Jesus Unfiltered - Believe - Jesus - Explains His Message, Part 1

What does it mean to have eternal life.

When does it start.

How do you get it. How can you know for sure if you have eternal life or not.

That's today. Don't miss thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge Chip Ingram survival to this international discipleship program and I hereby ask you, what's the most all Bible what would you say you a lawyer thinking about it. Let me just say that today is continuing his series on filter is in the process of Jesus how Jesus would describe himself do that chips teaching from the Gospel of John back to the basics basics about Jesus, the truth, and eternity. So whether you're a mature Christian or just discovering Jesus is the very first time this message is for you okay do you have a guess about that passage give you a clue. If you have your Bible open it to John chapter 3 Tim TiVo again when the national championship in Florida.

He does something unusual. Keep paints the black underneath his eyes and they puts the numbers 316 sports commentators. Everyone wants to know what in the world is 316 why he put it under his eyes.

A few years later. TiVo makes it for a brief career in the NFL at the number one quarterback gets hurt. The Broncos have been in the playoffs in a long time. He's put into the game. The last few games and I have a playoff game which no one gives them any hope he passes for. Are you ready 316 yards uses this for an opportunity with the 316 and it becomes the number one Google search in US history people.

One John 316. What is this all about. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 316. It is the most quoted Bible verse. The most well-known Bible verse and all of Scripture, and it raises I think couple or three very important questions. Notice it's a promise. First of all talks about the kind of God.

The research God so loved the world, and love always translates into giving that he gave what did he give his one and only son, why is whosoever here is the promise would believe in him shouldn't perish or be apart from God forever, but have eternal life. You might be in your notes circle the word believe is that's pretty important whatever this promise is if you believe you get it if you don't believe you don't.

The other big important word you might circles the word eternal life coming. What exactly is eternal life. Eternal life is not something that happens after you die is not just a quantity of time will learn it is a quality of life and no amount of being good and no matter being religious can merit eternal life. Contrary to every religious system on the face of the earth save the very words in life and death and resurrection of Jesus the context of this member and said where did this come from the contents of this go something like this. It's about A.D. 85 or 90. There's only one disciple left all the others have been martyred. John is still alive. Matthew Mark Luke has already been written. Tens of thousands of Christians now are turning the world upside down there saving infants on the dump piles there living a life that's radical in this multi God generation world they live under the cruel cruel, ruthless life of Rome there giving their lives. Persecution has occurred, and yet there.

Following this, Jesus, and everywhere they go. They keep loving people in these little Christ. That's what it was a derogatory term to calm Christ ones are Christians in Antioch because they did weird stuff they cared for one another.

They shared their resources people would be evil to them and they would do good back to them and so this derogatory term emerge. They call them Christians, but that about that time 50 or 60 years than some little-isms and cults and they were decentralizing getting farther and farther apart, and so John is called by God in the spirit of God is going to give the gospel of John to get clear on who Jesus is. How do you have a relationship with God. What's the clarity of the story that will pull all the things together as the last gospel was written and so in chapter 1 he tells us who Jesus is and where he came from. In chapter 2 he launches a ministry with joy and power in a wedding with laughter and he came to love people and the end of chapter 2 we learned that some people believed but you know belief is one of those words. It unique and superficially believe you can kinda believe intellectually or you can just believe emotionally and so the question became up. What is it mean to have genuine faith that gives you a supernatural new life, resulting in a relationship with God forever. In chapter 3 is can answer that question. Look at the structure. The structure chapter 3 has two major sections. The first section is Nicodemus will find out that he is a Pharisee. He's the teacher of Israel. I think in your mind now. Maybe someone who went to Harvard Divinity school did graduate work at Stanford holds a couple PhD's and is the esteemed person on philosophy and religion that's Nicodemus, and then the second section is John the Baptist. Nicodemus is going to have a private meeting with Jesus. John the Baptist literally is sort of the rock star of his days in Old Testament type profit, he wears this big belt. He wears camel's hair. He eats wild locusts and honey pennies out in the wilderness in the desert and people were streaming out of the cities and he says repent.

God is coming and they called people tells it like it is called Herod down. He said you know what the woman that you have is your brother's wife.

It's wrong. Roman soldiers are coming out who would be abusing people prostitutes are coming out tax collectors are coming out people coming out and they're being baptized with water to say my way of life is wrong. I know it's wrong and I want to turn around and John will say my job is just to prepare the way I baptize with water, but God is going to send his son who baptize with the spirit, meaning real life, not just turning from your sin, but forgiveness in brand-new life.

Let's walk through together, just the first section then and let's follow along and let's just read this this interview because Nicodemus is going to learn although he's moral. He fast as a good Pharisee on Tuesday and Friday he gives 1/10 of everything that he had summing down to herb spices. Everything he has nearly if not all the Old Testament memorized key leads in worship. He is the epitome of religion and he sincere. Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council and it came to Jesus at night.

He said Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who is come from God, for no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing. If God were not with him in reply Jesus replied rather abruptly.

I tried the truth unless a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Question how can a man be born when he is old Nicodemus asked surely cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born.

