Quotes:
“Before we can see properly we must first shed our tears to clear the way.” -An ancient tribal proverb from India.
“Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding the third.” ― Shannon L. Alder
“The Word of God is not Passive but Active.” ― Moroaswi Tumiso Victor
John 3:14-21 “14- And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15- That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16- 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. 17- For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18- He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19- And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20- For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21- But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
THE WAY INTO LIFE = JESUS & Him Crucified!
Poem: "Art builds on sand: the works of pride And human passion change and fall; But that which shares the life of God, With Him surviveth all."—Whittier.
"How can these things be?" said Nicodemus, a fair question.
"New Birth;" New Start; Second Chance!
It is extremely rare in this old sinful world to ever get a second change.
But Jesus gives us another chance. Another opportunity to get it right.
The fact that our Lord allows us to wash away our past;
And allows old things to pass away and all things to become new;
Is wonderful blessing that comes from being “Born Again” of Water (Baptism in Jesus name) and Spirit (Filled with the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues).
Definition: Revelation = Something revealed or disclosed; understanding.
With that then, let’s consider some Life Revelations:
Revelation of a Great Need.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up" (v. 14).
There was great need for Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness, because it was God's remedy for a serpent-poisoned people.
So must the Son of Man be lifted up for a sin-poisoned world.
We need the remedy of Calvary!
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
Revelation of Great Love.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son" (v. 16).
“If ye love them that love you, what thanks have ye, do not even the Gentiles the same? This is not like the love of God, for, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Ephesians 2:4).
The depth and intensity of God's love can only be measured by the unworthiness of the objects of that love, and the greatness of the Gift.
Isaiah 53:1-7 “1- Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the
arm of the LORD revealed? 2- For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3- He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4- Surely he hath borne our grief’s, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5- But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6- All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7- He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
Herein is love, love in the perfection of its nature, and in the greatest possible manifestation of its power.
Revelation of Great Suffering.
How much does God hate sin? The answer lies in the Intense Suffering endured in the death of the Cross for us all.
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Nicodemus’ question of "How can these things be?" could be viewed as much deeper than just dealing with the natural impossibilities of entering the womb the second time: How can a sinner be transformed into a Saint?
How? By God robing Himself in Flesh and allowing that flesh to suffer, pay sins price. (Acts 20:28).
Revelation of a Great Purpose.
"That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish. That the world through Him might be saved" (vv. 16, 17).
The application/purpose of salvation is first individual, then there-by world-wide.
The kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our Lord.
The "lifting up" of the Son of Man was the unlocking of the door of hope for a guilty world; it was the breaking forth of the sin-cleansing stream from the opened fountain of almighty grace ('Lech. 13. 1).
Salvation is the “very” Crowning Purpose of the Bible, it towers high above all others, and casts shadows over all the rest.
Only "through Him" [JESUS] can salvation come.
Revelation of a Great Privilege.
Salvation=being made a new creature in Christ!
Salvation affords great privilege to mankind by the out pouring of God’s infinite love upon sinful men and women.
God made this privilege extremely easy to obtain—"Whosoever believeth in Him."
This great salvation is threefold:
1. It affords Deliverance from PRESENT CONDEMNATION (v. 18).
2. It affords Deliverance from FUTURE DESTRUCTION (v.16).
3. It affords Assurance of PRESENT and ETERNAL LIFE (vv. 15-16).
For it is "he that believeth on Him" that is not condemned.
The Revelation of a Great Responsibility.
"This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light" (vv 19¬21).
Jesus is the Light and Life of all mankind.
Those who love the darkness of spiritual death, rather than the light of spiritual life, will not come to the light.
Therefore, you “must” love light more than darkness.
If you have an honest heart toward God; then He can/will be the Light of within your life; Light that leads to justification and not condemnation.
THE “WAY” OF LIFE (and Jesus is the “Way”) can be summed up thusly:
1. We are Saved by the grace of God ................................. Eph.2:1.
2. Justified by faith in God, ……………................................... Rom. 5:1.
3. Redeemed by the blood of God, .................................... Acts 20:28.
4. Assured by the Word of God,.......................................... I John 5:13.
5. Kept by the power of God,…………………………………………. I Peter 1:5.
6. Possessed by the Spirit of God, ...................................... 1 Cor. 6. 19.
7. Presented before the presence of God, ......................... Jude 24.
Revelations of Life:
Revelation of a Great Need.
Revelation of Great Love.
Revelation of Great Suffering.
Revelation of a Great Purpose.
Revelation of a Great Privilege.
Revelation of a Great Responsibility.
*Sermon sources: Handfuls of Purpose by Smith; The Way Into Life.
