These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review…
- John 1:1-51 – It is all about the Word…
- Jesus – the Word – is God – and became a man – to live a perfect life – then die for our sins!
- Jesus came to open heaven – He is the ladder that allows us to get to God!
- John 2:1-12 – The wedding at Cana…
- Jesus and the 6 disciples were invited to a wedding…
- They ran out of wine – Mary the mother of Jesus – told him about the problem…
- The servants filled up 6 large pots full of water – and when they served it – it was wine!
- Jesus first miracle – turning water into wine…
- Jesus came to give us the New Covenant / the New Wine – Luke 5:37-38…
- The New Wine of Jesus is what allows us to enjoy the Wedding of the Lamb!
- John 2:13-25 – Going up to Jerusalem…
- A family tradition – Jesus went with His mother and brothers to the Passover…
- The 1st Cleansing of the Temple…
- Jesus got angry and drove out the money changers with a whip…
- They were making God into a way to make money – keeping people from the truth…
- The multitudes wanted Jesus to show them a sign…
- Destroy this Temple and I will build it again in three days – the resurrection…
- The sign Jesus gave them was the Gospel message – the price paid for sin…
Born from Above… (5 things)
- 1st – A man named Nicodemus... vs. 1-2
- Nicodemus was an old Pharisee – he was a ruler of Israel… vs. 1
- The Pharisees were one of the main religious denominations of the Jews…
- They sat in the ‘Seat of Moses’ – Matthew 23:2 – enforcing the Law of God…
- Like saying a congressman represents the Constitution…
- Jesus had stirred up the leadership by ‘Cleansing the Temple’…
- So most of these religious leaders were already hostile towards Jesus
- Nicodemus thought Jesus might be from God – but he was cautious… vs. 2
- So he came to see Jesus at night – when no one else would notice…
- Unwilling to be bold for Jesus – because he was afraid of what others would say…
- If we seek to please the world – follow the crowd – go with the flow…
- We are choosing this world rather than Jesus – It means we reject Jesus…
- James 4:4 – “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
- He came to Jesus and saying – Rabbi – meaning teacher – showing respect…
- Can someone perform the miracles You did – if He were not from God (3rd class)…
- Jesus had performed various miracles at the Passover – John 2:23
- He wanted to believe – but Nicodemus had doubts / questions about Jesus…
- 2nd – You must be – ‘born from above’… vs. 3-4 (4 things)
- Answering an unspoken question…
- Nicodemus has asked if Jesus had been sent from God…
- Jesus answered Nicodemus by telling him how to get into the Kingdom of God…
- He was not concerned with Nicodemus question – He wanted him to have salvation!
- People will often ask silly questions – ‘What is the name of your church’…
- But what they really need to hear about is – ‘How can they get to heaven’…
- Do not get caught up in the silly questions – take the opportunity to share Jesus!
- You must be Born Again to see the Kingdom of heaven…
- The word Jesus uses for ‘again’ – is probably better translated from above…
- But Nicodemus took it to mean ‘again’ – and was therefore VERY confused…
- He asked – can a man enter a second time into his mother’s womb – and be born…
- At this point – every woman quickly and emphatically answers – NO!
- Nicodemus was looking for a physical answer to a spiritual problem…
- As if somehow there was something he could do – in order to get to heaven…
- That is why being ‘born’ – is such a great description of our salvation…
- How much effort did it take for you to be born – was it a lot of work (for the baby)…
- True it was a LOT of effort for the Mom – hour of intense labor and suffering…
- In the same way – we do nothing to be saved – it was no effort on our part…
- God was the one who went through hours labor (years for some of us)…
- He suffered – on the cross – so that we might receive new life!
- 3rd – How to be ‘born from above’… vs. 5-15 (4 things)
- 1st – Jesus tried to explain salvation by saying there are ‘two births’… vs. 5-6
- 1st – ‘Born of the water’ – referring to physical birth – the day you were born…
- Those who are only born ‘of the flesh’ – are children of satan – Matthew 12:30
- Since they were only born once – they will die twice – physical death / spiritual death
- Revelation 21:8 – “The lake which burns with fire and brimstone… is the second death.”
- 2nd – ‘Born of the Spirit’ – speaking of our salvation…
- When we received Jesus by faith – we were ‘born from above’ – born of the Spirit…
- Where we had been children of satan – we were born again as children of God…
- Because we were born twice – the water then the Spirit – we only die once (physical)
- We get to go to heaven and live forever with the Lord!
- 2nd – Jesus tried to explain salvation by ‘example of the wind’… vs. 7-8
- Nicodemus must have still looked confused by the idea of being ‘Born from Above’…
- Jesus told Nicodemus not to be amazed at the command – but listen to the wind…
- Many Bibles say ‘wind blows’ – but the word ‘wind’ and ‘Spirit’ are the same in Greek
- You can hear the wind – but you do not know where it comes from…
- It is the same with those who are ‘Born from Above’…
- Jesus point is that we see the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of others…
- When a drunk stops drinking and starts sharing about the Love of Jesus…
- We may not understand ‘how’ we are born – but we can see the results!
