JOHN 3:9-15 | REFUSE TO BELIEVE
Notes
Transcript
JOHN 3:9-15 | REFUSE TO BELIEVE
JOHN 3:9-15 | REFUSE TO BELIEVE
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever refused to believe something?
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever refused to believe something?
Tressa broke up with me the month before our senior year of college.
But I refused to believe it.
She made a decision I refused to participate in.
For the first month of our Senior year, I was miserable.
But finally, after refusing to believe it for close to a month, I finally accepted it.
And as soon as I told her that if that was what she wanted, I would let her go… She couldn’t imagine losing this hunk or muscle and brains, and she came running back.
At least thats how I tell myself it happened in my mind.
We’ve all probably been in a situation at one point or another, where we refused to believe something.
EXPLANATION: Last week we began through this chapter and saw the interaction between Jesus and Nicodemus
EXPLANATION: Last week we began through this chapter and saw the interaction between Jesus and Nicodemus
Jesus challenged this Ruler in Israel and a member of the Pharisees with the ground braking thought when Jesus told him, “Ye must be born again”
When Nicodemus first heard this, he responded in confusion and uncertainty… “I don’t understand, how can a person be born a second time?”
And Jesus began to walk through with Nicodemus of the understanding that you have be born physically… but you also have to be born spiritually.
It’s a one time decision that you must make, to consciously receive Jesus as Savior.
We saw in Romans 10:9-10 the conscious actions one must take to accept Christ.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
And then we wrapped up the message looking at v.8 as Jesus challenged Nicodemus that when someone is truly born again, you may not be able to see the physical indwelling of the Spirit taking place, but there should be some evidences of change because of that decision.
Now what happens next gives someone like me comfort.
Because Jesus, the greatest teacher that ever lived receives a response from Nicodemus that if Jesus received it, I can expect to hear it too!
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
“How is this possible? It seems unbelievable”
In this moment, Nicodemus is reflecting back on all of his religious teachings and training.
He is thinking back through the way he was raised.
His years of going to the synagogue and participating in rituals.
His focus of keeping the law and enforcing the law as a member of the Sanhedrin.
All of the works that he could do and had done to achieve and earn righteousness, and now Jesus tells him that he simply has to be born again… put his faith in Jesus.
The first time when Nicodemus questioned Jesus in v.4, it was because he didn’t understand.
But when he questioned Jesus in v.9, it was because he was refusing to accept and believe.
Jesus makes clear that was the struggle in v.11
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
He was choosing not to receive the Words Jesus had spoken to him.
He just refused to believe.
APPLICATION: What teachings from Christ and His Word are you refusing to believe this morning?
APPLICATION: What teachings from Christ and His Word are you refusing to believe this morning?
For Nicodemus it was regarding being born again, or getting saved.
And maybe that is you here this morning.
Maybe you are struggling to accept what the Bible says as true and as the final authority.
ILLUSTRATION: I was talking with Tressa’s dad recently and he shared with me of someone they had witnessed to who was an extreme intellect.
ILLUSTRATION: I was talking with Tressa’s dad recently and he shared with me of someone they had witnessed to who was an extreme intellect.
He told them that he needed to study and learn everything and once he had all of the information, then he would make a decision.
The problem with that thinking is it removes a very crucial part of the equation… FAITH
APPLICATION: Maybe that’s you here this morning, and you just need to have all of the answers and know everything before you can come to a decision about Christ.
APPLICATION: Maybe that’s you here this morning, and you just need to have all of the answers and know everything before you can come to a decision about Christ.
Friend, can I tell you there are a lot of incredibly intelligent and even religious people who are going to spend eternity in a lake of fire, because the truth is, you will never feel like you have all the information.
Hell and destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.
That verse certainly applies to the desire to gain more stuff… but it also applies to the desire to know more intellectually.
I’m not saying that you should blindly make a decision to accept Christ… of course not.
We don’t do the 1,2,3 repeat after me prayers here at WBC because that isn’t the way someone get’s saved.
It’s a conscious decision to accept Christ as Savior.
But the Jesus said in Mark 10:15
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
He was demonstrating that salvation is not achieved through knowledge, it is received by simple faith in Christ!
Maybe you are here today and you have accepted Christ, but you are struggling to believe Him in some other area of your life.
Does he really want what is best for you?
With everything going on in the world, is God really in control?
He says He will take care of your situation… but how can you know?
How can you trust Christ, when everything in you wants to just trust yourself.
In the passage before us this morning, we find a few challenges Jesus gave to Nicodemus when Nicodemus struggled to believe Jesus.
And this morning, I hope these challenges will speak to you if you are struggling this morning as well.
