Verse sixteen is the favorite verse of many Christians, and rightly so. John, in full consistency with his announced purpose in writing his account of the Gospel, is declaring that Jesus is not a tribal Redeemer, but a worldwide Redeemer. As John will go on to demonstrate, Jesus is the Savior for elite Jews, example being Nicodemus, He is also the Savior for Samaritans, example being the prostitute at the well.

This famous verse 16 most likely was not spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus but written by John to us for he will speak of the hatred of the world against Jesus culminating in His crucifixion. This was not yet expressed at the time Nicodemus came to talk with Jesus. It is crucial we understand John's use of the word, -world-.

-Is not it nonsense to command a dead man to live-- If the sinner is unable to respond to the gospel then it is foolish to preach the gospel- Further, how can the sinner be condemned for his unbelief when he is unable to believe- Is not God then responsible for all the unbelief in the world- Such are the rationalist complaints. But consider what Jesus teaches Nicodemus about the necessity of the Holy Spirit's work on the unbeliever.

How does a dead man come to life- Since God saves sinners through Jesus Christ how does the sinner come to have a vital interest in Jesus- Who does the work of -birthing from above-- How is this work normally done- These are the questions Jesus addresses with Nicodemus.

Biblical Christianity is pure supernaturalism. It is the work of God saving sinners. Because it is God's work there is assurance of salvation as His work never fails. Nicodemus came to Jesus confident that he was okay with God on the basis of his genes, his works, and what the OT Church had done to him in circumcision. Jesus will have none of this deceptive assurance but declares to him that he will not see the kingdom of God unless God -borns him again-.

In the four days which John the Apostle records in this first chapter you see the growth of the distinctly Christian Church. Here you see how God grows His Church, the method and the messengers of which He approves. Our text is full of hope and encouragement.

Materialists strenuously oppose the resurrection for it is the vital contradiction to their worldview. All of Man's Utopian schemes are stricken through the heart by the bodily resurrection. The flight from reason and responsibility is stopped dead in its tracks by Jesus rising from the tomb alive. But every Christian cherishes the resurrection because it is our hope, without it we are lost in darkness.

Jesus at the wedding feast is one of the most endearing of all the recorded miracles of Jesus. Here is a Friend that has no equal. Jesus is not blind fate nor chance, neither is He an uncaring impersonal Nature goddess. He is an understanding and compassionate God who loves people.

When Jesus cleansed the temple at the beginning of His public ministry -and again at the end-, He demonstrated that His concern was for the glory of God. The worship of God is something about which God is very jealous. Do we prepare our hearts to worship God when we enter His house-

Strange to read John telling us that many believed in Jesus but Jesus did not entrust Himself to them. Here we come face to face with the truth that their is a kind of faith that does not result in salvation. John is very careful to show this because he wants you to savingly believe in Jesus. It is a matter of the heart the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10-9-10, What is the heart- In three famous Old Testament texts the Holy Spirit tells us. Solomon prayed for an understanding heart -intellect or mind-, Hannah had a sad heart -affections-, and Deborah sings about Issachar's resolute heart -will-. The faith that saves must be of all three faculties of the human heart.