In John 3:9 Nicodemus asks Jesus, “How can this be?” I see it happen often in the church? We forget the reason that we are here. We forget that the Lord has called us to serve and love our fellow man. We gather for our classes and our worship assemblies and leave feeling that we … Read moreHad Nicodemus Forgotten His Heritage? (20110107)
In John 3:9 Nicodemus asks Jesus, “How can this be?” Maybe if we stop for a moment and consider Nicodemus’ situation we can better understand his question. Nicodemus was a Jew, of the chosen people of God. His people were the people that had covenanted with God. In all the world they were special, they … Read moreNicodemus’ Question, How Can This Be? (20110106)
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8, NIV) We may remember earlier we discovered that baptism was a work not of man, but of God’s Spirit. In 1 … Read moreBaptism And The Blowing of the Spirit (20110105)
In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” Last time we learned why it was that Nicodemus should not be surprised by Jesus’ teaching on being born again or on being baptized. It was because even Aaron as he served under the Old … Read moreBaptism Purifies Us For Service In God’s Kingdom (20110104)
In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” Why is it that Nicodemus should not be surprised by Jesus’ saying? In Jesus’ teaching on being born again Nicodemus as a leader in his community should have been familiar with the ceremonial washings of … Read moreBaptism, No Big Surprise Jesus Says! (20110103)
In John 3, 6 Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” Something has to change in the very nature or essence of a person if they expect to enter into the kingdom of God. They have to be born of the Spirit. Their very nature has … Read moreOn Being Born Again Part Seventeen (20101231)
In John 3, 6 Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” But what is this flesh that Jesus is talking about? It is what the NIV calls “the sinful nature.” Paul writes to the church saying, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, … Read moreOn Being Born Again Part Sixteen (20101230)
Wow! What truly incredible words of blessing Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in John 3:3, 5. “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of the water and the Spirit.” As we conclude our series on what it means … Read moreOn Being Born Again Part Fifteen (20101229)
Did you know that God’s word teaches us that in order for us to experience the resurrection of Christ we have to share in the death of Christ? Consider these words found in Romans 6:3-5: “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were … Read moreOn Being Born Again Part Fourteen (20101228)
I believe that most of us like to go to bed at night with the feeling that everything is all right between us and God. That’s my goal for you today, that when night comes, you can have peace unto your soul because your conscience is clean and pure before God. The Apostle Peter wants … Read moreOn Being Born Again Part Thirteen (20101227)