REBIRTH PART THREE
John 3:1-21
Jesus
said “Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and
whoever
does not gather with Me scatters.” Matt 12:30. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so powerful it will either cause your heart to move towards Him, or away from Him. True gospel preaching will always change the heart, its either awakens it; or hardens it. This is a clear warning for the church today as we have a movement within the church called Christian moralism. It’s a profession and belief that generally follows Christ's teaching with no intention of submitting their lives fully to God, and chasing Him in Christ. It’s a person who thinks they are in right standing with God, or they claim, “I believe in Jesus” It’s that outward confession, but has no inward heart change, but it has good intentions, but lacks eternal life in Christ alone. Mike Spencer calls it “A spirituality that has Jesus on the cover but not in the book.” This explains why we see so many people who know objective spiritual truth; but fail to apply them in such a way that their lives demonstrate real change.
They’re hearing, but not hearing
And the sad reality is that this leads to the famous words spoken by Jesus “Depart from me I never knew you” See the gospel is much more than intellectual understanding and saying “I believe”
The Gospel reaches the depth of your soul, with the unsolicited truth of the gospel message. What does it mean to believe in Jesus? Again, the first thing we need to understand is that belief is more than a head knowledge; as we have seen demonstrated by Nicodemus, and much of the church at large today. Genuine belief in Christ is a complete transformation, this is why Jesus said “You MUST be born again from above” by the power and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
J.C Ryle put it this way as evident to genuine belief. “When a person, feeling his desperate need to reason of sin, flees to Jesus Christ, and trusts in Him, leans on Him, and commits his soul entirely to Him as His Saviour and Redeemer, he is said, in the language of the text, to ‘believe on Him’.
Let’s do the test of our belief?
Do you truly hate your sin as God
hates your sin?
Do you truly desire to flee to
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins?
Do you truly trust that He is
able to completely cover your sin and guilt?
Do you truly lean on Him for
everything for life and godliness?
Do you truly commit yourself to
Him in all areas of your life?
Do you truly love Him?
I say that! Because He is either everything to you or He is nothing to you! Have you truly been born again and can you truthfully say, “He is my Lord?” Because God displays His love towards fallen humanity in this passage of scripture as we see in the opening of (v16). The most well known, and most distorted, verse in the New Testament, next to Matt 7:1. (Scripture is all about context, context, context.) There are couple of distorted views when it comes to John 3:16 that stand out the most. Universalist will take to this text and say “He loved the world so He will save the whole world. Arminian theology says, “God loved the world enough to provide a way of salvation for everybody.” But that’s not what John is writing here in this chapter, rather God’s love is so deep and profound, He sent His only begotten Son. This love for the world that He created for His glory doesn’t mean He saves everyone.
The term world
here is
synonymous
with the word sinners.
This is how John 3:19 defines “world.” The light has come to the “world,” but men loved darkness rather than light. The view here is not the extent of the atonement, but the degree of God’s love and the quality of those for whom Christ died. “for God so loved” is speaking of His pity and compassion with which God regards mankind. We call this “common grace” which means three things: First, God has a sort of general benevolence toward humanity that is not saving; second, God providentially restrains evil; third, unregenerate persons are able to do “civic” but not “saving” good. It’s a love unquestionably distinct and separate from the special love with which God regards His saints in the new birth. The difference between common grace and redemptive grace is evident in the way Scripture describes God’s general favor and the way it speaks of the atonement. The atonement is for particular persons. Christ died “for us” The Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep, whom He knows found in John 10:14–16.
Paul said, “but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8
1
Cor 15:3 says, “For
I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ
died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”
Paul explains that distinctive love as apposed to the world when he wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Eph 1:3-6
The “us” reveals that we have been born from above, you have received a special love that is distinct from what we read in John’s gospel which only comes from God awaking you to the truth of the gospel. The love of God…. How blessed is this to the heart of believers, for only believers can appreciate how a God could love imperfect sinners. It’s a love that the world hasn’t embraced because they fail to embrace the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. See the love God has for fallen humanity is a benevolence love for all people, “the world” is the whole human race [colour, creed, young and old] both saints and sinners without exception.
How did God demonstrate that love?
Well, A W Pink, helps greatly here to what His love demonstrated.
The tense of God love….God so loved, its not God loves but that He loved despite the fact we were sinners.
The magnitude of His love….“God so loved”, the emphasis is on the word “so” this goes beyond the ability to measure height, width, and depth of God’s love.
The scope of His love….“God so loved the world” it’s not limited to the boundaries of Israel and Middle East, but towards the world.
The nature of His love…. “God so loved He gave” it’s a love A W Pink calls, “Real love, ever seeks the highest interest in others, love is unselfish; it gives.” Its “agape love” unconditional.
The sacrificial character of God’s love…. “He gave His only begotten Son.” God spared not His best, He didn’t give His least favourite possession, but freely gave His Son.
