There
was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to
Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art
a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except
God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith
unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time
into his mothers womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of 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 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must
be born again. … 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these
things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest
not these things? … 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe
not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to
heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.
Jn 3:1-16 (KJV)
2- “Game
shows” give away large amounts of money for the right answers. (None for
wrong answers)
3- “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Mk 8:36
4- Evangelism
Explosions Qualifying Questions.
1. If
you were to die today, are you sure that you would go to heaven? 100%? (1 Jn.
5:13)
·
You are either 100% saved or 100% lost!
2. Stand
before God and He asked you,
"Why should I let you into My Heaven?" (ONE right answer!)
These questions must have bothered a
very religious man named Nicodemus.
Nicodemus
was ma Pharisee”, “a ruler”, “a master”
In order to be a Pharisee, he had
to:
- Very zealous (passionate) -
Fast two days a week
- Always tithed their part -
Pray two hours in synagogue, every day
- Memorize the first five books of the Bible -
Believe and kept the Law of Moses (outwardly)
Talking
to Nicodemus, Jesus teaches several very important lessons.
1- We Cannot
“See” (Comprehend) the Kingdom w/o being Born Again.
2- It Is Absolutely
Essential "To Be Born Again" To Enter the Kingdom of God.
• Three
(3) times in this passage Jesus declares the absolute necessity of a new birth
(verses 3, 5 & 7).
• No one will reach Heaven on
his own power. (Why Jesus death, burial and resurrection?)
3- Salvation Is A
Point-In-Time Definite Experience. (Vv 5-6)
Many people immediately tell you their
birthday, but not their spiritual birthday?
4- Being Born Again
Changes A Person's Life (Verse 6).
"Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new." II Corinthians 5:17
5- This Experience of
being ”Born Again” Comes Directly from the Spirit.
(“Spirit” v. 5)
6- It Is God's Will That
ALL Should Be Born Again. (John 3:14-16)
7- The Application of the
Remedy is Faith. (“Believing”
Jn. 3:16; Heb. 11:6)
"Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we
have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of
Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no
flesh be justified."
Galatians 2:16
·
We are not just carnal, we are corrupt and
“must be” changed.
"But we are all as an unclean
thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a
leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isaiah 64:6
·
A repentant sinner must UNDERSTAND + BELIEVE (trust)
the Gospel to be saved.
·
The only way to heaven is through Christ,
·
The only way to come to Christ is God's way - with
empty hands of faith.
(Jn. 3:16; Acts 4:12, Jn. 14:6)
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