Scripture: John 3:16
Sermon Series: John 3:16: God’s Love Language – Sermon 07

Ed Dobson late pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan who died of ALS at the age of 65, once said to his church: The average Christian is all upset about what they shouldn’t get upset about, but isn’t upset about what they should get upset about. On another occasion, to draw attention to the need to reach out to the lost around them, he said, Your neighbor is going to hell, and you don’t give a Damn! He followed that with, Some of you are more upset that I said the word ‘damn,’ than you are about your neighbor going to hell. Sadly, he was right. 

Several years ago, some students at Southwestern Baptist Seminary were talking before the start of class, one of them started telling a joke that involved a story about hell. Just then, their professor walked in and he said, Men, I never joke about hell. People are going there. It bothers me when Christians flippantly use phrases like, “What the hell?”   

Hell is an eternal sentence of separation from God. Perishis about going to hell. It’s an awful word in any language. The Bible is clear, if someone has not committed their life to Christ, they’ll perish. It’s not physical death, it’s eternal death. Hell makes the holocaust look like a Sunday school picnic.

It’s why God sent His Son, Jesus to earth. It’s why Jesus died for our sins. For the Christian, our mission is to share the gospel to keep people from perishing. Our loving God doesn’t want anyone to perish. 

Today we’re in a sermon that I really don’t want to preach. To be true to God’s Word and our passage, we need to talk about that word, perish.

Often in the church we’re focused on the wrong things. We have a mission and must not be distracted by the insignificant. Who you vote for, the political party you affiliate with, is trivial compared to eternity. The cultural issues we focus on are minutia in light of perish. Yes, abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, illegal immigration are wrong, but they’re nothing compared to perishing. The vast majority of the stuff churches talk about, debate and divide over are insignificant compared to perish. 

Stuff like Bible versions, music, polity, policies, prophecy, Calvinism or Arminianism, charismatic gifts or cessationism. I hate opera, but I’d sing opera every single Sunday if I thought it’d result in more coming to Christ.

In my 40+ years of ministry, I’ve had folk bend my ear about nearly everything, yet I can’t remember a time when someone talked to me about how we could reach more people for Jesus. 

At Grace, our primary focus must be: Are you headed to Heaven or Hell? Will you perish when God has made it so that you should not perish? 

Some want to discard hell. If we are going to be true to the Bible, it can’t be done. For example… 

Universalism. It’s the belief that everyone goes to heaven. It’s what most believe. It’s an unspoken message at nearly every funeral. 

Have you been to a funeral where the individual had lived a profane life, but people still say, “He’s in heaven now”? I’ve heard things like, “He loved drinking and gambling and he’s up there drinking and gambling in heaven.” 

If someone never made a profession of faith, we have no confidence that they’re in heaven. We just don’t know. While someone can come to Christ in their last moments that we’re unaware of, but if there’s never been any sharing of a profession of faith, there’s no assurance that they’re in heaven.  

Scripture teaches God loves everyone and is compassionate, yet we must not overlook what Scripture teaches about God’s righteousness and justice. Because God is just, if you don’t accept Christ, you’re destined for hell.  

Annihilationismis a growing trend among evangelicals. It holds that unbelievers won’t experience an eternity of suffering but will instead be extinguished or annihilated. It’s attractive because of the awfulness of the idea of the unsaved spending eternity in hell. It’s not what the Bible teaches. It closes its eyes to God’s holiness, justice, and the high price of sin. 

So, this morning we’re finishing our study of John 3:16. What a wonderful verse! It begins with God and ends with eternal life, and whoever is between those two. Today we’re tying our study up with the last phrase, should not perish but have eternal life.If you’re taking notes…

1. Perish is the destination of those without Christ. 

On April 15, 1912, the Titanic, hit an iceberg and sank. Over 1500 people drowned. What’s striking is the variety of those who were on that ship. There were 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd class passengers. People of every class on board. There were some who’d be considered much “better off” than others, like John Jacob Astor, one of the richest men in America, who was worth over $2 billion in today’s money. But when that ship hit that iceberg, it didn’t matter who you were. It didn’t matter if you were the captain, John Jacob Astor, or the lowliest crew member who cleaned toilets. They were all perishing.

It’s how it is with our spiritual condition. There are all kinds of people in this room and in the world. We think some are “better off” than others. Americans look at people in Mexico or Sudan and think how much “better off” we are than they are. But without Jesus, we’re ALL “perishing.” Rich, poor, young, old, American, Mexican, successful or homeless.  

Like the Titanic, it doesn’t matter how much money we have when the ship goes down. This world is “sinking.” We’re all perishing. Had God not done something in Jesus, we would have ALL perished: ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; ALL we like sheep have gone astray, and Jesus said: Unless you repent, you will ALL likewise perish (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; Luke 13:3). All are perishing because of their sin. 

Did you know that Jesus taught more on hell than He did heaven? He referred to hell in more depth and detail than any other biblical person.

The word perish means to destroy, or be delivered up to eternal misery. It’s God’s judgment after death. Scripture describes it in many places. Tragically, it’s rarely taught in churches with a “feel good religion” or “prosperity theology. To rightly represent God’s Word, we must teach it. 

Richard Baxter, a Puritan, wrote: Little does the world know what is the loss of that soul who loses God! What a dungeon would the earth be if it had lost the sun!…yet all (this is) nothing to the loss of God. As the enjoyment of God is the heaven of the saints, so the loss of God is the hell of the ungodly…the loss of God is the loss of all.

Sadly, there is no second chance in hell. There is no Purgatory. Hell doesn’t have an exit door. As the rich man in Jesus’ story of Lazarus discovered those in hell can’t ever leave (Luke 16:26). If you have not accepted Christ in this life, once death comes, all hope is gone. Proverbs 11:7 says, When the wicked dies, his hope will perish.

This life has an end, but eternity lasts forever. Now some feel God should give those in hell, those who have experienced its horrors, a second chance. But that’s not what the Bible teaches. 

Dr. J. P. Moreland, of the Talbot School of Theology, points out that God values our free will too much to give us a second chance once we’ve seen hell. He points out any decision someone in Hell would make wouldn’t be a true free choice. It’d be coerced. It’d be like holding a paddle over one of our children, saying, “You will say you’re sorry to your sister.” 

Any apology under those circumstances wouldn’t be real. It’s just avoidance. Those who’d choose a second chance aren’t choosing God, His kingdom, or His ways. They’d be making a choice only to avoid judgement. And they wouldn’t be suited for life in His kingdom. They’d be forced to be a part of something they’d initially refused. Would someone who rejected Jesus really want to spend eternity with Him?

In C. S. Lewis’ novel, The Great Divorce, people in Hell are given a chance to come to heaven but when they come to heaven, no one wants to stay. They can’t stand the perfection, the beauty and goodness of heaven. Like people coming out of a dark cave whose eyes never readjust to the bright sunshine, they flee back to the comfortable dreariness of Hell.

Perish is the outcome of God’s justice. How do you feel when you learn of an injustice? Michael McFadden sexually assaulted six children. He was sentenced to 300 years but was freed on a technicality. Would it have been justice if Saddam Hussein, the cruel dictator, child molester, serial rapist, and drug peddler escaped justice? 

Though many say there is no hell or hell is now, in this life. It’s not what the Bible teaches. Sadly, too many churches no longer teach what the Bible says about hell. Church Historian Martin Marty canvased 100 years of scholarly religious journals looking for entries on hell. He didn’t find one. He said, Hell disappeared, and no one noticed. But hell hasn’t disappeared. We’re failing if we don’t warn others that hell is real. Without hell, God would not be just. Without it, God’s Word would be a lie.

Yes, God is a God of love, but God is also a God of justice. Two verses later in John 3, Jesus said, Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God (John 3:18). 

The Bible teaches the reality of hell. And God is not unfair. God has wrapped caution tapes on hell’s porch and posted millions of red flags outside the entrance. To descend its stairs, you have to cover your ears, blindfold your eyes and most of all ignore the epic sacrifice of history: Christ in God’s hell on humanity’s cross, crying out to the blackened sky, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me (Matthew 27:46). 

You could more easily capture the Pacific in a jar than describe God’s great sacrifice in words. A description might read like this: God who hates sin, unleashed His wrath and justice on His perfect Son, Jesus, who never sinned but endured the awful forsakenness of hell. The supreme surprise of hell is this – Christ went there so no one else has to. Yet hell could not contain Him. He arose not just from the dead and depths. Hebrews 2:14 – Through death He destroyed him who had the power of death, that is the devil.

God has provided the payment for all our sin so that He can be just in forgiving us. It’s a free gift. So, how is God unjust to condemn someone to hell who was rejected the gift and sacrifice of His only Son?

God’s justice is like the scientific law of fire: “touch me and you’ll be burned. All the city councils, state legislators, Congress and United Nations could respond to the danger of fire by passing a new law that fire will no longer burn. Every person could vote for this new law. But the first person to put his or her hand in the fire will still be burned.   