V.13, THE CREDIBILITY OF CHRIST
V.13, THE CREDIBILITY OF CHRIST
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
EXPLANATION: Nicodemus lived in a time as diverse in religion and superstitions as what we are today.
EXPLANATION: Nicodemus lived in a time as diverse in religion and superstitions as what we are today.
There were beliefs being born left and right, and the power mentioned behind the beliefs was often attributed to some revelation or interaction from some god in the sky.
Greek mythology was rampant and stories and tales of these false gods coming to earth engulfed the culture.
So in direct opposition to the numerous fables being passed around, Jesus makes clear the He is the only One Who had truly come from heaven.
He was God in flesh… And Who He is, gives credibility to what He says.
ILLUSTRATION: A while back, we had someone stay in the airbnb at our house, and they proved to be some of the more “lively” renters we have had.
ILLUSTRATION: A while back, we had someone stay in the airbnb at our house, and they proved to be some of the more “lively” renters we have had.
In fact there may have been more than koolaid involved as they finished their games in the early hours of the morning
And when their guests headed out they were less than quick when they made their way outside to their car.
The next day they left the airbnb and Tressa went up to clean the loft.
When she entered the door she found tucked under the rug two crisp $100 bills.
When she picked them up, thinking they at least showed some appreciation for their stay and being a little noisy, she realized, something wasn’t right with the bills.
And upon closer examination she saw on the bills the words, “This is movie money”
She should have known based upon who it was, that the money wouldn’t be real.
The people weren’t credible.
APPLICATION: Friend, you can believe God this morning, because He is credible.
APPLICATION: Friend, you can believe God this morning, because He is credible.
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
When God says something, it is true based on Who He is… He cannot lie.
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
God has never broken a promise, and He isn’t going to start in your life.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
There is nothing that you will face in life that God will not walk with you through, and bring you out on the other side with you in a better place and Him glorified… if you will trust Him.
ILLUSTRATION: Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego trusted God.
ILLUSTRATION: Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego trusted God.
But if you didn’t know the end of the story, in our human understanding, we would say God wasn’t faithful.
God allowed them to go into the fire.
But we have the luxury of seeing the end of the story, and in the end, God was glorified and He proved Himself faithful!
APPLICATION: Friend, if you are questioning God’s credibility this morning because of the situation you are going through or have went through, it could be that He isn’t finished with your story yet.
APPLICATION: Friend, if you are questioning God’s credibility this morning because of the situation you are going through or have went through, it could be that He isn’t finished with your story yet.
Not everyone’s story wraps up in a single chapter.
Sometimes we experience the suffering of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego of a single chapter.
And sometimes we experience the trial of Joseph that lasted 10 chapters and 20 years of life.
But in both cases they found out that God was faithful.
You know the story of Joseph is interesting, because as you read through his life you find a repeated statement… “The Lord was with Joseph”
But it wasn’t that God was on Joseph’s shoulder whispering in his ear for 20 years… It was Moses who looked back at Joseph’s life and through inspiration of God tells us who are reading the story… “The Lord was with Joseph.”
It’s a reminder to us that no matter what we go through, we can still trust God!
He is credible because of Who He is!
V.14, THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST
V.14, THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
EXPLANATION: Jesus makes what would have been a familiar reference to Nicodemus
EXPLANATION: Jesus makes what would have been a familiar reference to Nicodemus
It was a reference back to an even that took place back in Numbers 21.
The children of Israel had once again rebelled against God and the judgment that followed was that of venomous snakes that began to bite people.
Now I can’t think of a more terrifying judgment than being chased down and bitten by venomous snakes.
Talk about something out of nightmares.
But God in His mercy created a way of escape for the people… Moses took a rod and fashioned a bronze snake and fastened it to the top of the pole, and if someone was bitten by one of these venomous snakes, if they looked to the snake on the top of the pole they would live.
Now, Jesus is using the OT symbol as a picture of what was about to take place in the NT.
Jesus Christ would be lifted up on the cross, and through His sacrifice, those who looked to Christ could escape the venom of sin that led to eternal destruction.
The foreshadowing of the cross, gave Nicodemus another reason he could trust and believe Christ.
Because Christ was willing to sacrifice for him.
ILLUSTRATION: I’m thankful for those who have enlisted to serve our country.
ILLUSTRATION: I’m thankful for those who have enlisted to serve our country.
We shouldn’t just recognize them on special holidays, the deserve our thanks any chance we can give it to them.
Wednesday night we had a guest during Bible study and he was wearing a veteran’s hat, and Kevin walked over to him and before he even introduced himself or asked his name he told him “thank you for your service.”
