Moving To Another Spiritual Level

Moving to Another Spiritual Level

John 3.1-7

Nicodemus: A ruler of the Jews, a master ("teacher") of Israel, and a Pharisee, was a wealthy, educated and powerful man-well respected by his people and a descendant of the patriarch Abraham. Yet in V-7, Jesus said to him, "You must be born again" The Greek adverb translated again can also mean "from the beginning" (suggesting a new creation) and "from above" (that is, from God). In other words Jesus told Nicodemus that physical generation was not enough, mother and father and other family members are not enough --- nor could his descent from the line of Abraham enable him to be saved. Many folk are affiliated with the church because of mommer or grandmommers religion. . . . It may have been good enough for them – and perhaps it got you where you are now --- but there comes a time when every tub has to sit on it’s own bottom. . . a time when you are responsible for you. . . what Jesus is suggesting here is that -- Only as a person has a spiritual generation ----- a birth from above-will he be able to see the kingdom of God.

In reading the gospel we find that John is the only good news writer that mentions Nicodemus. . . . In John’s recording the reader will find that Nicodemus is watched with deep interest as he grow in grace.

(1) An anxious inquirer. The rich were ashamed to confess Jesus openly, in spite of convictions of the reality of His mission; Careful examination will prove that the poor came to Jesus by day --- but in our text we witness Nicodemus tipping "by night."

Come let examine Nicodemus’ conversation with Jesus (anybody ever talk to Him)

Sometimes after sun down we see Nicodemus made his night visit to Jesus – and said unto him, Rabbi, (Master) -- 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.

It is very important that every Christian believer should understand what the scripture as to the two natures. . . Because of the lack of the knowledge of the dual nature of man – many new convert or saint – after rejoicing for a season in his new found hope in Jesus – and then suddenly awake to the fact that the old man is not dead. . . . the old habits are not gone. . . . the old you is still hanging around. Sometimes this motive leads to one to believe that he or she was never converted --- becomes disheartened – discouraged – resulting in church drifting and backsliding. . . .

Listen to Jesus as He told Nicodemus – Nicodemus. . . 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. For that which is born of the flesh is flesh – and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. . .

My brothers and sisters – what we see here are two lines of Heredity – The flesh line which came by mother and father and the Spirit line that comes by that of Holy Spirit.

The Natural and the Spiritual – the soma verses the pneuma

Eph. 4.18 proofs the natural man as one his understanding darkened – being alienated from God – because of the blindness of the heart. . . . Whereas the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit. . . there is no good thing in him --- that the Ethiopian cannot change his skin – or the leopard his spots --- so the natural man without supernatural help cannot change his character. . . .

Now that we know that the natural man has a human parentage – the Spiritual man has Divine parentage. . . . all life must come from pre-existing life --- there is no such thing as spontaneous generation of life. . . No life can come without parentage . . . There must be a father and a mother. . .

In the “Spiritual World” the Holy Spirit is the Father and your heart is womb into which the seed of the Word of God is dropped. . . .

If the seed in the natural world is lifeless – no plant will spring from it. . . and if the seed of the Word is not vitalized by the Holy Spirit when it falls into the human heart that will be no new life. .. . Because of this men and women find it easy to read the scripture and not be converted….