Accepting God!
John 3:10-22
The Rev. Billy Graham tells of a time early in his career when he arrived in a small town to preach a sermon. Wanting to mail a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was. When the boy had told him, Dr. Graham thanked him and said, “If you’ll come to the Baptist church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven.”
“I don’t think I’ll be there,” the boy said. “You don’t even know your way to the post office.”
Bits and Pieces, Vol. F, #41
My sense of direction is horrible. You probably don’t want to ask me how to get to very many places. But one thing I am sure of is the way to heaven. But today I am not going to tell you about my way to heaven. I am going to share with you the words of Jesus when He told us the way to heaven.
Nicodemus has come to Christ under the cover of night, seeking answers. He noticed something different about Jesus and was intrigued by it. There is reason to believe that Nicodemus became a follower of Christ since he defended Christ at his trial and bought the spices for the burial of Christ. Christian tradition has it that Nicodemus was baptized, suffered persecution from hostile Jews, lost his membership in the Sanhedrin, and was forced to leave Jerusalem because of his Christian faith.
I. Accept His Lessons—Teaching the way to God 10-14
A) Nicodemus was a teacher, a spiritual leader in Israel.
Don’t accept what some Biblical teacher says just because of their title. Examine the Word of God and see if it is true.
Jesus wanted Nicodemus to understand that Salvation is not an earthly matter. It is of spiritual nature. So many today are trying to use earthly reasoning in their understanding of God’s plan.
B) Jesus says that no one can ascend to heaven, God had to reach down to man.
He did that through His Son, Jesus Christ.
In a survey conducted by the Barna Research Group in 1992, nearly 1/3 of all those claiming to be born-again Christians stated that all good people will go to heaven, whether they have embraced Jesus Christ or not. While 88% believe Jesus Christ was a real person, what they believe about him differs sharply from scriptural teaching. 42% (even 1/4th of the “born-again” Christians) believe that while on earth Jesus sinned just like other people. 61% believe the devil is just a symbol of evil, not a living being. And 54% think that if people are good enough, they will earn a place in heaven regardless of their religious beliefs. Barna Research Group, Nov. 2, 1994
I implore you to understand that even if 100% of Americans believe that we can earn our salvation by living right, Christ said “You must be born again.”
II. Accept His Love—Offered to whosoever will receive 15-18
A) I believe in a whosoever will salvation. I believe, by the Word of God, that if you are willing to come to God today, He will receive you and give you eternal life.
B) This gift must be received by our free will. No one can make you be saved.
We accompanied our son and his fiancé when they met with her preacher to answer some pre-wedding questions. While filling out one form, our son read aloud a few questions. When he got to the last one, which read: “Are you entering this marriage at your own will?” He looked over at his fiancé. “Put down “Yes,” she said.
Now with all seriousness let me tell you that only you can decide to accept Christ for yourself. But only you will stand accountable for that decision.
C) Can you begin to grasp the enormous love of God? He loved you so much that He gave His Son to die in your place. Would you quote or read John 3:16 with me? But when we get to the words world or whosoever will, place you name in those places.
D) Christ did not come to this earth to condemn you. He came to deliver you. If you choose to reject Christ, you will have to spend eternity in a place initially intended for Satan after his fall. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels
III. Accept His Light—To examine our deeds and share our witness 19-21
A) Do you welcome the light or withdraw from it?
Maybe you realize that you are living in darkness. You don’t have Jesus as your savior. You know that if you died today, you would go to hell.
Jesus is the Light. You can welcome the refreshing nature of the light and enjoy its warmth or you can recoil from the light and get mad at light bearers around you.
B) Maybe you are saved but you realize that you have drifted backwards into the shadows of darkness.
Christ admonishes us to live in a way that will spread the light. Live in a way that our good works, after salvation, will cause others to glorify our Father in heaven.
Charles P. Jones penned the words to a great song of invitation:
Are you disapointed, wandering here and ther, dragging chains of doubt and loaded down with care? Do unholy feeling struggle in your breast? Bring you case to Jesus He will give you rest.
Stumbling on the mountains, dark with sin and shame, Stumbling toward the pit of hell’s consuming flames, By the powers of sin deluded and oppressed, Hear the tender Shepherd, Come to me and rest.
Have you by temptations often conquered been, Has a sense of weakness brought distress within? Christ will sanctify you, if you’ll claim his best, In the Holy Spirit, He will give you rest.
