And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil.And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
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… Which, by the way, is also why they oppose you. John 3.19 says, this is the verdict. Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. They don't want to change. They want things left the way they are. And now we need to understand something. In the same way that the world oppose Jesus, the world opposes you. In the same way that the devil opposed Jesus, the devil will also oppose you. You need to recognize you will experience persecution and trials and tribulation in this world. Some of you have gotten saved and you're following Jesus and you're saying, man, I don't know what's going on, pastor. Ever since I gave my life to Jesus, it just feels like The devil's after me. It feels like I'm being attacked. I feel like so much has gone wrong ever since I gave my life to Jesus. …
… In John chapter 3, you remember John said, And this is the condemnation, light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Neither would they come to the light, lest their deeds should be exposed. that's the unbelieving world as opposed to the believing world the sons of the day sons of the light what paul is telling the believers in thessalonica is don't fall asleep on the job christian if you're not children of the darkness but you're children of the light Don't fall asleep on the job. Anticipate his coming. Look for his coming. Paul's last letter anybody know what it was? 2nd Timothy toward the end of that letter really that great crescendo of that short little letter to Timothy he says I have fought the good fight I finished the race I've kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, our righteous judge, will give to me on that day. …
Let's go to point number three. I'm going to leave you hanging. We'll go to point number three, the provision, which is Jesus. John 3, verse 19, Nicodemus answered and said to him, how can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, are you the teacher of Israel and you don't know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, we speak what we know and testify what we have seen, and you do not receive our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but he who came down from heaven, that is the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that whoever believes in him would not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten son. So let me ask you a question, when does a person become condemned? …
… because they love their sin. This is John chapter three, verses 19 and 20. And this is the judgment. The light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light lest his works should be exposed. Why do people hate and reject Jesus? Because they secretly love darkness. They love their sin. And so they hide their sin. And they stay in bed with their sin. And Jesus went around exposing people's sin and telling them that they must repent. And so they tried to kill him. their secret sin kept them from seeing the Messiah who would save them from their sin. But they didn't want to be saved from their sin. They didn't want to face the wrath of God. No. And they didn't want to have their sin exposed to others. That's why they're hiding in darkness. But they also didn't want to leave their sin behind either. No, they didn't love Jesus because they loved their sin and no one, no one can serve two masters. You cannot serve two masters. Second, they don't believe because they lived to please man. They lived for the praise and approval of other people. This is John chapter 5, verses 43 to 44. …
If you don't, you enter into eternal death. But this is the judgment, verse 19, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil. They were so in love with their evil that even in that last generation, like the present generation, but even in that last generation, with judgment flying all around them, they were so attached to their sin that they did not want to give it up. In fact, he says in the next verse, everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light for fear his deeds will be exposed. He doesn't want his sin exposed and he doesn't want his sin exchanged for righteousness. Why don't people come? Because they don't want to exchange their sin for righteousness. So what is repentance? It's saying, I don't want my sin, I want righteousness. I turn from my sin. That's why the prophets ask, why will you die? Why they say, turn, turn, turn. …
… IS LOST IN THE DARKNESS. JOHN CHAPTER 3, VERSE 19, AND THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION THAT LIGHT IS COMING TO THE WORLD, BUT MEN LOVE DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS ARE EVIL. But not only was it lost in the darkness, it was lost in the dirtiness. Not only did she light a lamp, but she took a broom and she began to sweep the house. What filth must have been on the floor for a woman to take a broom and have to sweep in order to find a coin? What a sloppy housewife. Here's a woman, here's a woman who has to sweep the floor IN ORDER TO FIND A LOST COIN. WHY? BECAUSE IT WAS LOST IN THE DARK AND IT WAS LOST IN THE DIRT. AND AGAIN, THAT'S A PICTURE OF THESE PEOPLE THAT JESUS WAS KEEPING COMPANY WITH. AND IT'S ALSO A PICTURE OF YOU. WHEN YOU SAY, NO, PASTOR ROGERS, I DON'T LIVE A DIRTY LIFE. OH? WELL, YOU SAY, YES, I'M A VERY FINE PERSON. I, UH, I'M ONE OF THE BEST, UH, PEOPLE IN OUR I'M A MEMBER OF THE GARDEN SOCIETY. I'M A MEMBER OF THIS CLUB OR THAT CLUB. I'M A MEMBER OF THE LODGE. I'M A MEMBER OF THE PTA. I, I, UH, PAY MY TAXES. I GIVE TO THE RED CROSS. …
… because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 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. For everyone practicing evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. he who has ears to hear the word of God let them hear shall we pray Father, as we continue to give our attention to this discussion that Jesus had with a member of the Sanhedrin, we ask that what is there for our instruction may pierce our souls and our hearts. We ask these things in Jesus' name, amen. Last week I spoke briefly on chapter 3, verses 10 following, ending at verse 13, No one has ascended into heaven, but he who came down from heaven, that is the Son of Man, who is in heaven. Now Jesus, in this discussion with Nicodemus, uses this title, which is his favorite title for self-description, the title Son of Man. …