The Religiously Immunized, Part 2

GE career there is a superficial belief that keeps people from genuine faith and it works like an immunization just enough of it make you immune to the real thing when you hear and maybe some of you that's what you had to pray the prayer will be. I'll check with heart rate you went to the class you got baptized but have you been born again.

Have you been infected with the gospel virus shot is relearning these days. We have an invisible shield everywhere you go. Many diseases that have taken countless lives throughout history, virtually unheard of, but what you could be immunized against the good thing like that subject today on Senate life as pastor JD Greer continues our new series called can't believe you missed the first message in this series yesterday. You can hear it online. JD Greer.com today study pastor JD titled it religiously. What I want to show you today is that the Bible frequently about a kind of faith that is superficial of faith doesn't go very deep faith, but does not say that all that's what you see from John chapter 2.

The tragedy is that for a lot of people like this. A lot of people there.

Superficial faith has immunized them from understanding the need for the real gospel because they have the antibody of superficial religion she were starting a new series called can't believe you look at seven different stories from the gospel of John, of people who for whatever reason, couldn't believe could not believe today we're going to look at the religiously immunized to see how Jesus engaged seven different individuals who couldn't believe the gospel of John. So group number one of those you can't believe. Here is our first group the religiously immunized the religiously immunized verse 23 of jabber to now when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast. There were many who believed in his name to that they believed when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them because he knew all people, and he needed no one to bear witness about man because he himself knew what was in man, you got a group of people who believe in Jesus but it says that Jesus would not give himself to them because he could see that their fate will superficial you could almost say that they believe in Jesus but Jesus did not believe in them. Write this down if you take notes on one dangers of superficial belief.

That's what you're seeing John to. There is a kind of belief that immunizes you the understanding that you need the real thing. Matthew chapter 7, a passage that you scare me about what I was a high school, talks about a group of people that are to stay on the last day at the judgment and look at Jesus and nervous.

I will Lord Jesus is good to see you. Remember what the church we went on mission trips we share Christ. People read our Bibles.

We gave the offerings and she is going to say the most terribly shocking words that have ever been uttered in the universe to them. He's going to say depart for me because I never knew you.

Is it possible that you would be in that group that leads to number two. A description of saving faith. Chapter 3 now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus he was only for a religious war of the Jews and this man said to him rabbi. We know that you are a teacher come from God, and no one can do these things that you do unless God is with him.

You see these tieback verse 23 Nicodemus, all the signs are believe that's why you cannot just your stories. He's one of the people Jesus was talking about verse 23 verse three Jesus answered him, I love it answered him.

Nicodemus asked the question Jesus had this way of answering the questions you should have been asking to Jesus answered him, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Now born again is a phrase that's familiar to us, but the Nicodemus it was unfamiliar and so easy it sounds absurd to him and so he asked what we would have asked that we heard that for the first time verse four.

How can a man be born when he is old are you born again verse five Jesus answered, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit of the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you. You must be born again genuine saving faith turns on one phrase one phrase you must be born again. Francis Schaeffer was, philosopher, Christian thinker was asked what time if you had one hour to modern person never heard of Christianity. One hour like sampling trip would you do without our Francis Schaeffer says is awesome. I would spend the first 45 to 50 minutes on the negative. To really show him his dilemma that he really is morally dead that I would take the last 10 or 15 minutes to preach good news of the gospel to him. I believe that much of our evangelistic and personal work today is not clear simply because were to anxious to get to the answer without ever having a man realize the real cause of the sickness which is true moral guilt in the presence of God presented Jesus as the answer but people don't know the question of the problem. Jesus said those who are forgiven. Much love, much the reason some of you are bored with Jesus.

The reason some of you don't love Jesus is because you have no concept of the wickedness that is you and what he saved you from when he came to earth because when you understand that you either run away from him in hatred and anger or you fall at his feet in adoration and worship and love truly, truly, I say to you, truly Jesus said you must be born again, unless someone is born of water and the spirit will never enter the kingdom of God know what that means water in the spirit we see Jesus New Testament scholar Telus is referencing a quote from Ezekiel 36 we read that that on verse 36 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean from all your acquaintances from your idols I will cleanse you and I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you water and spirit I will remove the heart of stone from your flash and in its place.

