John 3:16-21

1. This is what God did, v. 16

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, though whom we have now received reconciliation.” 

-Romans 5:6-11

2. This is what God didn’t do, v. 17

3. This is what we can now do, v. 18

Notice two things about this verse...

a) unbelievers do not have a positive or a neutral standing before God

b) this rules out the belief that a sincere person following any religion can have eternal life with God.     

4. This is why some people don’t do it, v. 19-21