Repetition Jesus answered, I tell you the truth unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to the spirit.

You should not be surprised at my saying you must be born again. Explanation illustration he should get the wind blows wherever it pleases you here at sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it's going. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit. How can this be Nicodemus ask you are Israel's teacher Jesus said and you do not understand these things I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know. Speaking of him.

The disciples would testify to you what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I speak of heavenly things now. Jesus reveals his identity. It's a bit veiled, but the Son of Man was always Messiah. No one is ever going to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man second illustration that Nicodemus would go oh okay, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert so the Son of Man must be lifted up so everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. Summary explanation for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever would believe in him should not perish but have ever everlasting life.

For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Whoever believes is not condemned.

Whoever does not believe stands condemned already because it is not believed in the name of God's one and only son perspective judgment evaluation. This is the verdict light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be plainly seen what he has done has been done through God guy has your there when I can tell you is that in that paragraph. If you understood what Nicodemus understood if you had all the Old Testament memorized and you knew Judaism forward and backward. What he's saying is going to make a lot of sense, but is going to shake your world upside down. You're listening to nothing on the edge with dripping from and ship will be right back to finish his message quickly though. We want you to know that we have a great way for you to access all of the teaching here at Living on the Edge with the chip and remap. You can access daily programs, chips, message notes and much more. When I was get back to today's message, now as you lean back.

This is can be very important. John's ministry continues to grow as Jesus ministry is starting so he said, behold the Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world.

So Jesus.

The crowds are beginning to follow him. But John is still baptizing. And so now the author wants to make it very clear there's a big shift that occurs and there's no competition between Jesus and John and now John like a candidate who's been sort of running in a primary and then it gets to the big day he says no no no no no, I'm not the candidate I throw all my support if you believe in me. If you trusted me all my support goes to this person, Jesus. So just follow along and picture in your mind what's occurring.

As I read the second half. After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside where he spent some time with them any baptized now. John was also baptizing at a eon nearside lien because it was plenty of water and the people were constantly coming to be baptized. This was before John was put in prison, an argument, then develop between one of John's disciples in a certain Jew about the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John speaking of John the Baptist and send him, Rabbi, Batman, who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, the one that you testified about well he is baptizing and everyone is going to him.

So you're even a follower of John the Baptist you preparing the way and these multitudes literally thousands and thousands of people and then he says something about Jesus.

Now Jesus is baptizing over there in your big crowds are getting small and is small crowds are getting big. And if you're a good follower you going to like a boss, what's with this notice. John's response, a man can only receive what is given him from heaven. You cells can testify that I said I am not the Christ of Messiah, but I'm the one sent ahead of him and then he gives us illustrations beautiful the bride belongs to bridegroom the friend who attends the bride waits and listens for him and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice.

That joy is mine and it is now complete. He must become greater.

I must become less the one who comes from above is, above all in the one is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth, the one who comes from heaven is above all. Speaking of Jesus. He testifies of what he is seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who accepted it, has certified that God is truthful for the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God to him. God gives the Spirit without measure without limit in the notice is observation. Whoever believes in the sun. Speaking of Jesus, Has Eternal Life Cir., Lord has present tense, not someday, is not some way is not after you die John the Baptist his testimony his endorsement, the one who believes whatever that means, has present tense eternal life, but whoever rejects the son will not see life, for God's wrath remains upon him.

If you are new with this slow down for just a minute as you think a man this guy talks really fast. There's times I talk so fast I can't even digest what I'm saying what we been doing is we want to not only go through what God's word says but we want to learn how to study it for ourselves. Real convictions in your life don't come because you agree with what someone else says convictions come when you dig in on your own. And God speaks to you by his spirit through his word and it's like oh I got it and so we said there's three things that we need to do in order to really study God's word on our own and this this is for everyone.

This is for people. I mean, I know a lot of you are a lot smarter than some of the rest of us and you have I and the Somerset medium IQs and some have low IQs. The common people heard Jesus gladly. He spoke profoundly, but simply and contrary to the world. God is not all that impressed with whatever IQ people have because he actually gave it to you for specific purpose and some of the most loving people who make the biggest difference has nothing to do with their IQ and so he wanted us to study the Bible in a simple way. What does it say observation, what does it mean interpretation then the important part. What does it mean to me application when you do those three things you can learn exactly what God said in his word.

Regardless of your background and so the first thing we want to do you notice of the top your notes.

What does John chapter 3 say just what does it say these are just observations and as I read them real quickly. Just ask yourself, does it really say that are not. This isn't what ship things just we read it, doesn't it.

In fact, say Nicodemus he's an elite member of the Jewish rulership becomes finite. He recognized that Jesus was sent by God from the miracles.

He's confronted with the need for a second birth, whatever that means. He doesn't understand how it's possible kingdom. Entrance your eternal life requires a physical and a spiritual birth. Jesus is surprised that this teacher of Israel doesn't understand it by Jesus reveals his origin these from heaven is the son of God was teaching. He predicts his death. He says the Son of Man is going to be lifted up just like that serpent will learned this phrase being lifted up his same word use light currently in the day for crucifixion and John we use exact same phrase to talk of Jesus being lifted up on the cross he promises eternal life.

