
at the Passover Feast. John 2:23
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Nicodemus, a Pharisee
and member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus at night and
said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For
no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were
not with him.” John 3:1-2
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Jesus responded that one
must be born again. John 3:3
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Nicodemus misunderstood how
one could be born again. John 3:4
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Jesus elaborates that one
must be born of water and the spirit, not a physical birth but a
spiritual birth. John 3:5
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Jesus explains that no one
can see the wind, only the effects of it. In the same way with
the Holy Spirit, one sees the effects when one is born again.
John 3:6-8
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Nicodemus is starting to
understand. Jesus elaborates more that he is speaking of heavenly
things. John 3:10-13
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Jesus gives an example from
the past to explain the new birth. Just as the people who did not
look at the pole, died. Those who obeyed and looked at the snake on
the pole, were saved. John 3:14
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Whoever believes and is led
to obey, is saved. John 3:15
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Jesus and his disciples went
out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with
them, and baptized. This shows the necessity of obedience along
with the belief. John 3:22
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God loved the world so much
that He gave His only son. Look at the whole conversation to
understand. Believe has many shades of meaning: convinced, accept
as true (James 2:19), faith or trust in. The meaning is
determined by the context. A better translation is “the believing
ones.” John 3:16
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Children of God must be born
again, obeying by being baptized. Galatians 3:26
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The obedient believing ones
have eternal life. John 3:36
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In the beginning of the
church, all who believe, the believing ones, are in Christ. Belief
gives the power to become in Christ. When one has trust and acts,
he will have eternal life. Acts 2:44
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The meaning is determined by
the context. John 2:23 -3:16
Bobby Stafford
February 13, 2011
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The
church of Christ
