Introduction

Hello church! I’m so glad to be with you today. I have this bottle of carbonated water with me. I want to use this bottle as an illustration of the incredible love God has for every one of us. What happens if I do this? [SHAKE BOTTLE] What’s going on inside the bottle? [Tremendous pressure building]. Now, what happens when I twist off the cap like this? [Pretend like you’re about to twist off the cap, but stop short…what are people’s reactions?]

Okay, I’m not going to actually remove the cap, but what if I did? What would happen? It would’ve sprayed everywhere! Everything up here around me would’ve been wet. It would be messy!

When I shook the bottle there was tremendous pressure building inside. And if I had removed the cap, the water would’ve gushed out with tremendous force.

God’s love is just like that. His love bursts forth, it gushes forward, just like the pressurized water from this bottle. For all eternity the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have existed in a community of self-giving love. The church fathers called this “perichoresis” which is like an eternal dance of love. The three persons of the trinity love one another and have a deep connection to one another. They know each other and have tremendous joy and love together. There is no fear or insecurity in their communion.

God’s love is so great that he wanted to share it beyond himself. So God, who is a Creator, created the universe. God’s creation is simply a bubbling overflow of his love! We are the object of his love. His love is so great that he has to share his life and love with all of creation. His love bursts forth, it gushes forward, just like the pressurized water from this bottle.

So, the next time you open a bottle and it accidentally sprays everywhere, remember that’s how much God loves his creation! His love FOR YOU cannot be contained.

Today we’re going to look at a story from the Gospel of John. A Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and they have a very interesting conversation.

God’s love is just like that. His love bursts forth, it gushes forward, just like the pressurized water from this bottle.

Main Teaching

Nicodemus is a Pharisee who comes to Jesus at night, possibly in secret. Was he afraid of being seen by others? Maybe. He definitely wanted to meet Jesus in person. We are not sure at this point if Nicodemus was coming to Jesus in sincere faith or if he was just curious and wanted to know more. Maybe a little of both. Sometimes Pharisees would come to Jesus in an attempt to trick or trap Jesus, but that’s not what’s happening here. Either way, Jesus was approachable and welcoming to all who came to him.

In Christ we are born “anew” Nicodemus knew that Jesus was distinctive and unique. He confesses to Jesus, “No one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him” (3:2).

Jesus responded, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (3:3). The word translated “again” in the Greek is “anaothen” which can be translated several different ways. It can mean again, or anew, or from above.

Nicodemus took Jesus to mean “again” in the literal sense because he asked, “How can someone be born when they are old? Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” (3:4). By being born “anaothen” Jesus meant anew. A rebirth from within by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (3:5) ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium