100 years from now where would you be?

John 3: 11-17         

-How would you answer that question?

-Obviously we’ll say we’ll be 6 feet under,

-but are we really be dead…if we have a spirit? Where will our spirit go?

-Some people believe they’ll be reincarnated…into a colorful butterfly, a  magnificent eagle soaring up in the air or … a  crawling snake, or cockroaches w/c people dislike …depending on their karma or what they have done in this world….

-Some don’t believe in the afterlife…this life is all there is…and after that they’re gone, nil, nada, that’s it so they eat, drink, & get merry for tomorrow they die.

100 years from now where would you be?

There’s a guy in the Bible who has an answer for that question… he doesn’t believe in re-incarnation

He believes in the afterlife, & He believes that there’s another Kingdom…a Kingdom whose Leader is God and after our life here is over, we can be in that Kingdom.

Man ever since have thought of another Kingdom…Kingdom of the god’s…Roman Gods, Greek Gods…in the present day we have our superheroes like superman coming from another planet, ET’s …

But this man (His name Nicodemus) wasn’t sure how to get there…but had the privilege & opportunity to meet Jesus, who explains to him how to get there. Let’s read what happen in their encounter

We must remember that when Jesus came to this earth, He came to teach men how to flee darkness and come to the light.  He came to teach men how to flee death and to enter into life.

Jesus also uses this passage to instruct us also. As we take the time to look at these verses this morning, there may be some among us who are in the same shape Nicodemus was.

Here was a man who was at the pinnacle of success. He had it all.

He was a respected man, he had money, power, position and all the things that are considered the trappings of a successful life.

Yet, he lacked that one thing that would guarantee him a pleasant eternity experience.

In these verses, Jesus, explains salvation to Nicodemus and in the process, He explains it for us as well.

For the next few minutes, let's join Jesus, The Divine Teacher in His classroom. As we do, all I ask is that you allow the Lord to speak to your heart and then do what He calls you to do. If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you will at least here how to do just that today. Nobody ever explained a truth like Jesus, let's listen in as He teaches Nicodemus the truth about salvation.

3:1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee.

 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

    A. V. 1 The Character Of Nicodemus -

        1. He Was A Ruler - Probably a member of the Sanhedrin, John 7:51. As such, he was among the most powerful of men in that day. He was a judge, much like a member of the Supreme Court.

        2. He Was Religious - He was called a Pharisee. Therefore, he

        adhered to the strictest of religious and ethical standards. (Ill. Not all Pharisees were hypocrites. Some actually did their best to live before the Lord in true holiness. It appears that Nicodemus was of this caliber.)

        3. He Was Real - His approach to Jesus indicates that He was sincere in his search for the truth.

 Here was a man who wanted to find true peace for his soul. He probably came by night, not out of fear, but so that he could have an uninterrupted conversation with Jesus.

    B. V. 2b The Compliment From Nicodemus -

        1. He Addressed Jesus With Respect - Nicodemus calls Jesus "Rabbi." He refers to Him as a teacher, and appears to hold Jesus in high regard.

        2. He Addresses Jesus With A Realization - It appears that Nicodemus at least understood that Jesus had been sent from God to the world. Nicodemus, it seems, has at least a vague understanding of just who Jesus really is.

Nicodemus is giving Christ honor and is displaying respect for the power of Christ that he has seen, The miracles). However, He stops too short in his estimation of just who Jesus really is. To Nicodemus, Jesus is nothing more than a teacher, or some prophet whom God has sent.

                This is always the problem with religion! It stops short in its approach to Jesus Christ.

How did Jesus reply to Nicodemus’ introduction?…

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Jesus knew at once what was his motive and his question so he answered him at once directly.

    Jesus  addresses the need of Nicodemus's heart.

-Jesus tells Nicodemus that his religion isn't sufficient to save his soul.

-He tells Nicodemus that he must experience the "New Birth."

 Being the Teacher, Jesus used a common illustration to clarify His thought. Birth is a universal experience. Everyone has been through it.

