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“The New Birth, Pt. 1" • 5.19.19
• Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- John chapter 2 provided two
illustrations of the kind of work that Jesus Christ will do in each life that
encounters Him. The first work is conversion.
- Jesus Christ takes a man or a woman who is
something and transforms Him into something that He is not. Then, He maintains
the right to cleanse them.
- They are His dwelling place, His Temple. When
there is something found that displeases Him or when there is a living message
that stands in contradiction to Him, He'll drive it out!
- How does this work begin in our lives? That
is the subject of this next section of John's gospel. The Lord will answer our
questions, beginning with "what" must happen? Verse 1.
Text
• John 3:1-3 : "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by
night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God;
for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God.'" : John mentioned in the last part of chapter 2 that people
believed upon Jesus, but that He did not believe in them.
- He wouldn't commit Himself to
their superficial, miracle centric belief. That doesn't mean that He was
unwilling to meet with them, to draw them to deeper waters. Enter Nicodemus.
- By virtue of it's placement next
to that verse, one can assume that Nicodemus was at the very least, among that
group of people who were intriqued by the signs that Jesus had performed.
- Nicodemus means "a
conqueror." He was "victorious among the people." He is the
picture of success in Judea. He is a religious success, being a Pharisee.
- Nicodemus believes in the
entirety of the Old Testament and in supernatural phenomena, such as the
angelic order and the resurrection.
- Additionally, he is a cultural
success, as he is a "ruler of the Jews." This would indicate either
great wealth and position or nobility by relation.
- Most scholars believe that him to
be the presiding member over the Sanhedrin, which was the ancient Israeli
equivalent to our Supreme Court.
- With that as our background, it's
telling that he feels compelled to have this meeting with Jesus at night. There
are two reasons that men have posited for this.
- Some believe that Nicodemus
wanted to meet Jesus away from the crowds. Given the nature of what he is
coming to ask, I could see that. Of course, others see this as a matter of
fear.
- Jesus cleansed the Temple and for
better or worse, that put a target on His back. To His enemies, there was a
threat. Alternately, Nicodemus might have admired Him for doing that!
- Whatever his reasoning, John
gives us a front row seat to this amazing conversation.
- Nicodemus sits down across from
the Lord and let's him know that he and those that he represents think very
highly of Him. He calls Jesus "Rabbi."
- The word itself is reserved for
one who was thought to be a "Master" or an honorable one. Nicodemus
continues with his assessment of Him. "We know that you are a teacher come
from God!"
- Before we consider what this
means, think about the irony of that statement! A man like Nicodemus doesn't
pass along compliments often.
- When he does, it's not just meant
to be an opinion. With such people, it's often a means to soften or manipulate
a person.
- In this case however, the
proverbial gnat is seeking to encourage the greatest genius that ever lived!
Can you not see the Lord smirking as He literally looks right through Him?
- Can't you imagine the Lord
thinking, "I remember that unique little cellular signature that I left in
you when I created you Nicodemus!" Unaware of his foolishness, he offers a
grand compliment.
- He asserts that the Lord's
teaching comes from God. Think of who is saying this!? Jesus is about to call
Nicodemus "THE teacher of Israel" in verse 10!
- It was obvious to Nicodemus that
God had sent Jesus to teach the nation. Why? Because of their repentance? No.
Because of the signs that He did!
- Early in the Lord's ministry,
there was a clear enough understanding of who Jesus really was and this is
another indication that at least part of the Jewish leadership was forming
belief in Him.
- Instead of being flattered, Jesus
moves right to where this conversation was headed. Recall from John 2:25
that Jesus knew what was in all men. He saw right through Nicodemus.
- Jesus arrests his attention with
a solemn statement. If I said to you, "I swear that this is true" to
you, it'd come close to what Jesus is saying here.
- Without hesitation, Jesus makes a
remarkably clear and authoritative claim to Nicodemus. "Unless a person is
born again, they will not see the Kingdom of God!"
- The phrase is also translated
"born from above," but "born again" is the predominant
translation, especially given the context. Listen to it again from Nicodemus'
perspective.
- "Unless YOU are born again,
YOU will not see the Kingdom of God!" This was a revolutionary concept to
convey to a man of his stature.
- The prevailing belief of all that
were around him was that he, of all people, was a "shoe in" for
heavenly residency! He was a member of the right race and a spiritual leader to
boot!
- Couple that with the inbred
belief that wealth was equal to God's blessing upon a life!
- Jesus knows however, that
Nicodemus knows that something was missing. Why doesn't he feel confident? What
is it about Jesus that exposes that in Him?
- Truly, every person on Earth
knows that there is something beyond this life and they want to feel confident
that they will be secure after death.
- For Nicodemus in particular,
there are a few other interesting historical insights that need to be
understood here.
