14.12.08 John 3:1-10 (NASB)
Audio Sermon: John 3:1-10
Going Deeper: Study Guide
Believing Believers
Here is our inspired text this day, from John 3:1 - Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God [as] a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus ^said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, `You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
As we begin chapter 3 we should note that there is a direct connection of this section with Jn. 2:23-25. This is indicated by the connective word now. Last week we looked at ‘Unbelieving Believers’ - people whom Jesus knew that were not truly saved, despite their own personal claims. We looked at eight factors which neither prove or disprove that a person is saved. These factors were VISIBLE MORALITY, INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE, RELIGIOUS INVOVEMENT, ACTIVE MINISTRY, CONVICTION OF SIN, PROFESSION OF FAITH, THE FEELING OF ASSURANCE, and the TIME OF DECISION. These in and of themselves do not conclusively demonstrate true saving faith. Today’s passage connects with last weeks sermon, because in Nicodemus we see that most of the factors that neither prove or disprove that a person is saved is evidenced in Nicodemus. He is a classic example of someone who believed that he was going to heaven, but was deceived - Nicodemus at the time of his meeting with Jesus was an ‘Unbelieving Believer.’
We begin our study today, with a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Nicodemus was an important man. He was a Pharisee. The Pharisees were a strict religious group that were highly zealous for Mosaic ritual and religious purity. To the Mosaic law they added many traditions. The Pharisees were Jews - who were business men rather than priests and Levites. They represented orthodox religion and had a strong influence on the common people of Israel. Jesus condemned them for their outward religion and lack of true spiritual regeneration.
The Pharisee’s route to salvation was through loyalty to the law, VISIBLE MORALITY - which was nothing more than salvation by works and not true spiritual rebirth.
In addition Nicodemus was in ACTIVE MINISTRY as a ruler of the Jews. This council was the Sanhedrin, the main ruling body of the Jews in Palestine. The Sanhedrin was composed of the High Priest, chief priests, elders, and scribes and acted as Israel’s ‘supreme court’ - ruling in civil and criminal cases.
v.2 - Because of Nicodemus’ high profile, he took caution in meeting Jesus - there was a lot at stake in his career. This is why he came to Jesus by night, yet there was an interest to find out more about Jesus. The theme of darkness or night runs through out John’s gospel - and usually indicates doubt, unbelief, evil, error, and things related with the domain of Satan.
It was Nicodemus that initiated the contact with Jesus. He gave Jesus the social grace of calling Jesus - ‘Rabbi’ - placing Jesus on the same playing field as he was on. But in reality, the Sanhedrin would look upon Jesus as one of the common people - a worker, a carpenter - and not one of the theologically learned. Yet Nicodemus was quite accurate in his acknowledgment of Jesus. He also realized that Jesus had come from God as a teacher because of the miraculous signs demonstrated. Nicodemus realized that no one can do these signs that Jesus continued to do if He were not empowered by God. So he approached Jesus with an open mind - challenged - ready to receive and analyze the truth.
v.3 - Jesus’ response to Nicodemus is important. It is marked by the words Truly, truly - which was also found in 1:51. Literally translated it is ‘amen, amen’ - indicating something very important was to be stated. Jesus is going to explain to Nicodemus the relationship that he could have with the living God. Jesus is going to tell Nicodemus the necessary relationship that a person must have in order to see the kingdom of God - that is to enter into heaven as a BELIEVING BELIEVER.
Likewise what is going to be said is an important message for us too. Jesus states that a person must be born again. A person must be born again or in other words, be born from above, in order to have a true saving relationship with God. By this statement, Jesus makes it clear that the view that spiritual rebirth through personal effort and merit is way off base. Instead spiritual rebirth is solely the work of God through the Holy Spirit.
