Untitled Sermon (3)

The New King James Version Chapter 3

Christ Witnesses to Nicodemus

3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

INTRODUCTION TO JOHN 3

Regeneration,

a New Birth, 

A New Creation,

Born Again. 

These terms all mean the same thing, - salvation. 

Salvation means to be saved -

saved from the consequences of our sin, -

which brings us death. 

God is light, - so darkness can’t exist in heaven.  

Sheol,-

Hades, -

Gehenna, 

and the Lake of Fire.

We know it as hell.

John 3:16 tells us:

God so loved the world - that He sent His only begotten Son that - whoever shall believe in Him should not perish - but have eternal life. 

We are saved when we believe -

by faith in the way - that God chose to save us.

By sending His Son Jesus -

ot die on a cross, -

then on the third day be resurrected. 

By faith, -

we believe in what Jesus did,-

and we are saved.

Then - we are ushered into God’s presence

either by death - or the rapture. 

I came across and met a Jewish man in January of 2022.

He told me that in the Jewish tradition, there is no hell.

Jesus Himself affirmed in the scriptures - that there is such a place.

Hades was the Greek word for the realm of the dead.

Jesus uses it more specifically to refer to a place of torment (Luke 16:23),

It’s a site opposite of heaven (Matt 11:23). 

Like so many in the world, -

man will develop beliefs or traditions that deny biblical truths. 

If there is no hell, we can live how we like, -

for tomorrow we die.

Let’s go for the gusto now -

lets enjoy every possible pleasure we can. 

When we search deep into our hearts, -

our conscience tells us there is a God

It also tells us that there is a time of judgment

Judgement for the wrongs we have done in this life. 

In John chapter 3,- we meet a Jewish man who believes.

He’s a powerful man politically

He’s also a religious man

He’s supposedly a teacher of the things of religion. 

Judaism is the state religion in the nation of Israel

Jerusalem is its capital.

Herod’s temple is there. 

His name is Nicodemus.

He was a ruler of the Jews.

Being a ruler means he was a member of the Sanhedrin, -

the equivalent of today’s senators here in the US. 

He was also a Pharisee,

a group of about 600 men in Israel at the time. 

The word Pharisees means “Separated Ones.”

They were zealous and strict in their religion

they wanted no outside influence to change that. 

Appearing to be righteous and God-fearing men, -

too many were corrupt!

power and notoriety

rich and conceited

greed and selfish ambition

the root cause, - sin.

Many Pharisees hated Jesus -

He criticized them for being hypocrites. 

Beautifully clothed on the outside

Inside - many were wretched and wicked

Nicodemus was different. 

Most Pharisees and the Sanhedrin made decisions on their own. 

Instead of seeking God and His guidance, -

they sought counsel from each other. 

Nicodemus had seen much hypocrisy -

in and around God’s temple. 

Men who were supposed to be upright and religious

most were totally opposite. 

Many merchants made money dishonestly.

The Temple was where people were supposed to

meet with God, -

pray to Him

and offer sacrifices for their sins. 

The people who came to the Temple

They were aware of the dishonesty and corruption. 

People who had a sincere love for God just wanted to be in God’s Temple.  

Nicodemus is living during an exciting times

Jesus is on the scene. 

He’s overturning the tables of those selling their wares in God’s house. 

He’s healing the lame, blind and sick.

No one had ever witnessed healings as Jesus had administered

There were so many in need. 

Jesus, Teaching God’s Word

no one had taught like He did before

He never attended any of the highly respected schools

Schools where the rabbis and priests of the day attended.  

Let’s pick it up in John 3, verse 1.

John 3:1 (NKJV) 1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

The Pharisees were also jealous of Jesus

they saw in Him a true man of God

a man Who embodied integrity. 

Nicodemus was not only politically powerful,

he was also wealthy. 

With all of his accolades and prosperity, he was missing something within his soul. 

Perhaps this whom some say is the Son of God

Maybe Jesus has the answers he’s searching for. 

Nicodemus was a gifted teacher himself.

Too often today, many turn away from the Lord

their intelligence and worldly philosophies blind them towards God. 

In my twenties and thirty’s I would always have discussions about God.

Huge arguments with family and friends about God.

I had no idea what I was talking about. 

Always there was alcohol by my side. 

I thank God for afflicting me with a DUI

It was the catalyst that sent me on a sincere journey to learn about Him. 

My heart and mind were ready and open to search and find Him. 

I asked God to send someone to speak to me.

I had never attended church growing up

I never knew my Lord

Then I met a man that shared the gospel with me.

A month later I was saved!

I read the entire Bible in a year

I learned so much about my Lord.

I still can’t put my Bible down and read it daily. 

You may have all the knowledge the world can offer

but if you don’t know Jesus, you know nothing. 

Your conscience not only tells you right from wrong,

it also tells you that there is a God.

If you don’t know Him, don’t wait

Your eternal destiny depends on knowing Him

Not only knowing but accepting Him

He created you

He gave His life on a cross for you

He made the Way so you could be saved and make it to heaven. 

If you doubt, search your heart and ask God to reveal Himself to you.