John 3

III Nicodemus and John
A. vs 1-21 Nicodemus meets and questions Jesus
1. vs 1-2 Nicodemus acknowledges that Jesus is at least a great teacher
2. vs 3-4 Nicodemus wants to know what it means to be "Born Again"
3. vs 5-8 The Spirit gives birth to life in the spirits of men
4. vs 9-15 Jesus is using earthly examples to illustrate a heavenly concept
5. vs 16-21 God sent His Son in the world to save the world and all who believe on Him will have eternal life
B. vs 22-36 John the Baptist Testifies about Jesus
1. vs 22-26 John's disciples are starting to get upset because more people are going to Jesus
2. vs 27-30 John is joyful that people are going to Jesus
3. vs 31-36 John testifies that Jesus is the Messiah

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him. John 3:36

This really messes with the whole "God hates Sin but Loves Sinners" Theology. We see in many places in scripture that the wrath of God "abides" or remains, or hovers over sinners like a black cloud. God absolutely is angry with sinners and demands that all sinners everywhere repent. But the problem is that it is the very wrath of God and our own innate sinfulness that makes it impossible to repent in our own power. This is why it is necessary for God to first intervene. God must first move on our hearts and drop the scales from our eyes in order that we may see His Son as glorious, then we see our own sinfulness in the light of His Holiness and that causes us to repent. Salvation is entirely a work of God from beginning to end and one we took no part in without God's irresistible grace compelling us. Therefore, our freedom from the wrath that used to abide on us is something we can give God all the glory for and take none of the credit for.