Nic at Night
Notes
Transcript
Intro; After Jesus cleanses the temple you can imagine the gossip and talk that is going on in Jerusalem at this time. Two million people are talking about this One man who has turned the whole religious system on it’s head during the most important feast of the Jews, the Passover. Israel has yet to realize that their Paschal Lamb has come.
But one thing is for certain, the religious leaders know that whoever He is, he has begin to cause trouble for them with the people.
There was one Pharisee that was curious of who Jesus is, so he set out to talk to him. That was Nicodemus. Let’s look at “Nic at Night”.
Text; John 3:1-9
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 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.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
1. Nic seeks Jesus; 1-2
1. Nic seeks Jesus; 1-2
Nicodemus was the best that the nation of Israel had to offer from the religious community. He was a Pharisee, teacher and a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.
Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus at night?
He had a fear of being seen with Jesus in the daytime by his fellow Pharisees
Maybe he wanted to have undisturbed time with Jesus so he could really get to know him
Maybe it was both, because Jesus had just cleansed the temple on the first day of Passover [John 2:13-25].
Or maybe Nicodemus had great admiration for Jesus and was seeking something that religion couldn’t satisfy.
Rabbi- A doctor, teacher, master; a title of honor in the Jewish schools; a Jewish teacher and scholar recognized for expertise in interpreting the Jewish Scriptures even though Jesus had not received proper rabbinic training.
[v. 2b] Nicodemus acknowledges that some of the Pharisees believe that Jesus was sent from God because of the “signs” he has done.
What is a sign and why were signs so important to the Jews? Signs in the Old Testament were an object or act that points to a spiritual reality. Most signs are seen as miracles and prophetic acts that demonstrate the power of God.
What are some signs in the OT? Rainbow, circumcision, plagues of Egypt, changing seasons, Gideon’s fleece, virgin birth, etc…
The word “sign” is used 48 times in 41 verses in the gospels. In nearly every case it focuses on a Jew asking Jesus to prove He is from God by performing a sign. The sad thing is that even when they saw a sign, they still didn’t believe.
Those who seek a sign to confirm their faith are superficial believers. Skin deep believer's are nothing more than religious rituals with no change of heart!
2. Born Again: 3-4
2. Born Again: 3-4
Even though Nicodemus might have sought Jesus out to understand Him more, his heart was not really in it. Nic’s faith was based upon the signs he had witnessed, not the Person of Christ.
[v. 3] When Jesus tells Nicodemus that “you must be born again for salvation [kingdom of God]”, he is basically saying, “Your religious credentials aren’t good enough to get you to heaven. The only way you get to heaven is through rebirth”.
[v. 4] Nic must have had this crazy look on his face when Jesus told him that, based upon his response.
Jesus was talking about a spiritual re-birth not a physical one.
Nicodemus has lived his entire life assuming his religious credentials guarantee him a place in God’s kingdom, and now Jesus essentially says, “Sorry, Nicodemus, you’re wrong. You aren’t good enough to get in.”
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
3. Born of Water and Spirit; 5
3. Born of Water and Spirit; 5
Salvation comes through being born of water and the Spirit
There are several different views that explain what Jesus said here;
(1) The “water” refers to the natural birth, and the “Spirit” to the birth from above.
(2) The “water” refers to the Word of God (Eph. 5:26).
(3) The “water” refers to baptism as an essential part of regeneration. (This view contradicts other Bible verses that make it clear that salvation is by faith alone; e.g., John 3:16, 36; Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:5.)
(4) The “water” is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37–39).
(5) The “water” refers to the repentance ministry of John the Baptist, and the “Spirit” refers to the application by the Holy Spirit of Christ to an individual.
Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 281). Victor Books.
I believe it is easy to see that view #2 and #5 are applied here;
Water refers to the Word of God in the scriptures;
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
#5 ties the baptism of repentance by John Baptist to Jesus’ baptism and the ministry of the Holy Spirits work in salvation. So Jesus was saying that Nicodemus, in order to enter the kingdom, he needed to turn to Jesus (repent) in order to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
Being born of the water and the Spirit is talking about the heart change of a person by faith who truly believes in Jesus Christ and His work on Calvary and his resurrection the third day for the sin of mankind!
4. Flesh or Spirit; 6-9
4. Flesh or Spirit; 6-9
Jesus makes a clear distinction of being born in the flesh and being born of the Spirit.
Flesh always begets flesh. Human nature can only bring forth human nature [sin nature/fallen nature].
Spirit begets Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can bring forth a spiritual birth that is required for one to have salvation and gain entrance to heaven.
Spiritual cleansing or birth is wholly a work of God and not the result of any religion, rituals or efforts of man! Nic you have to start over with Jesus!
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.
25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
All the people and religious leaders had been walking by sight [temple, law, ceremonial worship and sacrifice]. Jesus says they/we must walk by faith [believe in Him and that God sent Him]
[v.9] How can this be? I don’t understand!
How can a ruler in Israel, a teacher of the Law of God be so ignorant of that which he supposedly believes?
11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord.
Close;
How will God find us when He returns?
Will He find us living, learning and growing in His Word when Christ returns, or will He find us spiritually bankrupt like Nicodemus?
