A Life Transformed

A Life Transformed

John 3:1-15

Illustration - One of the beauties of America is that if you really want to accomplish something, you can work for it and get there.

-If a certain career is in your heart and in your natural ability. You can work for it, learn, and get there.

-If you have an educational goal within your heart and natural ability. You can work for it and get there.

-If you want to build a particular business. There is most likely a way to make the sacrifices, learn, and make that dream happen.

-This is part of what we call the American dream.

-I am so thankful that even during a pandemic and political strife that we still live in a nation of opportunity.

But there is one place the American dream doesn’t work.

When we bring the attitude of “I can make it happen if I just work hard enough” into our spiritual lives. That attitude in your spiritual life will leave you in a shambles.

Today in our passage we meet a man who’s Spiritual life was perfect on the outside, but a disaster on the inside. His name is Nicodemus.

Transition - First we see a worry in Nicodemus life.

The Sinner’s Worry, Vs. 1-2

Read verse 1-2

Who was Nicodemus?

He was one of the Top Pharisees in that day.

He was one of the most elevated, most well respected, most looked up to, most honored of the religious leaders.

He was considered “the teacher of Israel”.

He was the Reverend Doctor Professor of the Jewish Religion.

Among the Pharisees, his word was the final word in matters of religion. Nicodemus had reached the pinnacle of his career.

Many would say that he was at the pinnacle of spirituality in his relationships with Father God.

-Wouldn’t you like to be in a place where you are at the pinnacle of spirituality in your relationship with God?

Nicodemus was a leader of the Sanhedrin - who were 70 top religious men that ruled over the spiritual affairs of the Jews. They were the Jewish supreme court.

-In this Jewish supreme court called the Sanhedrin if there was a difficult question about the Old Testament Law, how to live life for God, or a Jewish political question Nicodemus word carried much weight.

Problem - While Nicodemus was thought to be at the pinnacle of spirituality, Nicodemus on the inside was a spiritual disaster. He was a spiritual failure.

Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt like a spiritual failure?

Have you ever had someone look up to you spiritually, but on the inside there were things that were not right?

I have. I know what it is like to look spiritually shiny on the outside, but on the inside be a mess.

Why was Nicodemus a mess on the inside?

Like almost all Jewish leaders in Jesus day.

-Nicodemus had everyone fooled. He did not know Father God. Nicodemus wasn’t saved.

There was another big problem. He thought he was saved - But he wasn’t saved.

Nicodemus thought He was saved the American way. Good old fashion hard work.

Nicodemus was taught from his childhood that your good works earn your salvation. If you are a good enough person who sins less and does good works your salvation WILL BE SECURE.

There are 2 problems with earning your salvation.

-It’s not biblical.

-You never know the line of when you have done enough. You are always worried that you have not done enough.

-Nicodemus could never know if he had done enough.

-This is why our 1st point is called “The Sinner’s Worry”.

Nicodemus was the leader of a religious system that told people they were saved by their works and then piled on unbiblical expectations on the people.

The religious leaders had 613 special rules:

On the Sabbath (day of worship/rest) you were not to work. What is considered work?

-On the Sabbath your could walk no more than 2/3 a mile. You knew because you had to count your steps. In a culture where you walked everywhere.

-On the Sabbath you could not look in a mirror because you might see a grey hair and might then pluck it out, which would be working on the Sabbath.

-I had an aunt with a lot of chin hair who would have really worked hard on the Sabbath.

-No fire making on the Sabbath or even throwing a toothpick into a fire.

-No writing or keeping of records on the Sabbath day.

-You couldn’t even make a grocery list, or a “things to do” this week, or send a text.

-The Pharisees laid a burden of useless laws on the people.

-Nicodemus was the most responsible for laying these burdens on people because he lead the group, He enforced the laws.

Nicodemus had these rules memorized. But there was a problem. He was a hypocrite.

No one could obey all the rules of the Old Testament and the man made rules. Impossible.

He lived with Sinners Worry of wondering if his own goodness would ever be enough to out weigh his sins.

-Transition - Yet even though Nicodemus who is at the top of the system. Honors Jesus by not only coming to Jesus as a peer, but by calling Jesus, Rabbi - Teacher.

Read verse 2

vs. 2,

Yet Nicodemus came to Jesus at night.

