For
God So Loved….
Hal Lindsey recounted his
testimony on a recent episode of his show The
Hal Lindsey Report. As a Riverboat Captain, he was standing on the deck of
his ship one day in the first week of 1955 reading John chapter 3 over and
over. He read until it finally clicked with him what it was saying, and he told
God he wanted to be born again, but wasn’t sure how to do it. He turned to the
back of the Gideon New Testament and saw sample sinner’s prayer. He made a
heart-felt confession to God and instantly felt peace in his heart. To
commemorate this monumental event in his life, he did a study of this chapter,
and here is a brief summary.
John Chapter 3
1. There was a man of the Pharisees, named
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi,
we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these *miracles
that thou doest, except God be with him.
* signs
Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, a ruling body of
70 elders who (among other qualifications) were required to memorize the entire
Hebrew Old Testament. He came by night to avoid the political conflict that
being seen speaking with Jesus would cause. Nicodemus knew in his heart that Jesus
had come from God because of all the miracles he had performed.
3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born *again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God. * Or from above
Jesus knew that Nicodemus was attempting to start a theological
discussion with him, so he “pulled the rug out from under him” by introducing him
to a concept completely foreign to Nicodemus: the need to be born again.
4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Nicodemus completely missed the point. Jesus was speaking
of being born again in a spiritual sense.
5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus then described the nature of the new birth to
Nicodemus using terms he would recognize from his extensive knowledge of the
Old Testament. Ezekiel 36:25, 26: [Speaking of when the Messiah would come] Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be
clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A
new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I
will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart
of flesh.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Man is a being made up of a body (physical), soul
(emotional), and spirit. It is this third component that is initially dead in
every person. The new spiritual birth awakens that part, making it possible to communicate
with and be in fellowship with God, who is a Spirit.
7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8. The wind bloweth where it *listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. * wishes
This is a universally understood illustration of how the
Holy Spirit works on someone who comes to faith in God’s salvation. Wind can be
felt, and its results can be seen, but the wind itself cannot be seen. The
effects of the Spirit of God entering you can be felt and its results in your
life can be seen and measured, while the Spirit itself cannot be seen.
9. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10. Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a *master of Israel, and knowest not these things? * teacher
Jesus pays homage to Nicodemus in acknowledging him as one
of the leading teachers (elite sect of the Sanhedrin). But the knowledge and
religious precepts Nicodemus had obtained as a Jewish leader, as admirable as they
were, could not point him to salvation and eternal life provided by Jesus.
11. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Jesus explains why he didn’t enter into the theological
discussion that Nicodemus had expected. The spiritual things of God cannot be
understood by someone who is spiritually dead. If someone is born blind, you
cannot adequately explain colors to them. But if you could somehow give them
sight, they would immediately understand. This is the same as someone who comes
to faith and is born again, their eyes now open to the Word of God, made
possible by His Spirit now residing in them.
13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Here Jesus asserts His claim that He descended from God the
Father in heaven, and that is why He can tell Nicodemus about spiritual
matters.
14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus uses an illustration from the Old Testament (Numbers
21:4-9) that Nicodemus would immediately recognize. The children of Israel had rebelled
against God and were smitten with fiery serpents. When they cried out for
mercy, God instructed Moses to erect a brass serpent. Whoever looked upon the
serpent was healed, no matter how near death they were. This is a perfect
picture of the faith it takes to look to Jesus Christ for salvation, accepting
His death upon the cross as the penalty paid for sin.
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Here Jesus summarized the whole theme of the Bible in one
verse. Mankind is poisoned with the bite of sin. There were probably Israelites
who thought it was silly to look upon a brass serpent, and if as a result they
refused to, they died. Just as those today who do not take care of their sin
problem in this lifetime will perish if they refuse to look to Christ in faith.
God does not want this for anyone, which is why He provided a way (Genesis 22:8
– God will provide
36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John the Baptist later reiterated this truth to a group of
Jews who had questions about purification. It comes down to a simple of fact
that anyone - regardless of education, experience, ability or religious
affiliation - can simply believe on Jesus in faith and receive forgiveness of
sin. You do not want the wrath of God abiding on you, winding up separated from
Him in an eternal lake of fire. This does not have to be the case for anyone,
and peace with God, and therefore the peace of God, can be yours any time
you’re willing to believe. You can change your eternal destiny right now and be
born from above. You won’t see it, like you don’t see the wind, but you will
feel the peace it gives you. Simply call out to God with a believing and
penitent heart.
Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner.
I confess my sins to you now.
I accept the payment of your shed blood on the cross.
Please forgive me and come into my heart today.
Amen.
