WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.919 We're picking things up again at John 3, 16, 00:00:03.060 --> 00:00:04.200 continuing in our series. 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:06.480 The Gospel of John, Sunday mornings. 00:00:07.740 --> 00:00:08.599 Turn that up. 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:11.419 We pray one more time as we turn to God's Word. 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:13.380 Father, in these moments, would you speak? 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:16.480 And would you have us listen? 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:21.679 And would you do that work that we desperately need you to do 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:23.359 by your Spirit in our hearts. 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:26.179 Make us more like Christ. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:28.800 In his name we pray. 00:00:29.620 --> 00:00:29.940 Amen. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.000 In 2009, Simon Sinek gave a TED Talk titled, 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:38.120 Start With Why. 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:42.939 You might have come across Simon Sinek. 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:44.280 You might have heard the TED Talk. 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:47.760 You might have read the book that came out the back of the TED Talk. 00:00:47.879 --> 00:00:50.719 35 million people have watched it. 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:53.159 It's the third most popular TED Talk of all time. 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:58.480 And it launched Simon Sinek's career as a kind of social commentator, 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:01.579 business guru kind of guy. 00:01:01.579 --> 00:01:02.399 You might have seen him. 00:01:02.539 --> 00:01:05.780 Actually, a very famous clip went viral a number of years ago 00:01:05.780 --> 00:01:08.979 about how dreadfully terrible smartphones are for children. 00:01:08.980 --> 00:01:14.040 I commend it to you if you're not yet aware of it. 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:19.480 But Sinek's goal in the talk and in the subsequent book was to get business leaders and entrepreneurs 00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:26.140 away from thinking about, first of all, about what they do or how they do it. 00:01:26.140 --> 00:01:33.480 But to begin with their purpose, their cause, the thing that drives the whole enterprise. 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:39.280 Because, he argues, this is what it will take then to inspire action and create lasting impact. 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:45.840 And when you think about it, knowing your cause, knowing your purpose, your why, 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:50.159 is, well, it doesn't just streamline the whole operation, 00:01:50.580 --> 00:01:54.080 but it explains why everything is done the way that it's done. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:02:00.980 This morning, we're going to see God's why. 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:07.159 We're going to see his purpose, the cause that underpins everything that he is doing. 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:11.120 That's what lies behind the word at the start. 00:02:11.219 --> 00:02:12.939 Verse 16, 4. 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:16.439 Here's the reason. 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:24.579 In this way, the narrator, as it were, has stepped in to explain, to give a reason. 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:29.780 This is the why for everything that we've been told from chapter 1, verse 1 up to this point. 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:35.419 So, why, chapter 1, did the eternal Son who was with God in the beginning, 00:02:35.620 --> 00:02:39.599 why did he take flesh and make his dwelling among humanity? 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:46.659 Why does he fulfill the Old Testament as the true and faithful Israelite, the true Son of God? 00:02:47.060 --> 00:02:52.799 Why, then, does he take, does he reveal his glory, chapter 2, and cleanse the temple? 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:57.740 Why does he tell us that he's going to be destroyed by, as we saw last week, 00:02:57.959 --> 00:03:01.019 being lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness in the days of Moses, 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:05.299 the one who is the source of healing and new life for all who will look to him? 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:06.560 Here's why. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:10.580 For God so loved the world. 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:17.080 Everything that we've been told about God's mission to bring people into the kingdom, 00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:20.599 that was the language that Jesus used last week with Nicodemus, do you remember? 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:22.439 Entering the kingdom of God. 00:03:23.020 --> 00:03:30.840 Everything that we've been told has been motivated by and rooted in this principle of divine love. 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:35.319 This is the first mention of love in the gospel. 00:03:35.319 --> 00:03:40.079 If you know anything about John's gospel, even if you don't, this verse, John 3, 16, 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:44.239 is widely known by people of all kinds of beliefs and none. 00:03:44.699 --> 00:03:46.039 It is incredibly famous. 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:50.180 And yet, this is the very first mention of love in the gospel. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:53.479 And it's offered as God's why. 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:58.539 If we want to know why God has acted in history the way he has, 00:03:58.899 --> 00:04:03.199 why Jesus made the monumental journey from heaven to earth, 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.179 it can all be tracked back to this point. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:08.019 God's love for the world. 00:04:08.299 --> 00:04:11.060 It is as simple as it is astonishing. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:15.199 And as we listen to John's commentary in these verses this morning, 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:21.819 I want us to see that this passage reveals four aspects of the character of this love, 00:04:22.019 --> 00:04:25.819 which if we can grasp, if we can go away from here this morning, 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:30.560 even with a little bit more of a heart understanding of this, 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:32.160 it will blow our minds. 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:36.460 If we can grasp these aspects of the character of God's love, 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:38.740 it will blow our minds. 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:44.800 So, first of all, I want us to see first that God's love is a love that gives. 00:04:45.060 --> 00:04:47.960 Point number one, it is a love that gives. 00:04:48.260 --> 00:04:51.879 Verse 16, for God so loved the world that he gave. 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:58.180 When someone talks about love, how can you tell what they actually mean? 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:01.839 When someone says, I love you, 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:06.379 all they have actually done is said something. 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:11.899 It might be nice, and it might be especially nice if you feel the same way. 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:15.459 But beyond that, it's actually meaningless. 00:05:16.420 --> 00:05:19.420 Until that is, they back those words up. 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:24.680 When I got together with my wife, we spent six months on different continents. 00:05:25.340 --> 00:05:28.199 I wrote her three letters a week. 00:05:29.520 --> 00:05:32.460 Handwritten letters, three of them a week, and they weren't short. 00:05:32.900 --> 00:05:35.060 They were full of expressions of my love. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:39.000 Now, you could argue that the very act of writing so much was proof that I meant what I said. 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:43.259 But let's be honest, in reality, I could have written reams and reams and reams. 00:05:44.939 --> 00:05:47.740 But those words are empty if I don't act on them. 00:05:47.740 --> 00:05:52.259 If my life, if my behavior doesn't then match with the words, 00:05:54.040 --> 00:06:02.180 and how do I show that love, that sentiment, how do I show it most clearly? 00:06:02.519 --> 00:06:03.000 I give. 00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:08.639 Time, resources, effort directed towards her. 00:06:09.220 --> 00:06:10.840 The love of God is no different. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:13.199 It is expressed in his giving. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:17.539 Do you think of God this way? 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:21.360 Do you think of God as a God who gives? 00:06:21.779 --> 00:06:27.560 Many of us, you see, I think our default setting is that we think God wants to take from us. 00:06:28.099 --> 00:06:32.740 He wants to take or even keep things that we want from us. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:34.319 He's a God who takes. 00:06:35.379 --> 00:06:36.459 He's crossed with us. 00:06:36.459 --> 00:06:43.739 I think lots of us, even as Christians, believe that we believe the story of Jesus has done us good, 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:49.519 and that God has accepted us, but he's sort of grumpy with us. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.179 He's accepting us through gritted teeth. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:07:00.519 And we think that anything that he gives us that is good, he's doing it in a sort of resentful kind of way. 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:02.879 He's had his arm twisted up his back, as it were. 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:07.620 Let me say something to the teenagers. 00:07:07.819 --> 00:07:08.759 Perhaps you think this. 00:07:08.819 --> 00:07:12.159 You look at your friends who seem to be allowed to do what they want, go where they want, 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:15.359 and all you hear is God saying no to you. 00:07:17.159 --> 00:07:18.859 Well, listen, lock it in now. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:22.599 Lock it in now in your mind and in your heart. 00:07:23.099 --> 00:07:25.680 God's love is expressed in giving. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:29.079 And we're going to see he doesn't give with a teaspoon. 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:30.959 He gives with shovels. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:33.360 He just gives and gives and gives. 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:39.199 Anything, therefore, that he keeps from you simply cannot be for your good. 00:07:41.019 --> 00:07:42.460 God's love is a love that gives. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.079 But it gives something very particular. 00:07:45.379 --> 00:07:46.100 Point number two. 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:49.579 It is a love that gives its very best. 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:52.840 God's love is a love that gives its best. 00:07:52.840 --> 00:07:53.560 Verse 16. 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:57.660 And for God so loved the world that he gave his only son. 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:05.139 The love of God is seen most clearly in his giving of his son. 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:10.160 Now, the language here of only son doesn't refer to the number of children that God had. 00:08:10.420 --> 00:08:12.860 It's not that he gave the only child that he had. 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:16.819 Rather, it is that Jesus is God's unique son. 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:18.360 There is no one like him. 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:20.519 He has no equal. 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:23.419 He is the eternal son made flesh. 00:08:23.859 --> 00:08:29.000 He is, the apostle Paul says, the image, the exact representation of the invisible God. 