ARE YOU IN A RELIGION OR A RELATIONSHIP?

Are You In A Religion or A Relationship?

John 3:1-18

Introduction:

Religion is man’s attempt to reach God; Relationship is God’s Plan to reach man.

Notes on Nicodemus:

a. He was a Pharisee

1. Self-righteous- believed they were justified by their own conformity to the Law

2. Self-serving-outward religious worship was designed to draw the attention and admiration of men

3. Self- seeking- saw themselves above the common sinners and sought positions of honor because of it

b. He was a ruler of the Jews: a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council on religious and political matters

c. He was a curious but a cautious man

1. He wanted to meet Jesus

2. He came to Jesus under the cover of darkness, fearful of what a relationship with Jesus would cost him religiously.

Notes on Religion:

a. Rituals

1. Religion bases righteousness on the observance of rituals (attendance, confession, baptism, communion, prayers, and so forth.)

2. As a Pharisee, Nicodemus would have kept the rituals of Judiasm- attendance at synagogue, giving of alms, prayers on the street corners and so forth

Acts 16:30–31 KJV 1900

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

b. Rules

1. Religion bases righteousness on the observance of rules

As religious as Nicodemus was, his religion was failing him.

Religion fails because it cannot do what most people think it will do- give them peace and security about the life after this one. There is not one religion (man’s attempt to get to God) that can get anyone to Heaven.

Nicodemus was seeking what was missing in his religion- a personal, intimate relationship with God!!!!

I. The Relationship is about a Miraculous Love

“God so loved…He gave…”

A. The awesome love of God for Sinners

(Jeremiah 31:3) The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

(1 John 4:19) We love him, because he first loved us.

(Ephesians 2:4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

(Ephesians 2:5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

B. God’s love is without bounds, eternal and changeless- Romans 8: 34-39

Turn and Read together

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:34-39 KJV)

C. The proof of God’s love is what He did on the cross

(Romans 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

(John 15:13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

(1 John 4:9) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

(1 John 4:10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

D. His Son became sin for us

(2 Corinthians 5:21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

E. God loves us far too much to let us stay the way that we are- Romans 8: 28-29

II. This Relationship is about a Simple Message

“…that whosoever believeth…”

A. The Message is simple

(Acts 8:36) And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

(Acts 8:37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

(Acts 16:30) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

(Acts 16:31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

B. The Message is complete

(Ephesians 2:8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

(Ephesians 2:9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

C. The Message is comprehensive- “whosoever”

(Revelation 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

D. The message is conditional- it comes down to a matter of faith!!! IF you will THEN God will.

(John 6:37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

III. This Relationship is about a Marvelous Certainty

“…should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

A. The preservation of the soul

(John 10:28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

(John 10:29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

(John 10:30) I and my Father are one.

(1 Peter 1:5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

B. The Promise of God

1. Based on His character- unchanging

(Malachi 3:6) For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

2. Based on His Word-

(Psalms 119:89) For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

C. The possession of everlasting life

1. Not a just a future expectation, but a present possession.

2. Once a person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, they possess eternal life right now, but look at what the future holds-Heaven, a new body, eternal joy, the bodily presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, reunited with loved ones.

Conclusion:

The message is this: John 3:16 addresses all of the false teachings of man’s religion.

What are you trusting in?

Question: Am I in a religion or a relationship?

Religion or a relationship?-Unsaved

Religion or a relationship?- Saved

Missionary Charles Seikbert-“what has changed in your life in the last 30 days as a result of your personal walk with God?”

If you cannot point to anything then you have religion but no relationship!!!