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You Must Be Born Again · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Let's turn to the passage that we read, John chapter 3 and verse 3.
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! Jesus answered him,
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Truly, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
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Let's look at this encounter between the Lord Jesus Christ and Nicodemus.
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Let's look at this.
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In which that great man replied, Because you must be born again.
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This encounter between Christ and Nicodemus gives us a particular light into what does it mean to be born again.
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And it should ask us the question, Am I born again?
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And it should cause another question to be asked.
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And that question is this, a question to yourself, to say to yourself, I must be born again.
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Otherwise, I'm not going to see the kingdom of God.
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I'm not going to enter in, but I'm not even going to see it.
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The school teacher used to ask us in school, now, here's a question.
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Put up your hands if you know the answer to the question.
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And the answer, and the question is this, do you want to get to heaven?
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Which I presume the answer from every single person in here is, yes, yes, I want to go to heaven, please.
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This chapter and this encounter between Christ and Nicodemus gives us and sheds wonderful light on what is required to get to heaven.
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So let's look at it.
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Looking at him from the outside, you would almost say, well, he surely is the last person who needs to be born again.
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Upright in every way.
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But as we'll discover Nicodemus, whatever faith he had, it wasn't saving faith.
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It was a faith that was historical in the sense that he knew the scriptures of the Old Testament.
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And in that historical faith, there was an assent.
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The faith of assent to what was written in the pages of the Old Testament.
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A faith of assent that understood the law of God.
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Us proscribing to him how we must live good works.
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And if I do these good works, then everything will work out okay in the end.
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His righteousness came from good works, from keeping the law.
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Like many Jews, he was waiting for the promised one.
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The Messiah.
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The anointed one.
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But a particular type of Messiah.
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A king who would set them free from the bondage of Rome.
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There were others waiting as well.
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But unlike Nicodemus, we read of one waiting for the consolation of Israel.
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In Luke's gospel, we read of that man Simeon.
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Waiting for the consolation of Israel.
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And what do we read of Simeon in Luke chapter 2 and 22, down to 24 and 26?
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We read these things about him.
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And this was in the context of Mary and Joseph coming with Jesus to the purification that was required as part of the law of Moses.
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So they brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
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As it is written in the law of the Lord,
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Every male person who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord and offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord.
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A pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.
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Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
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And this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.
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And the Holy Spirit was upon him.
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And this is it.
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And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
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Before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
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And he came into the temple.
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And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law,
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He took him in his arms and said,
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Blessed God.
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And blessed God.
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And said, Lord, you are now letting your servant depart in peace according to your word.
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For my eyes have seen your salvation.
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My eyes have seen your salvation.
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Simeon was waiting.
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But Simeon understood.
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And he knew who Christ was.
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Who this baby Jesus was.
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That he was the Christ of God.
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The one sent from God.
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To deal with sin.
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He saw his own saviour.
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His own saviour.
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Likewise, I'm always fascinated by the men who came from the east.
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In Matthew chapter 2.
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Men came from the east at his birth.
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Where is the king of the Jews that we may come to worship him?
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They came a huge distance.
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To come to the manger.
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To come to see Christ.
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To worship Christ.
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There was no sign of the Jews.
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There was no fuss being made by the Jews.
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By the Sanhedrin.
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By the elders.
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By the teachers.
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No fuss being made.
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Because they did not know him.
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For who he was.
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John speaks of this.
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Of course.
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In this remarkable gospel.
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John chapter 1 verse 11.
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He came to his own.
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But his own did not receive him.
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John highlights the tragedy.
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Of the rejection.
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By the Jews.
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Of who Jesus really is.
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We might translate these words.
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We might translate these words.
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In chapter 1 and verse 11.
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He came to his own.
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They could be translated like this.
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He came home.
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He came home.
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And that word.
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He came to his own.
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He came home.
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And it's the exact expression used.
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Of the beloved disciple.
