Discover insights into our Spiritual rebirth as we look at Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3.
SHOW NOTES
Birth & Rebirth
Birth and Rebirth -John 3
1 “Now there was a man of thePharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish rulingcouncil.”
Pharisees were the heroes of Israel
Politician of note
He could be the next High Priest
2 ‘He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God.’
Did not want to be seen with Jesus.
Does not acknowledge that Jesus is Messiah.
Acknowledges Jesus is God connected.
2 cont. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”’ 1. Miracles have impressed Nicodemus
Faith based on miracles long term studies show . . .
Imagine Jesus on his campaign team!!!
3. In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Context of this response is found 1. Jesus ignores Nicodemus’ offer 2. Context of this response is found a few verses back in 2:23 -25
Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration,
many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each persons heart. 3. In reply Jesus declared, “I tell youthe truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. ” 1. Gospel imperative 3 times 2. Birth is an exquisitely chosen metaphor
Life started by others
darkness to light blindness to sight warmth to cold traumatic transition prison to freedom
dependence to independence
start of visible life already 9 months old
joy to others
Conceived by the Spirit
darkness to light
blindness to sight cold to warmth prison to freedom
“independence” to dependence
traumatic transition (Saul to Paul)
spiritual life becomes visible
spiritual has been there for ? joy in heaven 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely hecannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
1. Incomprehension or playing for time
2. Nicodemus knew about John the Baptist but he did not connect them.
3. Cp. “Do not resist and evil person!”
5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Truth=Second time for Gospel Imperative.
Water=Baptism? No! Natural physical birth.
Compare next verse
6 “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
Restatement of verse 5
Water=flesh
Jesus is speaking of the necessity of physical birth
Spiritual birth is NOT something we must do but an ongoing miracle from God.
7. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again."
1. 3rd Time for Gospel Imperative (Literary device to show importance) “I divorce you!” x3. Two witnesses. 2. Romans 10:9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
8. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Spirit’s movement cannot be predicted.
When will I fall in love? Will I know?
We live in delicious expectation.
Spirit’s responsibility!
How do I know if I have been born of the Spirit? Acts 2:11 speak of Jesus
Wind blows where it will . . . parents, place, gender, ethnicity & time 11 years or 88 years
What and where has the Spirit blown into your life?
Dad reading his Bible
Adventist High School
The Story of Jesus’ death
Marking my Bible
The Spirit is always pressing for rebirth- our choice lies in our ability to refuse the process.
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you notunderstand these things? 1. Nicodemus still does not get it 2. It seems elementary to Jesus 3. Jesus and Nicodemus are thinking on different levels 11 “I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.” 1. “We” —God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit
2. God at Jesus’ baptism
3. Holy Spirit drawing Nicodemus
4. Three witnesses
12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not you believe, how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 1. Known to the unknown
2. Simple to the complex
3. Concrete to abstract 4. Believe - understand or comprehend
13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man.
Enoch, Moses, Elijah were taken to heaven. They did not go there.
Only Jesus could go there and he came down here to save us.
I only get to heaven if I am taken there by Jesus. I cannot go there.
14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” 1. The snake was the problem. 2. Jesus took our body - the problem 3. He rose again - the solution
4. Jesus Christ is my Saviour
5. He does for me what I cannot do for myself!
DA 176 How, then, are we to be saved? "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," so the Son of man has been lifted up, and everyone who has been deceived and bitten by the serpent may look and live. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away sin of the world ." John 1:29. The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour. Then the Spirit of God through faith produces a new life in the soul.
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