Grace and truth through Jesus Christ

[Why people need to listen]

[Story]

Truth of being faced with a solution

The kingdom of God cannot be achieved by the flesh

The way must be revealed from above

The way must be achieved from above

Yet people will refuse to recognise the way

1. The kingdom of God cannot be achieved by the flesh (v1–8)

Test

The scene begins with a mysterious meeting between Nicodemus and Jesus. Read with me from verse 1:

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a 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.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Nicodemus is a very curious character—we don’t know whether we like him or not.

One on hand, he comes as a member of the Pharisees—a group of elite religious leaders that seem to have a bad reputation for being a barrier between God and his people. So we don’t like him. Yet, on the other hand, he comes alone—apart from his duties as a Pharisee. So maybe we kind of like him.

Again, on the one hand, Nicodemus comes by night—you might even say that he came to Jesus under the secrecy of darkness. We don’t like him. Yet, on the other hand, he comes recognising that Jesus is a teacher sent from God and he’s ready to learn what Jesus has to say. So maybe we do like him. Have a listen again to what he says:

But what does he say?

“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.”

Nicodemus is ready to learn, but what is Jesus going to teach him? Let’s read on in verse 3:

Verse 3:

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

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?”

We’re going to stay on this verse for just a little while.

Now, as Nicodemus hears Jesus’ message, it sounds wild and bizarre! Then, as we shall see, it sounds confronting.

What is the kingdom of God? It’s where God reigns perfectly; where there is no rejection of his good rule, and no consequences of rejecting his good rule.

When you first hear what Jesus says, you think, “Jesus, can’t you be a bit more clear?” But as we shall see, Jesus is perfectly clear. The problem is not with Jesus or John, the author. The problem is with us.

You know when sometimes someone tries to “teach” you something and you end up with more questions than answers? This may be one of those cases.

Jesus reveals to Nicodemus the way into the kingdom of God.

But firstly, what is the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is a kingdom—and, as we shall see, the spiritual and heavenly kingdom—where God reigns perfectly. It doesn’t mean that God’s isn’t sovereign everywhere else. But within God’s kingdom—one—there is no rejection of his good rule, and there—two—there are no consequences of rejecting his rule.

Which is in contrast to our world. See, our world not only rejects of God’s rule, but it bears the consequences of that rejection. Sin and death reign in our world, but—as Jesus says in —“My kingdom is not of this world.” God’s kingdom is perfect, and “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

See, God’s heavenly kingdom is in contrast to our world. Because our world has not only rejected God’s rule over us, but it also bears the consequences of that rejection. Sin and death reign in our world. But——Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world”. There is neither sin nor death in God’s kingdom. It is perfect. And Jesus says, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

See, our world not only rejects God’s rule, but it bears the consequences of that rejection. Sin and death reign in our world. But—as Jesus says in —“My kingdom is not of this world.” God’s kingdom does not contain sin or death. It is perfect, and “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

See, our world not only rejects God’s rule, but it bears the consequences of that rejection. Sin and death reign in our world. But, as Jesus says in , “My kingdom is not of this world.” God’s kingdom does not contain sin or death. It is perfect. And “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

We’ll come back to this idea later.

And so—second question—what does it mean to be “born again”?

You can imagine Nicodemus thinking, “Jesus, if you’re talking about something as important as entering the kingdom of God, please don’t give me unclear instructions!”

But Jesus isn’t being unclear. And obviously, John, didn’t think Jesus was being unclear, otherwise it would’ve been pointless for him to record these words. So if Jesus isn’t being unclear, what is he talking about?

Verse 4:

And I love that John records Nicodemus’ response. Verse 4:

Verse 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?”

What does it mean to be “born again?

You know how there are words in English that sound the same and are even spelt the same way, but they can mean completely different things? For example—can you think of different meanings when I say the word “bat”?

Is Jesus being unclear?

If someone was teaching me how to put on a parachute that could save my life, I wouldn’t want unclear instructions.

But Jesus isn’t being unclear. And obviously, John, the author, didn’t think Jesus was being unclear, otherwise it would’ve been pointless for him to record these words. But if Jesus isn’t being unclear, what is he talking about?

I could speaking of an animal or a cricket bat or winking.

You can have:

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?”

How can anyone be “given birth” a second time?

Well, the same thing is happening here with the word “again”.

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I first heard this phrase—“born again”—I couldn’t help but think, “That sounds a bit mystical, doesn’t it? Jesus, can’t you be a bit more clear?” But Jesus isn’t being unclear, although we may be tempted to think he’s being unclear.

But Jesus isn’t being unclear. And obviously, John, the author, didn’t think Jesus was being unclear, otherwise it would’ve been pointless for him to record these words. But if Jesus isn’t being unclear, what is he talking about?

I don’t know whether you’ve noticed, but my Bible has a footnote on the original phrase “born again”—can you put your hand up if you can see it in your Bible? Can someone with really good eyesight read it out?

Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both “again” and “from above”.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016).

Resume.

So it can either mean: “you must be born again”… or “you must be born—or given new life—from above”. And the question John wants us to ask as we read on is, “Which one did Nicodemus think Jesus meant?” and, “Which one had Jesus meant?”

What Jesus is trying to say is not unclear, but—as we shall see—what Jesus says is confronting.

I don’t know whether you have a foot, but there’s a little footnote in my Bible for the world

Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7

Verse 4:

The idea of being born

Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7

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?”

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?”

Nicodemus is thinking of being born again, which is obviously impossible. But what about Jesus?