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When in response to Jesus' word from the cross.
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He took Mary into his own home.
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He came.
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Christ came.
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To where the people ought to have known him.
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They had the scriptures of the Old Testament.
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That testified of him.
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That declared him.
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They of all the people should know.
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Who he was.
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But he came to his own.
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He came home.
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And his own would not receive it.
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They would not receive him.
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And when you see in chapter 2.
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Christ coming to the temple.
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There is a sense in which he is coming home.
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This is my father's house.
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He is about his father's business.
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And in the process of doing so.
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He declares himself to be God.
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He cleanses the temple.
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He cleanses the temple.
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Malachi tells us about this.
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Malachi chapter 3 and verse 1.
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We read these verses.
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In that remarkable prophecy.
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Behold I send my messenger.
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And he will prepare the way before me.
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That's speaking about John the Baptist.
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And the Lord whom you seek.
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Will suddenly come to his temple.
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And the messenger of the covenant.
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In whom you delight.
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Behold he is coming.
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Says the Lord of hosts.
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Well here he is.
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In his temple.
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In the house of prayer.
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Of which Isaiah speaks.
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My house.
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Shall be a house of prayer.
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Isaiah declares.
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But here it is.
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Trade.
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It's a house of trade.
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And he cleanses the temple.
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That in itself should have been a sign.
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A sign taking you back to Malachi.
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Taking you back to Isaiah.
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And notice the conversation then.
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Between Jesus and the Jews.
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So the Jews said to him.
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2.18.
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What sign do you show us for doing these things?
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Jesus answered them.
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Destroy the temple.
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And in three days I will raise it up.
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Show us a sign.
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By what authority are you doing that?
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And they treat him with the utmost disrespect.
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And contempt.
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And he answers them.
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And he answers them.
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He answers them.
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And what does he say to them?
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Destroy this temple.
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And in three days I will raise it up.
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Jesus replies.
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Telling about his death.
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And his resurrection.
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What is he saying to them?
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He's saying this to them.
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This temple is where God condescends to be with his people.
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This is what I'm saying to you.
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I am the tabernacle of God in the flesh.
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I am the Emmanuel presence.
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In the midst of the pilgrim people of God.
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I have come to you.
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I am where God and man meet.
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I am the mediator between God and man.
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I am the last Adam.
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I've come to deal with sin once and for all.
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What did John the Baptist see when he saw Jesus?
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Behold the Lamb of God who takes away sin.
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Why did he come?
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Why did Jesus come?
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To take away sin.
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To deal with sin.
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To deal with your sin.
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And my sin.
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Once and for all.
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On Calvary's cross.
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And it's not that what John is speaking about.
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The word was made flesh.
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And dwelt among us.
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Or tabernacled among us.
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And here he is.
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They needed to understand who was standing before them.
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It tells us in verse 23 of chapter 2.
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Many believed when they saw the miracles or the signs that he did.
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But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them.
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What kind of faith did they have?
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It wasn't saving faith.
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It seems to us that it wasn't saving faith.
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He didn't entrust himself to them.
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Because he knew what was in their heart.
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The signs in and of themselves.
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And the miracles in and of themselves.
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Speak of him.
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They speak of him.
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They point us.
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They are signs that point us to something.
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And they're pointing us to him.
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And who he is.
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In the glory of his person.
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And his work.
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And isn't it interesting in the conversation with Nicodemus.
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Rabbi.
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We know you are a teacher come from God.
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For no one can do these signs that you do.
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You see.
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Nicodemus connects the signs.
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With Christ.
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What was the purpose of the signs?
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Well we read that.
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What was the purpose of the miracle in Cana of Galilee.
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When he turned the water into wine.
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It tells us.
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This the first of his signs.
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The first of his signs.
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Jesus did at Cana in Galilee.
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And manifested his glory.
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What was the purpose of the signs?
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They were to manifest his glory.
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Who he was.
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God.
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Manifest in the flesh.
