John Chapter 3:4-16

Nicodemus is trying at this point to get his mind wrapped around listening on our time, but I like the Nicodemus came to Jesus knew where to go with this questions he didn't send somebody else time he went to person, less weight is you gotta check out Jesus person can't check them out to this guy or that guy or this book or that book or even some well-meaning preacher on television.

You have to check Jesus out personally.

You have to come to Jesus person family. Nicodemus was born again after the I believe Nicodemus got saved that I know that some people think no Pharisees got say that's that's anti-scriptural a lot of Jewish people.

A lot of Jewish leaders receive Jesus as the Messiah. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, and were glad to have one of the McGee's associate pastors DA Brown here with us as Pastor David continues through the book of John. Bob is important to remember that Jesus is he rose from the dead, he's alive right now we can have a personal relationship.how does that work just like me and you talking right now we can talk to Jesus by Amanda thinks he has to say.

See what anyone else has to say for sure. I know will find out more about this personal relationship for each one of us can have today is David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the Gospel of John chapter 3.

Turn with me to John chapter 3 last week, Jesus spoke of being born again will we study Jesus saying you need to be born again work that and you know we need to be reminded of that central truth because we've actually have the distinction somehow twisted of Christians and born-again Christians. I'm confused about what somebody that's not a born again Christian is. I don't think you can be a Christian and not be born again. I think you take literal words of Jesus were in verse four. Here Nicodemus said to him, how can a man be born when he is old Kenny enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born. Jesus answered, most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit spirit verse seven. Do not marvel that I said to you. You must be born again, he says it's rice said in verse three says the universe seven. It's not something when you're born again what happens your past all your mistakes golf that matter how much you messed up go forgiven an amazing thing when Gaza, we took we compared notes here.

I am probably one the chiefest centers in your that I know I be in the top five and yet, it's over it's done. You don't have the past that can condemn you anymore now that doesn't mean that well intended Christians will condemn your best.

But God himself doesn't condemn you. We don't sit and think about very much, your sins are forgiven and forgotten and you have a bright future and hope. Man this is good stuff and no one is called the good news that Jesus didn't say where we need to fix you up a little bit is a couple things that are wrong with you but we can fix you what you need you need to retreat. That's what you need go to retreat newbie up now, let's more seminars or more conferences or dinner all you hear wacky think you need more self-esteem. That's what you you brother now and born-again's asking Jesus to be forgiven and receive an and we have to start over in order for Nicodemus to realize this. He needed to realize he didn't have as part of the process and whenever you're sharing the good news.

It's gotta start with the bad news.

Because of someone he doesn't realize that there is center then I can understand the need saving. Like what Ray comfort does with that. You know if you're on a flight somebody comes bonds is a you know where this parachute using a lot of unneeded parachute.

I don't I don't not Sarai flight seems be going well but if somebody comes by your sequences.

You know what in five minutes planes go crash everybody and here's going down. Here's a parachute which time with a parachute meet have the most meaning I mean if the gases the planes going down your your all over the parachute. Sometimes we don't paint the bad news not talk about hellfire and brimstone in you know Pete and somebody hit them over the head with your bottle, but understanding that they can't trust in themselves to achieve salvation. Verse eight the wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the spirit.

Jesus is not saying it's okay if you're filled with the spirit to be weird. I've heard some people use this verse to see nobody understands me no one is working for Margo because I am born of the spirit. That's not what Jesus is talking about here. That's really ripping it out of context.

He's talking about. We can't fully understand the operation of the Holy Spirit. Does that mean that whatever is okay in the church is no because Paul wrote very specifically in first Corinthians 12 prescriptions 14 about the way the way our meetings should be conducted in regards to the Holy Spirit always and out very plainly says things should be done decently and in order now been in both types of churches I've been in churches where they just work done and I've been in churches where they were done they were done decently and in order and there's a balance here. Yes, there is a well if you'll permit me the use of the word.

There is a scriptural mysticism if you will, in regards to the Scriptures and the workings of the Holy Spirit, but the Scriptures set down the guidelines of what happens in regards to fellowship in the Holy Spirit.

I think we need to be careful. I think we need to look to Scripture, and I don't a lot of times people do all sorts of crazy stuff and go in and you know why you do that always just the spirit spirit has not been in meetings where it just turned my stomach. You know what I am. This is ministering somebody. Hopefully, because this is not my notes not intend to go off on this verse. But you know so many times we say well you know that this happened and that happened and it was the Holy Spirit really show me in Scripture where it says that that happens and if you can't show me in here were not doing it in this church.

I don't care what our church doesn't don't say what church on the roads known. I don't care.

You show me in this book and will do it. It's not in here were not known and if that offends you. I can apologize, but you know what it should make you feel safe, but nothing's going to go on here that we don't see and hear. Because geysers allot awareness out there. There is a lot of weirdness out there. Verse nine Nicodemus answered and said to him, how can these things be seen. Nicodemus is trying at this point to get his mind wrapped around this and examine our time, but I like that Nicodemus came to Jesus he knew where to go with this questions he didn't send someone else time he went to personally that's weight is you gotta check out Jesus personally. You can't check them out to this guy or that guy or this book or that book or even some well-meaning preacher on television. You have to check Jesus out personally as life lesson number two you have to come to Jesus personally believe Nicodemus was born again after this I believe Nicodemus got saved that I know that some people think no Pharisees got saved. That's that's anti-scriptural a lot of Jewish people. A lot of Jewish leaders received Jesus as the Messiah. Church tradition talk of something else. The Bible tells us a lot. Did the reason I believe that Nicodemus got saved as is.

Two other scriptures that he's mentioned in the Gospel of John will dig in deeper, warmer there but John chapter 7 verse 50 Nicodemus he he he who came to Jesus by night and one them send them does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he's doing. He's defending Jesus to the Pharisees and he was a Pharisee. They answered and said to him, are you also from Galilee search and look for no profit is risen out of Galilee. So here Nicodemus is defending Jesus.

John chapter 19 verse 39 Susan Nicodemus what first came to Jesus by night, also came bring in a mixture of myrrh and hours about hundred pounds. He came to minister to the Lord after his death. What's interesting about this again will dig deeper into this when we get there, but the second passage there something in there that is kind of hidden until you realize what's going on in the passage in the verses it's Passover what what specular Passover is a holy day for regular work for holiday and menstruation. Where would you run out and get hundred pound valid.

Everything is close to Sabbath. What used to be here in sunny Italy you can get them.

So here you have wanted to have 100 pounds laying around for I believe when Jesus said he was going to be crucified, dead and buried. The Nicodemus believed them, and this is a time when all the disciples.

It ran off the Nicodemus not only listen but he heard them and he believed them and he was ready for the burial after the crucifixion, guys.

There is no other way. We talked about this before Jesus says you must be born again.

This is the deal.

There's no end around. There's no plan B.

So if you believe the words of Jesus for you to say that there's other ways to heaven is calling Jesus a liar secant be a Christian say there's other ways to happen when Jesus said there's not. And if you're calling Jesus a liar. You can't call yourself a Christian because Jesus himself did. I don't probably know the verse John 14 six Jesus said to him, I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. There's no other way. So either you call Jesus a liar and you say there's other ways to have an early so you know what Jesus is the only way Jesus is the only way and then acts 412 says, nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved is what the Bible says and instead of being in weird that there's not more than one way. I'm just thankful there's one way I'm thankful there is a way I praise God that there's a way outside of my own works in my own righteousness. You'll be able to tell him me in heaven because I'll be the one running around going.