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:33.799 Now, what this means is that God doesn't simply give his most treasured possession. 00:08:34.439 --> 00:08:35.659 He gave himself. 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:40.879 And in essence, that's what true love always does. 00:08:41.139 --> 00:08:42.059 We can give money. 00:08:42.179 --> 00:08:43.059 We can give gifts. 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:44.299 We can do nice things. 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:47.419 But to give oneself is the greatest gift. 00:08:49.179 --> 00:08:53.059 I read recently of a couple whose marriage was unraveling and they were in counseling. 00:08:53.599 --> 00:08:58.679 And the husband was exasperated because he felt that he'd been generous and he'd provided in all kinds of ways. 00:08:58.779 --> 00:09:02.199 And at one point in their discussion, he said, I gave you a house. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:03.279 I gave you cars. 00:09:03.419 --> 00:09:04.219 I gave you holidays. 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:10.560 And when he'd finished speaking, there was a pause and his wife said, yes, you have given me those things. 00:09:10.660 --> 00:09:13.879 You've given me everything except yourself. 00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:17.200 In the end, that's what we want. 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:18.379 Isn't it? 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:20.340 We want the person. 00:09:20.340 --> 00:09:25.040 Because the greatest gift that anyone can give is themselves. 00:09:25.540 --> 00:09:34.019 And when we look at Jesus Christ, the one who is God incarnate, God in flesh, we see that that is exactly what God has done. 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:35.879 He gave his very best. 00:09:36.560 --> 00:09:37.460 He gave himself. 00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:50.759 By the way, although Jesus came into history that first Christmas, the apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 1 that God set his love on us before the foundation of the world. 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:52.259 Now, why do I mention that? 00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:55.560 Well, because you weren't around before the foundation of the world. 00:09:55.940 --> 00:10:01.000 So it wasn't that God then looked on and thought, I quite like them. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:02.900 I think I'll choose them. 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:03.539 No. 00:10:05.299 --> 00:10:09.120 God set his love on those he chose before we ever existed. 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:11.439 He loves us because he loves us. 00:10:11.959 --> 00:10:14.519 And what this means is his love is not responsive. 00:10:15.079 --> 00:10:18.519 Our love is always in response to something outside of us. 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:27.439 We love on the basis of what we see or what we experience, whether it's looks or talent or privilege or scintillating wit or whatever it might be. 00:10:28.579 --> 00:10:29.939 It's not like that way. 00:10:30.379 --> 00:10:31.659 It's not that way for God. 00:10:31.659 --> 00:10:39.659 And that's good news because if those things can be lost, well, then God's love could change. 00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:43.000 We might think like that, but it doesn't work that way. 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:46.719 He acted in history motivated by a love that gives its best. 00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:51.860 And it's a settled love that doesn't need anything in us. 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:58.980 It was a love that was settled before anything existed. 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:03.320 God's love is a love that gives its best. 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:06.220 But love needs an object. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:08.180 And that's where we go next. 00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:12.440 It's a love that gives its best for the world. 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:15.039 16 to 19. 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:23.799 John has only used the term world once since the prologue, since chapter 1. 00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:27.439 And yet in three verses he uses it five times. 00:11:28.079 --> 00:11:29.599 So he wants to make a point. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:30.240 16. 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:30.340 16. 00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:36.100 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 00:11:37.040 --> 00:11:43.700 For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:46.620 He's piling up references so that we get the point. 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:47.379 Verse 19. 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:48.220 And this is the judgment. 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:50.480 The light has come into the world. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:56.720 The reason that he repeats himself in this way is because it is so shocking. 00:11:58.019 --> 00:12:05.700 The world, for John, this language of world, it describes humanity in rebellion against God. 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:10.180 The world is the place where his own people reject Jesus. 00:12:10.300 --> 00:12:11.279 You remember chapter 1. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:16.000 It is where the religious establishment pursue him to death. 00:12:16.459 --> 00:12:21.659 It is, look at verse 19, where men and women love darkness because their deeds were evil. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:29.100 The world, for John, describes humanity against its maker. 00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:34.600 So you'd think that would be the last place that God would go. 00:12:35.559 --> 00:12:39.319 That would be the last place that he would direct this incredible love. 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:41.400 He would see the rejection. 00:12:41.580 --> 00:12:42.520 He would see the rebellion. 