New Life in God's Kingdom (John 3)

father all of us I need you to speak to us today. I pray that you would use me speak through me the truth of your word. I pray that you would open our hearts and our minds to receive your truth and be changed into the likeness of your son.

We are soldiers in Jesus name. Amen.

Have you ever thought about the difference? Between Earthly things and spiritual things.

Throughout my Christian life. I've tried to wrap my head around this concept. And to be honest, it's only been recently that I've had any sense of understanding.

Any sense of understanding this difference? And it took me so long because I was trying to understand and Define spiritual things in terms of the Earthly. Maybe you've never struggled with this but I think most of us have and maybe some of you are struggling with it even right now.

Live good news, and I have bad news. The bad news is that there is not a concise definition of spiritual things. But the good news is that the Bible is full of spiritual truth. So that over time we begin to understand them in a spiritual way and understand how they are different from Earthly things. Not because our thinking tends to be Earthly God has clarified the spiritual truth of New Life in his kingdom and John 3:10 go through the entire chapter of John three, and we're going to see three different testimonies. We're going to spend most of our time looking at how Jesus describes New Life In God's kingdom to Nicodemus a Pharisee and then we'll see how John the Baptist demonstrates New Life In God's kingdom to his disciples and how the author John.

Defines New Life In God's kingdom to his readers to us. And all three of these testimonies highlight the same four spiritual truths about New Life In God's Kingdom. Who Jesus really is? Why he came in the first place? What he would accomplish and how we should respond. Flip diving to look at the first testimony New Life In God's kingdom described by Jesus. The first truth that Jesus deals with is his identity who is Jesus John 3:1 through 3 says now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him Rabbi. We know that you are a teacher come from God for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered him truly truly. I say to you unless one is born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God.

So this Pharisees named Nicodemus is one of the Jews who believed in Jesus because of the signs. He was doing at the end of the last chapter. But he isn't just any Jew. He's a ruler of the Jews. One of the Sanhedrin someone all the other Jews looked up to for spiritual guidance, and he comes to Jesus by night. We don't really know why he came to Jesus by night, but John added that detail to this narrative as a sort of illustration for what Jesus would say in verses 19 through 21. Now. I'm not going to I'm going to resist stealing my own Sundar and leave you in suspense a bit, but you can read ahead if you want to. So Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night and makes a statement not a question a statement. First he calls him Rabbi Rabbi means teacher.

Nicodemus addresses Jesus as an equal

not as an inferior, but also I'm more in significantly not as a superior. He did not see Jesus as Superior to him. Lenny says we know that you are a teacher come from God. He thinks Jesus is merely a man.

I'll be at one who has Divine Knowledge from God but a man nonetheless. He doesn't understand Jesus's true identity. He doesn't understand that Jesus is God the Son of God when he gives the reason for his conclusion that Jesus is a teacher come from God. He says for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. So he saw the signs done in the temple in the last chapter that caused many to believe in Jesus.

But he believes his own conclusions. Not the truth of who Jesus really is. So Jesus answers with a statement of his own about why Nicodemus has misunderstood Jesus's signs. He says truly truly. I say to you unless one is born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus cannot understand these signs. Rightly. He cannot see the kingdom of God. He cannot see Jesus for who he truly is. Unless he's born again. and neither can we

these signs that Jesus did prove that he is the Christ the son of God not just a teacher Who's been giving divine power? But the interesting thing is that there is nothing any of us can do to come to that truth. We must be born again. But being born again is a passive action. Something that's done to us.

Now there are some profound implications wrapped up in this idea of being born again. And Jesus is going to explain it in terms of why he came in the first place. The new life in God's kingdom is marked by understanding Jesus's true identity as the Christ the son of God, but why did he come in the first place? Let's read Verses 4 through 12. Nicodemus said to him how can a man be born when he is old? Can you enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born Jesus answered and truly truly. I say to you unless one is born of water and the spirit. He cannot enter the kingdom of God that which is born of the flesh is flesh. And that which is born of the spirit is Spirit. Do not Marvel that I said to you. You must be born again the wind blows where it wishes and you hear it sound but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit Nicodemus said to him, how can these things be Jesus answered him. Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things truly truly. I say to you we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony if I told you Earthly things and you do not believe how can you believe if I tell you Heavenly things? So, why did Jesus come? Well, Nicodemus clearly does not understand what Jesus was talking about about being born again.