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The God.
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Man.
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Man.
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To demonstrate his deity.
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That he was truly.
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God.
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Manifest in the flesh.
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And he comes to Jesus at night.
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Whatever the reason that.
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Was for.
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Maybe he didn't want to be seen.
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And as somebody said.
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I think it was our own former minister.
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Mr. McKeever.
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That darkness.
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Surely.
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In a sense.
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Is also.
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Symbolic.
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Of the darkness.
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That was in his heart.
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And we read about that.
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In chapter 3.
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And verse 19.
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And this is the judgment.
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The light has come into the world.
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And people love the darkness.
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Rather than the light.
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His soul was dark.
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His heart was dark.
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It was darkness.
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And that's.
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The truth.
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About every.
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Single.
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Person.
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In this world.
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As they are by nature.
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As they are.
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Out of Christ.
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And.
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Jesus speaks to him.
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Truly.
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Truly.
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I say to you.
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Unless one is born again.
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He cannot see the kingdom.
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Of God.
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Jesus affirms.
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The absolute.
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Necessity.
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Getting to the heart.
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Of the matter.
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Nicodemus.
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You must be born again.
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Again.
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In one sentence.
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He sweeps away.
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Everything.
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That Nicodemus.
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Stood for.
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And Christ.
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Demands.
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That Nicodemus.
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Is born again.
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Just as he demands.
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And desires.
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That you're born again.
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If you're not born again.
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He demands.
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He demands.
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He demands.
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That he be remade.
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Remade.
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Demands.
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That he.
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Become a new creation.
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In Christ Jesus.
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What does it mean.
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To be born again.
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It means.
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To be born.
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From above.
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Born from above.
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Born.
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According.
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To what John tells us.
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In chapter 1.
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Verses 12.
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And 13.
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But to all who did receive him.
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That is to all who believe him savingly.
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But to all who did receive him.
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Who believed in his name.
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He gave the right.
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To become children of God.
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Who were born.
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Not of blood.
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Nor.
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Of the will of the flesh.
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Nor of the will of man.
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But.
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Of.
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God.
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Born.
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According.
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To an action.
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Taken by God.
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In heaven.
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Directed.
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To your soul.
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Directed.
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To your heart.
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Before you can even see.
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The kingdom.
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And Nicodemus.
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Jesus is saying to Nicodemus.
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Nicodemus.
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You can't even see it.
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And because you can't see it.
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You can't enter in.
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This great teaching.
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This great doctrine.
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Of the new birth.
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Or regeneration.
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It is for.
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Your good Nicodemus.
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You must know Nicodemus.
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That sin has made you sick.
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And you must know.
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That sickness that is in your heart.
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Even as it is in the natural world.
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We go out of our way.
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Do we not to.
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Find out what's wrong with us.
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It's far better to know.
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What's wrong with us.
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So that we can begin treating.
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What's wrong with us.
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It's far better for us.
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For our bodies.
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For our minds.
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For our families.
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The greater the hope then.
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Of getting a cure.
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Getting a remedy.
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So it is.
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Spiritually.
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We must understand.
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That by nature.
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All have sinned.
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And come short of the glory of God.
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Every person.
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In this world.
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There is none righteous.
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Paul writing to the Romans.
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There is none righteous.
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No.
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Not one.
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Not one.
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In verse 4.
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Nicodemus said.
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How can a man be born when he is old?
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Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?
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Nicodemus laid great store on his birth.
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His first birth and his privileges.
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And the station in which he found himself.
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His own self-righteousness.
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Israel.
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The people of God.
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I belong to them.
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We have the Holy Land.
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We have Jerusalem.
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The Holy City.
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We have the scriptures.
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Much store in his parentage.
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Just as the apostle.
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If anyone could boast.
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Surely I could boast.
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In Philippians 3 from 5.
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A Pharisee of the Pharisees.
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Surely I could boast.
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Of all these privileges.
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Into which I was born.