I will give you assault warm heart made of flesh that beats that feels no longer to be hardened and cold in your sin going to come alive with love for me and love for righteousness and I will put my spirit directly into you and I will cause you to walk in my statutes, and to be careful or you could read that the desire to obey my rules. God wants people who are in heaven with him because they desire him and they want to know him. So that's gonna happen you it's going to be because you have a new art can be because the blood of Jesus makes you new it could be because the spirit rebirths you into his image. God is not just after obedience.

He's after a whole new kind of obedience. The obedience that grows out of desire. The obedience that comes from being reborn. God's not after the submission of slaves he's after the affection of signs.

God wants you want him so jumped out good on verse 14. As Henry picked up his train of thought on this verse 14.

Just like Moses looked up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.

That's a reference to our story text was number 21.4 versus long story.

Is this Israel is on its way into the promised land going into the promised land. They forget the goodness and faithfulness of God to them. So their heart gets to wander after other gods they did inpatient want to go back to Egypt. They start complaining and so God in anger in righteous anger sends into the All describes them as fiery serpents will know what breed of snake that was, but it does not sound pleasant and is not something that you want your campsite, fiery serpents everywhere, thousands, millions probably of them that are going throughout the camp. They are biting people. The people are in excruciating pain and they are dying and so they call out to God and said God help us God deliver us from these fiery serpents now that's kind of a picture of sin is not all sin is essentially that you're grow impatient with God. You think you do a better job so your heart begins to leave God and go after something else you thought you must have in order for life to be good. Romance sets money whatever is some version of something you need to your heart apart from God and goes after it and you see that the fiery serpents are a kind of death so that death is at work it's bitten you. It's inside you. It's all around you to the people call out to God and God in his mercy says to Moses, I will heal these people. Here's how your to do it is what you think a poll and on up what you take the image of bronze image of one of the serpents I want you to put it high up on the pole and put up wholesome where everybody can see it wants to see it and you tell them that they will look upon that snake on that fiery serpent that image in faith that I will heal them.

All they have to do is look and see that image on the top of that pole and the moment they see the moment they look at it in faith the moment they knowledge the wrong and a surrender in the moment.

They believe healing goes into their body and that venomous goal.

Jesus says just like that, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever looks whoever believes in him may have eternal life. You see Jesus like this image of the serpent will be lifted up on the cross for our sins so that all who look to him will be saved. I have said I had rebelled the vibrant death that Jesus and so on that pole on that cross that serpent is displayed say you're the one who deserved the bite, but God is the one who will become the serpent so that he can die in your place because were 16 because God so loved the world God so loved you, that he gave his only son to you that whoever believes in him should not perish, whoever looks to him should not perish, and have everlasting life.

The compassion of God is such the love of God for you is such that he said that healing is there to hear the curse of death is absorbed. All you have to do is look all you have to do is look.

Have you ever so loved something that you would give anything up for God so loved you, that he took the serpent into himself so that you could look and live if you been around the search, you know that when I preaching heroes getting Charles Spurgeon resume with him is a 19th-century century British pastor in London.

One of his biographies. When the biographers recounts the records Charles Spurgeon's own description of his conversion rights. One of my favorite passages in literature ever.

So I just want to share with you how Charles Spurgeon described his own conversion ready. Spurgeon says I sometimes think that I might have been in darkness and despair. Until now, had it not been for the goodness of God in sending a snowstorm. One Sunday morning when I was trying to go to church somewhere because it was snowing. I got to play so I could walk any farther and so I turned on a side street looking for the first church I could come to, and I stumbled onto a little primitive Methodist Chapel in the chapel there could not of been more than a dozen or 15 people I've heard of those primitive Methodist how they saying so loudly that they made people's heads and take, but that did not matter to me. I was desperate to know how I might be saved and if they could tell me that I did not care how much they made my headache.