The design of His love….. “Whosoever believes in Him should not perish.” Many died as we have seen in the story of Moses and the Israelites, and many will suffer Hell. But God’s love purposed, so that we didn’t perish. How? By believing in His Son.
The
benevolence of God’s love,
“have everlasting life” as John wrote, “See what kind of love the
Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we
are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” 1
John 3:1
If we ever doubt God’s love, we
are to remind ourselves
to look to the cross of Calvary.
The cross is where we see God, pouring out His wrath and justice because of our sin. But the cross also reveals God’s supernatural love to save sinners from the wrath that is yet to come. “He gave” the gift of Christ is the result of God’s love towards to the world, and not the cause. There are no words in the human language that can effectively express the magnitude of God’s saving gift to the world. He gave His “only begotten Son” this means its unique, one of a kind. The One whom the Father loved and is well pleased. Matt 3:17 The One who resides and is intimate fellowship with the Father in eternity. John 1:1 The One whom He loved and has given all things into His hands. John 3:35 The One whom He highly exalted and bestowed a name only for Him. Phil 2:9
God’s only Son, would satisfy the Father’s wrath by His sacrifice for the sins of this world. ”But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” …Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:5-6,10
Christ came into this world in consequence of the love of God, to please a holy God for the sins of sinners, this world. Christ is the gift to a lost and sinful world! A priceless gift as Paul wrote “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” 2 Cor 9:15. We need to understand that God’s loves the entire world, but God will save none in the world, who refuse to believe in His only begotten Son. Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus with clarity and warning; Jesus is not speaking about universal salvation for the whole world.
Is His death sufficient for all
sin? Absolutely
Is His death open for everyone?
Absolutely
Is His death going to save
everyone? NO
Jesus said “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” Matt 7:13
In Jesus’ High Priestly prayer Jesus says this, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.” John 17:6-10
Nicodemus, this world has a problem and I’ve come in the fullness of time to solve your problem….. but I have conditions, yes the gospel has conditions.
What are those conditions?
THE FIRST CONDITION IS YOU MUST GENUINELY BELIEVE AND THE RESULTS OF THAT GENUINE BELIEF IN CHRIST COMES SECURITY AND BLESSING! (v18a)
This verse enlarges upon the benevolent nature and purposes of God’s love, it reveals His unselfish love. He came into the world to save sinners, not to condemned them. This is amazing, because God has every just reason and right, to condemn all of us, But He doesn’t, God sent His Son so that we might be saved.
“might” here does not express any uncertainty, but declares the purposes of God in sending His Son. This word “might” signify a contingency, when we are told God sent His Son into the world that through Him the world might be saved. This reveals that this is the only way man will ever see the kingdom of Heaven; its through Him. “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned” This equivalent to saying “he is pardoned, acquitted, justified, cleared from all guilt, delivered from the curse. No longer counted a sinner, but reckoned perfectly righteous in the sight of God. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Rom 8:1-2
There is no condemnation because Christ was condemned in our place, The chastisement of our peace was upon Him This is why Jesus says, “He who believes in Him is not judged” and the unbeliever is condemned already. (v18) Jesus affirms this in John 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. How blessed we truly are in Christ that the LORD does not hold us condemned anymore. Now that’s the summary of the gospel, this is what love looks like, amazing mercy and grace towards sinners like us, who believe. He has removed all my guilty stain, and clothed me with the righteousness of Christ; a gift that can never be paid back by sinners like us. The gospel eternally secures the true believer under His sovereign arms. "Believing in the Son of God" not a mere intellectual belief to the gospel, but a faith that trusts by committing to the Lord Jesus Christ. This surpassing love is full of forgiveness, no matter what you have done. His forgiveness is everlasting, and it eternally purifies the heart of the believer. Jesus came into the world to save people. We are like those people squirming away in the desert floor after being bitten, and Christ is our only remedy. The death of Christ is the supreme demonstration of God’s love. “God so loved."
THE SECOND CONDITION IS THE RESULTS OF UNBELIEF OR SURFACE OUTWARD CONFESSION (v18b-21)
What’s sad about this portion is… Why anyone would refuse to look to Christ and live. But sadly, John gives us the answer. (v19-v21) This is our natural state, we live in darkness and nothing
terrifies us more than the light. And because of that, John writes they are, “Condemned already” which means your sins is still upon your head, and the wrath of God still abides upon you. This is the absolute opposite to the grace to those who truly believe in the awaking of the Spirit to respond to His amazing grace.
Condemned already refers to the fact that….
You’re not pardoned from your
sins.
You’re not under the righteous
protection of Christ.
You’re not justified by the
blood of Jesus.
You’re not cleared of your debt.
You’re not born again.
Too know that many people [family members, friends, co-workers] will face this condemnation for there…
Pride and rebellious hearts
Ignorance to the things of God
Self righteousness and easily
mislead by things of this world.
Blindness to their coming death
and judgement.
Worldliness has consumed them
with worldly things.
People who display a form of
morals, and goodness.
People who fight against those
who expose sin and the wickedness of this world system.
People who are the true Haters
of God.
People who love sitting in darkness
This is very sobering, and unpleasant, all at the same time. It’s a fearful thing to fall in the hands of angry God! Do we realize what Jesus is saying! He, or she, is still dead and guilty before a holy God. He, or she, is one step from entering into the place that has been prepared for Satan and his fallen angels. This isn’t because God is unloving, and unmerciful, its because of their rebellious state of unbelief and self-righteousness. Sadly, unbelief or the idea I know just enough…. leads to eternal judgement and separation, feeling the wrath of God for all eternity.
Unless you haven’t heard Hell
is
filled with sinners.. not sin!
Real people, possibly people that you, and I love.. reside there, and will reside there. Real people, who are feeling the heavy weight of their sins and the judgement for all eternity all because they never embraced the One who died for all mankind’s sin. Why? Jesus explains why. They love darkness rather than light! “Light” represents Christ and the illumination of the gospel message. “Darkness” is a picture of moral decay, sin, ignorance, superstition, and irreligion. They prefer ignorance, error, superstition, to the light of truth. See! Men cannot come to Christ, nor receive His gospel without parting from the things they love the most! THERE SIN. They love darkness, they love their moral decay, because they are comfortable in their sin; and do not want their sin exposed by the Light.
This is why men and women
refuse to read the Scriptures,
God’s Word would condemn them.
We know this is true, because God’s Word is what characterizes the true believer. The born-again believer comes into the light again, and again, seeking to know God more as we wait heaven. But, for those in darkness, they don’t want to hear the gospel, and they definitely don’t want Jesus changing anything in their life. Why? They love sinning. “there deeds are evil” this describes there habitual habit of life, wicked, and naturally haters of God. (v19) This reveals the true heart of the unregenerate man and woman, “to practice evil” is a condition in which one continues to live; it’s the lifestyle of the unsaved. This why God destroyed the earth with a world-wide flood. “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Gen 6:5 Paul says were so evil will invent new evils that still doesn’t shock the unregenerate man or woman. “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Rom 1:29-32. Sadly, the end result of loving darkness is that the unconverted man and woman’s heart is not right, and honest, before a holy God; because they love their sin. As J C Ryle said “We may depend on it, men will never come to Jesus, and stay with Jesus, and live for Jesus, unless they really know why they are to come, and what is their need. Those whom the Spirit draws to Jesus are those whom the Spirit has convinced of sin. Without a thorough conviction of sin, men may seem to come to Jesus and follow Him for a season, but they will soon fall away and return to the world.” Why? This is due to the fact they detest the light, they hate accountability, and the light exposes their hearts to gospel truth.
See the gospel regenerates the heart by the Spirit by giving the born gain sinner….
A new heart to trust and obey
God.
A new heart that is committed
to Christ as Lord of their lives.
A new heart with a brand new,
nature that God gives in the gift of salvation.
A new heart that produces fruit
of Christ righteousness.
A new heart of obedience and affections for the things of God.
This is the belief that Jesus is speaking of! Not mere intellectual, but a complete transformation. That’s the gospel according to Jesus, that’s the gospel that is being told to Nicodemus, and to the world. “That God so loved”
THIS GOSPEL PRODUCES GENUINE BELIEF IN CHRIST….
A genuine confession of salvation “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Rom 10:9-10
A continued work of the Holy Spirit “….and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.” 1 Cor 12:3
A walking in newness of life “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Rom 6:4
A
new birth that follows and pursues holiness and goodness “Since we have these promises,
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit,
bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” 2 Cor 7:1
A life that preservers in genuine faith through the gospel. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,” Phil 1:27
Where do you fit into this
passage of scripture?
Is it under the Sovereign
protection of the sinless spotless Lamb of God?
Or is outside His protection, in the dark where the wrath of God still abides upon your life? Just as Jesus reveals Nicodemus’ spiritual bankruptcy and the urgency to the embrace the gospel truth. This encounter reveals the final words of Christ to Nicodemus, as Jesus addressed his fallen state. This master teacher of the Jews had come to Jesus at night, but his deeds would not bear the Light. This is just as important today, because the day is drawing near, and time is passing, and death, and God’s judgment, is approaching.
Hell is real, and God will not
be mocked
or ignored in the end.
Everyone, the world, sinners, will stand before Him whether you believe it, love it; or could care less. “for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Rom 14:11-12. As believer, I do not fear this day for there is no condemnation for those who are His. But for the unbeliever, this is a day that will haunt you for all eternity.
What will you do with what is
before you
this morning?
The love of God in the gospel will either draw away from Him or it will draw you to the foot of the cross in repentance and faith. To perish is to come to complete ruin, which is the opposite to eternal life. The choice lies before all who are called to believe the gospel, just as it did before all were called to look at the serpent and live.
Understand!
Your eternal
soul
depends on it!
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