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And which belong to me now.
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Could he be better born and bred?
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But Jesus cuts across.
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Everything Nicodemus says.
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To the point where Nicodemus starts saying.
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How?
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How can?
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How can?
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How can these things be?
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Nicodemus is left floundering.
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Floundering.
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What was the root problem with Nicodemus?
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It was this.
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That Nicodemus thought he was already in the kingdom.
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He thought he was already in the kingdom.
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Jesus said to them in Matthew 3.9.
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Do not presume to say to yourselves.
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We have Abraham as our father.
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But that's the very thing that they were saying.
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We have Abraham as our father.
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And Christ dismisses that.
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In John chapter 8.
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Christ dismisses it.
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And oh how he dismisses it.
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What does he say to them?
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You are of your father the devil.
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That's what he says to them.
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You are of your father the devil.
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The devil.
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Jesus said to him.
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To the disciples.
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And to the Jews.
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For I tell you.
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God is able from these stones.
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To raise up children.
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For Abraham.
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Our heritage.
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Our parentage.
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Our blood.
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As John puts it.
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In this.
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At verse.
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14 of chapter 1.
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Who were born not of blood.
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Nor of the will of the flesh.
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Nor of the will of man.
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But of God.
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Nothing will avail you.
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When it comes to heaven.
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Nothing will avail you.
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When it comes.
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To heaven.
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Nothing will help you.
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And then Jesus at verse 5.
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Reaffirms.
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Truly, truly I say to you.
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Unless one is born of water.
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And the spirit.
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He cannot enter.
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The kingdom of God.
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What is Jesus doing.
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With Nicodemus.
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He is preaching the gospel.
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To Nicodemus.
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What is preaching the gospel.
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It is declaring the offer.
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The free offer of the gospel.
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To sinners.
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Saying to them.
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Come.
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Come to Jesus.
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What was Jesus saying to Nicodemus.
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Nicodemus.
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Come.
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He was drawing Nicodemus.
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He was drawing him.
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And he began to use illustrations.
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Of which Nicodemus.
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Would have been very familiar.
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Unless one is born of water.
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And the spirit.
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Water and the spirit.
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Familiar concepts.
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To Nicodemus.
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In terms of the Old Testament.
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I will sprinkle clean water on you.
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And you shall be clean.
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From all your uncleannesses.
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And from all your idols.
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I will cleanse you.
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And I will give you a new heart.
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And I will give you a new spirit.
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And a new spirit.
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I will put within you.
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I will remove the heart of stone.
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And give you a heart of flesh.
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Nicodemus would have known the scriptures.
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He would have been familiar with water.
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Water in and of itself was no use.
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That had to be the spirit.
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The spirit.
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What does the spirit reveal?
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The word of God.
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The word of God.
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He understood this.
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Cleansing.
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But he didn't yet understand.
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The work of the Holy Spirit.
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In giving new life.
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And he goes on to explain that.
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In verse 6.
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That which is born of the flesh is flesh.
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That which is born of the spirit.
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Is spirit.
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Flesh is flesh.
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Sinful nature.
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Sinful human nature.
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And the direction.
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And control.
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Of sin.
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Job said in Job 14.
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For who can bring a clean thing.
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Out of an unclean.
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Well the answer to that is no one.
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Except God.
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God.
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And he goes on.
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Spirit is spirit.
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What does that mean?
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It means this.
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The Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer.
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Human nature under the dominance of the Holy Spirit.
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Human nature once dominated.
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Controlled by sin.
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The Holy Spirit.
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But now the new birth.
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Born again.
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Human nature under the dominance of the Holy Spirit.
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A spiritual man or woman.
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And Jesus then begins to get closer and closer to the crux of the matter.
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Do not marvel that I said to you at verse 7.
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You must be born again.
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The wind blows where it wishes and you hear it sound.
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But you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.
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So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
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Take the wind Nicodemus.
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Sovereign.
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Irresistible.
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Mysterious.
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You cannot see it.
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But you can feel its effects.
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It affects your senses.
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And it affects everything.
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And living in an island community as we do.
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Wind when it blows hard.
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Affects a lot of things.
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You still can't see it.
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Sometimes you don't even know where it's coming from.
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Or where it's going.
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You may know the general direction.
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But you don't really know.
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So is the sovereign and irresistible and mysterious work of the Holy Spirit.
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In the heart of the believer.
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Giving them a new heart.
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Making them new creations.
26:52
Born again.
26:55
Born again.
26:57
Saved by grace.
26:59
Saved by grace.
27:02
Born of the Spirit.
27:06
Born of.
27:07
So it is with everyone.
27:09
Who is born of the Spirit.
27:11
And Nicodemus still floundering.
27:13
How can these things be?
27:17
And Jesus returns to him.
27:20
And says to him.
27:21
You are the teacher.
27:22
You are the teacher.
27:23
It's almost a rebuke.
27:26
The lack of elementary knowledge of salvation.
27:31
The lack of elementary knowledge of salvation.
27:36
That Nicodemus had.
27:38
Is striking.
27:39
This teacher.
27:41
Of the Old Testament scriptures.
27:44
That declares so clearly Christ.
27:46
We considered this in the morning.
27:50
Trying to show how.
27:52
How the Old Testament.
27:56
And the witnesses.
27:57
The great cloud of witnesses.
27:59
That you have in Genesis.
28:01
In Hebrews 11.
28:04
How their faith was exercised.
28:07
In laying hold of the promises.
28:10
And in laying hold of the Christ of the promise.
28:14
It wasn't that.
28:20
That was.
28:21
Anything was hidden.
28:22
In that sense.
28:23
It was plain.
28:24
To see.
28:25
For Nicodemus.
28:26
And for others.
28:27
You are the teacher.
28:33
Jesus answered him.
28:35
Are you the teacher of Israel?
28:37
And yet.
28:37
You do not understand these things.
28:40
Truly.
28:40
Truly.
28:41
I say to you.
28:41
We speak of what we know.
28:43
We bear witness to what we have seen.
28:45
But you do not receive.
28:48
Our testimony.
28:50
The rejection of the Jews.
28:52
Of Jesus.
28:56
He came to his own.
28:58
But his own received him not.
28:59
They rejected.
29:01
They rejected.
29:03
The testimony.
29:04
The witness.
29:05
The declarations.
29:07
Of who Christ.
29:09
Is.
29:10
When he was going to come.
29:12
How he was going to come.
29:13
Going to come.
29:16
Because of their unbelief.
29:21
They preferred darkness.
29:24
To light.
29:27
They preferred darkness.
29:29
To light.
29:30
And then our Lord.
29:32
Begins.
29:33
To draw.
29:34
Nicodemus.
29:35
Closer.
29:36
If I have told you.
29:37
Earthly things.
29:37
And you do not believe.
29:38
How can you believe.
29:40
If I tell you.
29:40
Heavenly things.
29:42
And he begins.
29:43
To tell him now.
29:43
About himself.
29:45
He begins.
29:46
To tell him.
29:47
About himself.
29:48
Jesus.
29:50
Comes.
29:51
And he says.
29:52
To Nicodemus.
29:55
Nicodemus.
29:56
I came from heaven.
29:59
I have come.
30:00
I am the son of God.
30:02
And.
30:03
I am the son of man.
30:04
As well.
30:05
The son of God.
30:07
And the son of man.
30:10
Sent by God.
30:11
The father.
30:13
Sent to do.
30:14
A very.
30:15
Special work.
30:17
The son of man.
30:19
The title.
30:20
Most used by Christ.
30:21
About himself.
30:22
What does it mean?
30:23
It means this.
30:24
At least.
30:25
There are three elements.
30:26
In it.
30:26
At least.
30:27
One.
30:29
True.
