John 3:22-30

Being A Useful Christian

Introduction

Paul’s letter to Philemon

Onesimus wronged Philemon

Philemon 10–11 “I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)”

His usefulness came about by a genuine turn from his wickedness and Paul’s desire to see reconciliation between the two brothers

A mind shaped by Christ Jesus

Richard Phillips in his commentary on John writes

“It is to be the chief ambition of every Christian to be as useful as possible to the Lord.

Our desire should be to serve the one who served us

Unfortunately, this desire often gets eclipsed by selfish ambition

In this transition from Jesus’ discourse to Nicodemus, we see the mark of authentic Christian behavior from JtB

John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.””

To be a useful Christian, our attitude should be the same

Main Points

Text

an attitude of envy (vv. 22-26)

an attitude of joy (vv. 27-29)

an attitude of humility (v. 30)

Doctrine - Christian Humility

Application

Text

an attitude of envy (vv. 22-26)

Jesus and John continue their ministry in baptizing

Baptism as it relates to OT

Different types of “baptisms” or cleansing rituals

Ritual cleansing

John 2:6 “Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.”

Immersive cleansing

Immersion of bride in preparation for wedding

To totally clean her physical body

This mode of baptism was specific to Jewish people

No indication this is the equivalent of Christian baptism

Same way that sacrificial system no longer is in use

This form of baptism was not equivalent to circumcision, as we rightly see baptism

Rather, it was for physical cleansing

The baptism of OT Jewish purification did not resemble the taking away of sins once for all

It was continual

It was daily

One of the further reasons this is not representative of the mode of baptism we see in the church

Just like baptism arguments today, JtB’s disciples come with such controversy

“discussion arose”

Can mean a controversy/investigation arose

Whose baptism should we follow?

Highlights the major transition from JtB to Jesus

“all are going to him”

Reminder that his ministry is ceasing, Jesus’ is progressing

What is JtB attitude toward this?

Jealousy? Strife?

an attitude of joy (vv. 27-29)

John’s response is a mark of Christian character

First, he remembers that only God’s Spirit gives gifts

“A person cannot receive even one things unless it is given from heaven”

He’s doubling down on Christ’s teaching in John 3. Man’s inability apart from the work of the Spirit

Though that pertain to salvation, John makes it clear that this same Spirit is endowing Christians

Second, he remembers his primary mission

John 1:19–28. Look back

Third, he remembers his place in the kingdom

“the friend of the bridegroom”

Our version of “the best man”

In biblical times, the best man did everything for the wedding

7 Particular functions of the “best man” in Bible

“He acted as the liaison between the bride and the bridegroom;

he arranged the wedding;

he took out the invitations;

he presided at the wedding feast.

He brought the bride and the bridegroom together.…

It was his duty to guard the bridal chamber and let no false lover in.…

When he heard the bridegroom’s voice he let him in and went away rejoicing, for his task was completed and the lovers were together.”

We see how these functions resemble JtB’s ministry

Most importantly, the best man does not want to be the center of attention

Imagine attending a wedding, and during the vows the best man makes himself the center of attention

Absurd notion

This is what John is also warning us about, not being center, but putting Christ at the center, hence, his best comment in v. 30

an attitude of humility (v. 30)

Probably one of the greatest verses in all of Scripture as it relates to the Christian life

Prayer that this would reign in your minds

Pastor James Montgomery Boice says,

Real joy comes in being able to say to Jesus Christ, “Here I am, Lord, use me,” and then finding that out of His grace He is able to use you to bring others into a saving relationship to Himself

Why?

He must increase, I must decrease

Contra our nature

Serpents lie in Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””

Necessity of New Birth and HS

Only HS enables us to act w/ such humility

Doctrine - Christian Humility

A. W. Pink

“Humility is not the product of direct cultivation, rather it is a by-product. The more I try to be humble, the less shall I attain unto humility. But if I am truly occupied with that One who was ‘meek and lowly in heart,’ if I am constantly beholding His glory in the mirror of God’s Word, then shall I be ‘changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord’ (2 Cor. 3:18).”

Philippians 2:1–5 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”

We do this not by nature, but by having mind of Christ

Break down each to see what it looks like

Application

Use 1. Be joyful in others’ success.

What was JtB’s disciples’ concern? “all are doing to him”

Bad attitude to have

If all start going to a more faithful, biblical church, do we find joy in those successes?

If a church is thriving and we are not, do we find joy in that?

Or, if your coworkers are advancing and you are not, do you find joy?

What is the Christian response?

1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice always,”

How do we do this?

Mindset of Christ

Being happy for others

Praying for their successes

As one member succeeds the whole body succeeds

Should be a cause of joy as it was with JtB

Use 2. Be content where the Lord has called you.

Most difficult as a pastor IMO

Often look to others’ successes as a point of competition

God has called you, individually, to a specific purpose

Encouragement from Paul 1 Cor 12.12-27 …

Many members serving a purpose

Sometimes our zeal for “our mission”, how “we” feel called to serve turns sinful when we have a desire to serve our own kingdom over Christ’s

Many leave the church because they cannot “serve” the way they “feel”

Never a thought in pastoral counseling, “Perhaps the Lord is not leading me in that way”

Prevalence of church shopping

Trying to find where they can be the stars of the show

That’s not the mission of JtB

He is encouraged and joyful that “the Lamb of God” who is the one who actually takes sins away is here

He is joyful that he gets to be a part of God’s plan

Even if it means being a lone wanderer in the wilderness

No food, shelter, fancy clothing

Harsh environment

Use 3. Be humble like your savior

Do you make him greater in your life?

Do you make yourself lesser?

We are to be salt and light, but that salt and light comes from Christ

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Be humble that Christ has charged you with a gift and use it

It may not be the most glamorous

Think about the function of a foot

It is one of the most humble body parts

Often hidden

Gets scratched, walks on dirt/mud

Bruised/blistered

Pinky toe gets smashed on corner of furniture

But it is one of the most important

Get us where we are going

w/o it, we would be debilitated.

We act in humility because Christ did

Second part of doctrine reading

Philippians 2:6–11 “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”