Truth Is... Religion won't save you

Intro

Tension to Resolve: Religion is not able to do battle when it goes toe to toe with Truth.

John 3:3

John 3:3 ESV

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:1–2 ESV

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

I love how John (The writer of this book) introduces us to Nicodemus.

1. He was a man of the Pharisees

Pharisee: a member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law, and commonly held to have pretensions to superior sanctity.

That means that this guy knew God’s law like the back of his hand. This man believed in God. He believed in creation. He believed in the scriptures. He followed all the rules. He was in charge!

2. He KNEW something was up.

Up until that point, I’d say that nicodemus would have assumed that he was doing okay with God. But for the past 3 chapters of John, Jesus was causing quite the stir. Given the way Nicodemus entered into the conversation, I’d say that this foundation was rocked. Being a member of the sanhedrin, and having a obligation to protect theology. He HAD to investigate.

3. He was READY to hear.

Nicodemus implied his readiness to learn from Jesus by acknowledges that Jesus had come from God. Nicodemus admitted that he knew that Jesus must be from God because of Jesus working miracles. Nicodemus prompted Jesus to share truth with him by giving Jesus the title Rabbi or Teacher.

Nicodemus was a learned man that had his heart stirred by the work of Jesus

Let’s see how Jesus responded

John 3:3–6 ESV

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The Only Way into Heaven is to be Born Again

Jesus was talking about Spiritual Birth

Spiritual Birth produces Life Change

John 3:7–8 ESV

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

You must be born again

Jesus was trying to help Nicodemus understand something. He was not saved. All the study, all the religion wasn’t enough. There must be a regenerative believe in Jesus!

Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart.

You Must be born again.