Praise God this is awesome no other way. Verse 10 Jesus answered and said to him, aren't you the teacher of Israel and you do not know these things that would be a good question to take to ask a lot of liberal theologians are you a teacher and you do not know these things. So a lot of people know a lot of stuff about the Bible but they don't know the author and if you don't know the author, you can't really know the book knowing the author is the main thing. Verse 11. Most assuredly, I say to you, we speak what we know and testify what we have seen you do not receive our witness.

If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things told you earthly things you mean like how the earth got here says in the beginning God created the heavens and earth, so that verse out what you do the rest of the book and know how the earth got here. God created verse 13 no one has ascended to heaven, but he who came down from heaven. That is the Son of Man who is in heaven. While so Jesus never said he was God wisher sounds like a claim to divinity, to me that he came down from heaven.

He was the only one. He also forgave sins and he said only God can forgive sins. Another big clue and it will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob Lynn take a minute to pray for a listening audience. Those living in these cities in California. Orville Paso Robles Pine Grove courts Hill Red Bluff Reading and Ridgecrest God, we thank you for those listening in these cities and the surrounding areas.

We pray that you would speak or write to them right where they're at today that they would be excited about following you, that they wouldn't fear that they're going to fall short because you're going to do the work in them guy. We pray that they will get plugged into a Bible teaching Bible believing church fathers did you give the pastors in those churches wisdom and how to encourage those whom God brings in Jesus name Amen amen thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse verse 14 and as Moses left lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. John chapter 12 verse 32, 33, kind of illuminate this a little bit when Jesus says, and I if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself. This, he said, signifying by what death he would die is referring to passage in numbers numbers chapter 21 verse five through nine, and the people spoke against God and against Moses while you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no food, no water nurse will lose this worthless bread. So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and the people in many of the people of Israel.therefore the people came to Moses and said, we have sent for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord that he takes away the serpents from among us must so Moses prayed for the people than the Lord said to Moses, make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole, and it shall be that everyone who is bitten when he looks at it, shall live. So Moses made a bronze serpent and put it on a pole and so it was the serpent had bitten anyone when he looked at the bronze serpent. He lived. That's interesting that Jesus use this as an example, what did the people have to do in order to be healed in order to be saved look at it that really work with salvation because there's lots of other things you gotta do in order be saved. You got as we went through the right got baptized got me a member of the church and all that other stuff right now.

Just look, just look now if your believer, your present will.

What about repentance and ask a question.

Where does repentance come from is something you generate workup in yourself. Know it's a gift of God Bible tells us that practices there is a worldly sorrow works the death there's a godly sorrow that brings you to repentance that repentance is a gift from God work when does it come when you look to when you look to. I'm sure there were people that David didn't understand what you mean, look at it like a snake on that stupid. And guess what God is looking at a snake was too stupid. The cross is foolishness. Some people say look to Jesus and you will be saved on my can do that.

That stupid was happy with anything that's where faith comes in and I'm not sure how this heals me. I'm not sure how this fixes my life for heals me spiritually or physically, but you know what, I'm the look as he told me to if for no other reason trust Jesus who said the look to them to come to life lesson number three you have to make a decision about who Jesus is.

We talked about this some last week.

Jesus was not a good teacher. Just a good teacher. Jesus was not just a good man. He was God incarnate God in the flesh, who died for the sins of the world and he took the punishment for our sins upon himself. We have a choice. We allow Jesus to take punishment for us and we can try to pay for ourselves.

I would not suggest a second, but when you reject Jesus you so you know when I am not praying that prayer. I am not receiving them as my Savior. What you're saying is I want to stand before a holy, righteous, God in my own works. What man woman or child would do that and you can't get in unless your trust is like trying to push the door that's been latched. You can open it, you gotta turn the handle one that's where the door works and you can push and shove on that door all you want to, but it's not open until you turn that latch Jesus is. Here's the lot you gotta be born again in order to get in. This is what you gotta do and you can you can say well you know it seems like there ought to be another door around here. Another way and you say that all you want to praise God there's authority tells us how to get in and being good, being nice, I'm sorry because it doesn't get you in heaven mean can you imagine going to restaurant get regularly. Michael will pay when he got back we got pay while is nice to the waiters please and thank you and others in that one little thing that you know I was a nice all-time look at you like you're crazy. Same thing works doesn't do salvation by grace through faith.

