Feb 6, 2022 Sunday Worship Service (Roy)

I have a feeling we'll need this today.

Well, good morning. It's great to be back. I'll tell you. That was some sickness. I went through and I'm sure a lot of you have gone through a two and it's one of the rare that I could spend since 1984. So when I had pneumonia at the age of 18 that I have been that sick, so something to consider that as we think about this morning, we think about where we've been, How Far We've Come Along. We've been talkin about the Life of Christ and just a summary, and I'll use the summer that Paul gives That God was manifested in the flesh. Justified in the spirit, seen among Angels, preached among the Gentiles believed on in the world and received up into Glory. There it is right there. A summary of everything that took place concerning Jesus Christ. And we're thankful for that because what he has done for you and me is that we can't even think of the great blessings that he has showered upon you and me because of his and his death and his resurrection and then his Ascension Ascension to king of all because of that you and I have eternal life. And so we gather here every first day of the week to say Thank You Lord. Thank you, Lord, for loving me. Thanking you Lord for making me whole and that's what this is about. And that's what I liked about, John Chapter 3 of Salvation. He lays it out playing. He lays it out clear, and it's filled with information and filled with a blessing and filled with hope. And then it culminates with the great golden text of the Bible for God. So loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whoever Shall Believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life. And so were thankful for that golden text to the Bible, but even more so for what Jesus did that to make that the golden text of the Bible. And so this morning we talkin about Jesus and Nicodemus asked Jesus and Nicodemus and have you read this morning from John chapter 3? Find that Nicodemus comes to Jesus by 9. And we'll get into that in just a second. But I just want to practice before I get into the the matter. I was born of a woman, right? Well, liked some of you. I was born of a woman.

And that got me. Into the world. They got me on this planet.

And then there's a second birth. N f s birth. Has taken me out of this world. And off this planet for eternity. And this is the point that Jesus is going to make for us this morning as we consider what he has to say to Nicodemus.

So Nicodemus comes to Jesus by Night Nicodemus, his name me Victorious, and Nicodemus is not Victorious yet. But that's what his name means. He has to do some things first first for Jesus Christ, so he has yet to be Victorious and like the name. Jesus Nicodemus was a popular name. A proper Jewish name. And so, Nicodemus is the part of the Sanhedrin. He's part of the Supreme Court of Israel. And one of the rulers as they would say and that, that word ruler at the rulers of Israel were those who were part of the Sanhedrin, the 70, or the 72 really, but the 70 who ruled over. Israel, remember, Israel is a theocracy. And that is they combined the sacred, and the secular they combined spiritual, and man's law. And so the Supreme Court that he was part of made sure that both were covered. And so again, part of the Sanhedrin. He's a teacher. He comes to Jesus by night and there's a reason he says by night.

In fact, that expression is found 16 times in the New Testament, and every single one of those X means by stealth. It means that a time where he's not going to be noticed.

It's so he comes to Jesus by night because he has been impressed with Jesus. He has witnessed the Miracles, the signs that Jesus has been working. And so he comes to Jesus and he calls him, Rabbi teacher out of respect. I was just robbed by, we know that you're a man from God because no one no one can do the things that you're doing. No one can do those except God be with him.

XO, there's an odd response by Jesus. I always scratch my head. When I read that response. And I think about all the things that Jesus could have said. but if you read the context, which goes back into the end of chapter 2, the Jesus knew the hearts of men. And so, Jesus do the purpose. Why Nicodemus showing up to him at night. And even before he asked his question. Jesus is going to give him the answer. He says, most of Shirley I say to you. One must be born again to enter into the kingdom of God. The right away. He provides the answer and I'm sure Nicodemus is astonished about what he said. And he goes on to explain that a man must be born out of water and out of spirit. Now does the word act there, EK? The word Acme's out from around. And so, it's before water. It's before spirit. So it's born out of water and born out of spirit.

And so Jesus says, there's two requirements. For this new birth, being born out of water, and being born out of spirit. When so, we'll touch on that in just a second, but Nicodemus. has a response and he says, well, how can I How can a guy be born again to his mother's womb? A second time to be born again? How can that happen now? Dumb. He's playing Coy with Jesus. He say I'm a Jew. And because I'm a Jew, I have salvation. You know why I have salvation? Cuz I've been born into it. God's chosen His People Israel. How do I was born? As it is real life is one of God's children. That's who I am.

