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August 28, 2022 6:00 am
Unbelief is what causes her nerves so I think I think it's because I believe no unbelief that causes the gospel is simple. The gospel is so simple even I understand the gospel is so simple five-year-old, I see little kids are at church.
Tell me what they learned in Sunday school. I think they have a grasp of the gospel. It's so easy to understand what a person says I just can't understand often what you find. Because they don't believe it woke up to critically Skip weekend division for the classic movie Sabrina starring Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn, the title character is a young girl who pretty much goes unnoticed until she travels to Paris, and returns with a whole new look that suddenly makes her rather attractive and therefore troublesome for the rich family she had her father worked for no makeovers are generally thought of as something one does to become more attractive or to get some attention. However, when it comes to our relationship with Christ. We already have his attention and affection, and because of that he wants to help us with that extreme makeover for our soul.
Open your Bibles to John chapter 3 as you do so will catch up with Skip Heitzig as he continues with our study Bible says something beautiful… For the joy that was set before Jesus. He endured the cross, if you thought about that what would give anybody joy facing cruel ignominious death.
What possible joy could there be here is the joy of Jesus being able to look to the lens of history and see you you and you and you and you and you one day call on Christ and be saved forever, and he looked at that and said it's worth it.
That is what that will push me and drive me on to do the father's will and of joy out of love. So here's Nicodemus he's thinking the whole time. How can these things be. How how does the new birth happen.
As it comes by Jesus bringing it out of heaven to the earth, and second by Jesus going to the cross to die being lifted up, they'll say it again in chapter 12 of John, if I be lifted up from the earth. I will draw all men to myself. He speaking of the cross. John even says so afterwards I've heard that verso misquoted over the years. Worship leaders stand up and say Jesus said if I be lifted up I'll draw all men, so let's lift and hire it's almost a blasphemous stop because the idea of the taxes lifting him up on a cross to die and that's what he is referring to here and that is the force of the new life.
There's a book it's a Christian classic. If you've never read it, read it at least once before you die. Skull Pilgrim's progress.
Charles Spurgeon read it twice a year that's out important. He thought it was.
I'm it's a story of a man called Christian. He's the pilgrim on the journey from his hometown of the city of destruction.
On the way to the celestial city and he's carrying a backpack. It's called the law he can keep it. It's a burden to him wherever he goes.
It's just it's his burdening him down like Nicodemus. Here's the part of the story I want to read to you I saw in my dream that justice Christian came up to the cross is burden loosed from his shoulders, fell from off his back and began to tumble until it came to the mouth of the tomb where it fell in and I saw it no more then was Christian glad and light some and said with a merry heart. He has given me rest by his sorrow and he has given me life by his death as the key thought here life by his death catch a glance at verse 17. Before we move on. I I tend to think that this is where Nicodemus's job again dropped I tell you why in a minute. Jesus said, for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. I do see Nicodemus, here's what did you know that Jews at that time believed that one of the first things Messiah would do when he came would be to wipe out all the heathen all the pagans all the Gentiles and establish only Israel is the pink pinnacle the peak. Jesus is Nicodemus. I didn't come to do that. I didn't come to condemn, I came to save the world and my salvation is for the world, not just for Israel before the whole world not he should have known that Nicodemus should've known that all the Jews should've known that that's part of the Abraham a covenant you study that if you been with us on Wednesday nights. God said to Abraham in the you all of the families of the earth will be blessed at the prediction of Christ would come to the lineage of Abraham summer Nicodemus thought that what he believed. He thought he's in a wipe out the Gentiles and this could be us. In fact, the very opposite happened because Israel rejected her Messiah the door of salvation was open to the Gentiles, and blindness happened to Israel before we move on though.
I just want you to capture this thought. I want you to know how much Jesus loves you.
I want you to know that Jesus Christ would do anything to get you to heaven. In fact, he did everything he could. Stepping out of heaven coming to the earth, robed in a man's body suffered the rejection of people and death on a cross to get you to heaven. Which brings us to the third point, that is the course of new life that is faith belief. That's the road travels on the course of believing in him. Now you'll notice the banner above me see the word on top.
Even the back. I think you can read believed 879. That's because there's 879 verses in the Gospel of John, and the key theme is the word believe that's why were not surprised. 98 times in this book.
The word believe believe believe believe occurs is that sustained.
He wants people to believe what were not then surprised to find it here on a few different occasions. Look at verse 12. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things. Verse 15 that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Verse 16 is the same thought in verse 18 he who believes in him is not condemned. He who believes not is condemned already key thought is unbelief.