It's as if if you were at the restaurant and you didn't have any money and you very meal in your area but you don't have any way to make the payment. If somebody comes up to the counter decision on okay I'll pay is what Jesus does.

Again, that's why we call it the good news. Verse 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. This is probably the most quoted verse when it comes to present the gospel and for good reason because it's in their it's in their and look at the words look at the verbs that are used to describe God.

God loved God gave God loved and God gave Matt describes the nature God doesn't God acted first, God loved us and God gave. He did something to restore the relationship whatsoever believes then and say believes an act right now. Just as belief. I guess don't get me wrong, I believe want your Savior should begin to be a disciple you should begin to read the word of God, you should begin to apply the word of God to your life. No doubt about start with this is it leaves the couldn't of made it any easier guys and it says God so loved the world, welcome to letters so loved the world see we often paint God is angry and vengeful and and and you know trying to like the whole world out the look at this one Lord God so loved the world he looked at you and I and he was heartbroken because there was no way for us to have a relationship with them was no way for us to get in heaven and he said you know what I love them so much. I'm willing to pay any cost to bring them.

I'm even willing to give my son you know there's very few people they can even begin to understand that what we need to do is put our trust in him. What you what are you relying on this morning in order to go into heaven. I sure hope it's not your goodness, it's not your good works because it's a gift and a gift. You pay something for his Jesus paid for not you just want you to believe. And once you do that, then then come in the churches is no longer at sure in and read in the Bible is is is not it clears up these things and in you servant is no longer burdened in an given is no longer difficult or as difficult after you realize what he did for you but realize some lifeless number for your either trusting in your works or trust in Jesus, you cannot trust a number what you trust in this morning. If you put your faith in your works. As can be sad at the end of your life because Jesus you're going to be one of those folks that Jesus looks that says you know what I didn't know you remember the conversation. People go. I did this, not that Jesus is I didn't know you didn't say you didn't do enough to do the right thing is I didn't know you know in him and believe in them. Trust and belief does not mean that you academically understand what I'm communicating to you this morning and means this is what you trusting in your trusting in Jesus this and nothing else. God so loved the world, we should give it our life to him because he loved us so much, maybe even try on in your own strength. Maybe you're here this morning. Maybe you're tired. Maybe your wounded you beat up set up wound up dried up. You know what is time to look up you will find the answer near because the God who created you, has given you the way to come home and rest. He's provided that for you and what he ask is that you take that step of faith and believe on him and we need to take that step of faith.

Perhaps some of you who have been born again. Have started trusting in your works when you need to.

This morning, so you know what I can't do that anymore. Lord, I'm sorry that that that I'm sorry up against falling into that trap again works without faith instead were told that the book of James.

But you know what don't trust your works to get to heaven or maybe some of you've never even trusted by faith and faith alone. Perhaps you've never asked the Lord to forgive you, simply on the basis of his grace rapture when these people that are described in getting confused about basing it on your works, because if you base it on your works, brother, sisters, family. It's only a matter time to you fail and then when you fail, you go with that said, I can't do it.

I must not be a Christian because I made a mistake. That's not good news. The good news is you can be forgiven of the mistakes when not if you make all I know you don't have anything to offer. Life is broken it's messed up. There's things going on that you know you shouldn't be involved. Find out from to forgive you of all these things give you a fresh start and he's come to you to come to him, friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and the thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart. David McGee, that sounds good Pastor day and again.

It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com. If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our lifestream at 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night at 7 PM this visit, cross the bridge.com and click on our lifestream link. There you will experience a live service from David's home church. The bridge in North Carolina again. That website is cross the bridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continued teaching verse by verse in the Gospel of John