Jesus says, well that might be very well and good.

But I'm not talking about a physical birth. I'm going to talkin about a physical birthday. Put you into right standing with God. I'm talking about a spiritual person that put you in the proper and right standing with God. Jesus answer this question out of water and out of spirits. There are two births tubers. We talked about that one already. You and I are born physically, but the second birth is more important. The first one gets ass on your the second one gets us off the earth, and the second one is a spiritual birth. And that's the point of the discussion that Jesus is now making Nicodemus. That's so if there's a physical birth, the spiritual birth, and it's out of water, and out of spirit, but what's the context of the context is this? In chapter 1 and chapter 2, we find John is baptizing people out in the Jordan. Jesus himself goes out and gets baptized by John in the Jordan. And then after the people are been baptized John turns to Jesus was walking down the way toward him. And he turns to all the people. He says, Behold the Lamb of God who takes the sins of the world away.

And so people now have turned from John and now they're focused on Christ. Is this the one is this, the Messiah? Can you imagine the joy in your heart? When you as a Jew have come to the realization that this, this is what the Oracles of God. The Old Testament have talked about, they prophesied that were coming. Who's going to take away the sins of our, our people away. Victory. We're going to be a great people. Once again, is this the Messiah?

What's the context? But the Countess also involves the kingdom? John came preaching a baptism of repentance for the Forgiveness of sins, but he also began by saying repent. For the kingdom of God is at hand. No, what does that have to do with anyting? Well, it means just this, the kingdom is representative of authority and the authority lies with Christ. End up with in that Authority that lives with Christ is salvation, the Forgiveness of sins.

I'm so he's preparing the people for the coming Messiah. Jesus the Christ. Who's now going to go ahead for the next two and a half years towards the car and he's going to die for you and me and for them.

So he's talking about Kingdom, entrance.

John's baptism Was preparing the people for the coming Kingdom. John's baptism. Look forward to the cross and I look forward to the coming Kingdom. That Christ said he would build that he would establish. And we can read about that coming Kingdom in the book of Isaiah, that we read this morning and then we can read of its fulfillment in the book of Acts in chapter 2. When the day of Pentecost had fully come, Luke tells us.

And that's the day the church began. That's the day the kingdom begin. I'm so Kingdom, entrance is what Jesus said? Would be what he said, go into all the world and preach the gospel. He who believes and is baptized shall be this way. You said go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things and lo I'm with you always even unto the end of the age. Luke says it this way, that repentance and remission of sins shall be preached in his name, beginning at Jerusalem. That's where they were on the day of Pentecost, that the law had gone forth out of Zion through the preaching of the Apostles. And on that day, Peter sirmon is recorded as one of the Apostles, the gospel has been proclaimed.

It's the law of Christ, in the law of Christ, brings in the entrance into the kingdom. And we'll talk about that in just a second.

The but it's predicated upon price baptism. John's baptism was for the Jews and the Jews. Only Christ baptism is for you and me that is Jewish and Gentile. And he says that's that's the beauty of it all for everybody. It's not just for the Jews. It's not just for the chosen. But now for all these other chosen people, that's right. Chosen. God Before Time began shows that all those who will be saved will be found in Christ Jesus. And then the fees is 1:3, that all spiritual blessings are found in Christ. Jesus. Three occasions that we are baptized into Christ. 2nd Peter 2:10, we're told that salvation is in Christ in Ephesians 5:23 and says Christ died for the church. We're told the next chapter 2 and verse 47 that those who were baptized and receive the Forgiveness of sins were added by the Lord to the church. Christ died for the church Christ died for those Jesus asked them to do in order to enter into the kingdom. In order to enter the truth. That's where the authority of Christ lies. Jesus is talking about really? Is this Invisible Man? The Invisible Man.

