Chico Alliance Church
“Nic at Night”
REVIEW
The first chapter of John is like the overture to a grand symphony.
John introduces us, in this first chapter, to nearly every theme he will explore throughout his writing.
I. Initial presentation of the Word and His witness 1:1-34
A. Introduced Jesus 1:1-5
B. Introduced John the Baptist 1:6-8
C. Described the relationship of the Word to Men 1:9-18
D. Rerecorded John’s eye witness testimony concerning the Lamb 19-34
E. Introduced some core disciples to the Word 37-51
II. The Public ministry and Teaching of the Word 2-12
A. Jesus inspired belief at a wedding Cana 2:1-12
B. Jesus cleansed the Temple at Passover 2:13-25
Introduction to Today
This two way conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus contains some of the most powerful truths in all of the Bible.
C. Jesus Instructed Nicodemus concerning new birth and new life 3:1-21
1. Nicodemus approached Jesus at night 1-2
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Him by night, and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
NICODEMUS. The name is Gk. and means ‘conqueror of the people’. He is mentioned only in the Fourth Gospel, where he is described as a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews (i.e. a member of the Sanhedrin) who visited Jesus by night (Jn. 3:1-21). He seems to have been an earnest man attracted by the character and teaching of Jesus but afraid to allow this interest to be known by his fellow Pharisees. He could not understand the spiritual metaphors used by Christ. Nicodemus fades from the scene and we are left with Christ’s word to a Judaism wrapped in darkness.
Nicodemus is mentioned again in Jn. 7:50-52, where he showed more courage in protesting against the condemnation of Christ without giving him a hearing. The final reference is in Jn. 19:40, where he is said to have brought a lavish gift of spices to anoint the body of Christ. Nothing more is known of him despite a large number of legends (e.g. in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus). His identification with the wealthy and generous Naqdimon ben-Gorion of the Talmud is uncertain.
The New Bible Dictionary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1962.
Nicodemus is a Pharisee. Pharisee became both a religious and a political designation. A Pharisee was one who held very conservative views. They dedicated themselves to a strict observance of the Law of Moses along with a multitude of regulations attached by them over the years.
Both John the Baptist and Jesus exposed them as arrogant hypocrites. Just as in any group, not all in the group bear the same defects as the majority. So in Nicodemus we find one who demonstrated a genuine interest in knowing the truth. He addressed Jesus with a term used for a respected teacher of truth – “Rabbi”
Nicodemus came to learn from one he came to recognize as a teacher from God.
(“oida” – perfect tense we have become convinced by observation)
Nicodemus came expecting to learn truth from God. He explains how he came to such a conclusion. “No one is able to continually do the things You do unless God is with him.”
From the very beginning the glory of the only begotten of the Father radiated and manifested to those who saw Him.
2. Jesus affirmed the necessity of new birth 3
Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Jesus rarely wasted words. Nicodemus came to learn truth. Truth he would receive. Jesus swiftly shot into the upper atmosphere. “Amen. Amen” Acknowledgement of what is valid or binding.
When Jesus places Amen before his own sayings, both in the Synoptics and (liturgically doubled) in John, the point is to stress the truth and validity of the sayings by his own acknowledgment of them.
The object of interest is not the new birth. New birth is only the means to an end. The goal is to see personally and graphically the “kingdom of God.” The means to that end is “new birth”. Through physical birth one may personally experience the kingdoms of this earth. Only a birth from above enables one to “see” the kingdom from above. “Born again” does not appear in this passage. Unless one is “born from above”
This theme, as most all of his themes, had already been introduced by John in chapter one. John 1:12 indicated that in order to become children of God one must experience a birth produced by God himself. Jesus draws on four well known illustrations to try to bring Nicodemus from the known to the unknown. Jesus draws on the illustration of birth, an event experienced, if not remembered, by all. Jesus clearly indicates to Nicodemus that just as his birth as an Israelite linked him to the Kingdom of Israel so one must be born of God or born from above in order to experience life as citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Kingdom of God
The terms “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of heaven” and “Kingdom of Christ” are used extensively throughout the Gospels. John the Baptist proclaimed that the “Kingdom of God was at hand”. Jesus proclaimed the arrival of the Kingdom of God. Much has been written to explain just what is meant by these terms. For our purposes and for sake of simplicity we view the Kingdom terms in their basic sense indicating a King or ruler. laws, a people and a territory. A Monarchy is not as readily understood by us. Israel rejected God as their ruler. Jesus came to announce the restoration of God’s kingdom. He came as the king whose rules were to be written on the heart of the people and the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. In order to see or perceive this kingdom or be part of this kingdom requires an act of God. Citizenship in the kingdom of God comes only by spiritual birth.
Of course Nicodemus didn’t make the connection and his mind locks into the physical and natural perspective of things.
3. Nicodemus failed to understand 4
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
4. Jesus clarified the concept of spiritual birth 5-8
Jesus adds deeper perspective preceded by the personal affirmation of the truth of the matter.
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Now Jesus goes beyond seeing the kingdom but entering the kingdom. Intimate connection to the kingdom was meant all along. I do not believe that Jesus intended to add any new dimension to the earlier statement regarding the kingdom of God. He does bring added dimension or understanding to the means by which one becomes connected to this kingdom.
First he contrasts physical and spiritual birth to raise Nicodemus’ thinking to a spiritual plane. This birth from above is in the realm of the Spirit. There is a physical birth (born of water) There is a spiritual birth (born of the Spirit). Without both a physical and spiritual birth, there is no citizenship in the Kingdom of God.
Second, unlike physical birth, the actual process of this birth from above is invisible.
