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John 3:16-17
Contributed by Lee Houston on Dec 20, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: Last week, I had three people tell me that they did not feel Saved. They wanted to know how to be sure. If three people asked me that, I have to imagine that there are others in our mists who have the same question. So how do you know for sure?
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Scripture: John 3:16-17
Central idea: Jesus Saves.
Specific purpose: to reach the unsaved.
Introduction: Last week, I had three people tell me that they did not feel Saved. They wanted to know how to be sure. If three people asked me that, I have to imagine that there are others in our mists who have the same question. So how do you know for sure?
A. In the Book of John, chapter 3 verses 1-21 we have the story of Nicodemus who came to Jesus. Jesus told Nicodemus how to be sure of salvation. That story goes as follows.
1. There was an extremely observant Jew, a teacher, and a Pharisee, named Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “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.”
2. Jesus told Nicodemus that, "No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” This answer puzzled Nicodemus. "How can someone be born when they are old?”
3. Jesus answered, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit."
4. Jesus does a little more explaining, Jesus instructs Nicodemus using the best-known scripture in the entire Bible, John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
5. Jesus tells Nicodemus that "people love the darkness, the way of the world, also called sin, instead of light because their deeds were evil."
B. At the heart of Nicodemus' question is this “Who is Jesus?”
1. The answer to that question makes all the difference. If you get this answer wrong, you get everything else wrong. Who is Jesus? That is what Nicodemus is asking, how a person answers that question depends upon whether or not they are “born again”, whether or not they are saved.
II. Are you born again? Do you know who Jesus is? The Holy Spirit who breathes life into the Word of God is putting this question in front of you today.
A. Jesus says to Nicodemus, “You are Israel’s teacher and do you not understand these things?” Nicodemus is a Pharisee; he knows God’s Word but does he understand it?
B. If you are having trouble understanding this, you are not alone. Do you know what Jesus means when he says that a person must be “born again of water and the Spirit”? You must learn!
1. Simply put, it means, “Get a new life!”
2. As the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 2:1, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins ...”
C. To be born again we must know that sin makes us dead to God and His Kingdom. In John 3:5, Jesus speaks of “water and the Spirit”. Let us consider them both briefly.
1. In the Old Testament, the Spirit is the one who brings life.
a. We see this in the creation of man in Genesis 2 when God breathes the Spirit of life into Adam.
b. Psalm 104:30 says, “When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.”
c. The prophet Joel 2:13, the prophet says, "God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." In Joel 2:28-29, the prophet speaks of a future outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will bring new life to God’s people. "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days."
d. The Spirit brings life. It is the presence of God.
2. As for “water”, in the Old Testament water is a sign of cleansing and rebirth.
a. The Israelites passed through the Red Sea on their way to the Promised Land. This baptism told them God was real. Water cleansed the people.
b. In Ezekiel 36:25-27 the prophet brings “water and spirit” together when he says, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you ...”
c. New life comes from above and fills you with hope that you with a hope that you have never had before. Being born of “water and spirit” is God’s work in us. Are you born again? Do you have a new life from God? The only way to know is to ask yourself the question, “Who is Jesus?”