Sermon Title: “The Wonder of Salvation”

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Text: John 3:16 (with emphasis from John 3:1–18; Numbers 21:4–9)

Delivered at Forward for Christ Baptist Church in Luray, VA 22835 (November 9, 2025)

Local Message Highlight
If you are searching for a Bible-preaching church near Luray, VA, this message goes straight to one of the most familiar verses in the Bible and asks a serious question: when is the last time John 3:16 truly moved your heart? The sermon reminds us that we can quote a verse and still miss the weight of it. God’s love is not a slogan. It is the reason Christ came, the reason the cross happened, and the reason any sinner can be saved today.

What This Sermon Covers
From John 3:16, the message lays out the wonder of salvation in plain terms. First, it shows the cause of salvation: God’s love, not our goodness, not our background, and not our religion. Second, it explains the cost of salvation: God gave His only begotten Son, and giving always costs something, especially at Calvary. Third, it gives the condition of salvation: “whosoever believeth in him,” meaning salvation is offered to all, but must be received by faith. The sermon also connects John 3:16 to the Old Testament picture in Numbers 21, where the bitten were told, “look and live,” pointing to Christ being lifted up for sinners. The message closes with a clear Gospel invitation for the lost, and a strong call for believers to stop taking grace for granted and thank God again for everlasting life.

Why Visit Forward for Christ Baptist Church in Luray, VA?
Forward for Christ Baptist Church is a King James Bible-believing church serving Page County and the Shenandoah Valley with clear preaching, traditional worship, and a heart for reaching people with the Gospel. If you are looking for a church family that keeps salvation central, preaches Christ plainly, and invites people to be saved, you are welcome here.

Questions and Answers

Quick sermon takeaways from John 3:16 (with supporting references from John 3:1–18 and Numbers 21:4–9), built for clarity and easy reading.

What is the main point of the 11/09 sermon?

The message centers on “The Wonder of Salvation” from John 3:16. It challenges us not to treat a familiar verse like a slogan, but to see it again as God’s real love, Christ’s real sacrifice, and salvation’s real invitation to every sinner.

Why does the sermon say John 3:16 can be “least appreciated” even though it’s well known?

Because familiarity can dull the heart. The sermon stresses that people can quote John 3:16 and still stop being moved by it, so it calls believers to let the truth sink in again and respond with fresh gratitude.

What does John 3:16 teach is the cause of salvation?

The cause is God’s love: “For God so loved the world.” The sermon emphasizes that salvation starts with God, not with our goodness, our church background, our last name, or our effort.

What does “For God so loved the world” mean in the sermon?

The message highlights both the emphasis (“so loved”) and the extent (“the world”). God’s love is not limited to a select group. The invitation is wide: Christ died for sinners, and salvation is available to anyone who will come.

What is the cost of salvation according to the sermon?

Salvation is free to the sinner, but it was costly to God. The sermon points to the phrase, “that he gave his only begotten Son,” and explains that giving always costs something, and Calvary was the ultimate cost.

Why does the sermon connect John 3:16 to Numbers 21?

It shows the Old Testament picture of “look and live.” As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, the sermon explains that Christ would be lifted up, and sinners who look to Him by faith can be saved.

What is the condition of salvation in John 3:16?

The condition is belief: “that whosoever believeth in him.” The sermon makes it plain: Jesus did the hard part. Salvation is received by faith, and the tragedy is not that people cannot be saved, but that many will not come.

What does “should not perish” mean in the message?

The sermon stresses the rescue in the verse. Because of Christ, the believer is delivered from perishing under judgment. The point is not self-confidence, but confidence in what Christ has done.

What does “have everlasting life” mean for someone who believes?

The message points to the security and hope of salvation: eternal life is a real possession, not a wish. The sermon highlights that John 3:16 begins with God and ends with the believer settled in eternity through Christ.

What is the invitation at the end of the sermon?

If you are not saved, the call is to come to Christ and believe on Him for salvation. If you are saved, the call is to respond with renewed gratitude and worship, and not to take God’s love and grace for granted.

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