Jesus answered, “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. So do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be… given new birth from above.’

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its 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.”

Jesus’ message is very simple on the one hand, yet very bizarre on the other.

Or “you must be given a birth from above.”

Jesus is thinking of a birth that must be given from above.

What Jesus is saying is actually quite straight forward, isn’t it? There is a physical, fleshly world and there is a heavenly, spiritual world. If you were born of the flesh, then you are of the flesh. But the kingdom of God is not physical, but a spiritual kingdom. And so, if you want to exist in what is spiritual, then you must be given a new birth. A spiritual birth.

Now, my Bible has a little footnote on “born again”. Does

Not a spiritual re-birth. But a birth that we didn’t have before, which must be given to us.

Notice that it’s not a rebirth of our spiritual lives.

A birth that we didn’t have before,

If you were given birth by what belongs to human flesh, then you’re of the flesh. But the kingdom of God is spiritual, and if you want to enter into what is spiritual, you must be given a new birth, a spiritual birth. It’s quite straightforward.

What Jesus is saying is not unclear, is it? But it is confronting. It’s confronting because the whole idea of being born is you cannot control or make decisions about them. Birth is something we are completely passive and all we do is receive it.

But the thing about our births is that we have no control over our births.

So, in Guyra—which is a small town about 7 hours north of here—you are considered a “local” only if you were born in Guyra. So there are people who have lived in Guyra for 70 years, but because they weren’t born there, they are not a local. And even if they wanted to become “locals” in Guyra, they simply can’t. I mean, they can pretend, can’t they? But there is nothing they can do to be given a new birth as a “local”.

See, we are completely passive in our births—they are given to us, and we are nothing more than recipients of our births.

But in some places like Guyra—which is a small town between Armidale and Glen Innes with a population of less than 2000 people—you are considered a “local” only if you were born there. So literally, there are people in their 80’s who have lived there for 70-80 years, but because they weren’t born there, they are not a local.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Our births are given to us and we’re completely passive in it.

And Jesus is using the metaphor of “new birth” to say that there is nothing we can do in our human flesh to receive spiritual life.

So even if those people wanted to become “locals” in Guyra, they can’t just choose to be “born again” into a local family.

And in the same way, our

And in the same way, Jesus is saying that there is nothing our human flesh can do to achieve or attain the kingdom of God. Our spiritual rebirth must be given to us. It’s not unclear, but it is confronting.

Or, to use the “wind” illustration in verse 8: just as we can’t produce the wind, nor can we control the wind—in the same way, we cannot do anything to produce spiritual life.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its 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.”

are completely given to us as a gift—we are completely passive in how we are born. We are recipients.

You cannot produce wind, nor can you control the wind—and in the same way, we cannot do anything to produce spiritual life.

And that is the pointy end of what Jesus is trying to say: the kingdom of heaven cannot be achieved or attained by human flesh, our spiritual rebirth must be given to us.

—which, by the way, I love my heritage, especially the food—but if I didn’t want to be Chinese, I can’t choose to be born again into a Swedish family.

Rather, we are recipients of our births.

So it’s not that Jesus’ message is unclear; but Jesus’ message is confronting, because he’s saying that there is nothing that we can do or say to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

It’s not that it is impossible. But it’s that we cannot do anything.

Sadly, in the course of history, it is Christians who have made the worst distortions of this message. And usually, out of a sincere and genuine desire for assurance. And we can understand that, can’t we? If Jesus says that you cannot do anything to gain your way into heaven, then what assurance do you have that you will enter into heaven?

For example, if Jesus says that you cannot do anything to gain your way into heaven, then what assurance do you have that you will enter into heaven? Are you sure that you will enter the kingdom? How sure are you that you will enter into the kingdom?

And if I can dig at your souls for a bit, what makes you so sure that you will enter into the kingdom of heaven? Is it things you have said, or things you have done, or things you have felt, or things you have thought about? I ask this because every Christian feels the temptation to hold onto something in our very own flesh to feel assured or worthy of entering into the kingdom—including myself. And so, can I invite all of us to feel the weight of what Jesus is saying to us this morning.

I ask this because every Christian feels the temptation to have something to hold onto in our very own flesh to feel assured or worthy of entering into the kingdom. At least I hope it’s not just myself. And so, can I invite all of us to feel the weight of what God’s word is saying to us this morning.

And so, can I invite all of us to feel the weight of what Jesus is saying. The kingdom of God cannot be achieved by the flesh.

The kingdom of God cannot be achieved by the flesh.

The kingdom of God cannot be achieved by the flesh, . And if this is true, then whatever Jesus says next, we need to listen very carefully.

See birth is something that is given, then Jesus has raised a big tension.

then whatever Jesus says next, we need to listen very carefully.

And what Jesus says is that

Point 2: The way must be achieved from above (v8–17).

If you think point 1 is long, you can relax. The next two points are a lot shorter.

2. The way must be achieved from above (v9–13)

Verse 9–13:

Verse 8:

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

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 have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

3. The way must be achieved from above (v14–17)

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4. Yet people will refuse to recognise the truth (v18–21)

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[Finish well]

If someone was teaching me how to put on a parachute that could save my life, I wouldn’t want unclear instructions.

You can imagine Nicodemus thinking, “Jesus, if you’re talking about something as important as entering the kingdom of God, please don’t give me unclear instructions!”

But Jesus isn’t being unclear. And obviously, John, didn’t think Jesus was being unclear, otherwise it would’ve been pointless for him to record these words. So if Jesus isn’t being unclear, what is he talking about?