The scripture doesn’t tell us why. Some reasons might include:

a. He did not want to be seen by the crowds as supporting Jesus.

b. Nicodemus wanted to have a private conversation.

c. At night was the only time he could find Jesus alone.

d. The Jewish people and much of the known world were very superstitious. It was a popular belief that at night was when the Evil Spirits were active and so you didn’t go out at night.

-In Jesus day demon activity is outwardly obvious.

-Night time was spooky.

-We also know that there were no street lights and LED flashlights.

-Few would be able to recognize Nicodemus, even when he was out on the street.

Nicodemus had Jesus all alone.

vs . 2b.

What is the first thing that Nicodemus says to Jesus.

-We know you are from God.

-What a statement. Nicodemus and the religious leaders know Jesus is from God.

-They have seen miracles. They have heard teachings. They weren’t convinced about Him being the Messiah, the Savior, they saw that God was clearly with Him like a prophet.

-The very men who will conspire to condemn Jesus to death confess that they know He is from God.

-How does this happen?

a. They also know that Jesus is not one of their own.

b. Jesus did not come through the upper levels of religious school.

c. He wasn’t taught by a famous rabbi.

d. Jesus did not play by their rules.

e. Jesus did not adhere to their system.

-These religious leaders had a heart that is harder than granite.

-By having a heart that is harder than the heart of the demons.

James 2:19

-Those who would kill the Son of God would not even shudder at doing so.

-They have chained themselves to throne of their heart.

-They have made a choice to white knuckle on to their life and life style.

-If Jesus was the Messiah, they would have to change everything.

-They would rather keep their life, their rules, and their system the way it is than change everything.

And so we see that their knowledge of Jesus being from God is not the same as turning from sin and turning over control of their life to Jesus.

-This is not a saving faith at all.

Maybe you find yourself in this place. Knowing Jesus is supernatural. Knowing that His teachings were true. Knowing what the Bible says Jesus did on the Cross in paying for sins.

BUT not being willing to give your life to Him...

If this is you, and you have a conviction in your soul, would you say yes to the call of Jesus? Would you trust Him right now and become His? Pause

Consider the heart of God

-In this private moment with Nicodemus at night, Jesus is not harsh with Nicodemus.

-Jesus listen’s to Nicodemus in love.

-Jesus is patient with this hypocrite.

Out of Jesus love He immediately redirects the conversation.

Nicodemus isn’t use to this is he.

This redirecting of conversation isn’t something that people don’t do with the highly respected master teacher of Israel.

People listen and follow his conversational direction.

Jesus loved Nicodemus too much to allow him to lead the conversation.

Jesus compassion wast to great. So Jesus takes the conversation.

Jesus teaches the greatest teacher.

Transition - Jesus shows Nicodemus The Savior’s way.

The Savior’s Way, vs. 3-4

vs. 3, Jesus says, Nicodemus, to get to heaven you must be born again.

Jesus gives us an example of why theology is very practical.

Jesus tells Nicodemus in one sentence -

-What you understand about how to enter into God’s Kingdom is wrong. You are not in God’s Kingdom right now.

-You are not saved.

-Nicodemus thought that all good Jews were in God’s Kingdom.

-Nicodemus would have thought he was one of the leaders of God’s Kingdom.

-Jesus says, You’ve missed it.

-Your good works have failed.

-You must be born again.

What does it mean to be born again?

Inward Spiritual Transformation by God. (X2)

-This transformation happens when full trust Jesus and give your life to Him.

Illustration - Baptism

We biblically Baptize people AFTER they have been saved.

Let me be very clear … Baptism does NOT save you.

When we Baptize people we say this, (Act it out)

“Buried with Christ in Baptism, Raised to walk in newness of life.”

What does that mean? Our old self or sin nature has died. We live in a new way of life by God’s Word and The Spirit’s power.

-When you are born again - In faith you have died to self and become a forgiven Child of God.

- You are transformed and made new.

-II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

-You are “born again”.

-You have been transformed by God.

-This sounds nothing like working to earn your salvation.

-Eph 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Pause

Nicodemus to His credit does not lash back at Jesus. But Nicodemus doesn’t get it.

Story tell - In verse 4 we see that Nicodemus, a very intelligent man, doesn’t have a clue what Jesus is talking about. He doesn’t understand spiritual things.

He says, Born again? You mean physically crawling back into your mothers womb?

-Not a clue about inward transformation.

The Kingdom of God is the family of God where God rules and reigns.