30:30
Sinless humanity.
30:32
A true.
30:33
Sinless humanity.
30:35
Number two.
30:36
The last.
30:37
Adam.
30:39
What does that mean?
30:41
It means this.
30:42
The first.
30:43
Adam.
30:43
Failed.
30:45
Who was going to repair the breach?
30:47
Who was going to find the remedy for sin?
30:50
The last Adam.
30:55
One.
30:55
Who is God.
30:57
In our nature.
30:59
The son of man.
31:01
God.
31:02
Of very God.
31:04
Taking our nature to himself.
31:06
And being called the son of man.
31:08
A true.
31:09
Sinless humanity.
31:10
The last Adam.
31:11
And this.
31:12
The man of sorrows.
31:14
And acquainted with grief.
31:15
One who was going to suffer.
31:21
And die.
31:23
And he goes on.
31:25
As Moses.
31:27
So must the son of man.
31:30
As Moses.
31:31
So must the son of man.
31:34
Nicodemus would have been familiar with this picture.
31:37
Thoroughly familiar.
31:38
With what happened in Numbers.
31:40
Chapter 21.
31:42
The serpent.
31:43
Held up.
31:44
To the eyes of the Israel.
31:45
Israelites.
31:46
As the symbol.
31:48
In a sense of their own.
31:49
Serpent plague.
31:51
Which had come on them.
31:52
Through God's.
31:54
Just.
31:55
Wrath.
31:56
For their sin.
31:57
And it was held up.
31:58
So that by obediently looking at it.
32:01
They might.
32:02
Not.
32:03
Die.
32:04
They would repent.
32:06
Of their sin.
32:07
And not die.
32:08
And remember if they didn't.
32:10
Look.
32:11
They were going to die.
32:13
As Moses.
32:15
So must.
32:16
So must.
32:17
The son.
32:18
Of man.
32:22
Christ.
32:22
Is pointing.
32:23
Nicodemus.
32:24
To who he is.
32:26
And the work.
32:28
That he has to do.
32:30
In both cases.
32:31
Here.
32:32
In Numbers.
32:33
21.
32:35
God provides.
32:36
The remedy.
32:36
In the case.
32:38
Here.
32:40
The son of man.
32:41
Being lifted up.
32:42
As we have it in John chapter 12.
32:44
And verse 32.
32:46
And that remarkable.
32:48
Verse.
32:50
I.
32:51
It says.
32:53
Jesus is speaking.
32:54
And I.
32:56
When I am lifted up from the earth.
32:57
Will draw all people.
32:59
To myself.
33:00
He said this.
33:01
To show.
33:02
By what kind of death.
33:04
He was going.
33:06
To die.
33:08
He was going to be lifted up.
33:10
Onto the cross of Calvary.
33:13
To die.
33:14
In the place of sinners.
33:16
Like you.
33:17
And me.
33:18
So that there would be a salvation.
33:20
So that there would be a gospel.
33:23
So that there would be a salvation.
33:25
That there would be.
33:26
The power of God.
33:29
From on high.
33:30
Taking away the heart of stone.
33:32
And giving us a heart of flesh.
33:35
That we might be born again.
33:37
By the Holy Spirit.
33:40
Christ on the cross.
33:42
The remedy for sin.
33:44
Nicodemus.
33:45
You must look to me.
33:47
You must know who I am.
33:49
And this passage is.
33:54
Inextricably linked.
33:55
To that wonderful verse.
33:57
In John 3.16.
33:59
Look how that verse begins.
34:01
For.
34:03
For.
34:07
It links.
34:08
Back to the narrative.
34:10
That we are speaking of.
34:11
For God so loved the world.
34:13
That he gave his only son.
34:15
That whoever believes in him.
34:16
Should not perish.
34:17
But have eternal life.
34:19
Nicodemus.
34:22
I'm drawing you.
34:23
I'm calling you.
34:24
And I'm telling you this.
