ABANDONED AT BIRTH-I—John 3:1-21
OR...
Concessions For New Birth
Attention:
Grandma arrived at their door with a big smile & open arms!
Little Jimmy was so happy to see his grandmother that he ran up & gave her a big hug.
"I'm so happy to see you, grandma!
Now daddy will have to do that trick he's been promising to do!"
His grandmother was curious. "What trick is that, sweetie?"
The little guy smiled at her, "I heard daddy tell mommy that he would climb the walls if you came to visit us again!"
Like Jimmy’s Daddy, Some of us are in desperate need of not being recognized!... in desperate need of a New Life/Birth!...
...He needed to give up/concede the way he talked about his mother-in-law!
Need:
In God’s scheme of life for mankind, New Birth—being born again— is the only means of...growing close to God, finding power in prayer, being faithful in service, finding God’s purpose in life, becoming dedicated to His direction.
Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus yielded the essentials of being born again.
Being born again is essential to God’s plan.
What is essential to achieve new birth?
What is essential to be born again?
6 Concessions we all must make to achieve a new birth.
6 Concessions we all must make to be born again/from above.
‘Concede’—“To admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it.”—“To surrender or yield(something that one possesses)”
‘Concession’—“A thing that is granted, especially in response to demands.”—Something surrendered or given up
Alternate titles:
A concession essential for new birth is to Abandon...
To be Born Again, we must Abandon...
To be Born From Above, we must Abandon...
1—Those born from above, Abandon...
POSITION(:1-2)
Explanation: (:1-2) Successful
:1—“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.”
John tells us that there existed a certain man—who was of a sect of Judaism known as the “Pharisees.” Nicodemus was his name. Nicodemus was of some influence as he was “a ruler of the Jews.” His influence was one of spiritual import as well as civic, seeing as the Sanhedrin(rulers) spiritual matters encouraged, formed & enforced civic policy. Judiciary, Legislative & Executive body.
Nicodemus was “a ruler of the Jews” who held to the Pharisaic tradition. He came to Jesus representing the sect of the Pharisees.
“Pharisees”—Farisaiov— ‘A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief & life. They sought for distinction & praise by outward observance of external rites & by outward forms of piety, & such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, & alms giving; &, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works. They held strenuously to a belief in the existence of good & evil angels, & to the expectation of a Messiah; & they cherished the hope that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or of penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, & be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods & the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy & their country's cause, & possessed great influence with the common people....They were bitter enemies of Jesus & his cause; & were in turn severely rebuked by Him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, & affection of piety in order to gain popularity.’—Thayer
*Concerning Pharisees—cf.-Mat. 23:2-3; 4-12; 13-17; 23-28; 33.
Mat. 23:2-17, 23-28, 33—[Jesus was]“saying: “The scribes & the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe & do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, & do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, & lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad & enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, & to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ “But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, & you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, & he who humbles himself will be exalted. But woe to you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, & for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land & sea to win one proselyte, & when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ “Fools & blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?”.....“Woe to you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint & anise & cummin, & have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice & mercy & faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat & swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup & dish, but inside they are full of extortion & self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup & dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe to you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones & all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy & lawlessness.”.....““Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”
Being a Pharisee was similar to be being a political ‘conservative’ in our society when people equate that with God’s service &/or being a Christian, or living spiritual truth.
There was also another named “ruler of the Jews”...Joseph of Arimathea:
Lk. 23:50-51—“Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good & just man. He had not consented to their decision & deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.”
Both Nicodemus & Joseph of Arimathea(“a disciple of Jesus”) would take responsibility for ensuring that Jesus’ body was buried(Jn. 38-42).
“Nicodemus”—Nikodhmov—Nicodemus = "conqueror"—A member of the Sanhedrin. Strong—Victorious among his people; Nicodemus, an Israelite:-- Nicodemus.
“Ruler”—arcwn—1) A ruler, commander, chief, leader.
:2—“This man came to Jesus by night & said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.””
There came a point in time when this same Nicodemus approached Jesus personally one-on-one. He approached Jesus in a manner quite unlike Jesus’ other encounters with Pharisees, which were generally maliciously condescending.
He came by night probably due to the need for secrecy &/or because his duties of the day were done.
Nicodemus looked upon Jesus as a “Rabbi,” even though He had no formal training. Nic. identified himself with the Pharisees using “we” to let Jesus know that they(at least of Nic’s ilk within the Pharisees) considered Him a “teacher.” The Pharisees(“we”) recognized that Jesus came from God, but only as a teacher. They knew this because the signs which He did at the Passover, glorified God.
They considered Him as One who had “come from God,” their conclusion having been reached primarily from observing Jesus’ “signs.” They concluded that Jesus‘ “signs” were indeed that... because the “signs” Jesus did were obviously unique indicators of God’s being “with” Him.