Nicodemus being one of the greatest Jews of the time thought that not only was he in God’s family, but he helped led it.

-He had no clue that he was a child of the Evil One.

-He was considered a a leader of a den of snakes.

-He had tricked himself into thinking that He was very righteous and part if God’s Kingdom.

Over hundreds of years the Jewish people had DE-VOLVED from believing that you were counted righteous by faith to being counted righteous before God by works.

They started to believe that what was on the outside was what mattered.

You know what. Keeping your faith on the outside (doing all the right things) and not allowing it to penetrate your heart is the easy thing.

-It’s easy for me to come to church and sit for an hour and check it off my to do list.

-It’s easy for me to read my devotional and check that off my to do list.

What is difficult is to allow the truth of God’s Word to penetrate my heart and transform it. To grow me into a new person.

Can I ask you a question?

Are you getting into God’s Word yourself and allowing it to penetrate your heart?

When you hear God’s Word being shared or taught do you allow it not only to educate your mind, but transform your heart and life?

Transition

Very patiently, without Jesus insulting Nicodemus Jesus repeats himself & the adds another piece.

The Spirit’s Work, vs 5-13

Read 5-7

Jesus adds 2 pieces to how someone is born again.

The water and the word.

What is the water? It is not Believers Baptism - That was given in Acts and hasn’t happened yet.

-There are several passages in the Old Testament (that Nicodemus would have known) about water being the cleansing work of the heart by God.

-The Spirit is God’s Holy Spirit.

A contemporary way to say this would be, “unless God purifies your heart through His Spirit” you can not be Born Again.

-Isn’t this the exact opposite of how Nicodemus thought salvation happened?

-Nicodemus was attempting to manufacture his own purity through man made rules - apart from God.

The point is - The inward transformation of being Born Again is supernatural. and is only from God.

-Being born again is a great picture.

-You brought nothing to your physical birth.

-You bring nothing to your spiritual birth.

-Your rule book doesn’t control it.

-Your rituals cannot contain it.

-Your calendar cannot plan for it.

-It is a supernatural change that only God can do.

Illustration of wind in verse 8.

-Story tell

-Jesus said, You can’t see or control the wind.

-But you see it’s effects.

-”So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

-God is constantly working in places and on people that you can’t see.

-But if you are watching, you can see it’s effects. You see the fruit.

Application - How is it that a person experiences the conviction of God in their life? Not guilt, but conviction? God’s Spirit is at work.

How is it that a Christ Follower has a strong urge to share their faith with a stranger or serve in a children's or youth ministry.

The Spirit moves on their heart.

After all this - Nicodemus still doesn’t get it.

vs. 9 How can these things be?

Jesus gives Nicodemus a story that He will understand.

The Illustration - GIVE A FINAL PICTURE OF THIS.

In the Old Testament, in Number 21 Story tell

-Moses leads God’s people through the desert.

-It’s hot, sandy and difficult.

-The people continue to complain against Moses and God.

God was tired of their complaining & disrespect.

God disciplined them.

He sent fiery snakes to bite the people.

We believe that the reason they were fiery is because as their venom digested your skin, it felt like your bight was on fire.

-People started to die.

-The people repented very quickly from their complaining.

-They turned away from their complaining and asked Moses pray to God for them.

-God told Moses to make a bronze snake.

-Moses did and put it up on a pole so everyone could see it.

-Everyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake lived.

-The bronze snake was a type of a physical savior. Saving physical life.

-Look at what verse 14-15 says about Jesus being the Eternal Savior.

...unpack the cross.

Many of you have seen a picture this bronze serpent wrapped around a pole on the back door of an ambulance. It is the sign of the medical healing.

Christ was lifted up on the cross like the serpent to bring healing to your soul.

Have you trusted Him?

Transition - I know one who did eventually trust Jesus with His sin. Nicodemus.

Nicodemus - In John 19 right after Jesus had been taken off the cross, we see that Nicodemus provided 75 pounds of spices at Jesus private burial.

Why? Nicodemus came to love Jesus.

Nicodemus believed that Jesus was the Son of God and that he must be born again.

Have you trusted in Jesus?

Jesus is gentle and loving to the prideful, to the accomplished, and to the hypocrites who come to Him.

Jesus invites you to believe in Him now.

Will you give your life to Jesus?

Will you say to Jesus now in the quietness of your seat.

Jesus I trust you, and I give my life to you.

Pray.

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