00:12:42.680 --> 00:12:45.640 And he'd wash his hands of the whole sorry mess. 00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:49.360 He gave us everything that we have. 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:51.580 Every breath in our lungs. 00:12:52.020 --> 00:12:53.780 Everything that we enjoy. 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:56.340 And we turned our back on him. 00:12:56.980 --> 00:13:01.520 It is cosmic treason of the highest degree. 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:06.100 And so he would be entirely justified in verse 17. 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.500 Look, to condemn. 00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:10.180 For all time. 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:18.860 There would have been absolutely no undoing of justice if God had said, 00:13:19.460 --> 00:13:21.379 You want to live in my world on your terms? 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:25.220 You want to take everything that I give without a word of thanks? 00:13:25.300 --> 00:13:25.580 Okay. 00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:29.420 Off you go into outer darkness. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:32.080 Cut off from my blessing forever. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:36.420 If people want to choose darkness, 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:40.160 It would be entirely fair for God to give it to them. 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:41.400 To us. 00:13:43.400 --> 00:13:44.200 And yet, 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:47.600 The God who gives his very best 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:52.759 Does so for the sake of this rebellious world. 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:57.799 The world that has set itself up against him 00:13:57.799 --> 00:14:01.139 Is the very place to which he goes. 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:04.379 The very people to whom he goes. 00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:07.639 That we might not be condemned. 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:11.360 To be condemned would have been utterly fair. 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:14.639 But he comes in order that that might not be the case. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:17.700 For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:21.080 But in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:26.640 Jesus has come on a rescue mission. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:33.800 God gave his best for the worst of London. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:36.220 The worst of healing. 00:14:37.040 --> 00:14:38.620 The worst of your street. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.640 Not to condemn them, 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:44.860 But in order that they might see Christ as Savior 00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:46.140 And put their faith in him. 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:51.400 God will condemn and he will save according to his will. 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.520 But this text is clear. 00:14:52.660 --> 00:14:56.740 God's heart is bent more towards salvation than condemnation. 00:14:57.060 --> 00:14:58.560 That is why he sent his son. 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:04.620 Therefore our prayers and our efforts to see him save our friends and colleagues. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:07.220 To move in a saving way in our communities. 00:15:07.420 --> 00:15:08.379 Should reflect that. 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:14.040 For many of us I think we've become very pessimistic about whether God's going to save or not. 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:17.000 These are difficult days for the gospel in Europe and in the UK. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:20.659 In lots of places across the western world. 00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:22.779 And we think well that's it. 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:27.759 God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world. 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:30.399 But in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:33.059 He sent a savior. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:36.580 We need to remember that in our day. 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:39.940 When the culture is going hard against God and his people. 00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:42.879 We can forget that the chief way among. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:44.580 The chief sorry. 00:15:44.680 --> 00:15:48.240 Among the ways that God transforms that kind of situation. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.440 Is through bringing those people to repentance. 00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:55.380 If we look at church history. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:16:03.720 There has been a decline in the spiritual vigor. 00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:06.960 The spiritual temperature of a particular place. 00:16:07.420 --> 00:16:09.580 And what is the decisive thing that changes it? 00:16:10.140 --> 00:16:10.660 Revival. 00:16:11.660 --> 00:16:12.420 Men and women. 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:13.200 Boys and girls. 00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:14.300 Waking up to Christ. 00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:16.240 God moving in power by his spirit. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:18.519 To show people that they have a savior. 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:25.039 And that there is salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:28.460 If God gave his best in order that the world might be saved. 00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:30.299 We should plead with him on that basis. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:33.600 Lord bring salvation to Ealing. 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:34.440 To London. 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.759 To the United Kingdom. 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:39.240 Bring salvation to those people across the road that I know. 