Category: Series

The Gospel As Seen Through John’s Eyes – John 3:22-36

The last couple of weeks we have seen the gospel as told to us in Jesus’s own words. Ye must be born again was His declaration. The remedy He gave was Himself. Condemnation was already here. Man is born condemned and Jesus declares He is the only way for condemnation to be removed. Praise the Lord, He removed it for all who believe in Him –

John clarifies the difference between the Messiah and John the Baptist

A. John the Baptist pointed men to Jesus.
B. John stated clearly “I am not the Christ”.
C. John was the friend of the bridegroom – indication here that John the Baptist was never a part of the church.
D. The profound statement – v.30 He must increase, but I musts decrease.

THIS IS THE KEY TO THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF CHRISTIANITY.

  1. If man is the center, it is not Biblical.
  2. If man claims any power outside of what God is doing through Him, he is not biblical.
  3. If man is pushing a personal agenda that promises riches and fame, he is not biblical.
  4. A true minister of Christ will NEVER try to bring attention to his self.
  5. A true minister will allow Jesus to be the one the light shines on

John’s declaration

A. God is true – v33.
B. God the Father loves God the Son – V.35
C. God’s way to salvation – v 36

Here we see, in v 36 what Johns feels is of utmost importance.

A. John repeats this in the book of I John 5:11-13 -And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
B. God has given us the record (the proof) that eternal life is in Jesus.
C. One must possess, not just confess.

Romans 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

D. Unbelievers will experience the wrath of God if they do not repent and turn to Jesus.

Psalms 2:12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

1 Thessalonians 1:10  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Revelation 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 6:16-17 – 16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The Most Wonderful Story Ever Told

John 3:15-21

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 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.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.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.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.

There has never been a greater story told than the one of God’s redeeming love.  Think about it.  God created the worlds and everything in it and the last thing He created was man.  Man was created in God’s image, placed in a perfect environment, walked, and talked with God daily and could pretty well do whatever he wanted too, except one thing. 

Genesis 2:16-17 –   And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The simple facts

  • Eat of all the fruit of the trees but one. 
  • One simple thing is all God asked. 
  • One.  What did man do? 
  • He ate of the tree anyway.
  • Eat at your own peril, but if you do, you will die!
  • Isn’t that just like man today?

The problem

  • A sneaky snake.
  • It tricked Eve. (side note) It appears that God told Adam not to eat before He created Eve.
Genesis 2:18 - And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
  • Eve did not get the facts right – Genesis 3:2-3 – And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
  • Eve is not the one God held responsible.
  • Adam was responsible.

Why

God gave the message to Adam, not to Eve.

Adam was responsible to properly relay the message to Eve.

Adam was present when Eve ate the fruit, but made no attempt to stop her.

Eve was tricked – deceived!

Adam was fully aware he was violating God’s command.

The cure

Genesis 3:14-15 –  And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel

  • Adam did not fully understand God’s statement of redemption to come.
  • Satan surely did.
  • Satan brought condemnation to all man kind
John 3:18 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.
  • The message of Christ is not one of condemnation, but of hope.
  • The world’s message is one of darkness and despair

John 3:19-20  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.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.

You and I are to shine the light –

Matthew 5:14-16 –  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

What will our light Do?

  • It will reveal the truth to those who have no hope.
  • It will focus on the cure, not the curse. Jesus came to remove the condemnation, not to condemn – our focus should be the same. (you and I can not remove someone’s sin, only Jesus can do that – we are to make Him known.)
  • The true light will lead sinners to eternal life.
  • Man can not respond if the light is not revealed.
  • You and I are indeed the way God has chosen to take the light.

I Corinthians 3:8-11;16 – Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 16   Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

God’s plan:

  • Provide a way to Him.
  • Use us (you and me) to share the good news.
  • To remove man’s condemnation and replace it with eternal life.
  • To make man’s part simple – Believe!!

Romans 10:9-10;13 –  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:14-17 – How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Matthew 28:19-20 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Ye Must be Born Again

John 3:1-15 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.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.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?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.14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

I want to focus today on the words Jesus used with Nicodemus, ‘YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN”.  This was hard for Nicodemus to comprehend.  I contend with you today that this is still hard for people to comprehend.  Fact is, the world and even some “so called” Christians mock others when they use this term: but Jesus said “Ye Must Be Born Again” to enter His kingdom.  So, let’s look at this today.

What Born again is not!

A. Reforming
B. Being a good church member
C. Religion
D. Confessing to a man
E. Doing good deeds
F. Being good, better than the next man
G. It is not even some prescribed prayer.
H. It is not baptism – that would mean it is based on something you do.

What Born again is!

A. It is a new birth – a recreation of the inner man – I Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
B. It is a repentance of one’s sinfulness and a turning to Jesus – Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
C. It is the Holy Spirit transforming you and enabling you to change your thinking about things. – John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
D. It is all God and zero man – Ephesians 2:8-10 – 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So how is one born again?

