How to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven
Notes
Transcript
Preliminary:
Preliminary:
I invite you to John 3:1-14
Thanks for the opportunity to preach God’s Word.
John 3:1-14 I want to speak to you today about the fact that God wants us to know that we must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Introduction:
Introduction:
He pulled his cloak around him tighter as the cool night air chilled his aging bones. He was tired from a full day’s work, but he must speak to the Teacher.
His steps are intentional,
his direction unswerving.
His urgent knock on the door reverberated through the dark narrow alley that snaked its way through the city of Jerusalem.
As Nicodemus was ushered by the host into the room where Jesus was staying the noise and talk came to perfect silence.
As Their eyes met Nicodemus says “Rabbi…”
What follows is perhaps one of the most important conversations you will ever have the opportunity to eavesdrop on.
Jesus spoke in our text, to Nicodemus to inform him that he must be born again if he was to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
God wants us to know that we must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
I see four movements in this conversation John shares with us that show God wants us to know we must be born again to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
An evening conversation 1-2
An accurate answer 2
An absurd question 4
Jesus’ final answer 5-14
1. An Evening Conversation (John 3:1-2)
1. An Evening Conversation (John 3:1-2)
We see first of all this conversation happens at night.
We aren’t told the reason why it's at night,
perhaps it was as some have suggested, he was afraid of what the other Pharisees might think of him
or maybe Nicodemus had a long workday.
Religious leaders were also known to study the Scriptures late into the night. Whatever the reason Nicodemus approaches Jesus at night.
Nicodemus is described as a Pharisee. Pharisees were an important religious and political Jewish party at the time of Jesus and the apostles. They were larger than their rival group the Sadducees. The Pharisees worked in tandem with the scribes or those who were learned in Jewish law. They were often the target of Jesus’ sermons and warnings (Matthew 23). Pharisees did believe in supernatural miracles and Nicodemus attributes the works that Jesus did as miracles from God.
Whatever Nicodemus’s intentions and motivations — we can see in this that we should always come to Jesus with our questions, burdens, needs, and concerns. He has answers. Do you have conversations with Jesus? If you are not sure if you are saved or not, let Jesus talk to you. Go to Him - He will show you the way.
So Nicodemus comes to Jesus and simply asserts that there wouldn’t be any way Jesus could do the things he does if he were not sent from God.
Jesus doesn’t seem to acknowledge this at all, possible because we don’t have the entire conversation - whatever the reason
Jesus gives what I call...
2. An Accurate Answer (John 3:3)
2. An Accurate Answer (John 3:3)
Jesus immediately gets to the point:
John 3:3 ...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
To be born again is not something you do -it is something that is done to you. It is a being word, not a doing world.
The KJV says “born again” the Greek indicates it means to “be conceived or born from above.” It is a birth that is initiated by God. Without this being born from above we cannot see the kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is the kingdom or domain where God rules. To see the kingdom of God is basically the same thing as entering the Kingdom of God.
Jesus will give more information momentarily -but for now, Jesus introduces the concept to Nicodemus as though he would understand what he was talking about.
God wants us to know that we must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
This accurate answer is immediately followed by...
3. An Absurd Question (John 3:4).
3. An Absurd Question (John 3:4).
I picture Nicodemus’ face getting the most puzzled and confused look as he tries to grasp this concept of being born from above.
He takes something Jesus means to be interpreted spiritually and applies it literally and physically.
He seems to indicate his age as an old man. He asks an absurd question.
Now Nicodemus appears sincere, but still, the question is absurd
He asks if he has to enter the second time into his mother’s womb which is anatomically impossible, completely missing the point.
It just flies right over his head. Jesus explains later the importance of understanding spiritual things. Nicodemus a man of great learning in spiritual things, doesn’t have a clue as to what Jesus is talking about.
This leads us up to the final movement in this conversation:
4. Jesus’ Final Answer (John 3:5-14)
4. Jesus’ Final Answer (John 3:5-14)
Jesus seems to be attempting to give clarity to Nicodemus’ question as he says:
John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Notice the language is still “born” but Jesus introduces two other terms to us
born of the water and of the Spirit. This statement could mean at least four things:
That born of water was referring to the Baptism of John the Baptist and that born of the Spirit means Baptism of the Spirit by Jesus.
