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For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn. 3:16

What is the problem?
—unbelieving, perishing/unable to see the Kingdom of God
Works of religion, charity, miraculous signs, religious buildings and rituals vs truth from the One who came from heaven
Doomed to destruction and eternal separation from God—to exist in deadness and conscious separation from every good sensation forever

What is the promise?
—not perishing/eternal life
Everyone is born dead in trespasses and sin and condemned through unbelief (Eph. 2:1-3; Jn. 3:18)
CONVERSION--Whoever believes shall not perish—Fullness of life

How was this promise made possible?
—the Son of Man must be lifted up (Num 21:8,9)
God had to intervene in history to make the rescue of salvation possible
Jesus had to be “lifted up” onto the cross, up from the grave, and up into heaven

How has God loved the world?
—He gave His one and only Son (Gen 22:12)
The offering for sin—God’s Lamb (Jn 1:29)

God gave His greatest gift, to meet the greatest need, to provide the world the greatest opportunity, to have the greatest relationship, to experience forever the greatest promise, to receive the greatest possession.

How can this promise be real in your life?
—whoever believes
Your spirit must receive eternal life from the Holy Spirit (born again) by believing in HIM!

1. Believe that in and of yourself, you are in a state of grave peril—
“...whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s
one and only Son.” (3:18) Your sin separates you from God and His life—God is sin-intolerant.

2. Fully, completely, unwaveringly believe what is promised is true—that Jesus is the one in whom to trust.
“...believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
(20:31)
In the NT, believe is the verb form of the noun faith. The one who believes (faithing) is acting on the basis of faith that has been given by grace. Faith is iron clad evidence that saving grace has been applied to your life—the absence of faith/believing is evidence that grace available has not been applied to you—grace has not been applied to those who will not believe. Your faith is your title deed to the promise of not perishing and having eternal life! (Boice) If you believe in Him, you have been given the gift of salvation—not perishing and having eternal life.

Do you believe in Jesus?
That you are/were dead in sins
That you are made able by God’s grace (gift) to fully believe/faithing that what Jesus did on the cross is the only act that can save you
Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life! FROM CONDEMNATION TO CONVERSION.

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