Notice, he says the wind blows where it wishes and you hear it Nicodemus, but you cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. We're all like that. You're right outside. Outside this morning and feel that wind can't see it. But I know it's there. I know it's blown because I can feel it. I can hear it. Rustling through the leaves. I can hear it through the branches of the trees. I can feel it upon my skin. I know it's there. I can't see it. And notice what he says. So is everyone born out of the spirit? So is everyone born? You can't see a change of heart. You can't see a change in spirit. That is you don't know what a person is thinking or saying or doing until they say something or do something. And the person that does something or says something is not the flesh that you see what? It's the n-word man. It's the human Spirit. That's changed. And Jesus says, you can't see that. You can only see the effects of it and the effects of it are this. One is born out of water and one was born out of spirit. You can ascertain, that person has entered. The kingdom. That is the inward man has been changed. The inward man has been changed. But why? So, we learned the fact that as we are chains, we begin a new way of living, and a new way of living demands that we live differently than we used to live. and so, He says put off the old man. Put off the things of the past, put off all the things that you were doing, and that live, like you're a child of God. Live like the new creation that you've become. and so, There's a whole list of sins that Paul talks about both in Galatians chapter 5 in Ephesians chapter 43. Talks about what I put away line. Put away, apocracy. Put away filthy talk out of your mouth. I've known people who become Christians. But they still had a potty mouth. They cussed. Worse than sailors.

No offense to my Navy, brother.

And it took him a while to understand that. You just simply cannot go through life living like you used to live. Price demands that they're not be any filthy speech out of our mouths. No cussing. Not even taking the lord's name in vain. Write an often, we hear about that. There's usually a A four letter word following the name of God.

And people will take Jesus's name in vain. And we do it too. When we get mad sometimes.

You know, I remember, I like to share this with you. It is funny.

Steve, Martin was telling a joke. And now he could not control his tongue. And he would take the lord's name in vain. And so, one day, he died and he was before the Lord. And the Lord said, why couldn't you help yourself? Why couldn't you control your speech a little bit better. He says. How many towns are really take the lord's name in vain? And God turned around and said a million six. He says a million 6G.

We are not to take the lord's name in vain. And so we say all that Paul says, all that he says, listen because you've been born again. You've been taking off this Earth, you're now living in a kingdom, a spiritual kingdom. Yes. I know. We're literally on the Earth, but spiritually, we're not. Where is citizens in the Kingdom above. That's where our home is, that's where we're striving to get to. And you can't live like it used to live. Before you were converted to Christ, that's what he saying. I need a lot of people can't get through that. They just cannot stop doing the things I used to do.

But now he says, everyone is born out of the spirit. You can't see the change until you see the effects. And when someone starts living like Christ, when someone starts living a clean, Le a clean life week, would say someone who's Godly. Then you can say, I see the change. I know that person is changed. That's what Jesus is talking about. So, let's talk about the work of the spirit for just a second. How is one born out of the spirit? Notice what he says, it is the spirit who gives life, the flesh profits, nothing the words that I speak to, you are spirit and they are life. So the spirit gives life. How does he give life through the words? Through the words. What were the other words? Jesus said, was this he that believes and is baptized shall be saved the spirit spoke through Christ. Three words. The words offer you life. The words offer and invitation they come from the spirit spoken through Christ. That would be easier to say earlier. He who hears my word and believes in him who has sent me has everlasting life and she'll not come into judgment but has passed from Death To Life.

What made the change? Do you hear the blues? My words? That made the change. How does it happen? They passed from Death unto life. How do they do that? Accepted the invitation of Christ, accepted the teaching of God. They accepted the words that the spirit spoke not only through Jesus, but through the apostles. Until we find in chapter 5 of Ephesians husbands, love your wives. Just as Christ. Also loved the church and gave himself for her that he might sanctify.

Notice that that he might sanctify. Jesus die.

But that he might sanctify. Her, who's the her? You and me where the church? That's the her. And he says he died that dumb post might be sanctified. A lot of people have the mistaken notion that because Jesus died for them. They're automatically.

Here you might, you might be sanctified. What makes the difference? That might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water. Number one by the word or through the word. There's that word again. Jesus said in John 17:17. Sanctify them by the truth. That word is truth. Sanctified by the spirit through the teaching, or Sanctified by the spirit, through the word that the spirit presented or Sanctified by the spirits word. And were set apart by it. If we're willing to be set apart by it. We have got to desire to make the train. That's one thing. God will not get involved in your life with he will not make you do or say or think anything. You have the responsibility. You who was the you that is your whole heart, your holes. So your whole mind, your whole strength, all of you needs to be a part of the process.

So we're safe defied by the water. If we continue in the word, that's what Paul Rowe. If you continue in the word or in the faith, you will be Sanctified, but it's depending upon what continuing in the face. Need to continue. Follow through James 1 verse. 18 says, he brought us forth by the word. The King James says, he be got us by the word, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. All the word of God has plenty of power, and it's necessary and notice he says, in 1st Peter, 1:22, since you have purified, your souls in obeying, the truth having been born again. How do we were talking about being born again?