Going back to Nicodemus we must think back to whom Nicodemus was. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. So in Jesus’ statement, He has already determined that Nicodemus was not a true believer. He did not have eternal life - despite his VISIBLE MORALITY or outward ‘purity’ - his spiritual condition was bankrupt - Nicodemus was a UNBELIEVING BELIEVER.
v.4 - This fact is underlined in verse 4 when Nicodemus is puzzled and does not understand what Jesus is implying as he states - "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Instead Nicodemus could only think about the physical aspects of birth. He was puzzled as to how someone who was a man who was old could become a new born again. Nicodemus certainly would not think that he needed to undergo any spiritual change in his life, because of his RELIGIOUS INVOVEMENT. He would not have known like we do, what being born again means in light of New Testament revelation. He was puzzled to say the least.
v.5 - Jesus responds to clarify what He means by being born again - what it means to have genuine spiritual regeneration. If we look down at verse five - there are those words again - Truly, truly. Jesus is once again going to say something that is crucial and important. Jesus explains that being born again is of water and the Spirit. This signifies that being born again is not a physical transaction as Nicodemus thought. But this was a regeneration - a life that only can come from the kingdom of God above. Spiritual rebirth comes only through the will and working of God’s Spirit.
v.6 - Jesus further explains using a contrast - He says - That which is born of the flesh is flesh. Whenever the word flesh is used in this gospel it always refers to a finite state of being - human frailty and weakness, something that is mortal. It doesn’t refer to the ruling sin nature, as in other parts of Scripture. So Jesus is explaining that human weakness can only lead to more of the same. But if one were to be spiritually born again, then its source must stem from the Holy Spirit for - that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
v.7 - Nicodemus should not have been - amazed, and because of his INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE, should have understood what Jesus was saying, when He stated that - You must be born again. Because the Jews looked forward to the day when God would pour out His Spirit upon the nation. Nicodemus would have been very familiar with the passage from Ezekiel 36. Ezekiel 36:26-27 states - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
v.8 - Jesus continues His response and states in verse 8 - The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. There are two words I want to draw your attention to. These are the words ‘wind’ and the word ‘Spirit.’ In the Greek it is the same word - pneuma - we get the English word pneumatic from it. So there is a play on words that Jesus employs, in answer to Nicodemus. The wind like the Spirit of God comes and goes and we cannot see Him or know where He comes from or is going. We are able to hear the sound of the wind blowing, but we cannot comprehend its course.
Jesus uses this metaphor of the Spirit to explain to Nicodemus that the work of the Holy Spirit is not fully comprehensible to people. Everyone who is born of the Spirit appears to others as the sound of the wind. In other words people look at new believers knowing that there is something distinguishable about what has been done in this persons life, but they cannot fully comprehend how it took place. The person that is born of the Spirit or born from above, displays fruit that cannot be denied, but it is rather difficult to explain (scientifically anyway). Others can only sense that something is different….new. The Christian’s life is a testimony to the unseen reality of the work of the Holy Spirit.
v.9-10 - Nicodemus’ response to Jesus was continued misunderstanding, yet it hinted at a desire to receive the truth - How can these things be? - he says. Nicodemus was a prominent religious leader, and also an unrivaled teacher of the Jews - He was the teacher of Israel, but he still did not understand these things which Jesus spoke about. There is some irony in this exchange because the learn-ed Nicodemus who was a spiritual leader - Pharisee - was wise in earthly matters, but unlearned in spiritual matters.
So what we find through this passage is that if a person is - in Jesus’ own words - born again - then this person is a BELIEVING BELIEVER. Last week we looked at UNBELIEVING BELIEVERS and factors which neither prove or disprove that a person is a BELIEVING BELIEVER.
Now we complete the picture with the marks which do demonstrate that a person is born again - born from above. So let us look at 10…
Factors Which Do Evidence True Saving Faith
If you remember from last week in 2 Cor 13:5, there it suggests to us that we need to examine our faith. This is one of the reasons I’m going over these characters of genuine saving faith with you. It is a good exercise to examine ourselves, to see if we are in the faith. As well, it helps us in giving our conversion testimony to others, and also when we lead someone to Christ, we know how to help them examine their belief also.
The first factor that does evidence that we are a genuine Christian is:
1. REPENTANCE
There must be a turning away from sin and a turning toward God. The word "repentance," literally means "to change one’s mind." Repentance is to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete Spirit driven change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness. True conversion is turning away from sin and turning toward God. There must be a hatred of sin because God hates sin. This is not merely a verbal profession, but a total change from a life which was committed to sin and self; and now to a life of total commitment to forsake sin and a total commitment to follow Christ as a believer.
Acts 26:20 tells us of the various people groups of the New Testament times: that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.
