John, Part 11
Series: The Truth About Salvation, Part 2
John 3:11-15
- Welcome to Seasons – intro – we are grateful you’re here today; dismiss children
-- RE: Thursday: What questions do you have? Come to discuss together …
- Continuing series, “The Truth about Salvation”: focus of ~6 messages
-- Keep in mind: John is less focused on chronology, but on purpose (redemption)
- We could discuss this one chapter for months – so much info to learn
-- Know this: The truth of salvation is always found in the words of Jesus!
- Read John 3:11-15 / Pray
Point 1 – The Testimony from Heaven Promises Life
- LEVEL: Many of us have a hunger for knowledge; esp. to “benefit ourselves”
-- Jesus’ teaching: People are told what He knows and still reject it (v11)
-- APP: Man’s natural instinct is to be in charge; we love our ways more than God
- Don’t miss: Jesus responded to what Nicodemus was not saying here (v12)
-- Whether he disagreed verbally is not the issue; his failure to respond is giveaway
-- He did what many do: rejected what Jesus said (called him liar) 1 John 5:10
- What did Jesus say? SEE: It’s the truth we still need to have today! (v13)
-- He came down from Heaven – (why?) to show us the way
a. So we’d see: God is a merciful, good God who cares despite our sin
b. He sent His Son from Heaven to show us how to be with Him!
- Big question then: Why would God do this for us, especially through Jesus?
a. Because no one (repeat) can ascend to Heaven!
i. Understand: mediums, mythology, witchcraft, false religions are demonic!!
ii. Idols: Draw us into a fake security of ourselves (Aaron & golden calf)
- QUES: When angels fell from Heaven, where did they go? HERE!
-- They’re wandering the Earth seeking whom they may deceive for their purposes
- Critical references for us to realize (wisdom… )
1) Isaiah 14:12-15, “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.”
2) Luke 10:18, “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!”
3) Revelation 12:9, “This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.”
- All three of these (OT, NT, Future) show the same result of/for the deceiver!
-- Why do we need to know this? Simple: TO understand their motives!
a. They know their eternity; they know their future: Revelation 20:10
b. Once they stood in the presence of the Almighty, and now, they are shunned
c. This has caused bitterness, rebellion, a desire to hurt the One who did this!
- IMP: I never want us to miss the impact of these deceptive beings:
- Their works (their deception of humanity) brings to us things like:
i. Crystals, trinkets, dolls, statues, burning sage and incense
ii. Praying to false gods today like Allah, Buddha, Mother Earth, etc.
i. FYI: Bible mentions over 35 false gods: Amon, Baal, Gad, Nebo
iii. Subscribing to religions claiming to be godly: Jehovah’s Witnesses, Buddhism, Judaism, Mormons / 7th Day, Islam, Scientology, Catholicism
iv. Can we spot them? Evidence: “Religious activities” that deny the deity & sufficiency of Jesus!
- GO DEEPER: Are the things of this world more important to you than your love of Christ? Do you value your job, spouse, house, kids, over your love of Him?
-- If so, you have a false idol in your life that you need to deal with!! REPENT
- KNOW: Biblical illiteracy will ALWAYS get us into trouble John 6:33
-- Jesus, the One you and I call Lord, told us specifically in v13 … yet …
-- Here we are, in a world where more value is place on things we create than Him
- Feel led to stop here and ask two key questions of each of you:
1) What false idols are you worshiping right now?
2) What is more important to you than your love for God?
Point 2 – Question: What brings new life? (2 items to see)
- The first thing is the death of Jesus (shed blood, payment for sin) required: (v14)
? This is amplified by the OT story of Moses lifting up the bronze serpent
? Turn / Read Numbers 21:4-9 (OBV: Nicodemus would’ve known this story)
- Unpack quick: Children of Israel were grumbling about their trials in wilderness
? They were beginning to wish they never left Egypt! Grumbled against God!
? God disciplined them by sending them poisonous snakes to attack them
? The discipline worked: some of the people repented and begged for mercy
? IF!!! they would look upon the defeated snake (BIG: if they’d obey God!!)
- Jesus illustration (prophecy): He (also) would have to be lifted up!
? The serpent is a symbol – a picture of wickedness and evil (re: Garden)
? By looking upon the defeated serpent the Israelites would be healed
? SEE: Jesus will conquer the works of the wicked one by being lifted up!!
- The second thing is to believe – this requires our commitment: “So that” (v15)
? The one who believes that Jesus was lifted up for them will be rescued also
? That person will not die; promised to receive eternal life (see next week)
? KNOW: The clearest prophecy of this work to come is Isaiah 53:5
The Point:
- Looking to God is what brings true healing to us -- Nicodemus missed this!!
-- Why? It is the death on the cross that redeems, because of Who paid for your sin
-- APP: Either we believe in what Jesus has done for us, or we deny Him
- This is the setup to the greatest evangelistic verse ever … but do YOU believe?
- Are you STILL holding onto trinkets of religion hoping that will be enough?
- Have you settled that it is Jesus who has done the finished work FOR you?
- Are you still living that it’s Jesus plus your “thing” that will rescue you?
- Pray
