Jesus Saves

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“JESUS SAVES” (SERMON)

John 3:1-17

In an article written by Albert L. Winseman for http://news.gallup.com, says that the percentage of Americans who identify themselves as “born-again” or “evangelical” did not shift from 2003 to 2004, according to Gallup date gathered from each year that in 2003, 42% of U.S. adults said they were born-again or evangelical; in 2004 percentage is 41%.

The question to you is what does it mean to be born-again? If you should die, where would you spend eternality?

ILLUSTRATION: In Texas they tell a story about a man who used to hitch his horse every morning in front of the saloon. One morning the saloonkeeper came out and found that the horse was hitched in front of the Methodist church. He saw the man walking down the street and called out, “Say, why is your horse hitched in front of the Methodist church this morning?” The man turned around and said, “Well, last night I was converted in the revival meeting, and I’ve changed hitching posts.” That’s what it means to be born again. That’s what it means to be converted. It means that you changed hitching posts.

Nicodemus a Pharisee, came to Jesus after hearing about Him came to Jesus at night. At night so that the so-called “church leaders” during that time won’t see him.

It was perhaps the two won’t disturbed. There is something about meeting at night makes it an interesting way of meeting. There is something about night that makes it intriguing and mysterious. There something about the night, this particle night that make a man seek knowledge from another.

In observation to this, Nicodemus wanted to know somethings from Jesus.

I.NICODEMUS WAS RESPECTFUL. “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him” (VERSE 2). Nicodemus knew who Jesus was and what He can do and this is where student learns from the teacher. One of His disciples Nathanel recognized who He is by saying, “...Rabbi, you are the Son of God; the King of Israel” John 1:49.

II.NICODEMUS NEEDED SOMETHING FROM JESUS. There were questions that needed to be answered. Nicodemus came to the right one in answering questions. It was something Jesus said that caught his attention. “Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” (VERSE 3). What is the Kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is synonymous with the kingdom of heaven. The concept of the kingdom of God takes on various shades of meaning in different passages of Scripture. Broadly speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe. In other words, in order to go where God is, you must be born-again. Who can enter the Kingdom of God? To be admitted into His Royal Household is to enter His Kingdom. There are three necessary facets to entering the Kingdom of God according to Scripture:

a) CHILDLIKE SIMPLICITY – “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it” (Luke 18:17 NKJV); be humble before the Lord.

b) BORN OF WATER & SPIRIT – “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God’” (John 3:5 NKJV); your flesh is a mess but let the Holy Spirit take over.

c) MUCH TRIBULATION – “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22 KJV); yes, trouble will come but your victory is on the way.

III.THE WAY OF SALVATION. The way of Salvation is very clear because Paul wrote to remind us that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life...” Romans 6:23. Another thing to remember, "and there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men which we must be saved” Acts 4:12. Remember what Jesus said? “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6.

ILLUSTRATION II. A little girl once begged a famous preacher to visit her dying mother “come and get my mother in,” she pleader He followed the girl to a slum tenement, and sitting by the mother’s bed began to speak of the beautiful example of Christ but the woman interrupted him saying, “That’s no good, minister, no good for the likes of me I’m a poor sinner and I’m dying was one of those preachers who did not think it proper to speak of the cross and the blood of Christ.