John 3:16 is one of the best known verses in the Bible. In this sermon we expound aspects of the debate between Nicodemus as a “teacher of Israel” (John 3:10) and Jesus who Nicodemus had addressed Jesus as “a teacher who has come from God” (John 3:2).  This sermon carefully deals with the person of Christ as the Son of God and Messiah (Son of Man) including the truth that John’s prologue spoke of Jesus as the eternal Creator. Jesus confronts Nicodemus with his failure to accept the valid testimony of Jesus, the unique one who had “descended from heaven” and therefore spoke authoritatively of “heavenly things.” Jesus spoke with the full authority of the pre-existent Creator. Many even in our day claim to have visited heaven and come back to speak of it—they are false. Jesus claimed to be the only one whose eternal home was heaven and came to earth to speak about the reality of heavenly things. In the midst of this dialogue, Jesus referred to the snake that Moses lifted up in the wilderness as a type of Christ as the Son of Man who would be lifted up. As we see in other passages, this means that Jesus would bear the curse of sin so that those who believe in Him could find release from the curse which came upon the human race through Adam. We also go into some detail about the ramifications of God loving the wicked world (cosmos) which is elsewhere described as sinful and not to be loved. God’s love for His enemies is shown by Jesus being lifted up on the cross and bearing the full penalty for sin. With this is the promise that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. We either believe in Him or perish. Those who trust Christ alone will participate in future glory.