Acts 16:30-34 –  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Believe What God says about:

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
A. Believe What God says about:

  • Your sinfulness. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
  • Your inability to earn your way.
  • His love for you. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in His should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
  • His provision – His only begotten son.
  • His requirement – perfection II Corinthians 5: 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
  • His satisfaction – Isaiah 53:4-11 – Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
So, let us examine:
  • Man’s sinfulness – Romans 3:10 – As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.
  • Man’s condition – Hopelessly lost! Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
  • Man’s greatest need – The removal of the sin debt. Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  • Man must move from a head knowledge to a heart knowledge – Romans 10:9-11 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Review:

Agree with God – You are a sinner.
Agree with God – Sin must be paid for.
Agree with God – Be willing to turn from your sinfulness to God.
Agree with God – Jesus did die for your sin and He alone can save you.

John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.


Agree with God – Jesus died, was buried and rose again for your sin.


1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:


Agree with God – Call out to Him –

Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


Agree with God today –

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

The Absolute Greatness of the God I Serve, part 4

Philippians 2:3-8 – Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus set the example.
I represent Jesus to the world.
Real servanthood is:

  • Humility
  • Obedience
  • Action
  1. Quit being concerned about how you look, and start being concerned with how He looks.
  2. Obedience was why Jesus was able to endure the cross.
  3. Humility is what leads to obedience. I Peter 5:6-7 –  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
  4. Service is faith in action. James 2:15-18 – If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; otwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
  5. Service is being willing to go to the back of the line. Mark 10:28-31 – Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.31  But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

A. It is the PHD reaching into the gutter to lift up the old drunk.
B. It is the teacher reaching down to where the student lives.
C. It is the doctor being willing to pray with the hurting.
D. It is the Lawyer being willing to get down on the floor with snotty nose Sunday school kids.
E. It is the pastor being willing to leave the pulpit and touch the life of some homeless person.
F. It is the CEO serving food to people at the food kitchen.
G. It is the carpenter fixing a hole in the wall some kid put their playing in the nursery.
H. It is the great orator being willing to teach that timid child the story of Jonah.
I. It is the couple who is reaching out to the widow making sure she is cared for.
J. It is a childless couple working in the nursery.
K. It is the teenager helping the old one out of the car and into the church.
L. It is the poorest of the poor casting in a penny.
M. It is the millionaire paying the rent for the man out of work.
N. It is the man out of work sharing what he has with another.

The Absolute Greatness of the God I Serve, part 3.

As we look at honor today we will look at the attribute of our God that makes Him worthy of our honor. That will be His power. Then we will look at how we can honor Him for the Power He has displayed in our lives. The word glory literally means beauty, to honor, to boast about. So let us get started. 

HONOR

Jerimiah 10:11-12 –  Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.12  He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

Jeremiah 27:5  I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.

First, let us look at the power aspect.
Let us talk about His power.

  • He spoke the world into existence. We talked about this last week.
  • He made man and breathed His own breath into him. (last week as well.)
  • He is making an everlasting home for His children –

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:


1 To be God’s child you must be born again.
2 Not all people are children of God.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.


Revelation 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,

KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS

  • No earthly leader will ever match the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
  • His kingdom is eternal. All man’s kingdoms will come to an end.
  • HE IS MY KING AND MY LORD, is He yours?
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
  • God has made Himself known to ALL men.
  • He is seen in all His creation.
  • Man who rejects God is without excuse because God shows Himself daily to all men. (the sun, the moon, the stars, the sea, the mountains, the trees, the flowers, the animals, etc. ALL MADE BY GOD HIMSELF.

1 John 4:12  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

  • We demonstrate His power, not by doing supernatural things, but by loving each other.
  • We can love each other because His Holy Spirit dwells in us.
  • Only through Christ can our love become perfect – we demonstrate His love, not our own. Expand      

Peter 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen

  • His power enables us to Grow.
  • His power enables us to Glorify Him.
  • The natural man lacks the ability to truly Praise and Glorify Him.

HONOR

1 Timothy 1:17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  

Proverbs 15:33  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

We begin by having a reverence for Who He is, not necessarily for what He can do.  

Isaiah 29:13  Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

We realize action, not lip service is a must. (praise is demonstrated not only by words, but by being obedient.

1 Samuel 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

Malachi 1:6  A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 

1 Peter 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.Honor for God is shown by our honor for those in our own Home.   

Philippians 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.Honor for God involves us being humbled.  

1 Peter 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Honor is shown by our ability to endure the hardships of life. (persecution, pain, hurt, etc.) 

1 Thessalonians 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;Honor is shown by forsaking the world and living a Godly life.

2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

Proverbs 3:9  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Honor is shown by my willingness to give to His work. NOTE: He should get the first, not the leftovers. (time, money, talents, family, etc.) 

I Thessalonians 5:12-15 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

  • Honor is demonstrated by the way I treat those in spiritual authority.
  • Honor is demonstrated by the way I treat my brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • Honor is demonstrated by the way I treat the lost.

The ultimate way to honor His is to make Him known.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

2 Corinthians 7:14  For if I have boasted anything to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
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