Jesus to whoever believes and he came not to be down on people condemn, but the whole purpose of Jesus is to rescue people and then finally that he reveals that some people will literally no matter how kinder, how loving will refuse to believe that the observations with regard to John the Baptist are pretty simple to find that John and Jesus are both baptizing the countryside. John's disciples are concerned.

John rejoices, John clarifies his role he's to make way of Jesus. And then he affirms Jesus identity that he came from heaven, John affirms that Jesus is God and the son of God, and then he says whoever believes on him, has eternal life present tense and whoever chooses willfully to reject him has the wrath of God upon it now. Is that fair to mean what it says on the Oneonta is nothing like fancy I can go to any books I just write it every one of us can do that. The next question then is, what does it mean and and the key to asking what it means is asking basic questions of things that you say will until I can answer some of these questions. I don't know what it really means. And here's the deal on a first and foremost note imaginary box 8085 or 90 John is speaking by the Spirit of God.

On the first century Christian. What did it mean to them. Historically, culturally, what did it mean to them it's truth. Was it mean to me as a single person, a married person parent wasn't mean to me with the pressures. I have my life God wants to speak to ordinary people like us is vividly and clearly as he did then just just joining us here listening to Living on the Edge with shipping chips message today is from believe volume 1 of a series Jesus unfiltered in this series chips taking an in-depth look at Jesus walking us through the gospel of John. The authorized biography of Jesus of you will each of the Gospels has a specific purpose and in John we see his focus on the Lordship of Christ proofs that Jesus is the son of God.

Closer to home how Jesus wants to be your savior.

Starting right where you're at today maybe listening more than once is the key to mastering the troops in these passages of John and hope you do that the audio resources are discounted and chips message notes are free. You can use them to dig into the Scripture passages follow chips outline and take notes as you listen for complete details on the believe discounts and trips free message notes give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 or visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org what ship I want to say the series really helps us understand that being a Christian isn't about trying to be a good person. It's about a 24 seven relationship are wondering how you developed your relationship with Jesus over the years. As you listen to these messages from the book of John. I'm guessing you have the same problem I do. I mean this is very strong, clear teaching from Jesus himself, and at times I feel overwhelmed I get convicted, and I realize I'm trying and trying and trying in some areas and then I just feel stuck. I want you know I developed a habit about 30 years ago when I would get stuck what I realized was I was believing lies or I'd had struggles that continued over and over and over and I need to attack the lies not just my behavior or my emotions and so I came up with these these cards and I we call in the Jesus unfiltered truth cards. For example, I get frustrated when people interrupt my schedule when they cut in front of me because, down deep, what I believe is my stuff. My time in me is more important than other people. Now that's hard to actually admit.

So what I wrote on the card is. I get frustrated and angry when people interrupt my life… And then I write on the bottom stop that.

I flipped the card over and from John 13 Jesus says if I being your Lord and Master serve you. Blessed are you when you do this for one another. So what I realize is that blessedness comes from service. But instead of trying hard and beating myself up. These truth cards are read them over in the morning. I read them overnight identified a few lies and then I get the truth and so we made these up for you and let me tell you it has radically changed my life. The Jesus unfiltered truth cards are available to you. Love to put them in your hands because transformation doesn't happen by trying hard transformation happens by renewing our minds like strip will the Jesus unfiltered truth cards are available now while supplies last. When you go to your website. LivingontheEdge.org there a set of 21 cards like the one strip uses. Each card is a common ally or spiritual battle we all face and on the flipside, it has a passage from the Gospel of John to help you renew your mind with the truth whether there for you or someone else. Order your set of Jesus unfiltered truth cards and get free shipping by calling us at 1-888-333-6003 or order online at http://livingontheedge.org without your strip with his application. As we close today's program. I hope you remember that Jesus came to reveal the father that he wanted to talk to Nicodemus that he saw through his moralism and his religiosity and he came at night because he was afraid that he came and had an honest question.

A really wanted to know. And Jesus spoke very directly to him as I would encourage you. I don't know where you're at on the journey of of reading the Bible or whether you bought into the lie that ordinary people really can't understand the Bible, but can I encourage you read through the gospel John with us and as you listen to these messages while you download them or download the notes that there are some tools that will help you, but God wants to speak to you when you have a decision when you have a problem just telling I'm really struggling with this sin and then read through the passage slowly and then say Lord would you speak to me and be quiet. You'll learn to listen to his voice and some verses will began to unite and how to say this will begin to cut a pop out the begin to speak to you and you little by little understand all that's how the Holy Spirit works he actually wants to speak to me from his word. God loves you.

He wants to communicate to you and with you, and he once you to come and ask him questions and share your struggles. He wants to meet you. So once you meet with him as we wrap up today's program.

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You can call us at 1-888-333-6003, or if you prefer, donate online at http://livingontheedge.org, let's timeshift continues his serious Jesus unfiltered last courtship of everyone here, this is Dave thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge