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 spiritual rebirth it is impossible for
man to properly understand life and death.
·
Without spiritual rebirth we cannot have the
mind that Paul tells of. (1Cor.2:15-16; 2Tim.1:7)
·
Without spiritual rebirth there is no hope of
proper thinking aligned with the mind of God.
·
Proper religion is not physical.
·
Without 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 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 spiritual rebirth we easily improperly
relate our thinking to worldly criteria in opposition to thinking in heavenly
ways.
·
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.
·
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 the
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 sound? (2Tim.2:1-4; Tit.2:18) EBB4
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