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:41.259 That seem so hard to your gospel. 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:48.139 Those people that I have been sharing Christ with for months, years, decades in some cases. 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:51.860 You sent your son for that purpose. 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:53.559 Would you please have mercy? 00:16:57.299 --> 00:17:00.019 God's love gives its best for the world. 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:05.400 But all of this has more personal implications as well. 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:09.860 God's love is a love that gives. 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:12.880 God's love is a love that gives its best. 00:17:13.600 --> 00:17:16.360 God's love is a love that gives its best for the world. 00:17:17.080 --> 00:17:17.680 Number four. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:21.840 It is a love that gives its best for you. 00:17:24.100 --> 00:17:26.980 The general becomes personal in that word whoever. 00:17:27.580 --> 00:17:28.060 Do you see that? 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:29.259 It's repeated four times. 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:29.660 16. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:35.380 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:36.759 18. 00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:38.860 Whoever believes in him is not condemned. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:43.800 But whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only son of God. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.700 It's again there in verse 21. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:50.120 The love of God doesn't sit on the shelf like a decoration. 00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:53.220 Something that we can take or leave. 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:58.740 Something that we can get together in a situation like this and talk about in the abstract. 00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:04.600 The love of God comes with moral obligations to respond. 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:08.019 For you to respond. 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:14.720 And John identifies three areas that we need to note. 00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:16.559 The first is he says see your need. 00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:17.359 Verse 18. 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:19.779 See your need. 00:18:19.879 --> 00:18:21.440 Whoever believes in him is not condemned. 00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:26.319 But whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only son of God. 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:31.680 It's very clear where our natural love of darkness leads us. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:36.759 It's very obvious where our rebellion against God and his world takes us. 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:38.860 Words like perish verse 16. 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:41.299 Words like condemn verse 18. 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:45.560 They might be hard to accept but they're not hard to understand. 00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:52.819 As I mentioned earlier whatever offense these words might cause us. 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:55.279 However uncomfortable they make us. 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:59.359 They are entirely reasonable in the light of the way we have treated God. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:05.759 If you walk into somebody's house and you ignore them and you make a terrible mess. 00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:09.000 You would expect them to kick you out and to make you pay. 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:13.059 It's no different with God. 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:19.379 There will be consequences for us messing up his house in the way that we have. 00:19:19.899 --> 00:19:21.740 In the way that we live in his world. 00:19:22.199 --> 00:19:23.639 The way that we treat other people. 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:25.919 He doesn't look on that and say oh it's alright. 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:32.019 So we must see that we have a great need for his love. 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:36.220 The language is supposed to wake us up and think hang on this is serious. 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:37.680 Perish? 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:38.860 Condemn? 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.300 We need his love. 00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:42.840 We need his forgiveness. 00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.700 We need his grace. 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:46.420 In fact he even pushes this further. 00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:48.560 Did you note verses 19 to 21. 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:50.000 Secondly he says see your heart. 00:19:51.080 --> 00:19:52.380 See your heart. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:53.480 This is the judgment. 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.500 Light has come into the world. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:59.820 And people love the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:05.660 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light lest his work should be exposed. 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:11.180 Jesus the light of the world has come. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:16.440 He has come into this world of darkness. 00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:19.779 And rather than people running to the light. 00:20:20.080 --> 00:20:22.059 They have chosen the darkness instead. 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:25.480 Not because they can't see the light. 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:29.320 But because the light reveals the truth about their lives. 