JOHN CHAPTER 3
Thank you all so much for being so patient with me and so very kind.
John 3 is one of my favorite chapters.
I hope it brings about:
- a lot of good discussion
- some heartfelt confession
- and some amazing vision for what God can do.
I will be splitting John 3 into two posts so the read is not quite as tedious.
Thanks again guys.... this is becoming very beneficial.
******* ***** *******
As we finished with Chapter two, Jesus had made quite clear to his disciples
Following him was not a passive act.
He challenged the religious leaders, he challenged the laws of nature, and he looked into the hearts of men
And now in chapter three, the ministry of Christ begins to take form
We hear his first real teachings, and are given a glimpse into the plan of God for man
John 3:1-3-
Jesus, poured out to Nicodemus the secret to the kingdom of God.
You must be born again!
It is about change, and new life, Living for a different purpose, and knowing the father of our souls
But Nicodemus was not ready to understand it yet,
So Jesus the teacher begins to explain.
He starts off with the example of “new birth”
John 3:5-7-
Nicodemus was thinking of a natural birth, not spiritual,
As a Jew, he thought you were born one of God’s people- but the situation is no different today.
When we speak of being born again, people often discuss their family’s religious heritage
Their church membership, and different aspects of doctrine and religious ceremonies.
But what God refers to is a totally new, changed, and Christ-like life.
But living “Born again” is more than just a new birth in baptism through water and the spirit.
Just as a physical child inherits the nature of the parents
The Child of God must take on the nature of God.
And it is through the spirit if Christ that we become partakers of the divine nature.
Our conversion is not about taking one step, or merely following a rule
It is a new birth, and it needs to be the beginning of a new life.
Jesus then goes on to give a second lesson about life in Christ
John 3:8-12-
The word wind in both Hebrew and Greek can also be translated spirit.
And as Jesus explains, those with the spirit of God will not live a predictable life
Like the wind, the spirit is invisible and powerful. It fills us with life to the full
And it demands that we submit ourselves in faith to a God that will lead us where we need to go,
And not always where we want to.
But as he stated about the Jewish leaders, they were not ready for that kind of uncertainty.
Their concern was for their reputations, It was for their security.
And they were clearly not ready to lay down their life for the will of this teacher
They were more concerned about the praise of men, than the praise of God
He then explains light and darkness-
John 3:19-21-
Why do people not come into the light of life? -Because they love the darkness.
And the closer you get to the light of life, the more your sins are exposed.
It is not intellectual problems that keep people from trusting Christ,
It is moral and spiritual blindness.
And it is not sin or struggle that steals a soul, it is keeping it in the darkness.
Do we bring our sins, and our life into the light... or are we also afraid?
I must love Christ and my relationship with him more than sin.
I must openly discuss and confess my LIFE not just my actions to be called into his light.
And my goal should be to want to be seen (in the light)
John 3 is one of my favorite chapters.
I hope it brings about:
- a lot of good discussion
- some heartfelt confession
- and some amazing vision for what God can do.
I will be splitting John 3 into two posts so the read is not quite as tedious.
Thanks again guys.... this is becoming very beneficial.
******* ***** *******
As we finished with Chapter two, Jesus had made quite clear to his disciples
Following him was not a passive act.
He challenged the religious leaders, he challenged the laws of nature, and he looked into the hearts of men
And now in chapter three, the ministry of Christ begins to take form
We hear his first real teachings, and are given a glimpse into the plan of God for man
John 3:1-3-
Jesus, poured out to Nicodemus the secret to the kingdom of God.
You must be born again!
It is about change, and new life, Living for a different purpose, and knowing the father of our souls
But Nicodemus was not ready to understand it yet,
So Jesus the teacher begins to explain.
He starts off with the example of “new birth”
John 3:5-7-
Nicodemus was thinking of a natural birth, not spiritual,
As a Jew, he thought you were born one of God’s people- but the situation is no different today.
When we speak of being born again, people often discuss their family’s religious heritage
Their church membership, and different aspects of doctrine and religious ceremonies.
But what God refers to is a totally new, changed, and Christ-like life.
But living “Born again” is more than just a new birth in baptism through water and the spirit.
Just as a physical child inherits the nature of the parents
The Child of God must take on the nature of God.
And it is through the spirit if Christ that we become partakers of the divine nature.
Our conversion is not about taking one step, or merely following a rule
It is a new birth, and it needs to be the beginning of a new life.
Jesus then goes on to give a second lesson about life in Christ
John 3:8-12-
The word wind in both Hebrew and Greek can also be translated spirit.
And as Jesus explains, those with the spirit of God will not live a predictable life
Like the wind, the spirit is invisible and powerful. It fills us with life to the full
And it demands that we submit ourselves in faith to a God that will lead us where we need to go,
And not always where we want to.
But as he stated about the Jewish leaders, they were not ready for that kind of uncertainty.
Their concern was for their reputations, It was for their security.
And they were clearly not ready to lay down their life for the will of this teacher
They were more concerned about the praise of men, than the praise of God
He then explains light and darkness-
John 3:19-21-
Why do people not come into the light of life? -Because they love the darkness.
And the closer you get to the light of life, the more your sins are exposed.
It is not intellectual problems that keep people from trusting Christ,
It is moral and spiritual blindness.
And it is not sin or struggle that steals a soul, it is keeping it in the darkness.
Do we bring our sins, and our life into the light... or are we also afraid?
I must love Christ and my relationship with him more than sin.
I must openly discuss and confess my LIFE not just my actions to be called into his light.
And my goal should be to want to be seen (in the light)
In class today, we were studying in Revelations -- and as I often am, I was struck by the relevance of the living Word of God to my present distress. We talked of Jesus as the faithful witness (martyr), the firstborn from the dead, the One who has removed death's sting... "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Rev. 1:17-18) Christ has conquered death, He has removed its sting; therefore, we do not mourn as those who have no hope. It still hurts… oh, how it hurts! But “ if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” The dead in Christ shall rise, those who remain will be caught up with them in the clouds, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. (I Thess. 4:14+)
In death and in life, our loved ones were with the Lord. We are with the Lord, and thus we will stay. Oh, yes, He comforts me…
I struggle to gain a full and coherent understanding of 3:8. I sometimes catch glimpses, but know there is more there than I can get a grip on. Your comments on it are thoughtful, and will lodge for at least a while in my mind. :)
It amazes me that the people that surrounded the young donkey shoutintg "HOSANNAH!"... just a very short time later were shouting "CRUCIFY!"
The Israelites back then were distressed and discouraged about their plight, and God provided a way for them to be saved from death. All they had to do was look at the serpent.
It's similar for us. So many souls are distressed and discouraged from various circumstances in this world, and their hope seems to face certain death. But God has provided a way for us to live and to have an endless hope. All we have to do is look to the risen Christ and believe.