Seek Answers

Seek Answers

John 3:1-21 Monte T. Brown

October 19, 2008 Sunday Morning

Heart O the Hills

Introduction

Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee, and a member of the great Sanhedrim, a senator, and a privy-counselor, a man of authority in Jerusalem. John 3:1-15; John 7:50-52.

Nicodemus assisted in Christ’s burial. John 19:39-42

It is said that not many mighty and noble are called; yet some are, and Nicodemus was one.

Let’s not jump to conclusions and believe that Christ’s all of followers where unlearned and ignorant.

This Nicodemus sought out the truth, a man of great learning.

Nicodemus was a man that wore several hats.

He was a ruler of the Jews, one that walked down the streets of Jerusalem and people stepped aside in respect of his authority.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee that means he belonged to the best group in Israel.

They believed in the inspiration of the Old Testament, they believed in the coming of the Messiah, they believed in miracles, and they believed in the Resurrection.

Nicodemus was just Old Nick among his friends and at home he was a husband and a father.

Let’s honor the Word of God by standing as we read from our passage in John 3:3.

Scripture

Prayer

1. Seeking

John 3:1-3

1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night for fear of what man would say or was it because he wanted to have his full attention and knowing that at night there would not be many around him?

Before a person can become a Christian they must first seek Christ. Whether it be; day or night, Sunday or Friday, there must first be a seeking.

2This man came to Jesus by night and 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.

Nicodemus also saw the signs that Jesus had done around Passover, but he believes that he was more than just a mere man, he was from God and that God was with him.

We know seems to indicate that other influential religious leaders were convinced that Christ was a teacher come from God because of the miracles.

It takes more than just seeking Christ to be a Christian, it also takes believing that he is more than just a great teacher from God.

3Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Unless one is born again. The word again (Gr anoµthen) means from above.

Unless a person is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.

A birth from above In our first birth, we are born of the flesh and born of water; but in our second birth, we are born from above [again] and born of the Spirit.

Our first birth leads to death, but our second birth brings eternal life.

The new birth is a new beginning that results in newness of life.

Mankind cannot come to God through works or righteous living Re-birth is the only way to secure eternity.

2. Probing

John 3:4-8

4Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?

Nicodemus did not understand the spiritual aspect of spiritual birth. Nicodemus was focusing on the physical and not on the spiritual.

Are we not guilty of focusing on the physical and not the spiritual?

5Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Here Jesus speaks of two births, the physical birth, through water and the spiritual birth through the Holy Spirit.

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

There are two distinct births, the physical birth of the flesh and the spiritual birth of the Spirit. The flesh produces flesh while the Spirit produces that which is spiritual.

7Do not marvel that I said to you, ’You must be born again.’

This is a subject that doesn’t require discussion. It’s really very simple, you must be born again.

8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Believe in the spiritual birth, it’s very simple.

You believe in the wind and you can’t see it.

You can hear it and see the effects of it but you can’t see it.

So is spiritual birth you can’t see it, but you and hear the testimony of it and see the effects of it.