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:31.120 That's what he does. 00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:33.140 Jesus exposes us. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:36.299 He reveals the reality of our hearts. 00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:39.380 And we would rather hold on to our sinful behavior than give it up. 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:41.840 So we stay in the darkness. 00:20:44.620 --> 00:20:48.140 We do this because we don't want our lives to be exposed. 00:20:48.780 --> 00:20:50.000 Because we're ashamed. 00:20:51.780 --> 00:20:55.420 Deep down we know that there's something wrong with us. 00:20:55.780 --> 00:20:59.180 We know that our hearts aren't ordered the way that they should be. 00:20:59.280 --> 00:21:02.640 We know that there are things that we think and say and do that are wrong. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.880 We wish we didn't. 00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:05.400 But we know that it's there. 00:21:07.040 --> 00:21:10.780 And the Lord Jesus exposes that. 00:21:11.800 --> 00:21:14.820 He comes as it were and shines light into that. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.020 And we don't like it. 00:21:16.340 --> 00:21:18.060 It's terrifying for us. 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:21.259 The idea of being exposed. 00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:24.900 And so we're ashamed. 00:21:25.780 --> 00:21:32.180 A few years ago I was trying to hire a venue for an event that we were running in a previous church that I was at. 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:34.120 And I went to a pub with a room at the back. 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.420 And I saw it online. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:38.400 And I thought oh that room looks like it might work well for us. 00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.440 And I contacted them. 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.680 They said yeah come and have a look. 00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:43.160 And I went and I met the manager. 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.240 And we had a walk around. 00:21:44.360 --> 00:21:45.299 And the room was great. 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.980 But I noticed that there were lots of light bulbs. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:51.920 Just on the side on the windowsill and on the floor and things like that. 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:54.380 And I said why all the light bulbs? 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.100 And he sort of laughed. 00:21:56.100 --> 00:22:00.600 And he said oh well people when they have a few drinks you know they want the lights off. 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:04.379 And sort of winked at me. 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.859 We both knew what he was talking about. 00:22:06.699 --> 00:22:09.740 When people do wicked things they don't want the lights on. 00:22:11.719 --> 00:22:13.379 Because we feel a sense of shame. 00:22:16.699 --> 00:22:19.639 Shame is a deeply deeply destructive emotion. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.959 It crushes people. 00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:23.679 Literally it is the leading cause of suicide. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:26.840 So the darkness feels safe. 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:34.740 We would rather stay in the darkness because the thought that we might be ashamed is too much for us to bear. 00:22:36.100 --> 00:22:38.840 But also we choose the darkness because we like it. 00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:41.720 That's what he says isn't it? 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:48.299 The problem with staying in the darkness is it doesn't deal with the problem. 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:50.840 It doesn't deal with that feeling. 00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:56.399 It doesn't deal with the shame and left alone shame simply multiplies and intensifies. 00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:00.799 No matter how hard you try and tell yourself that you're not a bad person. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:06.379 No matter how hard you try and convince yourself that the way that you're living is just the way everybody else lives. 00:23:06.419 --> 00:23:07.319 It's totally normal. 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:09.299 I don't know why I feel this way. 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.099 It's fine. 00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:12.659 I just need to think more positively about myself. 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:15.919 No matter how much we do that the thoughts always come back. 00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:19.500 The shame, the sense of guilt that comes with it they keep creeping back. 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:23.940 What you need, what we need is forgiveness. 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:30.920 When you bring your shame into the light and you have the light chase the darkness. 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:36.860 Verse 21, whoever does what is true, that is whoever submits their life to the truth of Christ. 00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:45.680 In the language of verse 17 it is whoever believes in him, whoever brings all their sin and shame to the one place that it can be dealt with. 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:49.240 And that is to the God who loves with his best. 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:53.380 Whoever does that will discover that God deals with it all. 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:56.220 What happens when light and darkness meet? 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:58.559 Light always wins. 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.599 You know that, don't you? 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:02.720 There's no such thing as a beam of darkness. 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:06.559 Because when the light meets the darkness, the darkness disappears. 