But there's another key thought right next to it in this paragraph. What is unbelief you notice these two things side-by-side, believing and believing, not belief and unbelief.
Now verse nine is essentially a statement of unbelief. Nicodemus is how can these things be. It's a statement of incredulity. He doesn't believe it is a Skip how you know that because Jesus said so.
Verse 12 after Nicodemus asked the question, Jesus says, if I have told you earthly things. Notice and you do not believe you is plural in the Greek you and the rest of you Israel leaders like yourselves.
By and large, don't believe something else I want you to follow. Look at verse 10 and 11 and 12. Notice in verse 10, the phrase you do not know see that in verse 11. You do not receive in verse 12, you do not believe Nicodemus didn't know because Nicodemus didn't receive because Nicodemus didn't believe I listen carefully as an important truth. This is pregnant with this truth. Unbelief is what causes ignorance is auto.
If I think I think that that ignorance because unbelief note it's unbelief that causes ignorance to see the gospel is simple.
The gospel is so simple even I understand the gospel is so simple a five-year-old can get it.
I see little kids are at church. Tell me what they learned in Sunday school. I think they have a grasp of the gospel. It's so easy to understand when a person says I just can't understand often what you find is because they don't believe it. And if you problem little deeper, it's because they won't believe it. They refuse to believe you see why in a couple of verses again.
Here's Nicodemus you think man this whole born-again thing starting all over again. It's just I don't get it I that's just forget that it's too hard because he's on earth is been trying to get into the kingdom from down here never work. It will never work. I heard an example. It was so good I wanted to use it. Let's say you had a pet fish and you would keep the fish in a aquarium where there's water one day you decided you know I like to take my pet fish for a walk so you think the fish out of the according to strap a skateboard and you get little lacy walked the neighbor you want to walk to fish. Will somebody should tell you eventually that that fish can't breathe air that fish requires a different system to breathe.
That's water well. Nicodemus has the wrong system.
He's been trying to breathe kingdom air from down on earth when Jesus said to be born again, the kingdom from heaven comes to the earth and it operational because Jesus himself will go to the cross and you must believe engaged by belief. Believe what see a lot of wobbly elbows believe believe what believe that Jesus existed and hung out with 12 dudes believe he was a good guy was taught a few good things and gave a nice example notices believe in him that's very different from chapter 2, verse 23 member that works. Many people in Jerusalem believed in his name when they saw his miracles and Jesus wouldn't commit himself to them. He knew what was in their hearts they believed he was a healer.
They didn't want him as a Savior is a big difference between acknowledging and receiving as many as received him, he gave the power to become children of God Charles or William Barclay put it this way, that faith is the clutching intensity of a drowning man that great picture. The guy in the quicksand he's drowning.
And when Jesus put his hand out wrapped Jesus pulled him up.
Believe it takes us to the fourth and final debrief on this. I'm calling it the remorse of new life, which is judgment. Verse 18. He who believes in him is not condemned but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God and this is the condemnation is powerful. Here's the reason this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
Here's the great remorse of new life. The great remorse of new life is that not everyone will enjoy it because not everyone will believe it and thus will incur judgment. Interesting that Jesus doesn't say one day they will be judged at the great white throne that will happen but he says there condemned already. That's interesting because the great white throne judgment for unbelievers. Won't happen for a long time and the millennium. So, assuming there condemned already. Well, the sentence will happen at the great white throne. The trial is now the trial is now the choices we make now determines what will happen then that's what this is about like the guy went to the Louvre believe that little Museum in Paris have a couple good pictures Mona Lisa is one of them by da Vinci and a few other greats. He walked in he didn't quite get art is looking around at any walks out of the museum and chewing his gum and he says the curator.
I didn't get much that I did not, and all your pictures, curator smiled, so that's okay. The artisan on trial you are that matter what you think of them. The greats will still be the greats, but it tells a lot about who you are with that statement. So Jesus is in on trial when you know I've always thought Jesus so won't diminish who he is.
He's not on trial. We are we are verse 19 is powerful.
Here's the condemnation light has come into the world that's Christ in the truth that he brought this this message the gospel and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Boy boy, a lot of people say well you know people don't believe in Jesus Christ because they don't understand wrong people won't believe in Jesus Christ because they love their sin. I do know how to say it any delicately or more so than that – is the truth. They won't come because they love their sin, and like dogs scurry under a rock. When you turn on the light, any kind of light that will flee from it. They'll walk away from men love they love their darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. Verse 21 is the last verse we have an address to get so will end here. I think it's the best part is an invitation really, I think, to Nicodemus, but in contrast to that, but he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in God.