This interpretation presupposes that the baptism of John the Baptist was so influential at the time that the mere mention of water would conjure up pictures of his ministry. Nicodemus' response is one of ignorance.
Some interpret it to mean Christian water baptism and spiritual regeneration.
If this were the case why isn’t it mentioned later in this conversation? The entire focus is on the work of the Holy Spirit (v 8), the work of the Son (vv 14-15), the work of God himself (vv 16-17), and the place of faith (vv. 15-16).
Some have speculated it is referring to natural birth (water) and spiritual birth (Spirit).
There is no indication or mention of water as the natural birth that I can find in scripture.
Spiritual regeneration alone is depicted with a double metaphor.
Jesus uses a number of expressions that are parallel and related to entering and seeing the Kingdom of God
i. Born again/ from above 3:3
ii. Born of water and the Spirit 3:5
iii. Born again/ from above 3:7
iv. Born of the Spirit 3:8
1. If these are parallel and synonymous which they appear to be then to be ‘born again/from above’ and to be ‘born of water and the Spirit mean the same as to be ‘born of the Spirit’
And seems to be referring to regeneration alone with a double metaphor.
In fact, being born of water and spirit is a fulfillment of the promise from God given to Ezekiel:
Ezekiel 36:25–27 (KJV 1900)
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
You See God wants us to know that we must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus explains flesh begets flesh, and spirit begets spirit.
So we have the explanation of what being born of the water and the Spirit
Jesus’ final answer also included an analogy to the wind
John 3:8 “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
You can’t see the wind, but you can see the effects of it. So it is with being born from above.
I saw the young man the first time he came to church, living with his girlfriend, on drugs, and alcohol, and then when he was born again - they had a radical change as the Spirit began to transform his life and home. We couldn’t see the Spirit in him but we sure could see the effects.
John 3:9 “Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?”
Nicodemus just can’t seem to grasp what Jesus is saying
Jesus gets somewhat rough with Nicodemus:
John 3:10 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?”
Nicodemus might have been the foremost teacher in Israel and Jesus was surprised that he didn’t know this eternal truth already.
Then Jesus begins to shift somewhat in John 3:11-13 He talks about his witness to spiritual things
He gives his credentials for witnessing spiritual things (John 3:13 “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” ) He had been there.
His final answer also includes the idea of Moses and the bronze serpent - this is from the Old Testament when the children of Israel had sinned and God sent serpents to bite them and they were dying.
Moses went to prayer and the Lord told him to build a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Anyone who would look to the serpent would be healed.
Jesus uses this to illustrate our response to Christ should be to look to Him and live
You See God wants us to know that we must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Lewis A. Drummond once posited a question, “When everything else is over and said and done, only one thing ultimately matters: Do you know God? Can you face eternity with Him? This is where Jesus is trying to lead Nicodemus, this is where The Holy Spirit through John is trying to lead us.
Call to Action
Call to Action
Is Jesus calling you to be born from above? You may be asking what do I do? It is not complicated, but it is all intensive.
1. Admit you are a sinner – we must agree with God about our sinful condition and need of a Savior. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
2. Repent of your sins. We must turn away from our sins. Change directions and turn to God. Repentance is necessary to receive forgiveness and be born from above. We see this, especially in Acts 3:19 “Repent, therefore, and turn back that your sins may be blotted out”
3. Believe in Jesus Christ – We must trust in Christ and receive what He says. Romans 10:9 declares “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
With every head bowed and every eye closed.
If God is speaking to you right now about your need of being born again, would you just slip your hand up to show me that you are going to take these steps. You are going to admit your sinfulness, repent of your sins, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
God sees every hand.
Those that raised your hand would you come forward as we pray together.
PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for sending your Son to teach us of our need of being born from above.
Here are some who are admitting their sinfulness and need of a Savior.
They are repenting of their sins. They’re through with the sin business. They are turning to you
They are confessing with their mouth and believing with their heart
Would you come Holy Spirit and witness to their hearts that God has for Christ’s sake forgiven every sin.
That they are born from above.
We thank you for listening to us and praise you for salvation.
In Jesus’ name Amen.