APPROVAL: PROPERLY HELD DOCTRINE

APPROVAL: PROPERLY HELD DOCTRINE

Friday, April 11, 2014

John 3:1-21

  Jesus responded to Nicodemus “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not know these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak what we know and testify what we have seen. And you do not receive our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”

  Were he alive today, Nicodemus name would have had many letters behind it, for he was a very learned man, an important prominent religious and political leader, and an imminent teacher of others. His lettered credentials were not however enough to meet the Lord’s approval.

  2Timothy 2:15 study unto living with God’s approval is not simply a matter of what may be commonly accepted and respected education through seminary, denomination, college, or university. It is an individual personal responsibility; a reliance that is “more noble” (Acts 17:11; Gr. higher in ranking), than unthinking dependence of formal and/or familial education.

  Nicodemus, though an erudite man, was publically personally challenged by Jesus the carpenter for relying on ingrained education in opposition to the Word. Reviewing John 3:1-21 I see:

·         Without John 3:3 spiritual rebirth it is impossible for man to properly understand life and death.

·         Without John 3:3 spiritual rebirth we cannot have the mind that Paul tells of. (1Cor.2:15-16; 2Tim.1:7)

·         Without John 3:3 spiritual rebirth there is no hope of proper thinking aligned with the mind of God.

·         Proper religion is not physical.

·         Without John 3:3 spiritual rebirth God’s man cannot properly participate in His kingdom now or forever. (Read Mt.7:23 in context.)

·         Though publically recognized for some mastery . . . get over it, get beyond it, depend on the Omniscient One!

·         Without John 3:3 spiritual rebirth we easily misunderstand decision making. (Muslims are Muslims because they are born in Muslim culture. Christians are Christian because they are born in a Christian culture. Americans are free. Et al)

·         Without John 3:3 spiritual rebirth we easily improperly relate our thinking to worldly criteria in opposition to thinking in and according to God’s Word.

·         Did you really personally study Scripture? If you had, you would have seen Me. (Much of what Jesus said during His ministry here is from the Old Testament.)

·         You need not continuing looking forward to the Messiah, I am Him . . . trust me, live now!

·         Until you are born again, just as with all men you remain dead in sin. Jn.3:18

·         When born again through trusting Me, you will never perish, with eternal life now and forever.

·         Men never have God’s redemption on their own standing; our charity, good works, morality.

·         Men reject light, redemption, because they prefer, love, darkness (Gr. Shadiness/obscurity).

·         If we are really interested in the truth, we are openly so. (Closet Christian or Rom.10:9-11?)

  But what of Nicodemus’ credentials after his visit with Jesus?

  Later he defended Jesus in a meeting with the other Sanhedrin discussing what to do about their Jesus problem. But he did so in careful timid “by night” manner, only bringing out point of Jewish law. (Jn.7:50-52) Then after the crucifixion Nicodemus left the shadows and made a very public statement as to where he stood with Jesus. (Jn.19:39)

  And what of us in this era of cracked pulpits, Hollywood, TV, literary, water cooler and barstool mythology? How do we converse? (2Tim.2:1-4; Tit.2:18)  EBB4