That Whoever Believes

“That Whoever Believes” (1650)

John 3:1-16

Before we read

Can you relate to Nicodemus?

25 He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Introduction

A Natural (truck driver)

Vs 1 - Now there was a man…

No breaks in the original (2:25)

John is setting up the story

Nicodemus was a natural Pharisee

Vs 2 – If I butter Him up…

Nicodemus was good at playing this game
Sneaking in the back way

Vs 3 – Jesus doesn’t bite

Very bluntly (amen, amen)
No one – I don’t care if you were born in the church
Born again

Born first time – God creates
Born again – English – to repeat, repetition (palin)
This word though is (anothen)-born from above,
which means God restores the beauty
He who did it first must do it again

This excludes imitations, fakes

Vs 4-8 – Nicodemus shares his heart

I would have just stayed in my seat
Spirit is working in Nicodemus’ heart

The very thing Jesus is talking about is happening
Vs 6 – Jesus explains anothen
Vs 7 – Jesus says it palin

Only this time the first you is for singular – to Nicodemus
Second You is plural – you all

Vs 9-15 – Nicodemus asks more questions

Jesus says “Your suppose to be this Bible scholar” or “Bob, what about all your ed.”
Vs 14 – Illustration from the scriptures

Maybe this will help

And then… Vs 16

The phrase for today – that whoever believes
That – everything before this word
Whoever – (pas) all, any, total, whole, every

Bren bakes something I like

Believes – key word

Survey –
(pisteuō) – one trusting, this makes no sense but I will anyway, to entrust to another

Is this passage screaming to your heart?

We don’t like alter calls