It is Necessary

Introduction:

We need to understand the teaching of God’s word so we are anchored to the truth.

Nicodemus serves as a good example that being religious is not a boon if there is no truth.

Truth must precede worship in rank and time.

What gives value or efficacy to faith?

Think about the loose way we use the word “faith” in contemporary English.

What, if any, are the connections between history and saving faith?

Biblical faith must be rooted in actual events.

We cannot escape from the facts of history no matter how hard we may try.

Background

Jesus and Nicodemus have discussed Jesus’ claim of the necessity of a second birth.

Through this conversation, Jesus has exposed the ignorance of someone like Nicodemus, who, was “the teacher of Israel.”

Unlike teachers such as Nicodemus, Jesus says he knows what he’s talking about.

The Pharisees, et al, however, do not accept Jesus’ witness nor would they in the future.

Jesus, however, has challenged the whole understanding of the “Kingdom of God” and the Messiah.

Who Is Jesus?

Nicodemus came to Jesus citing the evidence that he had come from God as a teacher.

In Jn. 3:13, Jesus presents to Nicodemus a claim about his origins.

What he is able to teach differs from Nicodemus because of person and access.

There is no higher authority for the source of Jesus’ teaching.

No one ascended into heaven for the instruction he offers.

He, instead, descended from heaven.

The theme of heavenly descent:

Jn. 6:33-40.

Jesus, however, connects “the one who descended from heaven” with “the Son of Man,” a Messianic title from Daniel.

How could Jesus claim to descend from heaven instead of going “into heaven”?

Who is He?

Who is the Messiah?

Why Did Jesus Come from Heaven?

Jesus has confronted Nicodemus with his true origins while simultaneously discussing, still, the issue of the second birth.

How could the second birth come about?

What constituted it?

Jesus provides a comparison between events in Numbers and the purpose of the Son of Man’s descent.

Numbers 21:8-9.

Part 2: Introduction

We are part of a cosmic struggle.

We cannot escape this reality, and it is present in Gen. 3.

Will the created honor the Creator?

If we do not, what are the consequences?

Consider Mt. 4, and the last temptation the devil places before Jesus.

Was it a genuine offer?

What does it suggest, if it was?

God’s love is shown through the death of Jesus.

A Word Play:

Exalted - see also Jn. 12:31-34.

It refers both to crucifixion, and the paradox of the crucifixion, namely, triumph.

Phil. 2:5-10.

Colossians 2:15.

Something cosmically, transcendentally important took place at the cross.

It is necessary:

For the Son of Man to be exalted.

Faith, apart from his coming and his exaltation, would be meaningless.

Our faith in Christ has value with God because of the facts of what Christ did.

What has value, therefore, is faith in a specific kind of God.

Eternal life, entrance into the kingdom of God, now must be in the one who descended from heaven.

He has also challenged the value of Jewishness for righteousness/entrance into God’s kingdom.

A Permanent Witness

Our present circumstances can obscure our understanding of God’s person.

Many accuse him of doing nothing about human evil.

Many accuse him of not being compassionate or loving toward us.

Just because we would have preferred something different does not give us the right to claim:

He did nothing.

He does not care.

John 3:16 offers an explanation for Jn. 3:15.

Why did the Son of Man descend from heaven to be lifted up so that everyone believing in him may have eternal life?

This statement answers that question as indicated by the word “for.”

Romans 5:8.