He appears to be thinking in an Earthly way.

It seems impossible for a man to be born when he is old Or for a man to climb back into his mother's womb to be born again this defies the natural Order of Things. But importantly Nicodemus did not pick up on the passive aspect of being boring. He asked how a person can actively make this second birth happen. 30 the three phrases his statements. He says truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the spirit. He cannot enter the kingdom of God. There are a couple of differences between Jesus's first statement and this one. The first difference is the move from the ambiguous phrase born again. To the specific reference born of water and the spirit. There a lot of ideas floating around about what Jesus meant by being born of water and the spirit. I'm not going to give you all of those different ideas. I don't want to torture you with that. I'll just tell you what I think is the most compelling View. Being born of water and the spirit is a reference to the New Covenant as articulated in Ezekiel 36:25 through 27.

This is an important reference. So let's turn over and read Ezekiel 36:25 through 27.

Ezekiel 36:25 through 27 says I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness and from all your Idols. I will cleanse you and I will give you a new heart and a new spirit. I will put within you and I will remove the Heart of Stone from your flesh and give you a heart of Flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

The Jesus came to wash us clean from our sin. with the spiritual water of his blood shed on the cross for our sin. He also came to give us a new heart and to pour out the spirit in our hearts in the New Covenant. So that it's a delight to obey God rather than a chore. That we would resist without the spirit. Go back to John 3 verse 5 the second difference. I want to highlight is what the second verse affords Us in the first statement. Jesus said that the second birth is necessary to see the kingdom of God.

In the second statement. He said the second birth is necessary to enter the kingdom of God.

Seeing the kingdom is necessary to understand Jesus's identity as the Christ the son of God providing the means to enter the kingdom. The New Covenant is the reason why Jesus came in the first place. Then Jesus explains the apparent evidence of this New Covenant second birth. He says that which is born of the flesh is flesh. And that which is born of the spirit is Spirit. Do not Marvel that I said to you. You must be born again the wind blows where it wishes and you hear it sound but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit. It's not something that can be witnessed. In the natural world, there's no physical mark.

or physical change

with those who've been born again because it's a spiritual birth not a physical one.

The analogy of the wind highlights the truth very well in Jesus. Actually, he he purposefully uses this analogy because spirit and wind in Greek are actually the same word.

We cannot see the wind only the effects of the Wind. We also cannot see the spirit. But we can definitely see the effects of the spirit. Is he changes hearts in the New Covenant when Nicodemus he still doesn't get it. But instead of asking specific questions. He simply asked. How can these things be? And Jesus point-blank rebuked him for not understanding these things. He is the teacher of Israel. He should know this like the back of his hand, but he doesn't. He doesn't because he's stubbornly refuses to accept Jesus his testimony and the testimony of scripture when Jesus says we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. That's not the Royal we

He's talking about his own experience and testimony as the Son of God along with the experience and testimony of the prophets of the Old Testament. Specifically the passage in Ezekiel that he just referenced. Other religious leaders rejected Jesus instead of against him and their rejection of him cause them to reject everything. He said on principle. weather Earthly things or Heavenly things but the point Jesus is making with verse 12 here is that it's impossible to understand Heavenly things without the spirit. Heavenly things are not irrational or illogical. But the heart and mind that has not been born again.

They will necessarily reject and dismiss these Heavenly truths.

The new life in God's kingdom is marked by one understanding that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and to that he came to fulfill the New Covenant prophesied in the scriptures. But how would you accomplish that? What did Jesus accomplish? We see that in verses 13 through 17.

