The Heart of the Matter- Part One
Notes
Transcript
The Heart of the Matter
The Heart of the Matter
Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Eternal Life
Eternal Life
A child does not begin to exist when he (or she) is born. The child has already existed for nine months prior to this in the mother’s womb. At the point of birth, only the conditions in which the child exists change. Before, he lived internally; now, he lives externally. Before, he was fed internally; now, he feeds externally. He does not begin to live at birth: he has lived all the time since conception, but conditions change at birth.
So also can the believer view death. At the point of death, the conditions of our eternal life change—but not the fact that we do indeed have eternal life.
I would even say that it is true of us before we are born again. We are alive physically, yet when we become born again everything changes.
This is the message that Jesus brings toward Nicodemus in the section of Scripture that we are looking at today. Simply put Jesus tells Nicodemus a message that we all must hear and respond to, and that message is though you are living physically you are dead spiritually.
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.” 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?” 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. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 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.”
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 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. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
John 3:1- The man Nicodemus was a moral and religious man, who would have dedicated Himself to following every letter of the law without error. He represents that best that an entire nation had to offer. He was a Pharisee a member of an important religious and political Jewish party at the time of Jesus and the apostles. The Pharisees were strict and jealous adherents to the laws of the OT and to numerous additional traditions which Jesus would challenge.
Paul gives us some insight into the Pharisees when He writes of his credentials saying
though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Nicodemus was the self-righteous of the self-righteous. According to man’s eyes he was blameless. Nicodemus lived a life of physical righteousness- His whole life was dedicated to the law.
His upbringing/education
His life work
His Ministry
In His mind he thought he was living the way God had called Him to live. It was all based on what He could do to remain blameless.
Nicodemus also was a man of power. John calls him “a leader of the Jews” meaning the Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin meaning he was a member of the high court of the Jews, presided over by the high priest. Its 71 members included chief priests, elders and teachers of the law.
To put it plainly Nicodemus was the man. There were few who had more power, more money, or more righteousness according to earthly standards.
It is important to hear Nicodemus’s confession about Jesus
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.”
“Rabbi” or teacher, which a term of respect, even though Jesus hadn’t had any Rabbaic training at all. Nicodemus acknowledges that He has come from God because of the signs/miracles that Christ had done. Nicodemus refers to the signs Christ has performed, claiming they prove God is with Him. This means Christ has been teaching and performed a number signs previous to this encounter.
Nicodemus acknowledges that Jesus is from God, yet at this point doesn’t humble himself to receive the gift that God was giving.
And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
We can know the things of God and yet not respond to them.
We can know the things of God and yet not respond to them.
Now Nicodemus, this great religious leader of the people, the best of the nation stands before Jesus and what does Jesus say to Him?
“All your works are worthless. Your entire kingdom that you have built means nothing.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
What a hard truth. Everything that you have built you life on in the end is worthless.
Jesus gives Nicodemus the ultimate christianize “Born Again”. What does that even mean Jesus
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?” 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.
To be born again is to be born from Above. It is a work of the Spirit in the life of man. To see the kingdom of God it takes more then any human ability it takes being made alive by the Spirit of God.
Just like int he story that I started with, a person is alive physically yet they must be born of the Spirit. They must be awaken unto life which is only done by God.
For Nicodemus this was earth shattering. You can’t be that righteous on your own.
as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
This is a Biblical truth that is not a new thought that Jesus taught. Sin is a constant since the garden of Eden. You can follow it all-through-out scripture:
From Eve to Cain. From Cain to the world being corrupt during the time of Noah. Abraham had to be credited righteous from God because he sinned. Moses wasn’t allowed into the promise land because of disobedience. Jacob was a liar.
Yet as sin continued to increased, God grace had continued to increase all the more tot he point of Jesus coming and bring the truth- You cannot earn righteous by your actions, you aren’t good enough.
“Born Again”Jesus calls Nicodemus to new birth; one that is not based on the physical, but on the spiritual, comes only by the spirit, not by the religious acts of the law
Jesus’ call wasn’t easy nor was it simple; it called for Nicodemus forsake everything that he had achieved and devoted his life to.
John MacAuthor “When Nicodemus heard Christ talking about a new birth, his mind must have been a bog. He had always believed that salvation was to be earned by good works. He probably even expected Christ to commend him for his strict legalism! instead, Jesus confronted him with the futility of his religion. What a letdown! unlike religious works, being born again was something Nicodemus could not do himself!”
Jesus says “born of water and Spirit” - This is a call to be cleansed Nicodemus would have understood the Old Testaments rituals of cleansing such as the sprinkling of water on the alter and the sacrifice. But Jesus here is speaking of the work of God to make one clean
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, 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.
What Jesus is saying here is not something new. It was and is God’s desire for those who are sinners to be made clean by the work of God. There is great news and this is , You are not Good enough on your own, but God can make you clean.
God says,
I will sprinkle clean water, and you shall be clean
I will give you a new heart
I will put my Spirit within you
I will cause you to walk in obedience
What is Nicodemus’ response? “How can this be?”
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”
Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Salvation, Works and
A leading manufacturing company developed a new cake mix that required only water to be added. Tests were run, surveys were made, and the cake mix was found to be of superior quality to the other mixes available. It tasted good, it was easy to use, and it made a moist, tender cake. The company spent large sums of money on an advertising campaign and then released the cake mix to the general market. But few people bought the new cake mix.
The company then spent more money on a survey to find out why the cake mix didn’t sell. Based on the results of this survey, the company recalled the mix, reworked the formula, and released the revised cake mix. The new cake mix required that one add not only water, but also an egg. It sold like hot cakes and is now a leading product in the field. You see, the first cake mix was just too simple to be believable. People would not accept it. The same is true of salvation by grace.
How could it be that my salvation has nothing to do with my own works? How could it be that grace is a gift and doesn’t demand me to pay for it?
Here we meet the blindness of sinners
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. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Jesus point this teacher of law to the law. Why did Moses have to lift up the serpent in the wilderness?
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
The serpent was lifted up because of Sin. The people had turned away from God and the serpents that came and bit them where the effects of their own sins.
We have all sinned and the bit of our sins is death
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Moses raising up that Serpent in the wilderness was a for-shadowing of Christ being raised up for the curse of Sin, and all those who look at the curse of their sins on that cross would be healed.
Paul writes
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Salvation, Works and
An old parable says, “A silly servant who is told to open the door sets his shoulder to it and pushes with all his might; but the door stirs not, and he cannot enter, use what strength he may. Another comes with a key and easily unlocks the door and enters right readily.”
Those who would be saved by works are pushing at heaven’s gate without result; but faith is the key that opens the gate at once.
Can we answer the call of Christ to lay down our little kingdoms that we have built for ourselves, and be born anew by the Spirit of God. The Gospel message that Jesus proclaims here is that it isn’t by works that we can attain anything in the matter of salvation, but it is all dependent on the work of Christ being lifted up for the sins of the world.
“Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
John Piper “Let us not trifle with God or trivialize his love. We will never stand in awe of being loved by God until we reckon with the seriousness of our sin and the justice wrath against us. But when, by grace, we waken to our unworthiness, then we may look at the suffering and death of Christ and say (1 John4:10) “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Salvation, Works and
You would not scramble five good eggs and one rotten egg and serve the mixture to guests, expecting it to be acceptable. Even less can you serve up to God a life that has the good things in it tainted with deeds and thoughts that are rotten, and expect it to be acceptable to God.
If you wanted to get to heaven by your good works, then you would have to be perfect, which means complete obedience to God at all times. But all of us have fallen short of this!
