Look and Be Delivered

INTRODUCTION

He is Risen!

The past few days have been an exceptional time of remembrance of the death and suffering of Jesus, having endured a grave injustice in order to be the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins.

This morning, we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus at the sunrise service.

Now, I would like us to turn to the third chapter of John’s gospel. Not a typical Easter passage to look at, but vital in our understanding of the events that take place leading up to Resurrection Sunday.

The purpose of this gospel is found in John 20:31, but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

In chapter 1 the testimony of others points to Jesus as the promised Messiah of God. He is referred to as the Word, the Light, the Life, the Lamb of God, the King of Israel, and the Son of Man. All of these are labels that refer to the Messiah.

In chapter 2, Jesus provides signs that He is the Messiah. He performed a sign of compassion and love, when he turned water into wine so that the groom would not be shamed by not being able to provide for his wedding celebration.

He also performed a sign of righteousness by cleansing the Temple of those who were seeking to use religion for financial gain. These moneychangers and priests were extorting the worshippers who were traveling a considerable distance to sacrifice at the Temple.

Now, as we come to chapter 3, a religious leader of the day [Nicodemus] recognizes that there is something special about Jesus: God is with Him. The signs that Jesus provided were enough for this godly Jew to take notice and seek to find out what is up.

It is apparent by Jesus’ response (v. 3) that Nicodemus had a topic that he wanted to discuss with the possible Messiah: the Kingdom.

THE CONDITION (v. 1-8)

You must be born again

This terminology has proven to be a sticking point of confusion for both Christians and non-Christians. What exactly does it mean to be born again?

Some clarity can be granted when it is understood that the adverb that is translated “again” in this verse would more accurately be translated “from above.” Therefore, a more clear and understandable translation of this verse is, unless one is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.

While being born from above may not add to the clarity as much as we would like, it does at least point to the origin of this birth that Jesus is talking about. Thus, to be born from above is a work that only God can do…it is not something that man can attain on his own.

This is consistent with the message of the gospel, and the whole of Scripture.

John 1:12–13 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

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.

Jesus gives a nod to what it means to be born from above in verse 5, when He says unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The idea of being born of water and the Spirit means to be renewed…or made new…a new creation. Jesus is alluding to what it taught in Ezekiel 36:25-27 as it relates to God’s work in His people. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

It is interesting that all the way back during the ministry of Ezekiel (c. 600 BC), the prophet made clear that it would be a work of God (I will…) to make someone into a new creation…to be born again.

What was taught 600 years prior is the very truth that Jesus was alluding to with Nicodemus…and is the same truth for us today, 2,000 years after the ministry of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

So, what is the condition for someone to enter the kingdom of God? They need to be born from above…they need to be renewed. How does that happen?

THE CROSS (v. 14-17)

In order to help Nicodemus understand how the renewal comes about in an individual’s life, Jesus points to an event in the life of Moses.

Numbers 21:4-9

The Israelites complained against God’s provision for them. Thus, as a punishment for their sinful attitude, the Lord sent poisonous snakes among them, and many people died.

Once they repented and sought forgiveness, God provided a means to escape the judgment in the form of a bronze serpent. Should anyone look at the bronze serpent after being bitten, they would live.

Jesus, takes this account from Numbers and applies it to Himself. He will be lifted up (on the cross), and whoever looks to Him to be delivered from judgment will be saved.

The fact is we have all been bitten by the serpent of disobedience [sin], and the day of reckoning is coming soon.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

We must stand before God and give an account of ourselves. And His justice is so thorough that every careless word a man speaks, he will give an account of. If you have lusted, you have committed adultery. If you have hated, you have committed murder. (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28; 12:36)

Jesus warned that the justice is so thorough that the weight of eternal wrath will come upon you and grind you to powder. (Matthew 21:44)

But Jesus, the Son of Man, was lifted up on Good Friday and the wrath of God was poured out on Him in order to pay the penalty for our sins.

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The truth is that we will die physically…that is a result of the curse that God placed on mankind when Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden.

But there will come a time, as revealed to us in Revelation 20:11-15, that everyone will stand before God and be judged according to their deeds. And since we all fall short of His perfect standard, if our name is not found in the book of life, we will be cast into the lake of fire.

Jesus did not come and die in order to judge the world, He came to save it. Judgment comes later.

THE CONSEQUENCE (v. 18-21)

Belief/Commitment to Jesus

Delivered from judgment and are brought into the Light. You are born from above, made into a new creature in order to walk according to His commandments and the good works that He has prepared for you. (John 3:18, 21; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10)

Unbelief/Rejection of Jesus

Judged already because you do not believe in the name of the Son of God.

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved

CONCLUSION

You may think you are here today because it is Easter Sunday. You have been invited by a friend or loved one, and you did not want to disappoint them.

The truth is, you are here because there is a message that God wants you to hear.

You are living a life today that if you were to die and stand before God in judgment, the evidence would be laid before Him and you will be found guilty because you have broken His Law, and now you need to pay the penalty for breaking that Law. That fine is paid for all eternity in a place called the lake of fire.

But this is not the desire of our Creator.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord…is not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

1 Timothy 2:4 [He] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Yes, Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of the world. Yes, salvation is a free gift offered by God to all mankind.

But, if you are offered a gift and do not take it, then you cannot reap the benefits of that gift.

If you are here on this Resurrection Sunday and you have not called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to save you…if you have not looked to the cross to be delivered…is there anything that is keeping you from trusting in Christ alone to save you?