Does no one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from Heaven the son of man and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. So must the son of man be lifted up. Whoever believes in him may have eternal life for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Jesus came to Earth from heaven That's how we start this. We already saw that truth in great detail in John chapter 1 but hear Jesus States his Incarnation briefly as an important foundation. For the truth of how he would bring in the New Covenant. Is foundational because only God could accomplish what Jesus did on the cross. Jesus is just a teacher come from God then he's just a man and his death on the cross would not be sufficient to satisfy the righteous requirement of the law for all who would believe in him. Jesus the Christ the son of God must be lifted up in death resurrection and glory to save his people and Grant them eternal life.

A Jesus refers to a story from numbers 21 439 where God sent venomous snakes. To bite and kill the Israelites as a judgment against their complaining and lack of trust in God.

But after Moses prays for the people, he is told to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole and anyone who's bit by one of the snakes just needs to look at that bronze. snake statue

and they'll be saved from Death. That's all they have to do. Look at that bronze snake and they won't die.

Jesus says that he the Christ the son of God and the son of man must be lifted up like that bronze snake so that all who put their faith in him will have eternal life.

Being lifted up is referring to his death resurrection and subsequent glory and our eternal life is based on our faith in Christ. Just like the Israelites salvation from Death by venomous. Snake was based on their faith in God's word through Moses. They had to believe the looking at this bronze snake on a pole would heal them. We Buy Ugly standard that's bizarre and Unthinkable like I just got bit by a snake you want me to look at the Statue and I'll get healed and get your snake venom kit out. Come on

But its face. That's the point. faith that God Saves

we must believe in Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead 3 days later and is now seated at the right hand of the father interceding on our behalf and ruling with the greatest Authority.

Jesus was sent by the father to accomplish this because of the father's immeasurable love for us. John 3:16 is the most well-known verse in the entire Bible. for good reason this verse is one of the clearest articulations of the Gospel in all of scripture.

But this verse and the following verse are actually explanations of verses 14 and 15. That we just looked at. No, I'm going to get a little grammatical on you hear the word translated. So in for God so loved the world. It's like saying in this way and it actually refers back to verses 14 and 15. God loved the world in that way.

The way that God the father has loved the world is by providing the means of eternal life. and then the word translated that for God so loved the world that is like saying so that it explains how God's love is linked to the Salvation back in verses 14 and 15. God's love for the world for us is what motivated him to give his son to be lifted up in death resurrection and Glory. And then Jesus restates verse 15 in the context of the Father's Love.

Miss legitimate offer of eternal life Is for the whole world?

Because the father loves his creation, he loves all of us, but only those of us who believe will actually receive eternal life. As we saw earlier belief can only happen by being born again. It's very easy to look at the Old Testament and conclude that God is all about condemning people for not living up to his law. But verses 16 and 17 or so clear. The God's love is the primary motivation for sending Jesus. not condemnation

New Life In God's kingdom is marked by understanding that Jesus is the Christ the son of God who came to bring in the New Covenant by saving us through his death resurrection and Glory because the father loves us enough to give up his son to save us.

So what do we do about it? How should we respond? verses 18 through 22

says whoever believes in him is not condemned but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he is not believed in the name of the only son of God and this is the Judgment the light has come into the world and people love the darkness rather than the light because their Works were evil for everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light left. His work should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light so that it may be clearly seen that his Works have been carried out in God. So, how should we respond? in the word believe

It's so simple but also so difficult to wrap our heads around sometimes. The mark of one who has been born again is belief in Jesus, but belief in Jesus is only as is also the only thing we must do to be saved.

Which one is it? The problem comes when we place too much weight on our face. Like it's something we've done to earn our Salvation. I have faith therefore. I am saved.

The only thing we must do to be saved as realize that we are saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf. Salvation is given not earned.

The whole world is in a state of condemnation because of sin. But for those who are marked by their belief in Jesus that condemnation has been removed.

The difference between those who are saved and those who remain condemned can be seen in the response. to the exposure of sin

Jesus like the law exposes sin.

