[By Ron Halbrook]

• Introduction:

1. Jn. 3:16 Greatest measure of God’s love

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16 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.

• Introduction:

2. Understanding God’s great love:Problem of sin plagues mankindPromise of a Savior given by GodProvision of salvation offered to all through the gospel

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I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind A. Sin Is Disobedience to God’s Word

1 Jn. 3:4 Transgression of His law

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4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind A. Sin Is Disobedience to God’s Word

1 Jn. 2:16 Three avenues of temptation

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16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind A. Sin Is Disobedience to God’s Word

Ja. 1:13-15 Origin with Satan & man, not God, nature, fate, etc.

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Ja. 1:13-15 Origin with Satan & man, not God, nature, fate, etc.

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13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind B. Sin Plagued Adam & Eve

Gen. 2:17 God gave His lawGen. 3:1-5 Satan used 3 avenues to temptGen. 3:6 They sinnedGen. 3:8 Lost fellowship with GodGen. 3:16-19 Punished by painful laborGen. 3:22-24 Lost the Garden & tree of life

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I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind C. Sin So Corrupted Man God Sent the Flood

Gen. 6:5 Horrible evil engulfed man

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5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind D. Sin Plagued Man after the Flood

Gen. 11:1-9 Arrogant evil built Tower of BabelGen. 18-19 Perverted, violent homosexual sinLev. 18:21 Sacrifice children in idol worshipEx. 20:1-17 10 Commandments restrain rampant sins of ancient world

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I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind D. Sin Plagued Man after the Flood

Judg. 2:10-19 Cycles of apostasy by Israel 2 Sam. 11-12 Terrible toll of David’s adultery2 Chron. 36:15-16 Jews refuse to repent: Assyria destroyed Israel 721 B.C., Babylon destroyed Judah 586 B.C.

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I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind E. New Testament Convicts All Men of Sin

Rom. 3:23 All have sinned Rom. 1:18-32 Common sins of Gentiles Rom. 2 Common sins of Jews

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I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind F. Greatest Curse: Loss of Fellowship with God

Prov. 13:15 God blesses us thru His Word, sin destroys our well-being

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15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind F. Greatest Curse: Loss of Fellowship with God

Sin destroys our greatest blessing: fellowship with God Isa. 59:1-2 Sin separates God & man

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Isa. 59:1-2 Sin separates God & man

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1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind F. Greatest Curse: Loss of Fellowship with God

Sin destroys our greatest blessing: fellowship with God Matt. 25:41 If die in sin, separated forever!

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41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind F. Greatest Curse: Loss of Fellowship with God

Our greatest need: forgiveness, renew fellowship with God Rom. 7:24 Deepest cry of man’s heart

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24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

I. The Problem of Sin Plagues Mankind F. Greatest Curse: Loss of Fellowship with God

Our greatest need: forgiveness, renew fellowship with God Matt. 25:34 Beautiful words of welcome!

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34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God A. God’s Promise Pictured & Projected

Gen. 3:15 Deathblow to Satan

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15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God A. God’s Promise Pictured & Projected

Gen. 12:3 Bless men of all nations

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3 …and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God A. God’s Promise Pictured & Projected

Isa. 53 Suffering servant: die for our sins

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6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God A. God’s Promise Pictured & Projected

Jer. 31:31-34 A new covenant: perfect, final forgiveness of sins

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31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant …

34 …for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God A. God’s Promise Pictured & Projected

Ezek. 36:25-27 Give us a new heart

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26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God A. God’s Promise Pictured & Projected

Dan. 2:44 A new kingdom

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44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God A. God’s Promise Pictured & Projected

Zech. 13:1 A fountain to cleanse sins

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1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God B. Types & Shadows Project God’s Promise

Lev. 1:10 Sacrificial lamb

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10 And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God B. Types & Shadows Project God’s Promise

Ex. 25:8 Temple as God’s dwelling place

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8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God B. Types & Shadows Project God’s Promise

Lev. 1:1-5 Priest offering blood sacrifices

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5 And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

II. Promise of a Savior Given by God B. Types & Shadows Project God’s Promise

Isa. 55:3 Just, merciful rule of God’s chosen king

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3 …I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

A. Man Can by No Means Save HimselfRom. 6:23 Wages of sin: eternal punishment, banished from God’s fellowship

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23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

A. Man Can by No Means Save HimselfEph. 2:8-9 Not of works: God sees our sins

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8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

B. Man’s Only Hope: God’s Love in ChristJn. 3:16 Greatest measure of God’s love

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16 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.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

C. Christ Fulfilled All the Promises of GodCol. 1:13-14 Defeat of Satan

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13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

C. Christ Fulfilled All the Promises of GodMk. 16:15 Bless men of all nations

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15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

C. Christ Fulfilled All the Promises of GodMatt. 20:28 Die for man’s redemption

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28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

C. Christ Fulfilled All the Promises of GodHeb. 8:7-13 New covenant: perfect, final forgiveness of sins

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12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

C. Christ Fulfilled All the Promises of GodJn. 3:3-5 A new birth, new heart, new life

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Jn. 3:3-5 A new birth, new heart, new life

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3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

C. Christ Fulfilled All the Promises of GodRom. 5:1 Kingdom of peace

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1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

C. Christ Fulfilled All the Promises of GodMatt. 26:28 Fountain to cleanse sin

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28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

D. Christ Fulfilled All Types & ShadowsJn. 1:29 The lamb of God

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29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

D. Christ Fulfilled All Types & ShadowsEph. 2:21-22 The temple of God

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21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

D. Christ Fulfilled All Types & ShadowsHeb. 4:14-16 The great high priest

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14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

D. Christ Fulfilled All Types & ShadowsJn. 18:33-37 The king sent from God

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36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

E. Salvation Offered by Gospel PreachingRom. 1:16 Gospel message offers salvation

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16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

F. God’s Provision Unconditional, Man’s Acceptance ConditionalRom. 10:17 Must open the heart to hear

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17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

F. God’s Provision Unconditional, Man’s Acceptance ConditionalJn. 3:16 Must believe, trust the message

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16 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.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

F. God’s Provision Unconditional, Man’s Acceptance ConditionalActs 2:38 Must repent of sins

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38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

F. God’s Provision Unconditional, Man’s Acceptance ConditionalRom. 10:8-10 Must confess Jesus Christ

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10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

F. God’s Provision Unconditional, Man’s Acceptance ConditionalActs 22:16 Must be immersed in water

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16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

III. Provision of Salvation Offered to All through the Gospel

G. Only in Christ: Find God, Conquer Sin, & Have Eternal Life in HeavenJn. 14:6 Access to God only in Christ

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6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

• Invitation:

1. Jn. 3:16 Greatest measure of God’s love

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16 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.

• Invitation:

2. Understanding God’s great love:Problem of sin plagues mankindPromise of a Savior given by GodProvision of salvation offered to all through the gospel

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• Invitation:

3. Accept God’s love now! Accept God’s love now! Accept God’s love now!

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