This sermon is part of a sermon series in the gospel of John. The purpose of John’s gospel is summed up in chapter 20 vs31 – ‘ these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.’ Every part of the book works towards John’s goal to foster faith in his readers.
In the first part of John 3 we encounter Jesus’ conversation with the Jewish religious leader Nicodemus. In the conversation Jesus puts forward a foundational truth that it is God who gives eternal life through faith in his Son. The magnificent vs 16-21 are most likely a commentary by John to help his original readers and us understand the purpose of Jesus conversation with Nicodemus and to encourage faith. This truth deeply challenged Nicodemus and by application is an invitation to us to turn believe in Jesus and to have great courage, comfort and expectancy for others to respond in faith.
Speaker: Karne de Boer