You see, the people who have enlisted in the military, they didn’t just say they loved their country and were willing to sacrifice for it, they put action to their words.
They proved they were willing to sacrifice.
APPLICATION: Friend, you can believe Christ and His Word, because He not only said He would suffer for you… He actually did.
APPLICATION: Friend, you can believe Christ and His Word, because He not only said He would suffer for you… He actually did.
Jesus went through the ridicule, the pain, and the suffering of the cross as evidence of His love and care for you.
You see anyone can say they would be willing to sacrifice for someone… but Jesus actually did.
Jesus didn’t just say that He loved you… he proved it when He gave His life on the cross!
And when you are wondering if you can trust Him in the midst of your situation.
When you wonder if you can believe Him and take Him at His word, the answer is yes!
Because God loves you… even if you don’t believe it
Even if you don’t think you can feel it… He loves you.
Next week we will get to the most famous verse in all the Bible, but it bears repeating here today:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We love him, because he first loved us.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
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.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Friend, we can go on and on with verse after verse that states that God loves you… and He proved His love because He put action to His words.
And friend, you can believe Him and trust Him today, because He sacrificed for you… He is credible because of Who He is…
V.15, THE PROMISE FROM CHRIST
V.15, THE PROMISE FROM CHRIST
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
EXPLANATION: Jesus tells Nicodemus, it isn’t about all you can do for me.
EXPLANATION: Jesus tells Nicodemus, it isn’t about all you can do for me.
It’s about believing in me, so I can do everything for you!
You see, Nicodemus didn’t realize is, but Jesus had a life waiting for Nicodemus that was greater than he could ever have imagined!
Jesus promised that he could have abundant life and never perish.
In a world where Nicodemus sought approval and accolade, he would discover that all he could ever want was found in Christ.
APPLICATION: Jesus promises to give you the wonderful gift of eternal life.
APPLICATION: Jesus promises to give you the wonderful gift of eternal life.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Friend, Jesus promises to give life beyond what you could imagine… He promises eternal life with Him.
And what is so amazing is that many are willing to trust Christ with their eternity… but they aren’t willing to trust Him with their earthly life.
If you’ve believed Christ for the salvation of your eternal soul, why don’t you believe Him for the direction of your life?
If you are struggling to believe Jesus this morning, can I tell you His promise of the blessing of eternal life should be all you need to be able to trust Him!
ILLUSTRATION: In Matthew 7, Jesus is preaching His sermon on the mount and He tells them in Matthew 7:9-11
ILLUSTRATION: In Matthew 7, Jesus is preaching His sermon on the mount and He tells them in Matthew 7:9-11
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
APPLICATION: Friend, we have a good and gracious God Who knows how to bless beyond what you can imagine… but you have to trust Him to see it come to pass.
APPLICATION: Friend, we have a good and gracious God Who knows how to bless beyond what you can imagine… but you have to trust Him to see it come to pass.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
ILLUSTRATION: So many live their life with a clinched fist… and you are missing out on the blessings and the promises of God.
ILLUSTRATION: So many live their life with a clinched fist… and you are missing out on the blessings and the promises of God.
APPLICATION: If you are here this morning and you are refusing to believe God, we have laid out some evidences for why you can trust Him
APPLICATION: If you are here this morning and you are refusing to believe God, we have laid out some evidences for why you can trust Him
His Credibility
His Sacrifice
His Promises
Now you have to choose to lay aside your reasonings for not trusting… and choose to step out by faith and trust Him.
ILLUSTRATION: When I fell off the roof and dislocated my elbow, the doctor told me I was going to have surgery.
ILLUSTRATION: When I fell off the roof and dislocated my elbow, the doctor told me I was going to have surgery.
Now my parents tell me when I was little I had to have surgery to have tubes put in my ears, but I don’t remember it.
But at 29 years old, I knew what was happening this time around when they said I needed surgery.
When the day came for them to take me back, I didn’t ask for all of the details of how everything was going to work
I didn’t ask for them to explain to me all the specific connections of the tendons and ligaments and muscles
I didn’t ask the specifics of the pins and the screws that were going into my arm.
In fact, I didn’t ask if there was any way for me to be awake for the procedure… when I knew I was going to having I just assumed I was going under.
You see I didn’t understand all the details that a doctor or surgeon would know.
I just knew that on the other side, there may be some pain… but ultimately it would be better.
APPLICATION: You know, I can’t really sum things up any better than God did when He had Solomon pen the words in Proverbs 3
APPLICATION: You know, I can’t really sum things up any better than God did when He had Solomon pen the words in Proverbs 3
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.
Friend, whatever you are going through or whatever you have been through, I can tell you this morning, you can trust Him!
