Untitled Sermon (3)

The Ascent of the Divine King to His Throne

John 3:13-21; Numbers 21:4-9; Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7; John 8:28-29

Intro: “Then there was that time...” Essential historians give us perspective on significant events. Deliberate choices to record. These accounts form much of the identity of the tribe (Tar Wars or Pine Tar Incident)

I. We have questions, God has answers

A. Even the experienced teacher can still learn

New Living Translation Chapter 3

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

Baptism for the Gentile to practice the Jewish faith was referred to as being reborn into Judaism

They would never baptize a Jew

Rebirth for Nicodemus was water baptism (John the Baptist’s baptism) and Holy Spirit Baptism (Jesus’ baptism literal born from above)

Physical birth results in physical life; Spiritual birth results in spiritual life

B. Jesus comes from above - verse 13

i. Jesus begins a play on words at this point

ii. He comes down and ascends again

a. comes down from heaven

b. is lited up on the cross (step 1)

c. Is raised up from the dead (step 2)

d. Ascends to the Father (step 3)

C. Snakes alive! Wendy hates snakes!

i. The snakes gave a bite that burned like fire

ii. The result was death

iii. No human remedy

iv. the God given remedy - the snake on the pole

v. This was a familiar account to Nicodemus

D. Lifted up

i. don’t focus on the bite

ii. Don’t focus on other snakes

iii. Don’t try to make sense of it

iv. God has a cure - trust it!

II. Eternal Life

A. Future blessings right now (not inherit, but HAVE)

B. Life as God intended- “zoe”

III. Original Blessing

A. Before the original sin (Eddie Izzard) came the original blessing - Genesis 1:26-28

B. . Though we can choose how or whether to respond to God, God has chosen to echo blessing over us. Original blessing is the gift we are naturally given as humans made in God’s image. “Danielle Shroyer”

C. We come full circle - Genesis 2:7

i. God breathed “zoe” into the human

ii. Be fruitful

iii. fill - make your mark in the earth

iv. reign - live your best life

Conclusion - Everything God does flows from this original blessing - which refers tothe God -given life He created us to experience

John 8:28-29 -  So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.”

Next week - A look at Penal Substitutionary Atonement and why it falls short as a theory about why Jesus died.