Jesus illustrates the process by using an illustration from nature; the wind. Just as we cannot see the wind, or control the wind; its intensity, origin or destination, the work of the Holy Spirit in the process of new birth is according to His direction and invisible. His effects on the life however are observable. Jesus reveals to Nicodemus the mysterious nature of the birth form above.
Colossians clearly draws attention to our new citizenship.
For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col. 1:13-14
Paul clearly illumines the role of the Holy Spirit in the new birth process.
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
Heavenly citizenship does not come through church membership, baptism, Bible reading, religious activity, or church attendance. God grants perception and entrance into his Kingdom through the process of new birth orchestrated by the work of the Holy Spirit. Even though the actual work may be invisible, the results are incredible and observable.
5. Nicodemus still failed to understand 9
Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"
6. Jesus unveiled the wonder of salvation in Him 10-21
Introduction 10-13
1 -- Nicodemus, you should know these things as a teacher of Israel.
Salvation is the focus of the Old Testament.
Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things?
2 – I tell you these things out of my personal experience
"Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and you do not receive our witness.
3 – I have tried to teach using earthly illustrations and you don’t get it, how will you get it if I came right out and told you spiritual truth?
"If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things”
4 – You don’t understand because it is outside anyone’s personal experience.
"And no one has ascended into heaven”
5 – I can tell you about heaven because I have been there personally.
“And no one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man”
The Sacrifice of Jesus 14-15a
Illustrated in the Old Testament
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness”
Fulfilled in Jesus
“even so must the Son of Man be lifted up”
Purpose of the sacrifice – eternal life 15b
“that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.”
Life after life. Jesus died that we might live. “Born to die that man might live”
The sacrifice or “lifting up” of Jesus went beyond just the prevention of physical death. Belief in Him is the means to possessing “eternal life” that is, His very life. Without His life we cannot see or enter God’s kingdom. Christianity is more than a nice set of morals.
It is about new birth. It is about eternal life.
It is about a new creation created in Christ Jesus
It is about walking in newness of life.
The Author of salvation – God
The plan to save mankind and rescue and redeem and sanctify originated in the Godhead.
The motivation for the sacrifice – love 16
“For God so loved”
The whole motivation for the plan to save us was God’s love.
“God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10
O so many passages declare the eternal love of God toward fallen creatures.
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephes. 2:1-10
Extent of God’s love – the world
“For God so loved the world”
Not a select few. God sent His Son as a sacrifice sufficient to pay for the sins of all of mankind for all time.
Act of love – God gave His only Son to die
“that He gave His only begotten Son”
A couple words are used in regard to the commitment between God the Father and God the Son.
“gave” to give someone special gift.
“sent” to delegate the Greek word “apostello” which you may easily see as the world use d for Apostle or special messenger or delegate.
God gave and Jesus committed to enter this world and suffer all the things necessary to bring about the desired results.
Extent of God’s salvation – all the ones believing
“that all the ones believing”
Who may come to Jesus? His salvation is open to any who will believe.
Requirement of salvation – belief in Christ
“believing in Him”
By referencing the Old Testament event of lifting up the serpent in the wilderness, Jesus provides a basic understanding of what it means to believe. The people had sinned against God and were suffering the judgment for their sin. God provided a means of salvation by exercising their faith by looking. They had to realize their were in trouble. They had to by faith and obedience look at the object of their deliverance. We are asked by God to look to Jesus the author and perfecter of faith. When we look beyond ourselves and look to him for salvation that look of faith brings eternal results.
Purpose of God’s gift – eternal life 17
“that all the ones believing in Him might not perish but have eternal life.”
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.
We will not ultimately experience destruction or judgment but have (present tense verb) now and forever the very eternal life of Christ. To hose who believe and receive this life the results are as real as the effects of a hurricane.
Result 19-21
1 – No judgment on those believing in Him
"He who believes in Him is not judged;. John 3:18
Why? Because they relish the light and refuse the darkness vs 21
"But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
2 – Judgment on those not believing in Him 19-20
“he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”
Why? Because they relish the darkness and refuse the light.
"And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. "For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
If we are to see or enter the eternal Kingdom of God as a true citizen we need a new birth with results in new life. Only those who possess eternal life will be able to function in an eternal kingdom. All through his writing, John declares the need and appeal of eternal life. When we truly trust in Christ for our life, He gives us His very life. It is not our life extended through the other end of eternity. It is his eternal life infused in us as a special gift of God. That is the whole concept of new birth. Just as physical birth ushers us into a life on the physical plane. Birth from above ushers us into life on a spiritual dimension without which we will never see or enter the Kingdom of God. John includes this testimony from John the Baptist because it reinforces the truth communicated to Nicodemus regarding Christ as the way to new life.
D. John the Baptist affirmed Jesus as the way to new life 3:22-36
1. I am not the Christ and glad of it 22-30
After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and they were coming and were being baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison. There arose therefore a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him." John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. "You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. And so this joy of mine has been made full. "He must increase, but I must decrease.
2. Jesus is the Christ 31-35
"He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. "What He has seen and heard, of that He bears witness; and no man receives His witness. "He who has received His witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
3. Life comes only through belief in Him 36
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
CONCLUSION
This morning you are faced with a decision. If this word is true, and you are willing to accept the authority of the Bible, the choice is clear.
Trust Christ for eternal life and live out that life in obedience to Him.
Refuse Christ and trust yourself and experience the wrath of God both now and hereafter.
Without new birth there is no eternal life. Without eternal life there is no citizenship in the eternal Kingdom of God. New birth comes by looking to Jesus and trusting him for life.
Remember even though we were all by nature children of wrath, God being rich in mercy and the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our sin raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him.
Those who know him, continue to come to the Light that your life may become obvious to all that it comes from God.