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.380 It can't stand in the light. 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:14.280 God deals with it all. 00:24:15.060 --> 00:24:15.680 He forgives. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:17.580 He restores. 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.040 And here's the thing. 00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:22.020 You won't perish. 00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:24.940 You won't be condemned. 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:28.240 You will receive eternal life. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:36.740 Let me say, you cannot deal with shame yourself like all of our sin. 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:38.160 You can't deal with it yourself. 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:41.200 We'll try all kinds of things. 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:47.220 But I won't budge while you think you can deal with it yourself. 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:51.440 Only God can deal with it. 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:55.860 That explains what John is saying in verse 21. 00:24:56.019 --> 00:25:00.220 When you do leave those things, those debilitating and condemning things behind, 00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:03.559 when you walk in freedom and joy, it is clear that God has done the work. 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:09.880 When you experience freedom and joy that flows from forgiveness in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:14.220 the only reason that that comes your way is because God has loved you. 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:16.120 He has demonstrated his love to you. 00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:23.319 And so, you can't do it yourself. 00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:25.359 But here's the thing. 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:31.459 Just because you can't do it doesn't mean that God doesn't do it. 00:25:32.919 --> 00:25:34.839 He can and he does. 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:38.359 Some of you know this feeling. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:40.059 You're enslaved to your sin. 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:43.000 What I mean is, you know that it's there. 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:45.479 You know that it's wrong and you can't let it go. 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:47.859 And so, you want to keep it in the darkness. 00:25:49.179 --> 00:25:51.659 In some cases, you're living a double life. 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:59.259 You know that there's this part of your life that's wrong and you feel shame, 00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:03.739 but you just keep it there and you put on a front for the rest of your life. 00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:08.939 You feel your need for cleansing, but the light feels too scary. 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:11.759 Let me encourage you this morning. 00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:17.120 No, let me urge you with all that I am this morning to go to Christ. 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:21.480 Say to him, I have sinned and I deserve to perish. 00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:24.480 I realize that, but I believe it when you tell me that you love sinners. 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:27.640 I believe it when you tell me that you sent your best, 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.620 your son, the Lord Jesus, 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:33.879 who was condemned in place of sinners like me, 00:26:33.959 --> 00:26:35.339 that I need not be condemned. 00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:37.359 And put your faith in him. 00:26:37.959 --> 00:26:38.979 You won't perish. 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:40.779 You won't. 00:26:41.419 --> 00:26:42.659 You'll receive new life. 00:26:43.179 --> 00:26:44.579 You'll receive eternal life. 00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:47.839 Don't wait for anything. 00:26:48.399 --> 00:26:50.219 Allow the light of Christ to flood your life. 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:51.119 Do it right now. 00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:53.099 In the quietness of your heart. 00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:55.959 And if you do that, it will actually set you free. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:27:00.179 God's love gives its best for you. 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.779 So see your need. 00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:02.899 See your heart. 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:05.139 And respond in faith. 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:10.919 Well, John takes us on the road in the following verses 00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:14.119 and he records a dialogue between John the Baptist and the disciples. 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:16.259 We see that there in 25 and 26. 00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:20.899 They ask, what's going on with this Jesus who's baptizing John? 00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:22.139 Is he one of your rivals? 00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:24.200 Is there a problem here? 00:27:24.300 --> 00:27:26.560 And John says, verse 27, 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:28.340 listen, it's all under the hand of God. 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:30.620 And John the Baptist says, I'm not the Christ. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.120 I'm not the bridegroom. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:34.560 I'm not the one who this whole thing is about. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:37.180 In a wedding, you know, the bride and groom are there. 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.200 They're the center of attention. 00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:40.920 He's saying, no, no, that's not me in this situation. 