However, there is something different about this birth to which Jesus refers

*3:3-6 Born Again- We hear that term thrown around a lot - "born again." What exactly does it mean to be born again? Surprisingly - it is exactly like it sounds - it is a second birth.

You see, our first birth was from the water of our mother's womb. We have all been born once.

 If you're sitting here this morning, it is a pretty good guess that you've been born once.

But there is an opportunity for you to be born again.

        1.  The word born "again" means "from a higher place." It refers to things which come from God alone. That is the nature of the new birth. Man cannot accomplish it. It is a work of God and of none other!

        2. The word "except" is an imperative. It literally means that a person has no other choices in the realm of salvation. You either come God's way or you do not experience His salvation. In other words, it's Jesus or nothing!

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

  Nicodemus, like so many others, confused the things of God with those of the flesh. He thought that Jesus was referring to a return to his mother's womb.

A thing that would be an absolute impossibility.

But that is not what Jesus is talking about. He is not talking about being born of the water of your mother's womb twice. He says you must be born of water and the Spirit. To be born again is to be born a second time, not of your mother, but of the Spirit of God.

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

            a. Born Of Water -The Natural Birth -

            b. Born Of The Spirit - This refers to the second stage of salvation.

When you are born, you become a child of your parents.

When you are born again, you become a child of God.

To be born of water is to become a child of sinners. To be born of the Spirit is to become a child of God.

So the question remains, "How can you be born again? How can you be born of the Spirit? How can you become a child of God?"

John of course already told us this back in chapter 1:

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, {even} to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. If you have true faith in Jesus Christ, then you are born again.

He Cannot Enter:

Now, being born again is an absolute requirement to see the kingdom of God and to enter the kingdom of God. Not one person will be in heaven who has not been born again.

6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.

7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

*According to Jesus, the new birth is not an option! He plainly says, "ye must be born again!", verse 7. There is no other option, no plan B. It is either Jesus or it is nothing! Without Him, you will never get to Heaven, you will never miss Hell. Jesus is the only way to the Father - John 14:6; 1 John 5:12.)

Why only those who are born again? Jesus tells us,

John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

If you haven't been born again, you are only flesh. And the Bible tells us...

1Cor. 15:50 ...that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God...

(Only Jesus can make the kinds of changes in the heart and life of a person. Some people will make an attempt at "turning over a new leaf." However, only Jesus can effect eternal change in hearts and lives. How wonderful that everyone who comes to Jesus is forever made new!")

   (Ill. How miserable would a person be if they were taken to Heaven in their natural state.)

If you are not born again, you cannot possibly inherit the kingdom of God.

You may be thinking, "But, I don't understand how this all works. I want to know exactly how this all happens." Jesus answers that thought in the next two verses.

8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

      

*3:7-8 Born Of The Spirit

"Don't marvel, Nicodemus," Jesus says.  Maybe his mouth had dropped open. Whatever it was, he was obviously marvelling at Jesus' statement. He just didn't see it.

Jesus makes the point, "Nick, you don't have to see it to receive it and believe it.

Take the wind for example - you've never seen it... only its effects. The Spirit is the same way.

You can't see Him, but you can see His effect on people, and feel Him in your own heart."

This is an interesting play on words, because the word "wind" and "spirit" in the Greek are both the same: "pnuema." "Nick, the pneuma spirit and the pnuema wind are the same - you can't see them, but you trust that they're working because you see their effects."

Jesus uses the image of the wind to describe the action of the Spirit. His movements, like those of the wind, cannot be predicted or anticipated. Like the wind, the movement of the Spirit is invisible,

but powerful! When He passes by, He touches whom He will and His presence is easily seen!

9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things?

11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony.

12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.

 Even with his vast knowledge of the Old Testament, Nicodemus was still in the dark spiritually.

He, like so many in our day, could not seem to grasp the simple truth that it is faith in Jesus that produces salvation for the soul!)

*3:9-13 Not Understanding, Not Believing

Notice that up until this point, Jesus has patiently answered his questions, yet the conversation turns almost confrontational now.

Why is that? Because the Lord can work when there is no belief, but not when there is unbelief.

