The Age Of The Spirit

THE AGE OF THE SPIRIT (JOHN 3:1-21)

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God greets Mother Teresa at the Pearly Gates. “Thou be hungry, Mother Teresa?” saith God. “I could eat,” Mother Teresa replies. So God opens a can of tuna and reaches for a chunk of rye bread and they share it.

While eating this humble meal, Mother Teresa looks down into Hell and sees the inhabitants devouring huge steaks, lobsters, pheasants, pastries and fine wines. Curious, but deeply trusting, Mother Teresa remains quiet.

The next day God again invites Mother Teresa to join him for a meal. Again, it is tuna and rye bread. Once again looking down, Mother Teresa can see the denizens of Hell enjoying caviar, champagne, lamb, truffles and chocolates. Still Mother Teresa says nothing.

The following day, mealtime arrives and another can of tuna is opened. Mother Teresa can’t contain herself any longer. Meekly, she says: “God, I am grateful to be in heaven with you as a reward for the pious, obedient life I led. But here in heaven all I get to eat is tuna and a piece of rye bread and in the Other Place they eat like emperors and kings! Forgive me, O God, but I just don’t understand…”

God sighs. “Let’s be honest, Mother Teresa,” he says. “For just two people, does it pay to cook?!”

Why did I call this chapter “The Age of the Spirit”? Because the Spirit convicts hearers of sin, cleanses us of sin and changes people’s heart. By himself and in himself, man lived an unsettled, unsatisfactory, unfulfilled, unsure and unsaved life, but he knew there was more when he met Jesus. Before Nicodemus was a risk taker for Christ (John 7:50-51, 19:39) he was a religious teacher of Israel (v 1). Before he was a new believer, Nicodemus was a national leader. He risked his reputation, respectability and responsibilities – almost his all - to have contact and conversation with Christ

What advantage does a moral person have before God? How are good people saved differently from those who are less virtuous? Why is religion unable to save man?

You Must Welcome the Chance

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Here are some quotes on our perfection:

God doesn’t use perfect people because they don’t exist!

Perfect people aren’t real and real people aren’t perfect.

Perfect people only exist in books.

There was only one perfect person in this world and they crucified Him.

I am an imperfect person loved by a perfect God.

No one is perfect…that’s why pencils have erasers.

Be better, not perfect! (Yap)

Perfect people don't drink, don't fight, don't lie, don't make mistakes and don't exist.

Nicodemus came with all the right credentials, but the kingdom of God is not within the reach of sinners or saints, but for the salvation of Christ Jesus. The three phrases born of the Spirit (vv 5, 6, 8) is contrasted with born when he is old, born from his mother’s womb (v 4) and born of the flesh (v 6).The new birth is not genealogical, physical or biological, but spiritual, heavenly and divine. The age of the Spirit’s conviction, cleansing and conversion is available to all regardless of religion, race, rank, renowned and riches, of which Nicodemus belonged – a Pharisees and a member of the Jewish ruling council (v 1). Nicodemus was a great man in his own right, but he knew his sincerity, study and social standing did not guarantee his entrance, enrolment or expedition in God’s kingdom any more than the next person, so he came to Jesus by night for the answer. It’s always puzzled readers why Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. We are unsure about time, but the reason was sure. He came for (gar) the miracles, which appeared five verses ago in chapter two (John 2:23). The verb “can” appears six times (vv 2, 3, 4 twice, 5, 9) in the conversation with Nicodemus. The Bible is clear: it is impossible, illogical and downright ignorant of sinful men to arrive at salvation by their own effort, exertion or enterprise.