Nicodemus assumed he knew the “signs” of the presence of God. Nic. didn’t understand God’s Plan completely but he did recognize God at work in Jesus’ life.
Jn. 14:11—““Believe Me that I am in the Father & the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”
“Night”—nux—"Night"(literally or figuratively).
“Rabbi”—rabbi—1) My great one, my honorable sir; 2) Rabbi, a title used by the Jews to address their teachers (& also honor them when not addressing them). Strong—1) My great one, my honorable sir; 2) Rabbi, a title used by the Jews to address their teachers (& also honor them when not addressing them).
“Teacher”(See :10)—didaskalov—1) A teacher; 2) In the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, & the duties of man. Strong—An instructor(genitive case or specially).
“Signs”—shmeion—1) a sign, mark, token—1a) That by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others & is known, 1b) A sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature—1b1) Of signs portending remarkable events soon to happen, 1b2) Of miracles & wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by him, or by which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God's Strong—An indication(especially ceremonially or supernaturally).
Argumentation:
Num. 22:1-7—Balak the king of Moab & Balaam the hired prophet—“Then the children of Israel moved, & camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho. Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, & Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, & are settling next to me! “Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them & drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, & he whom you curse is cursed.” So the elders of Moab & the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hand, & they came to Balaam & spoke to him the words of Balak.”
Acts 8:27-38—Ethiopian eunuch—“So he arose & went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, & had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near & overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, & heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, & said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up & sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” So the eunuch answered Philip & said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, & beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered & said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip & the eunuch went down into the water, & he baptized him.”
1Cor. 15:8-11—“Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, & His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach & so you believed.”
Rom. 11:5, 6—“Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.”
Php. 3:7-17—“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, & count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ & be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him & the power of His resurrection, & the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind & reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; & if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, & note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”
Positions in the church—Are they...
by God’s compulsion or by Your compulsion?
Illustration:
An unborn child must abandon its current position in order to exit the womb & experience birth!/POSITION
Success & Authority may be the dream of many but these do not ensure perfection & thus eternal fulfillment/POSITION
Oprah Winfrey’s 2010 interview with J.K. Rowling—Author of the Harry Potter series/Very eye opening/Her position as the highest grossing writer of all time/Went from being a single mother on govt. welfare, living hand to mouth & coming ‘as close to living on the street as you can get without doing it,’ To becoming The highest grossing author of all time/Her net worth at that time was at least $1 Billion/
Founded Lumos(Britain & 5 other european countries) “to end the systematic institutionalization of disadvantaged children across Europe & instead see children living in safe, caring environments”/
She aids UK anti-poverty groups. Rowling has contributed money & support for research & treatment of multiple sclerosis.
In May 2007, Rowling gave $495,000 to a reward fund of over $4.5 million for the safe return of a young British girl, Madeleine McCann who disappeared in Portugal.
BUT Despite her ‘high POSITION,’ She had(s) an ignorance of salvation by grace thru faith in Christ/She “struggles with a belief in God” & “thinks” she believes in an afterlife, though she maintains there are some ‘Christian themes’(mainly that love triumphs over evil) which run thru the Harry Potter series/Abandon POSITION
A true pastor never ‘takes’ or ‘grabs’ a position!/In fact, a truly biblical God-ordained overseer never vaunts himself or considers himself worthy of his position/He arrives in that position at the behest of men, yes, but only after he & their having sought the directive of God’s Holy Spirit to do so!/To...oversee-pastor-lead...he must Abandon POSITION
You are standing on the deck of a Sinking Ship/An ‘abandon ship’ has been issued/But you are to remain at your post thruout the consummation of the ‘abandon ship’—Once that point is reached, remaining at your post becomes irrelevant/You to must give up your post-position or you will sink with the ship & die/Abandon POSITION
Likewise we must Abandon any Positions & Representations that are maintained ‘outside of’ or ‘apart from’ Christ! We must Abandon any Positions & Representations that are maintained thru worldly or secular means. We must abandon these worldly positions & willingly allow God to replace them with those which God Himself chooses for us. We are to be Positioned by God Himself & thus we are to Represent the Kingdom of God!
If you are unsure as to whether you are born again, then you are not born again! Every child, every adult is self-aware, & knows whether they have new life that comes with the existence of new birth! they know who they are. they may be unwilling to admit who they are but they know their reality/the truth in their heart of hearts!
Application:
?Did you Abandon POSITION at birth?
?What did you Abandon at birth?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Daddy’s trick—“he would climb the walls if you came to visit us again!"
Action:
Those born from above, Abandon...
1. POSITION(:1-2)
Pt. 1 only! Presented 09/04/2016am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave SE(Ave A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
Pts. 1-3 Presented 01/02/2011am(no evening services) to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