Those were not saved. They run away.

They want to hide their sin. They reject him and try to hide their sin in the darkness, but those of us who are saved who have been born again, we run to Jesus. Because we've been forgiven.

Jesus says that we come to the light so that it may be clearly seen that our works are carried out in God the good things that we do. As born-again citizens of God's kingdom their planned out by God.

They're given to us. And we want them to be exposed so that we can praise God for them for the good that he does through us.

The new life in God's kingdom is marked by understanding that Jesus is the Christ the son of God who came to bring in the New Covenant by saving us through his death resurrection and glory and all you need to do is run to him in faith.

So that was Jesus's testimony describing to Nicodemus. These truths about New Life In God's kingdom and next we're going to see the same for truth demonstrated as John the Baptist response to a potential conflict in his ministry.

New Life In God's kingdom is demonstrated by John the Baptist in verses 22 through 30. So first in the first couple of verses 22 through 24, we see the setting for this story. It's the setting is baptism. Does after this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judy and Countryside and he remained there with them and was baptizing John also was baptizing at 8 on your Salim because water was plentiful there and people were coming and being baptized or John had not yet been put in prison. Do Jesus begins his ministry of baptism. Which is the same Ministry of John the Baptist? Judy and Countryside was not too far from the supposed location of a non use the limb. So both John and Jesus are doing exactly the same thing in relatively close proximity.

It kind of makes me think of the famous line from one of those old western movies. This town ain't big enough for the both of us.

It says that the people were coming to John to be baptized. So Jesus is Ministry hadn't completely decimated John's Ministry yet. And as a side note the author locate this incident before John's imprisonment. The other gospel accounts do not contain this particular incident, but the author helpfully places it on the timeline of John's life to show that this is not in conflict with the other accounts. Within the next couple of verses 25 to 26 show the conflict the apparent rivalry.

Does now discussion a rose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification and they came to John and said to him Rabbi he who was with you across the Jordan to whom you bore witness. Look he is baptizing and all are going to him. That we don't exactly know what the discussion was. Between John's disciples and this Jew it had something to do with purification. Perhaps it was regarding the differences between ritual purification and ritual purification washing and the different and a baptism of repentance. So the difference between those two things, but regardless the discussion highlighted the fact that Jesus was drawing people away from John. So his disciples came to him and complained about this apparent rivalry between Jesus and John. It's implied that they expected John to have some sort of strategy. Expected him to do something to get the people to come to him for baptism again. But John's answer is not what they expected.

The last section verses 27 through 30 show the resolution to this conflict this apparent rivalry that John is actually living in God's kingdom. He's living life in God's Kingdom. We had a different perspective on things and his disciples do.

So we're going to look very specifically at the things that he says that actually line up perfectly with what Jesus said just said verse 27 John answered a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from Heaven John knows his ministry is not his but God's he has run to God and rejoices in God's work through him rather than running away and hiding in his sin. This is truth number for his response truth number for of New Life In God's kingdom running to God in faith and then Verse 28 John knows because his identity as the Christ the son of God. He says you yourselves bear me witness that I said. I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. He asserts that he's not the Christ but he's been sent before him acknowledging again that he knows. Jesus is true. Identity misses truth number one. Of New Life In God's kingdom understanding Jesus's identity as the Christ the son of God. And then verse 29. He says the one who has the bride is the bridegroom the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice there for this Joy of mine is now complete. John knows that Jesus came to begin the promised New Covenant He uses an analogy of a bridegroom and the friend of the bridegroom to show the coven until aspect of Jesus's Ministry. A marriage is a covenant between the husband and wife just like Jesus began the New Covenant between God and his people this is truth number 2 of New Life In God's kingdom. Jesus came to bring in the New Covenant. And then verse 32 John says It's amazing statement. He says he must increase, but I must decrease John knows that Jesus would accomplish salvation. He responds to Jesus's influential Rise by asserting the necessity. For Jesus his ministry to increase and his ministry to decrease because he knows he knows that Jesus will take away the sins of the world. He said that very thing back in John chapter 2.