The minister did not come that morning.

He was snowed in. I suppose so. At last a very thin looking man Shoemaker at Taylor or something of that sort went up into the pulpit to preach. Now it is well that preachers should be instructed, but this man was really stupid Charles Spurgeon. He was obliged to stick to his text for the simple reason that he couldn't think of anything else to say. The text was that morning. Isaiah 4522 look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth. He didn't even pronounce the words rightly but that didn't matter.

There was, I thought a glimpse of hope for me in that text. The preacher that morning began bus, my dear friends, this is a very simple text indeed it says look now looking don't take a great deal of pains in weightlifting your father, your finger is just look well a man meet and go to college to learn to look you may be the biggest fool you can look a man may be worth a thousand a year to be able to look anybody can look even a child can look all the text says is look unto me, I said in a broad SX accident which we know that means I think is a bit like a southern twang of people from Pittsboro have you hear that he says is that I many of you are looking for yourselves, but it's no use look in their never find any comforting yourselves. Some of you say we must wait for the spirits work and we must wait for predestination. You got her bills without just now look to Christ. All the text says, look at me than the good man followed up his tax. This way, look at me I'm sweat great drops of blood. Look at me I'm hanging on the cross look on the me I am dead and buried in the me I rise again, look on the me I ascend to heaven look on the me I'm sick of the father's right hand.

Paul Parson looked on the me me when you going to go going on about that link than it managed somehow to spin out 10 minutes or so. The poor soul was at the end of his tether. He couldn't think of anything else to say. Then he looked at me under the gallery and I daresay were so few present. He must've known I was a stranger fixing his eyes on me, as if he knew all my heart. He said young man. You look very miserable. Well I did but I had not been accustomed to have remarks made from the pulpit on my personal appearance. However, it was a good blow it struck right home and so he continued, and you will always be miserable miserable in life even more miserable and death. If you don't obey my text. But if you obey now, this moment you will be saved been lifting up his hands. He shouted, is only a primitive Methodist could do young Jesus Christ. You have nothing to do but to looking to live and I saw once the way of salvation.

I don't know what else he said I didn't take much notice of it. I was so possessed with that one thought like is when the brazen serpent was lifted up, the people only looking were healed, so it was with me. I've been waiting to do 50 things when I heard that word look what a charming word.

It seemed to me oh I looked until I could almost have looked my eyes away there and then the cloud was gone. Darkness had rolled away and that moment I soul. Finally, the sun and I could have risen that incident and song with the most enthusiastic of them of the precious blood of Christ and the simple faith which looks alone to him all that somebody had just told me that before trust Christ look to Christ and you shall be saved, that it was no doubt all wisely ordered in the providence of God. And so now I can say her sins by faith I sold that screen by flowing wound supply redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die.

This is to look is just a load precise.

The whole theme of the gospel of John. You need to look because you're dying you're done what the people of Israel bitten by those Vipers. Only a moral improvement, you'll need a religious booster doing a fresh start, the wrath of God is upon you. The curse of death is over you.

It is at work within you said you will need a turnover new leaf. You need a new life.

You need a gift from above. That's why on us have never been able to get away from the word saved, but honestly on light of the realities and in was the better word helped you to be improved to 2.0 version you need to be enhanced come to Jesus and be advanced so it is that is that it told me that you need to be saved because you were dead in your sins continually dying under the wrath of God is your only hope. That's why would people say the real Jesus is just a crutch for you want to laugh on my crotch. Jesus is not a crutch of anything. He's a stretcher I could even weapon to heaven without Jesus.

I was dead. They put my dead body on that stretcher and Jesus made me alive. He is new life to limit "my friend David what we don't need superficial religion will we need a supernatural regeneration were dead in our sin we need to be born again. There is a superficial belief that keeps people from genuine faith and it works like an immunization you get just enough of it makes you immune to the real thing when you hear it, and maybe maybe for some of you that's what you had to pray the prayer will be. I'll check the card you raised a hand.