If today you're having trouble believing what the Bible says, ask yourself,

"Am I just not understanding what it says, or am I just refusing to accept what it says?"

If you're not understanding, then your difficulty is no belief, and the Lord can work on your heart. But if you're refusing to accept it, they your difficulty is unbelief, and until you're willing, God can't speak to you.

14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

- Jesus uses an event from Israel's history to illustrate His teaching.

*3:14-16 The Serpent In The Wilderness

Nicodemus knew exactly what Jesus was talking about, though you may not. Detailed in the Old Testament book of Numbers is a strange story:

Amazing, isn't it? All they had to do was turn their heads to look at this thing, and they would be healed! This is exactly what Jesus did so that all who looked to Him to be saved would be saved!

He calls to mind the scene of Numbers 21:4-10. In this passage, Israel is journeying through the wilderness and they are grumbling about their trials. God, in response, sends poisonous snakes into their midst and many of the people are bitten and die from the snake bites. Moses intercedes for the people and God tells him to fashion a snake from brass. He is to hang this brass snake on a pole.

Then whoever is bitten and looks at the snake will live. Jesus is merely telling Nicodemus, that as that snake of old was lifted up, so must Jesus be lifted up.

    (Ill. The whole world has been bitten by the snake of sin, and men are dying and dropping off into Hell. Just like that snake, whoever looks at Jesus in faith will live - Acts 16:31.)

16a “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son,

Sometimes, people will say…si Pastor ang bait bait…I am also a sinner like you.

Do you agree that you are a sinner & you need a Saviour?

*The Only Provision

If you believe in Jesus Christ, you will be rescued.

16b…so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus tells Nicodemus that God's love or humanity was so great that He willing gave up His only begotten Son to die that sinners might be saved. This has reference to the death Jesus suffered on our behalf. A death so horrible and so cruel that He was brutalized beyond comprehension - Isa. 52:14.    (Ill. Thank God, He did all this so that when we sinners come to bow before Him in repentant faith He has something to give us.)

 Jesus tells Nicodemus that the key to receiving salvation is as simple as believing.

Religion tries to make it difficult for men to be made right with God. There are always rules to follow and steps to complete. Then, just when you think you have arrived, you always find that you have omitted some step or the other. Religion makes it impossible for men to be saved. Jesus, on the other hand, makes it so simple that little children, old people, people with limited intelligence, people who can't add or subtract, or even write their own name can be saved by the grace of God.)

 How much simpler could God have made it? He has already done all the work. He has paid all the prices. He has torn down all the barriers. All He asks the sinner to do is come to Him and believe Him.

  A Sure Provision - (Ill. "Whosoever") When the Lord made His plan of salvation, He determined to exclude no one! God has flung wide the doors of grace and beckons all who will to come to Him and be saved from their sins and from an eternity in Hell. If you need salvation, then today is the day to come to Jesus and to receive Him.) Salvation is a whosoever deal!

  Jesus plainly promised those who believed in him that they would have eternal life and that they would never perish. To perish means to"be given over to the eternal misery of Hell!" Jesus, however has promised his children that they have been "saved." This word means "to keep safe and sound, to rescue from all harm and danger."

17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

3:17-21 Judgment

Jesus didn't come to judge you - He came to save you from the judgment that you've already brought upon yourself. How have you brought judgment upon yourself? Because your deeds are evil. They have fallen short of the perfection and righteousness of God. Jesus isn't condemning you for that,

He's trying to save you from it.

Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Won't you accept the free gift of eternal life that Jesus Christ offers you?

Conclusion: If we have learned nothing else from the Master Teacher this morning, I think it is plain to see that God loves sinners and has done everything to provide for their salvation. He has done everything possible to draw you to Himself, except using force.

Why not make this the day when the sacrifice of Jesus becomes relevant in you life?

Why not make this the day of your salvation. Jesus loves you, He died for you and if you will come to Him in simple, childlike faith, He will save your soul and cleanse you from every sin.

In your heart that is what you want. Why not make it a reality today?

Resources from: Alan Carr , Ron Daniel & Ray Pritchard