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John 3 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
If we take a bird’s eye view of chapter 3, we find that John is intentional about giving us stories that refute the familiar view of Salvation in ancient times.
The Path To Salvation
The Jewish path to Salvation was adherence to the rules and rituals of their religious system. As Jesus alluded to many times, the Pharisees focused on “cleaning the outside of the cup while the inside was filthy.” Jesus was opening Nicodemus (and us) to the reality of Salvation. It was a spiritual cleansing that could only come from being born again in the Spirit. The works are always tainted by the flesh, but through the Spirit, we have the ability to obey God. Ritually cleansing the body could never wipe away the stains of sin, but through Jesus, a new spiritual cleansing could be found.
We know all this, but it is difficult to unravel our works-based mindset. Nearly everything we do is based on a system of positive or negative reinforcement. In all avenues of life, you basically get what you give. In our interpersonal relationships we work to earn trust, respect, and even love. Hard workers are viewed positively and lazy people are ignored and chastised.
Now, don’t get me wrong. All these principles I’ve mentioned are true and important in Scripture, but they really only matter from a perspective of post-Salvation fruitfulness. What do I mean by that?
The motivation for working hard for God (like the Pharisees did) is self-serving. This is because of our sin problem. We can never outwork sin, so we can never please God. If we can never truly please God, then why are we doing it? The only rational conclusion would be for the approval of man or to elevate ourselves. This is exactly what Jesus accused the Pharisees of. They ignored their sin while attempting to exalt their reputations.
On the other hand, accepting Jesus’ sacrifice and being born-again into a right standing with God brings joy and peace. This can only come from Him and can only be received through repentance. We receive the Holy Spirit who affirms our place in God’s Kingdom. Therefore, the post-Salvation works are the only works that ever matter because they are the only works that glorify God. If we are working hard after we’ve received what Jesus has done, we will produce good works for God. If you’ve truly experienced grace, why wouldn’t you want to work hard for God?
The Scope of Salvation
Another theory refuted in this chapter is the idea that only God’s people (the Jews) could receive Salvation. Directly after proclaiming that we must be born again, we read the most famous verse in Scripture – John 3:16. It begins with a shocking, revolutionary statement for people living in the ancient world. “For God so loved the world…”
What? God loves the world? That can’t be right… In that time they would have been thinking, “How can He love the Egyptians, and the Samaritans, and the Romans? How could He love ANY Gentile?”
Today we think much the same. How can He love the addicts and the mass murderers and the demented sex-trafficking maniacs?
His grace is enough. Even though we tend to misunderstand both the path and the scope of Salvation, Jesus makes it absolutely clear how it is accomplished and who is it for.
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 HCSB