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:43.200 I'm the friend of the bridegroom. 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:46.160 I'm here just to make it all about him. 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:48.440 And then he states his life mission. 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:52.799 And this should be the mission of everyone who has come into the light, 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:54.200 which is most of us this morning. 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:57.180 He says, verse 30, see your mission. 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.920 See your needs, see your heart. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.960 Thirdly, see your mission. 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:02.660 He must increase, but I must decrease. 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:08.080 Maybe the most succinct summary of what it means to live as a Christian. 00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:10.580 He must increase. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.980 I must decrease. 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:16.620 For John, this meant his ministry must serve and always give way to Christ's ministry. 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:19.340 For us, it means that we get ourselves out of the way 00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:22.860 and we make our lives orbit around Jesus. 00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:26.839 If you want to know what your life goal is, 00:28:27.459 --> 00:28:29.399 lots of talk about that in our culture today. 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.979 Start with why. 00:28:31.159 --> 00:28:32.579 What is the why of your life? 00:28:32.659 --> 00:28:33.519 The why of your life? 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.039 Here it is. 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:35.059 He must increase. 00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:36.839 I must decrease. 00:28:38.899 --> 00:28:39.959 But here's the thing. 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:41.919 This actually happens. 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:44.939 This reordering of things actually happens 00:28:44.939 --> 00:28:50.039 when you are gripped by the outrageous, generous, self-giving love of God. 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:53.859 When you grasp that God so loved you 00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:57.200 that he sent his unique son, 00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:02.139 he gave his very best to save you from the darkness of your sin, 00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:06.200 to save you from a perished eternity under God's righteous condemnation, 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.299 you're changed. 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:10.559 When you grasp that, when you experience that in your heart, 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.539 you're changed. 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.759 Humility begins to grow. 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:22.240 When you, to the degree, to the degree that your heart grasps 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:25.720 that God's why for the mission of Jesus is this incredible love, 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:27.980 your life will simply tilt on its axis. 00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:32.420 You'll go from pushing yourself to the center of every chapter of your story 00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:34.900 to making your story all about him. 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:37.759 He sets the course for your life. 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:40.640 He gets the glory for your successes. 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:43.079 You live your life in a spirit of gratitude. 00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:44.099 How could you not? 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:48.500 At one point, rebelling aggressively against God, 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:50.139 saying no to him and his world, 00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:52.279 he sends his son to die and rise, 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:53.759 that you might be restored to God, 00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:55.299 that you might have eternal life. 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:57.399 He sustains you every day. 00:29:57.679 --> 00:29:59.439 He gives you blessing upon blessing. 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:01.919 He gives with shovels into your life, 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.179 mercy and grace. 00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:05.599 How could you not live with gratitude? 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:10.519 And when that hits your heart, 00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:15.099 you realize that you want him to take over more and more control of your life. 00:30:16.219 --> 00:30:18.759 You submit your desires and your thoughts and your actions. 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:20.759 They're all surrendered to Jesus. 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:23.019 He must increase. 00:30:23.679 --> 00:30:25.500 I must decrease. 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:30.079 So how do you do it? 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.740 Well, we go back to that love. 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:36.140 Fill your gaze with Christ. 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:40.220 Spend time with Christ. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:43.920 Plumb the depths of the love of God 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:46.759 and let that love captivate your soul. 00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:52.779 When you get on board with this, 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:55.140 it transforms everything. 00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:57.200 Let's pray together.