We have do some men must be born again in order that the king of heaven, and then he says, here's how you doing. He must be born out of water, and a man must be born again. And so he says, here you have purified your souls in obeying, the truth, having been born again how through the work through the teaching, through what through the gospel. Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Notice for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Where is the power of God to salvation for every one of them? You believe then you need to follow and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The work of the holy spirit is the work of his word because it's the word, the spirit gave. and the power that saves you and me is not through God himself, but through his word the Holy Spirit himself says That the gospel is God's power to Salvation. God's not going to come directly upon you and save you. He's giving a means. Whereby, everyone stands on equal footing because everyone has equal access to it if they desire it. The gospel, the word of God. And so he says in John 3:16 for God. So loved the world that he gave his only begotten, son, that whoever believes in him. Should not perish, but have everlasting life notice. She doesn't say whoever believes in him will never perish.

He says, whoever in the believes there in blue. Is present tense, which means continuous action? So literally that whoever continues believing in him, there's so many in the world today. There's so many in the world today that thing I believe in Jesus Christ. Therefore I'm saying it's a one-time occurrence. That's not true. It's continuous. You got to continue believing and then he says that you should not perish. But what makes the difference? Well, he's going to tell us. John 3:16 refers back to John 3 Verses 5 through 7 man, must be born out of water. And out of scared. A man. Must be born again. That's the one that keeps believing notice. Jesus answered most assuredly. I say to you. Unless one is born out of water and how does Spirit he cannot answer it. The kingdom of God? That which is born of the flesh is flesh that which is born of the spirit of spirit. Do not Marvel. That I said to you, you must I said this morning, a Bible class that we must worship God in spirit and truth, right? And UST must hear. Jesus says it again. You must be born again, how out of water out of spirit. And then 20 versus later, John calls his with this. I want you to see the significance of this. He who believes in the son has everlasting life. And he who does not obey the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him. John 3:36 is simply a reaffirmation of John 3:16.

He, who believes?

Should not perish, but have everlasting life. And Jesus says he that believes and is baptized shall be saved and then John 3:36 comes around. He says, he who continues believing in the sun has everlasting life and he who continues disobeying disobeying the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him. You see the connection between belief and faith. An obedience. And there's a connection between Disobedience and faith and that's called a Paseo meaning unbelief. Unbelief is Disobedience. Belief is obedience? That's the point that John is making, that's the point that Jesus is making and what was going on, is this? This fact everyone had gone out to be baptized by John in order for them to enter the kingdom. But who didn't go out to be baptized by John. The Bible tells us and Luke chapter 7, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the scribes. And those are the Sanhedrin Nicodemus is one of them. Nicodemus is one of them but he's different than the rest. He's different than the rest of those Pharisees. Because now, he's investigating. How about you? Are you investigating? Are you seeking the truth? Are you searching the words of Jesus Christ? Jesus made mention of that. In John chapter 5 talking to his enemies. He says you search the scriptures for in them. You think you have found eternal life. But you have not come to me for eternal life. Meaning, you haven't searched out well, at all. How about you are you searching? Are you seeking? You can only search and seek diligently, the word of God. That's the truth. Remember? It's the truth that sanctifies. It's the truth that justifies. It's the truth that purifies. How does it happen when we submit to it? And when we do that, we have submitted to our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ who indeed I'd upon the cross so that you can access his blood and have forever, the Forgiveness of your sins. And when you stand before the Lord at the Judgment bar in the scene that day. The father is going to look at you through the blood of your son and he's going to say that's my child. I see. No, sin. How about you? Are you ready for that? That day is coming. The day is coming. We all will not get out of here alive.

So, let's remember. Let's put our priorities in place today. Tomorrow is not promised for us today is now if you will, and you desire to make sure that you're in Christ, Jesus do what Jesus says he that believes and is baptized shall be saved.

That's what Christ said. You're willing to do that. You can be in Christ today. This very moment and be assured of Salvation and have all the blessings that go along with it, including the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. If you've done that. If you've done that, but you haven't been living the way you should. You haven't been living? Like the new man should live. Jesus says, repent come back home and reintroduce yourself as a child of God. Once again ready to expand his kingdom. You're subject to the invitation of Jesus Christ. This morning, want to come for now.