34:26
Nicodemus.
34:26
It's all about love.
34:29
The gospel is all about love.
34:33
God so loved the world.
34:36
That he gave his only begotten son.
34:42
He.
34:44
Draws.
34:46
Nicodemus.
34:46
To the greatest display.
34:50
Of love.
34:50
Ever.
34:51
The greatest.
34:53
Display.
34:54
Of love.
34:55
Ever.
34:58
Martin Luther said.
35:00
On John 3.16.
35:01
They flow like milk and honey.
35:04
Words.
35:05
Which are able to make the sad.
35:07
Happy.
35:08
The dead.
35:09
Alive.
35:11
If only the heart.
35:13
Believes them.
35:14
Firmly.
35:14
That whosoever.
35:24
Nicodemus.
35:24
Are you in the whosoever.
35:25
When the gospel call goes out.
35:30
The free offer of the gospel.
35:32
In which we believe.
35:34
It's to the whosoever.
35:36
We don't know.
35:37
God knows.
35:38
But we don't know.
35:39
Our duty.
35:40
Is to preach the gospel.
35:41
To every single soul.
35:43
To you.
35:45
To all who might be online.
35:47
Week in.
35:47
Week out.
35:48
During the week.
35:50
Preach the gospel.
35:52
Whosoever.
35:53
And let God have the glory.
35:54
The Philippian jailer asked Paul.
36:03
What must I do to be saved?
36:07
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
36:10
And you will be saved.
36:12
What's the reply?
36:14
And that's the same response.
36:16
That we could give Nicodemus.
36:18
Nicodemus.
36:19
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
36:21
Believe in this great love.
36:23
The love.
36:24
The love.
36:25
The love.
36:25
With which God so loved the world.
36:28
That he gave his only son.
36:29
The love of the son.
36:30
In going to Calvary.
36:32
Willingly.
36:33
Bearing out sins.
36:35
Bearing out guilt.
36:37
Bearing out punishment.
36:39
And taking away.
36:40
All of these things.
36:42
And giving his life.
36:43
That shall never end.
36:45
Eternal life.
36:46
And he warns Nicodemus.
36:52
Verse 18.
36:53
Whoever believes in him.
36:55
Is not condemned.
36:57
But whoever does not believe.
37:00
Is condemned already.
37:03
Is there a more tragic situation.
37:06
That somebody who knows the truth.
37:09
And doesn't realize that they're under condemnation.
37:12
And doesn't realize that the remedy is there.
37:15
On the cross of Calvary.
37:17
For their sins.
37:20
That's a tragedy.
37:28
What about you?
37:31
Are you born again?
37:35
Do you know Christ?
37:36
Do you know the Christ of God?
37:40
As he is revealed here.
37:42
As he reveals himself.
37:44
As he draws.
37:47
Nicodemus.
37:48
You may be sitting here thinking.
37:51
Oh yes.
37:52
I remember.
37:53
I remember that.
37:55
I remember that I was being drawn.
37:58
By the preaching of the word.
38:00
I remember those days.
38:02
They were exciting.
38:03
They were amazing.
38:04
Amazing.
38:06
And if you're saying that.
38:11
That's wonderful.
38:14
I was thinking.
38:15
Listening to Reverend Roddy McRae.
38:17
Last week.
38:18
Speaking so passionately.
38:22
About his own salvation.
38:26
It's almost as if he was saying.
38:27
I just can't get over.
38:29
That Christ has saved me.
38:32
I can't get over it.
38:34
And I hope that he never does.
38:36
And I hope that I never do.
38:38
And I hope that you never will.
38:43
Where do we see Nicodemus?
38:45
What happened to him?
38:48
What happened to Nicodemus?
38:51
Praise be to God.
38:53
John chapter 19 verse 39.
39:00
John 19 and verse 39.
39:04
We'll read at 38.
39:05
After these things.
39:06
Joseph of Arimathea.