- The Lord's presence made
Nicodemus think that the Kingdom of God was near. Everything pointed to the
near fulfillment of what God had promised the Jews prior to their exile to
Babylon.
- There are three parts to the
eventual establishment of God's Kingdom. The first was the regathering of the
exiles from Babylon. The second had to do with the revival of hearts
spiritually.
- The third part was the
re-establishment of the nation of Israel as the ruling political power upon the
Earth. Nicodemus sees two parts of this equation as being fulfilled.
- The people of God were living in
their land. In his mind, there was a revival going on, as the Pharisees had
sent out numerous Rabbis throughout the country to teach the Word in
synagogues.
- Jesus tells Nicodemus that he is
mistaken about the revival of God's people. The revival that God spoke of would
not be a revival of the teaching of His Law. This was not radical enough.
- At the end of Moses' life, he
candidly explained that despite their experience of deliverance over a 40 year
period, God had yet to give them a heart to perceive! (Deuteronomy 29:4)
- God later promises to give the
nation a new heart, to work from within them!
- This is why every religious
person on Earth feels a sense of unease. They are trying to approach and please
God by law and external regulation. It can't and won't happen that way!
- You must be born again
spiritually as you once were physically! There are no exceptions. This is the
standard for entrance into the Lord's Kingdom. This is the doctrine of
"regeneration."
- Today, there are Christians who
have sought to distance themselves from this phrase and what they believe it to
mean.
- "I'm a Christian, but I'm
not 'born again! Don't lump me in with those zealots!" Well, we won't lump
you in, but don't expect Christ to let you in either!
- Being a "born again"
Christian is not a category. It's a condition! There isn't a Christian who is
one that has not also been "born again!"
- Nicodemus could not enter into
the Kingdom without it and neither can you! We have learned "what"
must happen. We must be born again! Jesus will now explain "how" it
takes place. Verse 4.
• John 3:4-9 : "Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a
man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb
and be born?' Jesus
answered, 'Most
assuredly, I say to you, unless
one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it,
but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is
born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus answered and said to Him, 'How can these things be?'" : It's hard to say if Nicodemus was
kidding or if he really thought that something physical would need to take
place. It seems unlikely that he would have meant this literally.
- Nicodemus wants to know the mechanics of
being born again. How is it performed? What can he do? Jesus solemly answers
again. "Trust me Nicodemus!" It's water and Spirit!
- What does water and the Spirit refer to? Most
would hold that the metaphor described by the word "water" would
represent natural birth. A baby is born, usually, after the amniotic fluid
breaks.
- The Spirit of course, would represent the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is enhanced in the next phrase. "That
which is born of flesh, is flesh." Spirit begets spirit.
- Please understand that these two do not
intersect. Flesh does not beget spirit. Nobody is born into a relationship with
God. These two phenomena are separate from each other.
- No matter how godly a person is, they cannot
bear children that will be godly. The Spirit must bring life into a person if
they are to be born again. The Spirit is sovereign in His work of regeneration!
- I can agree with this majority view, but I
believe that there is an even more immediate scriptural reference that the Lord
is referring to. Turn in your Bibles to Ezekiel 36.
- God is reviewing His actions toward Israel in
sending them into captivity, but is also aware of His reputation among the
nations as their redeeming God.
• Ezekiel 36:22-29a : "Therefore say to the house of
Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: 'I do not do this for your sake,
O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among
the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among
the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know
that I am the Lord,' says the Lord God, 'when I am hallowed in you before
their eyes. For
I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and
bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean;
I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put
a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and
give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My
statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land
that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your
uncleannesses." :
This is the water and the Spirit! It was right there before Nicodemus' eyes,
yet he still can make no sense of it!
- Jesus is reading his face. "Don't get
lost in wonder about what I said to you!"
- Don't be surprised or amazed. "But I
can't quantify it! I can't observe it, so how can I believe it?" You
already believe in what you cannot see!
- How does one see the Kingdom of God? Being
born again. How does that happen? By a process that you will not be able to
see, but that you will be able to experience!
- Think about the wind. The wind comes and you
would never have seen it or known of it's presence if you had not heard the
sound of it or witnessed a tree swaying to and fro!
- You have no idea about it's source, how it is
generated, yet, it comes from somewhere and when it passes you, it goes
somewhere else.
- You see the impact of the wind without seeing
the wind at all! In the same way, a person who is born of the Spirit knows the
result, but not the mechanics! Nicodemus is still unclear.
- He has understood the words and the metaphor,
but he cannot wrap his mind around the possibility! Do you hear exasperation in
his voice?
- "How can these things be?" Here is
a man of great intellect, experience and influence.
- At this moment, he is a clueless child,
unable to engage in this conversation of spiritual realities and such is the
case today!
- You can answer every question, beat back
every objection, meet every point of attack and the person who is born in the
flesh but not by the Spirit, will think you are talking gibberish!
- The Lord, with great compassion, continues to
give Nicodemus what he needs. Verse 10.
• John 3:10-13 : "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know
these things? Most
assuredly, I say to you, we speak what we know and testify what we have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly
things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly
things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came
down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." : Jesus is not being condescending to Nicodemus, but He is
stirring his memory of scripture up.
- You know this scripture but you haven't
understood it's meaning! Nicodemus, by virtue of the Lord's statement, must
have been greatly respected. Unfortunately, he was passing along poor info.
- Look at the contrast. You do not know this,
but We speak what we know. Who is the "we?" Is it Jesus, as
representative of the disciples or Jesus, as representative of the Godhead?
- It can only be that Jesus is speaking on
behalf of the Godhead, who from the beginning of time, had been unveiling His
redemptive program to the people of Israel one piece at a time!
- Progressively throughout the Old Testament,
there are prophets that spoke and pictures that presented a part of the story
that finds it's fulfillment in Christ Jesus!
- While the people of Israel tried to interpret
what they thought they knew, Jesus actually spoke from what He definitely knew!
Jesus was not a theoretical theologian.
- Jesus is speaking from what He knows
presently and is providing current testimony from what He has seen! He is an
expert eyewitness to all of History, both to what has and what will occur!
- Yet, no matter how accurate and
authoritative the testimony has been, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he, as a
representative of the nation of Israel, did not receive their witness.
-
We've examined the word "receive" before. The essence of it is that a
person has not internalized truth. Perhaps they have agreed with the truth or
been attracted to it.
-
That is where they have stopped. They have not allowed that truth to be the
guiding principle for their own lives. They have not taken it in and let it
lead their way.
-
There are many people today who believe they are Christians because they agree
with Christian principles and values. This is not salvation!
-
God's Word is to be heard, agreed with and received, beginning with your
believing in Jesus Christ! You are to receive what the Bible says about Him!
How has Jesus tried to get him to receive?
-
It seems that He has been speaking to him of "earthly things." He has explained spiritual phenomena by
earthly metaphor.
- Being regenerated is to be born, as one is
born of flesh, but by the Spirit. The Spirit's presence is invisible like the
wind, but His influence is known by it's effect. Nicodemus wasn't biting.
- If he couldn't believe that which related to
the earth, how much more would it be impossible for him to believe the Lord
about heavenly realities? How can He speak to him about heaven?
- He has been there! Nobody has ever gone up
and returned, as the NLT translates this, but He has descended from there! He
has been in heaven and has come with information about it!
- Nicodemus is struggling to comprehend what
Jesus is saying. Jesus has told him "what" he must do. He must be
born again. He conveys "how" it takes place. It is the work of the
Spirit!
- For our final portion today, Jesus will now
explain "when" this happens! Verse 14.
• John 3:14,15 : "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the
Son of Man be lifted up, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
eternal life." :
Jesus brings Nicodemus' mind into one of the strangest passages in the Old
Testament, specifically to us, Numbers 21:8. Turn there now if you will.
- It had been a very long trek and the people
complained and spoke out against God, Moses and the "worthless bread"
that God had provided.
- In response, the Lord let fiery serpents
loose among the people. Many were bitten and many died. Those that were left
alive cried out to Moses to pray for the Lord to relent.
- Moses went before the Lord and God gave him
the following instruction.
• Numbers 21:8,9 : "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a fiery
serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten,
when he looks at it, shall live.' So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it
was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he
lived." : Today,
the American Medical Association bears an insignia that is inspired by this
story, a snake wrapped around a pole. It's more likely that Moses made a cross
beam to hold the snake upon.
- It's a bronze serpent. Bronze is the metal of
judgment. The serpent is connected to the curse of sin, especially their sin of
complaining against God.
- Jesus tells Nicodemus that this historical
event pointed to His own being lifted up! He too will be lifted up from the
earth and men will need to look upon Him as Israel looked upon the serpent.
- Can you imagine their incredulity?
"Really? Look up at a snake on a pole? How about some neosporin and a
bandaid!"
- God told them simply to believe that looking
upon the icon would issue in their healing! Those that took God at His Word, lived.
- In the same way, if Nicodemus will look at
Jesus, he will not die, but live! He will enter into a life that is defined by
eternity, that which has no beginning or end!
- The person that believes on Christ will not
just be healed of a natural snakebite, but will be released from the eternal
death sentence related to the spiritual snakebite of sin!
Conclusion
- What is true
for Nicodemus is true for you! What must happen for you to enter the Kingdom of
God? You must be born again! How does that happen? The Spirit of God gives you
life.
- When does it
begin? When you take God at His Word and look at His Son, you'll begin to live!
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