Thanks for the encouragement Darin
The following chapter is the one I am struggling with most. There's so much I want to say, here, but I do not want to get too detailed in a book of this sort. I could spend a chapter on the word WORLD and another chapter on the world GAVE (when I taught this series I did give both words a whole session), but I connect them so much that I don't think it's necessary... but the result of combining them is that I have to be too brief for my liking. So, like I said, I'm struggling with the best way to write this chapter (another issue is whether to include the 'answers' with the problem rather than at the end (as I have it below). In other words, this chapter is a complicated mess from my point of view.
But here's what I got...
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Chapter 3 WORLD
The word ‘world’ in John 3:16 refers to the corrupted realm of humanity. That the ‘world’ has a problem is nearly universally recognized. Disagreements arise over blame. If you’re a Republican you might blame Democrats. If you’re lower class you might blame the upper class. If you’re an atheist you might blame the religious. If you’re a Red Sox fan you might blame the Yankees. But if you’re a Christian, what will your answer be?
What is the problem with the world? The Christian answer is not as simple as some make it out to be. I don’t think there is any one word answer to the question. In this chapter, I want to describe the problem from 5 different vantage points, as well as the 1 solution: Jesus Christ.
In psychology, a therapist will attempt to get at the root of a problem. Did something happen during childhood that led to your phobia? I’d like to go back to the root of our problems (Genesis 3). I’d also like to use an acrostic… because I’m a pastor and that’s just something a lot of us like to do.
The Problem with the…
W- War… we exist in enemy territory
O- Outlaws… we’ve broken the law
R- Relations… we’re thoroughly divided
L- Leaders… we lack quality examples
D- Disconnect… we’re broken from the source
Problem #1 War
What is our problem? Well, we’re at war. In fact, we exist in enemy territory… and the enemy is a murderous liar. It’d be surprising if the world WASN’T messed up!
At the root of our problem is the serpent of Genesis 3 which represented Satan. Satan lied to Eve. The first couple was snake-bitten, so to speak. We offered Satan the chance to be the authority for humanity. And the Bible confirms that he took the job.
Satan is described in the New Testament as the king of the world (Luke 4:5-6), the prince of the world (John 12:31), the God of the world (2 Corinthians 4:4), the ruler of the world (Ephesians 2:2) and as one in controller of the whole world (1 John 5:19). Is it any wonder that humanity is so corrupt given the identity of its master?
An answer to the problem of the world, in this respect, would have to include the defeat of the devil and the death and slavery that he brings.
When John 3:16 says that God loved the world, it is saying that the God of the Old Testament… the real, powerful, personal, loving God… actively did something to rescue human beings from a terrible enemy. John 3:16 describes a rescue mission into enemy territory.
Problem #2 Outlaws
What is our problem? Well, we’re outlaws. The world is full of people who have broken God’s law.
At the root of our problem is disobedience. Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command. They knew the law and they broke it anyway. They were sinners. And so are we.
A big part of our problem, then, is us. G.K. Chesterton was once asked what the problem with the world was and he responded with a mere 2 words… “I am.” He was right in a very real sense. We are our own worst problem.
This problem is one of both quantity (we’re all included- Romans 3:10, 23) and quality (we’re all totally depraved- Genesis 6:5). It is a frustrating reality for us, described by Paul in Romans 7:14-24.
And so… since we are outlaws… there is a price on our heads. Justice is demanded. A debt must be paid. If there is to be a solution to the world’s problem… to my problem… it will have to include some payment of that debt, some satisfaction of justice, some restoration of righteousness.
John 3:16 is about God loving rebels. It is about God loving us while we were yet sinners. It is about God paying a price, satisfying justice, cancelling a debt.
Problem #3 Relations
What is our problem? Well… we can’t get along. The world is thoroughly divided. We’re not just on the wrong side of a spiritual war, we’re at war with each other.
Once again, the root of our problem can be traced to Genesis 3. What did Adam and Eve do after they sinned? They covered up. In doing so, they began to hide from one another. No longer were they open and transparent in their relationship. The beauty of their relationship was now broken. Things only got worse from there on out.
In John 3, notice when Nicodemus came to Jesus. It was in the cover of night. He wasn’t able to be honest with his Pharisee friends that he was interested in Jesus’ teachings. A Jew like Nicodemus thought of life in terms of separation from others. He was glad to not be a Gentile, or a Slave, or a woman. But even among the Pharisees there were divisions.
Adam’s family is in shambles. We’re divided east vs. west, liberal vs. conservative, rich vs. poor, Christian vs. Islam, theist vs. atheist, etc.
If there’s going to be a solution to this problem, it will have to be some true means of true reconciliation (not fake tolerance). There will have to be some true uniting principle… the start of a new family that all are welcome to join. The relational intent of the first creation is broken. There must be a new creation.
Problem #4 Leaders
What is our problem? Well… we don’t have good leadership. The world is lacking quality leaders and examples.
The story of The Fall is a story of passing the buck. Adam blamed Eve (and hinted that God was at fault). Eve blamed the serpent. They were made in God’s image to rule, but they refused to take responsibility for their failure.
Part of our problem is that we are sheep without good shepherds. We lack role models. Politicians, pastors, movie stars, athletes, parents, judges… they let us down. Even our best leaders tend to deal only with symptoms and not the ultimate issues.
If there’s a solution to the problems that we face, it will have to include a genuine leader. It will have to include a leader with no skeletons in his closet. It will have to include a leader who takes responsibility and deals with the root of the problem.
A lack of example and leadership may not be our primary problem, but it is certainly a part of the broader concern.
Problem #5 Disconnect
What is our problem? Well… we are disconnected from the source of all good things. The world is broken off from the heavenly territory, from the source of righteousness and forgiveness, from love, reconciliation, leadership, etc.
The Fall in Genesis 3 resulted in Adam & Eve hiding from God and their subsequent expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Just prior to John 3:16, Jesus remarked that a major problem is that no one (but Him!) comes from heaven (so how could they know how to get back in touch?).
My daughter learned to work the DVD player at a very early age. We had to discipline her for touching it when she wasn’t supposed to. But, I have to admit, sometimes when I didn’t feel like investing time into discipline, I just unplugged the DVD player. It just won’t work when it’s not plugged in.
We’re not plugged in to the source, so it is no wonder we’re not working. We’re like unplugged laptops in that our previous connection to power keeps us going, but only for so long.
If there’s a solution to our problem… if we are cut off from the source of life (as our frailty indicates)… if we are destined for death… then salvation must include some way to access heaven. Salvation must be a way of getting plugged back in to God.
The Solution
The solution to all of these problems, according to John 3:16, is that God the Father gave the Son.
First, giving the Son defeated the devil. God sent his Son into enemy territory as man. Satan tried to tempt Jesus to believe lies, but he failed. He then resorted to killing Jesus, and here he succeeded, but then Jesus defeated death itself.
Second, giving the Son dealt with our sin. Each of us is guilty, but Jesus took the penalty upon himself. He received a death sentence that we deserved. Our sin is dealt with through him.
Third, giving the Son developed a new family. Adam’s family was and is messed up. So God sent the Son to become a man, a perfect man. Jesus is the second Adam. Jesus is a fresh start.
Fourth, giving the Son displayed the way of love. Jesus’ willingness to humble himself, even to the point of death, teaches us the power of sacrifice. We needed a demonstration of true love, and we got it in Jesus Christ.
Fifth, giving the Son deleted the divide. Because Jesus is both fully God and fully man, He is able to serve as a mediator. God became man not simply to dwell with us, but to lead us back to Him. Jesus is qualified to plug us back in to the God, the source.