God’s laws are like the law of fire. It doesn’t matter whether you voted for it or believe it, you can’t break God’s law. His justice is non-negotiable. It’s bound up in God’s Word and His law. No one innocent will go to hell. 

Theologian D. A. Carson says, Hell is not a place where people are consigned because they were pretty good blokes, but they just didn’t believe the right stuff. They’re consigned there, first and foremost, because they defy their Maker and want to be at the center of the universe. Hell is not filled with people who have already repented, only God isn’t gentle enough or good enough to let them out. It’s filled with people who for all eternity, still want to be the center of the universe and who persist in their God-defying rebellion.

The blessings of should not perish. Many casually say this, but I think for Christians we’re missing something vital. You’ll ask someone how they’re doing and they’ll respond, “I’m on the right side of the dirt” meaning I’m alive, as opposed to being dead or buried. Yet Christ-followers are the “should not perish” crowd. We’re not going to be buried. Our earth suit will be buried but we’ll be Home. We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). 

If you belong to the “should not perish” group, it’s your future. I understand what Paul meant, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Personally, I have no fear of death. I know I’ll be more alive than I’ve ever been! If you’re a Christ-follower, it’s your future. We’re all going to get Home before dark. Heaven grows sweeter for me every year!

Should not perish must fill us with hope. Think of all that we do to keep our homes and cars from decaying, but they still do. “Should not perish” means that we’ll never age, rust or decay.

A little girl was walking down a dark street with her father. Above them was a star filled sky. Her eyes were fixed on the shimmering tapestry above, as she and her father walked. Suddenly, she looked up at her father and said, “Daddy, if the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful, how wonderful the right side must be!” Should not perish should fill us with hope.

2. Eternal life is more than we can imagine.

“But wait, there’s more!” is a sales technique used to make offers seem irresistible by adding unexpected bonuses. When it comes to “eternal life, it’s true…but wait there’s more!

It’s eternality, not immortality. Eternality isn’t immortality. In the Bible, the word immortality refers to the physical body. The living body is called a mortal body; a dead body is called a corruptible body. A living body is not called a corruptible body, nor is a dead body called a mortal body. 

So, when Jesus returns, the corruptible body of the dead Christ-follower will put on incorruptibility and the mortal body of believers who are alive will put on immortality. Those terms have to do with the resurrected and glorified bodies fashioned like Jesus’ body of glory. 

At death, our bodies will turn to dust until Jesus returns. Mortality or immortality are our bodies, not spirits, which are as imperishable as God is. 

Eternal life is life that lasts an eternal length of time. It never ends. Just like the song, Amazing Grace: When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun. Eternal life is forever and ever.

Eternal life is our possession NOW. John 3:36, Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life… Notice it’s not will have, it’s has. It’s not future. It’s not our retirement plan. It’s now! 

In our journey of faith, we have a royal identity defined by God’s purpose for our lives. Christ-followers aren’t ordinary; we carry the very essence of royalty through Jesus Christ. Embracing our identity as kings and queens means recognizing our value in God’s eyes and inheriting the blessings of His Kingdom. It changes how we should see ourselves and interact with this world. God’s Word tells us we’re favored, chosen, and set apart to shine His light. Our royal identity means we’re to walk in confidence and grace. 

And [He] has made us kings and priests to our God; and we should reign on the earth (Revelation 1:6). And if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory (Romans 8:17). 

Eternal life is not a matter of the clock or calendar. It has nothing to do with time. It’s dependent on our relationship with the Lord. Because God is eternal and not limited to time, in God’s mind, you and I are already in heaven and eternity with Him. Death is just a matter of changing spheres. 

All that we will have in heaven is already ours now. Read Ephesians 1 and see the inheritance and blessings we have now! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly place (Ephesians 1:1). We’re already “blessed with every spiritual blessing.” It’s not, we will be. Kent Hughes, Eternal life is our present position. Eternal life is now.

Because eternity is my possession now, I can live in the settled conviction that because of God’s character, this world is a safe place for me to be. 

My anxiety level can decrease. I have peaceful trust that my life is safe and I can rest God’s hands. I can be an unhurried person. I might be busy with many things to do, but I can have an inner calmness that comes from being in the presence of God. I don’t have to be defeated by guilt. I can live in the confidence that comes from the assurance of God’s grace and love. I can trust God enough to risk obeying him. I don’t have to fret. I don’t have to hoard. Worry makes me focus on myself and robs me of joy, energy and compassion. Because Jesus Christ is my possession and He reigns now, He gives me an oasis of sanity in a world of pandemonium.

