- Change. Real change. What is needed to make real changes in ones life?
- Do you want to change? Be better? Have purpose? Meaning? Can we re-create ourselves?
- Born again virgin; Russell Wilson and pop singer star Ciera.
- Sexual purity is something to be valued.
- Meme’s followed this movement, “How long do I have to go without sex before I am a born again virgin” or “I’m a born again virgin for the eighth time”
- Sexual purity is something to be valued.
- Born again virgin; Russell Wilson and pop singer star Ciera.
- Do you want to change? Be better? Have purpose? Meaning? Can we re-create ourselves?
- Taps into a true soul need.
- Gospel bridge—> Re-create ourselves. But outward changes is not how it’s done. We can’t “born again” or re-create ourselves no differently than we can somehow choose to born.
- Let’s all think back to the first day you came out of the womb… The day you decided, “I’m coming world, I’ve chosen my parents, the area of the world I want to live in…”
- Jesus says, “you must be born again”, but it’s not a command. It’s a truth.
- Can a person change without God?
- Of course. But the true soul need is not met.
- You can change your clothes but it won’t truly change who you are.
- New pair of shoes. New vans, converse, it can change my day. Look good, feel good. But it won’t change my heart. It won’t give me new life. When I die, it would be really cool to be buried in Vans, but it won’t bring me back to life.
- We need something more than an outward change to bring about an inward transformation.
- Of course. But the true soul need is not met.
- Can a person change without God?
- Gospel bridge—> Re-create ourselves. But outward changes is not how it’s done. We can’t “born again” or re-create ourselves no differently than we can somehow choose to born.
- Context.
- The evangelist, The Apostle John, a close follower and friend of Jesus when he was on earth, is our author. He gives clues to sections of text as we come upon them.
- Last week we saw that “God knows”. He doesn’t need anyone to tell him that man cannot be trusted. He sees into the heart. Our next section of text is just that. Jesus speaking to the heart. Nicodemus, the women at the well, a Gentile official.
- So let’s do it. Let’s go after the heart!
My main point this morning is “Lifted up”
- Nicodemus. A Pharisee (resuurection), a ruler and teacher of the Jews. Sanhedrin, a governing body for all Jews. He was a Pastor, a teacher, a leader; politically and spiritually. No small influencer to say the least.
- Read 3:1-2
- He makes a statement, which is a clear reference to John 2:23-25, “signs”
- Sounds good, but Jesus loves him. How do I know? Because by the time we reach the end of the Gospel of John, Nicodemus seems to be a believer.
- He makes a statement, which is a clear reference to John 2:23-25, “signs”
- After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. John 19:38–40
- If fact, all the people in the Gospels are on a journey towards faith. Pre-curcifiction and resurrection, God working in them to so on that day they may believe in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We would do well to remember that when we look to the scriptures fro application.
- So now, Nic starts his journey, comes to Jesus by night, and says we know you from God bacuse of the signs you perform.
- Jesus goes to the heart.
- “You know because you see? You sure I’m from God? You can’t see the Kingdom unless you are born again.”
- Put yourself in Nic’s shoes. Say what? Is this like a reincarnation thing?
- Hebrews 9:27
- Put yourself in Nic’s shoes. Say what? Is this like a reincarnation thing?
- Some scholars would point to a more personal response.
- I’m old young Rabbi. I’m an old dog… How can I learn a new trick? Start over?
- “You know because you see? You sure I’m from God? You can’t see the Kingdom unless you are born again.”
- Jesus goes to the heart.
- So now, Nic starts his journey, comes to Jesus by night, and says we know you from God bacuse of the signs you perform.
- Vs. 5-6, water and spirit
- Not baptism, some would say born of the womb and born of the spirit
- DA Carson simply points to Ezekiel
- I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:25–27
- Cannot 2x, Cannot see and now cannot enter
- DA Carson simply points to Ezekiel
- Vs. 7-8, Born again & Spirit
- He’s quoting himself “You must be born again”, But he’s not telling him, Figure out a way to be born again. Become a born again virgin. He’s not saying change your life, be the change, you can do it.
- He’s simply stating facts, but facts that go straight to the heart!
- This is a work of the Spirit!
- So it is with everyone who is born again.” I
- This is a work of the Spirit!
- vs. 8b, It’s invisible but you can see its effects.
- Is this not the truly born again believer?
- You can’t see it immediately, when someone comes to Jesus
- Like their skin color changes, which would be awesome!
- But you can see the visible changes in their changes life.
- It’s inside out. God gives us a new heart, we are changed, born again, what does it mean? You are now a son or daughter of God!
- So if we can’t “born again” ourselves. What must we do?
- It’s inside out. God gives us a new heart, we are changed, born again, what does it mean? You are now a son or daughter of God!
- But you can see the visible changes in their changes life.
- Like their skin color changes, which would be awesome!
- You can’t see it immediately, when someone comes to Jesus
- Is this not the truly born again believer?
- Read vs. 9-14.
- In Exodus, the people were cursed, and snakes were killing the people, BUT if you looked to the staff, you would be healed.
- For us, we look to the Son of Man to be healed for he was lifted up!
- Gospel.
- For us, we look to the Son of Man to be healed for he was lifted up!
- In Exodus, the people were cursed, and snakes were killing the people, BUT if you looked to the staff, you would be healed.
- What does that mean for us once we are born again? How can we change?
- Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:4–6
- Ok, so now I have to get my stuff together. NO! It’s still a work of the Spirit and we still look to then who was lifted up!
- Galatians; don’t start in the spirit and end in the flesh.
- We start by believing, continue by believing.
- Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:4–6
- Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6–7
- Do you believe in the son of God, the Gospel?
- Then you have been born again. You are a son or a daughter.
- Addictions, unfulfilled desires, character issues, true change, they all start with Jesus Lifted up and continue with Lifting up the name of Jesus!
- Like the people of Israel looked to the staff to be healed, we look to Jesus to be healed!
- Addictions, unfulfilled desires, character issues, true change, they all start with Jesus Lifted up and continue with Lifting up the name of Jesus!
- Then you have been born again. You are a son or a daughter.
- But I can’t change… You never could.
- We believe the truth of scripture, the gospel, and it begins to mysteriously change us from the inside out. Our declaration is not some ambiguous, “I will change!” It’s rooted by faith in the Son of God who was Lifted up. Therefore, lift him up! With your words, your life, your actions and watch true change happen. Like the wind… feel the spirit and begin to feel his effects.
- Communion
Confession & Pardon