Acts 20:21 - I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (NIV)
If there is true repentance, your heart will be convicted of sin before a Holy God. Through the work of the Holy Spirit - out of your own heart you will profoundly realize that you are a sinner fully facing the wrath of God to come. And in response there will be a sincere and abiding repentance of sin and there will be an awareness of God’s complete forgiveness and grace through Jesus Christ.
The second Factor which does evidence true saving faith is:
2. BELIEF AND PROFESSION OF CHRIST
There must be a sound profession of belief in the crucified and resurrected Christ. The decisive factor of true Christian faith is the acceptance of the crucified and resurrected Christ, our Saviour. There are many so called saviours, but one distinguishing reality of true saving faith is the historically verifiable resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is critical to the gospel.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scripture.
Romans 10:9-10 - if you confess with your mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
A person must profess specifically the crucified and resurrected Christ. This is not just an intellectual ascent, a mere belief - but it is a life changing belief that affects every aspect of your life. True belief and profession of Christ results in visible spiritual fruit in your life.
The next Factor which does evidence true saving faith is:
3. GENUINE LOVE FOR GOD IN CHRIST.
There must be a deep genuine continuing love for God, and for Christ. Do you love God, Christ? Do you love God’s nature? Do you seek God through prayer and the Word? Do you seek to know and worship God? Matthew 22:37 - And He said to him, " `You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 1 Corinthians 16:22 - If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha.
The opposite of genuine love for God and Christ is hate and resentment against God and Christ. In addition there is no pleasure taken, in the person who does not truly love God, in knowing that God is sovereignly in control of them. Now a person may claim to love God and in fact does but the key is do they love the Christ of the Scripture? Genuine love of God in Christ is demonstrated by a life that is centered around making God’s glory known. Loving God is not out of personal convenience to receive a happy life - it is not an insurance policy for protection from eternal hell when one dies apart from Christ Genuine love for God is not self centered, seeking personal gain and fulfillment. Genuine love for God in Christ elevates God and Christ to their rightful place and reduces our high view of self. Genuine love for God and Christ is a decisive factor in evidencing true saving faith.
Not only does a true believer demonstrate Repentance, Belief and Profession of Christ, and Genuine Love for God in his or her life….but there also is…
4. OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST
In the believer’s life there must be a determined obedience to follow Christ (obedient living). Do you show strong desire to please God by willingly obeying Scriptural teachings? Do you accept correction or instruction from the Bible humbly and then respond Biblically? Do you apply Biblical commands, teaching, and principles to your life the best way you can? Luke 9:23 - And He was saying to [them] all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Hebrews 5:9 states that Jesus - became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (NIV)
Obedience to Christ and His Word is not an option it is commanded.
5. TRUE HUMILITY.
True saving faith will manifest genuine humility. The marks of humility are in part listed in Matthew 5: 3-6 where Jesus said: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
If true humility brought about by spiritual regeneration - that is being born again) is present - you will come to God fully dependent upon Him. You will not be coming to God full of yourself, but rather in self denial and lowliness of mind. God saves the humble:
James 4:6-10 states this - But He gives a greater grace. Therefore [it] says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
If you posses true humility, you will not come before God with all your pride and boasting of all your religious and spiritual achievements. If one is born again you will come empty handed in full dependence upon Christ.
6. CONTINUING WORSHIP
There are many who claim to be Christians yet their lives are not marked by continuing worship. If the Spirit gives birth to spirit (Jn. 3:9) then genuine saving faith will manifest itself in the desire to worship God. The indwelling Holy Spirit in a believer will drive a person who is saved to worship God. True worship is not external conformity to a habit, but it is a heart attitude of obedience to worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24 - 23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
Worship goes beyond corporate worship services on Sundays, but every moment of your life as one who is born again, is an act of worship. 1 Cor 10:31 - Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
If there is genuine saving faith there also will be a constant and consistent worship of God.
7. GOD CENTERED LOVE
When a person is born again, God will place upon our hearts the love for other believers. This love stems from the very fact that as unbelievers we love ourselves more than we love God. But when God saves us we are given His love.
1 John 4:19- 5:3 - 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the [child] born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
This is the primary way that the world can recognize that we are followers of Christ. It is a testimony of the grace that we have in Jesus Christ. There must be love for others, which is an act of obedience to God.
8. SANCTIFICATION
When a person is saved by God, He begins the process of sanctification. Sanctification is the setting apart of oneself from sin and then unto holiness. Any former love of the world is being set aside and being replaced with holiness. Your love and devotion is now directed towards God and His glory. We give up the ungodly pursuits of this world and our focus shifts upward. 1 John 2:15-17 - 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and [also] its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Upon those who are born again is the definite and growing pull of our heavenly hope on our redeemed souls. The Christian is no longer following the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience - as it states in Ephesians 2:2.
In those who are true Christians, there must be a setting apart from the world and a putting on of personal holiness.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Ephesians 4:15 tells us that "…we are to grow up in all [aspects] into Him who is the head, [even] Christ. So there must be spiritual growth. There is no other way about this fact. If you do not demonstrate spiritual growth in your life then, you are not born again. And we looked at the parable of the soils last week, and briefly as we look at it again we will see this very truth.
Luke 8:15 - But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. True spiritual regeneration will produce spiritual growth, there is a crop of righteousness that will be harvested. When God saves a person, God guarantees that spiritual growth will take place. This is brought to our attention in:
Philippians 1:6 - [For I am] confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
If you are born again, you will definitely grow into a greater degree of Christ likeness. Those who are alive to Christ will grow, improve, and increase spiritually. You will move from one level of sanctification and glorification to the next, until you are complete in Christ.
We are going to look at one more area that evidences true saving faith.
10. CONSISTENT PRAYER
True believers have a personal and private prayer life with God. A mark of true saving faith is a the act of humble, submissive, and believing prayer with God, because the indwelling Holy Spirit will prompt us to do so. Ephesians 6:18 - With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. The believer is marked by prayer in his or her life. As it reveals in Ephesians, the believer is to pray a variety of prayers; pray with frequency; pray with submission to God’s will; pray with watchfulness; pray with persistence; and to pray for one another. If one is a BELIEVING BELIEVER there must be constant prayer.
There is no question to the reality that even though we are BELIEVING BELIEVERS will there be perfection in each area mentioned above. A Christian will fail in some if not all of these areas, but the overarching pattern of our life is upward in each area. There is a consistent pattern of spiritual growth and maturity led by the indwelling Holy Spirit in each area.
Today we have looked at 10 areas that evidence true spiritual rebirth - true Christianity. There are inevitably other areas that will corroborate what has been stated today, beyond these 10 evidences. I encourage you to examine your life in light of what is stated in Scripture. Do you see the above evidences in your life? Does your life evidence: REPENTANCE, BELIEF AND PROFESSION OF CHRIST, GENUINE LOVE FOR GOD IN CHRIST, OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST, TRUE HUMILITY, CONTINUING WORSHIP, GOD CENTERED LOVE, SANCTIFICATION, SPIRITUAL GROWTH, and CONSISTENT PRAYER. All these are real evidences of a saving faith that is genuine.
When we look back to the two categories of ‘evidences’ we have examined:
Factors which are indecisive to evidence true saving faith.
Factors which do evidence true saving faith.
We will be able to determine if we are UNBELIEVING BELIEVERS or BELIEVING BELIEVERS.
If you take last weeks list - Factors which are indecisive to evidence true saving faith - they were: VISIBLE MORALITY, INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE, RELIGIOUS INVOVEMENT, ACTIVE MINISTRY, CONVICTION OF SIN, PROFESSION OF FAITH, THE FEELING OF ASSURANCE, and the TIME OF DECISION….if this list is true of you and today’s 10 ‘Factors which do evidence true saving faith’ - are not evident in your life - you need to seriously question your profession of faith.
But on the other hand if today’s 10 ‘Factors which do evidence true saving faith’ - are evident in your life - then it will go without question that last weeks list will also be true in your life too.
If you are a BELIEVING BELIEVER - a genuine Christian, there will be noticeable spiritual growth in your life. As this takes place you will become more and more like Jesus. That which is born of the Spirit will produce itself. If you are alive in Christ then you will grow, there is no other way. So as we close off today’s sermon, remember that the Bible calls all of us to examine our life in light of the Word of God.
Do you see any Biblical spiritual growth? Is your life marked by an increase in godliness, and a decrease in the frequency of sin? Is there a growing pattern of devotion to God?
(For a full explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - click here - http://www.doihaveeternallife.blogspot.com/)
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