Eternal life is certain. Look at the verse again. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have TEMPORARY LIFE.  It’s not what it says. God sent Jesus to give us “ETERNAL” life. Eternal life means forever and ever. 

Eternal life is life that you cannot lose; it can’t be taken away; it’s “eternal.” In the original have emphasizes “have everlasting life.” It means to “have now and forever.” Jesus said, I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand (John 10:28-29). Jesus said that those to whom He gives eternal life will NEVER perish. Think about that word: NEVER. When He gives us eternal life, we’ll NEVER perish! Never means “never”!

Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish pastor from the 1600’s, wrote to one of his church members and told him: His book keepeth your name, and is not printed and re-printed, and changed and corrected.

What God has given us is not “temporary” life, but “eternal” life. It’s for everyone who commits their lives to Jesus as their Savior. No one who is genuinely saved can be lost. Jesus says, they will “NEVER perish.” Jesus didn’t give us “temporary life.” He gave us “eternal life.” 

Eternal life is our future glory. Mary Poppins said, Promises easily made are easily broken. Our culture reflects that sentiment. It can lead one to question if anyone keeps promises anymore…even God. 

Remember the story of Noah and the ark and how God destroyed the earth except for eight people by a flood? Remember, God put a symbol in the sky of His promise that never again will He destroy the earth with a flood? What’s the symbol? A rainbow. God will never again destroy the earth with a flood. God always keeps His promises. 

Eternity is the fulfillment of God’s promises. There’s going to be a new Heaven and a new Earth. It’s all going to happen in the future. The future glory of the eternal hasn’t been totally revealed to us yet.It includes the revealing of all God has promised. J. B. Phillips paraphrases Romans 8:19, The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own. 2 Thessalonians 2:14, It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glory is a hard concept to wrap your brain around. It includes all of God’s promises to us: streets of gold, gates of pearl, and mansions prepared for us. We can’t begin to imagine how wonderful it will be! The new heavens and earth will be more glorious than even the Garden of Eden. With new, glorified bodies we’ll live on a new earth and enjoy God’s creation as it was before sin entered this world. Eternal life is more than we can imagine.

Conclusion

Famous playwright Arthur Miller was married to Marilyn Monroe during the 1950s. In his autobiography, he describes the misery of watching the troubled actress descend to the lowest regions of depression and despair. It seems there was no way he or anyone else could make her happy. He knew that her very life was on the line – that this could only go so far before she succumbed to her various demons – loneliness, paranoia, addiction to barbiturates. So, one evening, there was yet another visit from the doctor, who talked Marilyn into taking a sedative that put her to sleep. Miller was pensive as he stood and watched his wife. I found myself straining to imagine miracles, he writes. What if she were awake and I were able to say, ‘God loves you, darling, and she were able to believe it! How I wished I still had my religion and she hers.

What if indeed! If only he had believed. If only he had possessed the joy of knowing Jesus Christ. If only he’d been capable of sharing that joy with his suffering wife, a soul God loved and longed to heal. John 3:16 was the answer. It’s the answer to every human need and to every prayer. 

We’ve talked about this over the last few weeks. The promise of John 3:16 is gained by trusting Christ; by committing your life to Him. You don’t earn it; it’s given to you as a free gift when you trust what Jesus did on the cross to pay for your sins and save you. It’s for anyone and everyone who will trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Anyone can have it.

That word “can” is an important one. You “can” have it — but whether you do is up to you. That element of choice is expressed here in John 3:16 at the very end. The verb for have eternal life means it’s a condition of possibility. It could be translated “might have eternal life.” 

You MIGHT have it; You CAN have it — but whether you do, depends on you. You must respond to it. You must turn from your sin and follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You must commit your life to Him. You must personally accept it. 

If you do, you can know that you have eternal life that can never be taken away. No matter what happens to you here on earth, you will have the blessing of living with God, and all those who love Him in heaven forever.

That’s the hope of the Christ-follower who believes John 3:16. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that you won’t suffer in this world. This world has been marred by sin. There’s a lot of suffering here. Being a Christian means your sin is forgiven through Jesus’ death on the cross, and by following Him, you have “eternal life.” You have begun a relationship with God now that will last for all eternity and will never be taken away. One day, you will live forever with God, delighting in pleasures and in His presence forever. 

Do you now have that “eternal life”? If you don’t, you can. What this great verse says is for you. You must personally respond to it though. Jesus is speaking to you right now, as surely as He was speaking to Nicodemus that night in John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Eternal life is a free gift. It’s for you. Have you accepted God’s gift of eternal life?