“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

 John 3:1-21  Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus (v. 1) ▪ a Pharisee ▪ a ruler of Jews (probably of the Sanhedrin) ▪ the teacher of Israel (v. 10) ▪ was cautiously interested (viz., “by night” v. 2)

The need for men to develop into real men! Who cannot be bought; Whose word is their bond; Who put character above wealth; Who possess opinions and a will; Who are larger than their vocations; Who do not hesitate to take chances; Who will not lose their individuality in a crowd; Who will be as honest in small things as in great things; Who will make no compromise with wrong;

The need for men to develop into real men! Whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires; Who will not say they do it “because everybody else does it”; Who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity; Who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success; Who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular; Who can say “no” with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says “yes.” (From In A Nutshell Copied from For Men Only, by J. Allan Peterson, Tyndale House Publishers)

 John 3:1-21  Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus (v. 1) ▪ a Pharisee ▪ a ruler of Jews (probably of the Sanhedrin) ▪ the teacher of Israel (v. 10) ▪ was cautiously interested (viz., “by night” v. 2) ▪ believed that Jesus was a teacher from God by the signs (v. 2, cf. 2:23) ▪ was not “born again” as he could not understand the concept (v. 4)

19 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

Seven Golden Themes!

“You shall not be terrified of them; for the LORD your God, the great and awesome God, is among you” (Deut. 7:21) all verses are NKJV

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1 Jn. 4:16; cf. 1 Cor. 13:4-6

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32)

“who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4)

FAITH requires… “born of water and spirit” (Jn. 3:5; cf. 1 Cor. 4:15) “receive” (v. 11) “believe” (v. 12) “deeds of truth” (v. 21) “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Mat. 7:21) “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mk. 16:16)

"But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Lk. 12:5)

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jd. 20, 21)

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My REWARD is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” “Following Jesus costs more than anything—except not following Him.”