- Matthew 12:33 – “A tree is known by its fruit.”
- Like the picture of a mango tree – it can call itself a palm tree – proof is in the fruit
- 3rd – Jesus tried to explain by saying – ‘He came from heaven’… vs. 9-13
- Nicodemus still did not understand – ‘How can this be’…
- Jesus rebuked him – ‘you are a teacher of Israel – and you do not understand’…
- If Nicodemus would not listen to Jesus talking about simple truths – salvation…
- Then He certainly could not give him any deeper truths – heavenly things!
- * Hebrews 5:12 – “You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food.”
- When we first come to know the Lord – we are not going to understand much…
- But we should not stay that way – as we get into God’s Word – we should grow…
- It is cute to bottle feed a young infant – no surprise when they mess their diapers
- But when a grown adult is still on the ‘bottle’ – still wearing diapers…
- As believers in Jesus we should be spending time in God’s Word…
- Growing in the Lord to a place where we can begin to teach others about Jesus!
- Jesus had come down from heaven (answering Nicodemus’ first question)…
- And since He is the only one to have ever come from heaven…
- He was the only one qualified to be able to tell others how to get to heaven!
- People have LOTS of ideas on how to get to heaven – but they have never been…
- It seems wiser to listen to the only one who has been there – Jesus!
- 4th – Jesus explained using the Law – ‘a simple choice’… vs. 14-15
- Just as Moses lifted up the serpent – Numbers 21:4-9
- The Children of Israel were complaining against the Lord – again…
- So God sent deadly snakes among the people – and many of them died…
- But they repented and asked God to help – God had Moses make a bronze serpent…
- The bronze serpent represents the judgment of sin (bronze – judgment / snake – sin)
- If the people were bitten – and looked to the serpent – they would live…
- If a snake bit you – would you look up – or would you choose to die…
- The serpent (sin) has bitten us all – and we are going to die – Romans 6:23…
- Jesus came to judge sin (lifted up on the cross) – if we look up to Him – we live!
- Salvation is as simple as a choice – look to Jesus and spend eternity in heaven…
- Or choose to look away – and spend eternity separated from God in hell…
- This is likely where the conversation with Nicodemus ended…
- But John goes on to elaborate – tell us why God was willing to come…
- Why Jesus was willing to go to the cross so we could be ‘born from above’…
- 4th – God so loved the world… vs. 16-18
- The reason why Jesus came – LOVE… vs. 16
- God so loved the whole world He sent Jesus to die for our sins…
- LOVE – ‘unconditional love’ – no matter what we have done God LOVES us…
- So much that He was willing to sacrifice Jesus – so we could have eternal life!
- Jesus did what no one else could– He lived a perfect sinless life…
- Then Jesus – the only perfect man – paid the price for our sin – Death…
- God so loved us – that He forgave all our sins – He gave us Jesus’ righteousness!
- Now when God looks down on us – He does not see our sinful mistakes/flaws!
- He instead sees the perfect life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as perfect/flawless!
- God did not send Jesus to judge the world… vs. 17-18
- If we believe in Jesus – we are not judged- our sins are forgiven…
- Jesus will one day judge all men – the Great White Throne – Revelation 20:11
- But for those of us who have been ‘born from above’ – there is nothing to judge…
- Because our name is written in the book of life – we have been forgiven!
- But those who do not believe in Jesus – they are already judged…
- Because they choose not to believe in the only name that could save them…
- Their name is not found written in the Book of Life – so they are judged…
- The Books are opened – a record of every action / word / and thought…
- Then they will be judged according to what is written in the Books…
- Not to see if they will go to heaven or hell – but to show why they are going to hell…
- So why would anyone not choose to look to Jesus…
- 4th – Men LOVE darkness… vs. 19-21
- Men reject Jesus – because they LOVE the darkness…
- The same LOVE God has for us – is the same LOVE we have for sin!
- Why it is that people do not see that Jesus is the answer to their lives…
- It is not that they cannot find Jesus – it is that the Gospel is difficult to understand…
- Men stay away from Jesus because they LOVE their sin…
- Those who practice evil – hate the light…
- The world hates Jesus because He convicts the world of sin and righteousness…
- If it were not for Jesus men could do whatever they wanted without consequence…
- Like a light shining in the darkness – Jesus reveals the sin of the world…
- Because men LOVE sin they hate the light that reveals their sinfulness…
- They do not want their sin to be revealed – they do not want to come into the light!
- They think that they will have to give up the wonderful sin in their life…
- They would rather have their sin – than eternal life with God in Heaven!
- Those who do good – come into the light – so everyone can see…
- Those who are not hiding sin – have no problem coming into the light…
- * I John 1:7 – “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
- If you are wondering where your walk with the Lord is – examine yourself…
- Stand in the light of Christ and be honest about the sin in your life…
- When you first get up in the morning – you might think you look pretty good…
- But when you turn on the light – get closer to a mirror – you see lots of imperfections!
- The closer we get to Jesus – the more we realize just how much of a sinner we are…
- Diving us to hold all that much tighter to the one who LOVES us – Jesus!