You went to the class you got baptized but have you been born again. Have you been infected with the gospel virus.

In this analogy, the virus is good. I have you been infected with the real gospel virus has a life on the work in you is how you know you start changing me a virus, especially a significant one always changes you write, the gospel goes to work in you, it changes you to your mind used to be filled with lots of spots of self and lust and pride. Now holiness and the love and a desire for God is at work. I don't mean to imply that your perfect or that you don't struggle with this or that.

I have told you a few weeks ago that surround you hop out of bed each morning. You know how many are coming, Chris Tomlin turns white on the barbecue beside your bed. I'm not saying that that's what happens. I'm just saying that there is a change. Other people start to get infected with your faith start sneezing out blessing and generosity all the people that you far are you you phone and say it.

There's something it's life in you is that you is that you are or are the people the end of John to a better picture of you. You believe in Jesus but it's not a belief it's changed. You it's not one that can withstand persecution on her isolation on her hard times are temptation usually walk with God you believe in him. Yeah, per se, but there's no relationship there. You never talk to them. You might go up a perfunctory prayer from time to time but you don't come you walk with him is not relationship for you.

It's a it's a believe that goes into your cream your lips say that you believe about your life doesn't walk with Jesus as Savior and Lord.

If that's true, then isn't it clear that you got the superficial religion described in chapter 2, and not the supernatural rebirth described in chapter 3, if you got hit by a tractor-trailer going 70 miles an hour you walk differently right you look different talk differently party you this the same. There's no possible way that you can get hit with the force of new life. No possible way and just remain the same. So if you've never been born again. That matter, you call yourself a Christian the matter, to pray the prayer is not given himself to you, so my fear is that we have created especially here in the South a culture where millions are comfortable calling themselves Christians when they're not disciples of Jesus in that category does not exist in the Bible. I said I just accept Jesus my Savior when I was eight years old. I didn't really accept as my Lord and how such and such that you get to the bite of Jesus that way right is not a compromise.

You think this portion of Jesus, but will wait on the on the whole package he comes Lord and Savior.

He does not come at all. You say well I'm not sure born again will I do how do I know that I'm born again is a good news. You just look to Jesus, you look to Jesus, you look at Jesus for the same look that they had a number 21, which is a humble look Obote says I can't say myself. I'm dying a look that is repentant or surrendered.

I'm long authoritative means you're right look that is believing look this is your taking this in my place, where we sat around the summit churches look that saves is a little bit understand that you were so bad. Jesus had to die for you, but he was so loving that he was glad that I won. Look one look of humble surrendered hopeful thing will say surrendered to yourself today. Jeannie clear.com to find resources to help you take the next step of growth in your relationship with God. You're listening to Senate life with pastor Arthur and theologian JD Greer. This series called can't believe started just yesterday. If you missed the first part of today's message. You can now for free on JD Greer.com.

This is our final week to get our new Bible study working through the first half of the book of acts, JD the ranking of our study and ask this past night, has been this idea that every believer is called to be on mission right might not look the same for everyone, but can you help us get a better picture of that like what is going on mission look like practically all your right every believer supposed to become a pastor or to move overseas. Now I don't rush to fast pass that because I think there are a lot of people who are called that way maybe semi-listening to me right now.

There's been a stirring in your heart and your sensing God calling you. Maybe it's to preach to leave the church. Maybe it's to help carry the gospel on a mission team, but even for those who don't experience that kind of full-time ministry called us are called to live our mission. We always say that the question is no longer if you recall, the question is where and how we created an in-depth Bible study that will help walk you through the stories of acts and show you how they apply to you how you can discover the power the Holy Spirit and your personal commissioning. How do you know what God is calling you to and and the people to whom he is sending you to this in-depth Bible study of acts 128 will show you how to embrace that identity had been sent out a list that we would love to offer to you right now it JD Greer.com.

We are so grateful for your support this resource that was created by the Senate life team just for you. The book of acts, volume 1, interactive site. Claim $25.05 520 or go online.com and Molly Senate life