I think that this is an invitation directed toward Nicodemus, as if to say, Nicodemus do the right thing stepped out of the shadows step out of your darkness.
Step into the light. The truest thing you could ever do I close with someone who wrote a great little story articulated a much better than I ever could Saul use his words long ago. Or maybe not so long ago there was a tribe in a dark cold cavern. The cave dwellers would huddle together and cry against the chill loud and long. They waited, it was all they did it was all they knew to do the sounds in the caves were mournful, but the people didn't know it, for they had never known joy the spirit and the cave was death, but the people didn't know it, for they had never known life, but then one day they heard a different voice. I have heard your cries, it announced, I have felt your chill and senior darkness.
I have come to help the cave people grew quiet.
They'd never heard this voice. Hope sounded strange to their ears.
How can we know you come to help. Trust me.
He said I have what you need.
The cave people peered to the darkness of the figure of the stranger he was stacking something and then stooping and stacking more. What are you doing one cried nervously. Stranger didn't answer what are you making one shouted even louder. Still no response. Telus demanded 1/3.
The visitor stood and spoke in the direction of the voices I have what you need. With that he turned to the pilot's feet and lit wood ignited flames erupted in light filled the cavern. The cave people turned away in fear doubt they cried. It hurts to see it will light always hurts before it helps answer step closer. The pain will soon pass. Not all I declared a voice nor I agree to second only a fool would risk exposing his eyes to such a light stranger stood next to the fire. Would you prefer the darkness he asked would you prefer the cold don't consult your fears. Take a step of faith for a long time.
No one spoke. The people hovered in groups covering their eyes. The fire builder stood next to the fire.
It's warm here. He invited he's right, one from behind him announced it is warmer. The stranger turned and saw a figure slowly stepping toward the fire. I can open my eyes.
Now she proclaimed.
I can see come closer invited the fire builder. She did, she stepped into the ring of light so warm.
She extended her hands inside as the chill began to pass come everyone feel the warmth she invited silence woman cried one of the cave dwellers dear, you lead us into your folly. Leave us leave us and take your light with you she turned to the stranger.
Why won't they come.
He said they choose the chill for though it's cold it's what they know.
They'd rather be cold than change and live in the dark. She asked yes, he said, and live in the dark. The now warmed woman stood silent, looking first at the dark and then at the man, will you leave the fire. He asked. She paused and she answered I cannot. I cannot bear the cold. Then she spoke again but nor can I bear the thought of my people and darkness.
You don't have to.
He responded, reaching into the fire and removing the stick carry this to your people.
Tell them the light is here and tell them the light is warm.
Tell them the light is for all who desire it, and she took the small flame and stepped into the shadows. What Jesus did, leaving the glory and the light of heaven to this dark earth to bring light men loved darkness rather than light. I just wonder this morning if some of you have gotten close enough to the light to feel its warmth and its power, but not stepped in to get yourself a really, really warmed by and I just wonder if some of you who have been very good and well-meaning, and religious seer. Whatever the case might fit, but you are not born again your life is not been entrusted to the Lord given personally invited him as Savior's master feels so good over here and if you'd like to talk to someone about how you can take this you can step in the warmth and light of a relationship with Jesus Christ would like to talk with you about what that means.
Just give us a call at 1-800-922-1880 would be happy to explain to you what you need to do to take the first that well it's with I thought were going to have to wrap things up today but before we go.
Here's what we have for you this month and connectwithskip.com forms.com recently published an article with 20 tips for how to completely change your life in one year. Sounds complicated. The Bible tells a different story about how to change your life. The Bible says repent and return to God reminds us we need to always insert into every situation. I think what God is a phrase that appears 45 times in Scripture.
It's a game changing phrase means that no matter who you are what you have done no matter how you may have failed. The truth is God can make things different for you, from now on, but God discovered the power of God in Scripture and the game changer for your life with the black-eyed teaching theories from Pastor Skip I think you get $35 or more to help keep this type of teaching ministry on the get your CD collection today, 819 to 84. Get online securely connectwithskip.com/offer that's also how you can get in touch with us for a copy of today's the. It's available for just four dollars plus shipping.
When you call us at 1-800-922-1880 continue through a series believe 879 with more from the Gospel of John. So I hope you enjoy right here and connect with Skip weekend division of presentation of connection