(John 3:14-16) The one speaking in these three verses is the Lord Jesus Christ himself. He is talking to a lost man, Nicodemus. Though Nicodemus was an educated, religious, moralist, highly respected by his peers, he was a lost man, alienated from God and perishing under the wrath of God. In these three verses our Lord tells a lost sinner THE ONLY WAY OF SALVATION.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up" (John 3:14). IN ORDER FOR SINNERS TO BE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD CHRIST HAD TO DIE AS THE SINNER'S SUBSTITUTE UPON THE CROSS. "The Son of man must be lifted up." God could never have saved a sinner if Christ had not satisfied his offended justice by suffering the penalty of sin for his people. But now, through the merits of Christ's blood, God is both just and the Justifier of all who believe. This is the result of Christ's death.
"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:15). SINCE CHRIST DIED, ALL WHO BELIEVE ON HIM HAVE ETERNAL LIFE AND SHALL NOT PERISH UNDER THE WRATH OF GOD. Faith in Christ is the proof that he died for you and satisfied the justice of God for you. If you, knowing your sin and guilt before God, trust Christ as your only, all-sufficient Savior, you have been redeemed by him, you are born of God, you shall never perish, you have eternal life! Faith in Christ does not cause you to be born again; but it is the proof that you are born again. Faith does not merit eternal life, (Only the death of Christ could do that!); but it does prove that you have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). THE CAUSE OF CHRIST'S DEATH, THE CAUSE OF SALVATION IS THE LOVE OF GOD. There is a people scattered throughout the ages and realms of this world who are loved of God, a people whom God is determined to save. God so loved those people that he gave his Son to redeem them. Who are they? "Whosoever believeth in him!" The question that must be answered is this - Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? If you do, your faith is the gift of God's grace, the fruit of his love, Christ's death, and the Spirit's call. If you do not trust Christ, the wrath of God is upon you!
