November 15, 2009
Evening Service

St.Jn. 2 and 3

 

Review:

1.      This morning we saw the witness of John to Christ.  Pointing to Him as the Lamb of God.

2.      This caused one of John’s disciples to start following Christ.  Andrew, who then went and found his brother Peter, and told him they had found the Messiah.

3.      Then we saw Philip follow Christ, and go and get his brother Nathanael.  After Jesus had told Nathanael some things about his life, Nathanael said “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, the King of Israel.  Then Jesus said you haven’t seen anything yet.

 

In chapter two we see the first miracle that Jesus does.  Turns water into wine at a wedding in Cana.

The significant scripture during this is found in verse 5.  “Whatsoever He says to you, do it.”

• Jesus, said one time, “why do you call me Lord, and do not the things I ask you to do?”
• Hopefully we can see the significance of learning what He expects of His followers.
• He will not ask us to do something that He will not be willing to help us with.

This miracle caused His disciples to believe even deeper into who He was.

 

The next event is the cleansing of the Temple.  Jesus did this very forcefully, and was very upset.

Then Jesus told them that He would destroy this Temple, and in three days raise it up.  They told Him it took 46 years to build this Temple, and He would raise it in 3 days?  Of course the disciples remembered this saying after He had been resurrected, and knew He was talking about the Temple of the body.

 

Chapter 3.

 

Joh 3:1-21 KJVR  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  (2)  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  (3)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 

• This is where we get the expression “you must be born again.”

(4)  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  (5)  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  (6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  (7)  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  (8)  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 

• This is not really to hard to understand when we look at the experiences that people had in the book of Acts.  All agree that the birth of the Spirit refers to the inward, or spiritual change that takes place, and all candid authorities agree that born of water refers to baptism.
• Paul said this in the Corinthian letter.  1Co 12:13 KJVR  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
• And in the Ephesian letter he said, “Eph 4:3-6 KJVR  Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  (4)  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  (5)  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  (6)  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
• And this one Christian baptism is presented to us by the Apostle Peter, to whom Jesus had given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, to open the doors that all may come in.
• To the Jews on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.  “ Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  In that portion of scripture you find that the gift of the Holy Ghost, or God Almighty is eternal life.
• To the Gentiles at the household of Cornelius in chapter 10 of Acts.  Upon finishing his speech at this household, the Holy Ghost fell on them as He did on the disciples in the upper room and Peter said, “Act 10:47-48 KJVR  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  (48)  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

(9)  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  (10)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  (11)  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  (12)  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 

• Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, the things that God has prepared for them that love Him.

(13)  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 

• He was in Heaven as the Word, but He came to earth as the Son of Man to redeem man from his sins.

(14)  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 

• As the bitten Israelites were healed by looking upon the brazen serpent lifted on high, so the world in sin is saved by looking to Jesus lifted up upon the cross.

(15)  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 

• Is that some promise or not?   Paul said “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.

(16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

• Jesus did not come to pass judgment on anyone, but to be a sacrifice for sin, for mankind, and to show us how to live a happy, victorious life.

(18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

• Jesus lived a perfect life in the presence of everyone, and this brought condemnation, or judgment on all those around Him.  He didn’t do it on purpose, but it happens that way.

(19)  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

• And that statement is what I meant.  He was the light that walked in darkness, and the darkness wanted nothing to do with Him because they loved their sin, more than God.

(20)  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  (21)  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

• It is very important for you to listen when God is calling you to servitude.  Yield to His call, and come willingly, as did Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael.  They were hungry for God, and wanted to please Him.
• Remember the Scriptures speak of people that are fitted for destruction.  These will be those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

 

Don’t put it off, if you are not a Christian, accept Jesus as Lord of your life, and seek after a life of servitude to Him.