39:07
Who was a disciple of Jesus.
39:09
But secretly for fear of the Jews.
39:11
Asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus.
39:14
And Pilate gave him permission.
39:16
So he came and took away his body.
39:22
Nicodemus also.
39:25
Nicodemus also.
39:26
Nicodemus also.
39:38
Who earlier had come to Jesus by night.
39:41
Came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes.
39:45
About 75 pounds in weight.
39:48
Not that long ago.
39:51
I spoke about one who came.
39:53
Anointing the Lord's body.
39:57
A memorial.
39:59
To what she did.
40:00
Her love.
40:01
Of the Savior.
40:02
I think we can plainly see.
40:10
Nicodemus here.
40:12
Born again.
40:16
Born again.
40:18
Surely we can see in it.
40:21
The strength.
40:23
Of his love.
40:24
For the Christ with which he had an encounter.
40:29
The Christ with which he had an encounter.
40:31
And who changed his life.
40:35
Just as it has changed every believer's life.
40:41
What a discovery for Nicodemus.
40:45
What a discovery.
40:47
And that discovery awaits you.
40:50
If you come to know Christ.
40:53
As your own Savior.
40:56
Will you not come?
40:58
Will you not come?
41:00
Amen.
41:01
May the Lord bless these thoughts on his word.
41:09
Our final singing is Psalm 40.
41:13
The Sing Psalms version.
41:17
On page 50.
41:19
Psalm 40.
41:20
Page 50.
41:21
Singing verses 1 to 5.
41:24
I waited long upon the Lord.
41:26
I wonder if Nicodemus sang this song.
41:40
I wonder if he sang these psalms.
41:43
That belonged to them.
41:45
Psalms that were full of Christ.
41:46
When he was singing them.
41:47
That he was seeing Christ.
41:49
That he was seeing Christ.
41:51
And seeing in it for the first time.
41:54
Yes.
41:55
Yes.
41:55
This is speaking of Christ.
41:58
He set my feet on solid rock.
42:01
A place to stand both firm and broad.
42:05
He put a new song in my mouth.
42:07
A joyful hymn of praise to God.
42:10
Many will look with godly fear.
42:12
And on the Lord alone rely.
42:14
Blessed are they who trust the Lord.
42:17
Who shun the proud.
42:18
And gods that lie.
42:19
The wonders that you have done.
42:22
O Lord.
42:23
How many.
42:23
And how great they are.
42:26
Your plans for us.
42:29
Are far beyond our power.
42:30
To number.
42:32
Or declare.
42:34
To God's praise.
42:35
Standing to sing.
42:40
I waited long.
42:45
Upon the Lord.
42:49
He heard my cry.
42:53
And turned to me.
42:59
He raised me from the slimy pit.
43:08
And from the my.
43:13
He pulled me free.
43:16
He set my feet.
43:21
He set my feet.
43:22
A solid rock.
43:27
A place to stand.
43:31
O firm and broad.
43:36
He put a new song in my mouth.
43:45
A joyful hymn of praise to God.
43:55
Many will look with godly fear.
44:05
And on the Lord.
44:15
Blessed are they who trust the Lord.
44:25
Who shun the proud.
44:29
And gods that high.
44:34
The wonders you have done.
44:43
How many and how great they are.
44:52
Your plans for us.
45:02
Our power to number.
45:05
To number.
45:05
To number.
45:06
Our glory.
45:07
Our glory.
45:09
Our glory.
45:11
Gracious God, part us now with your blessing.
45:18
Help us as we leave this place
45:22
to know that we have been with the Lord
45:28
in his house,
45:31
with his people,
45:34
around his word.
45:36
And oh, come with power, we pray.
45:43
Bless all that was done today.
45:47
Help us
45:48
and ever, ever keep us
45:54
by the power of your grace.
45:58
In Christ's name we ask all these things.
46:01
Amen.
46:06
Amen.
46:07
Amen.
46:08
Amen.