And John knows he can never do that. This is truth number 3 of New Life In God's kingdom salvation through the death resurrection and Glory of Jesus. So John the Baptist responds to this potential Conflict by giving way to Jesus's Ministry because he understands that Jesus is the Christ the son of God who came to bring in the New Covenant by Saving his people through his death Resurrection glory and he ran to God praising him for the good works. God did through his ministry. And John's testimony perfectly lines up with Jesus's testimony, and now the author of this gospel John. He gives us his commentary which defines the same four truths of New Life In God's Kingdom. New Life In God's kingdom is defined by the author in verses 31 through 36.

Verse 31 says he who comes from above is above all he who is of the earth belongs to the Earth and speaks in an Earthly way. He who comes from Heaven is above all this is truth number one, who is Jesus? He who comes from above is Jesus? He's not just a teacher come from God like Nicodemus thought he's not of the earth belonging to the Earth and speaking in an Earthly way. He is the Son of God Who Came From Heaven and he is above all because he is God. And 32 and 33. He Bears witness to what he has seen and heard yet. No one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this that God is true. This is truth number 2. Why did Jesus come? Jesus bore witness to what he has seen and heard along with the prophets of the Old Testament specifically Ezekiel that he came to bring in the New Covenant. And most people will not believe.

most people will not believe But whoever does whoever does believe agrees with the truth of God's word, which prophesied this new covenant.

Then versus 34 and 35 saying for he whom God has sent others the words of God for he gives the spirit without measure the father loves the son and has given all things into his hand of the father sent Jesus to save the world through his death resurrection and Glory. Jesus spoke the words of God leading up to his death resurrection and Glory he gave the spirit without measure at Pentecost shortly after his death resurrection and glory and he has been given all things by the father whose love initiated this plan in the first place.

numbers 36 whoever believes in the son has eternal life. Whoever does not obey the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. The truth number for how should we respond? We should respond by believing in Jesus for eternal life and running to him in faith. If we don't then we remain in our state of sin and condemnation because we loved our sin and the Darkness that hides our sin rather than loving Jesus.

Then the application of this message is one of remembrance.

to the glory of God Remember who Jesus is why he came and what he accomplished and then run to him?

run to him in every situation whether it's 10 or obedience run to him for forgiveness of sins and for praising him for The Obedience that he has put in you. The reality is that we are not yet freed from the presence of sin. So when it rears its ugly head and it will

run to Jesus not away from him.

Run to the light and rejoice that your sin is Forgiven.

We should also run to him and praise him when he gives us success in obedience and good works because that success is his not ours. It's him working through us.

Now if you're not yet a believer that I implore you to believe these truths. Jesus is the Christ the son of God he brought in the New Covenant spiritual cleansing a new heart and the Holy Spirit living inside you he did this by dying on the cross in your place Rising again 3 days later and is sending to the glory of the right hand of the father to intercede on your behalf all because the father loves you so much.

All you have to do is believe

run to Jesus for forgiveness. Stop hiding in the Darkness. Confess your sin to God in prayer and believe in Jesus God's son for the Forgiveness of your sin because of his death and Resurrection on your behalf.

And you will have eternal life a new heart in the Holy Spirit living inside of you in the New Covenant. This is the truth. the spiritual truth of New Life In God's Kingdom

Father thank you for showing us these truths so clearly in your word. We believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ. He is your son and he brought in the New Covenant that you told us about beforehand. You're so gracious and amazing to replace our dead lifeless Tony hearts with hearts. The love you and hate sin.

You've given us your spirit living inside of us so that we can cry out to you and run to you for help and forgiveness.

And you did all of this by sending your son to die for us and rise again because you love us so much.

Father your love is so amazing.

I can't ever get over it. I pray that you would help us to understand the spiritual truth and remember them each and every day.

To worship you for the rest of Eternity. We thank you and praise you in Jesus name. Amen.

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