October 27, 2016
GIVE ME FAITH TO BELIEVE THE IMPOSSIBLE
John 3:1–15
Megan Ochoa
Central Truth
The cure for sin lies wholly outside of our ability.
Key Verse | John 3:14–15
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)
John 3:1–15
You Must Be Born Again
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus 1 3:2 Greek him by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again 2 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7 he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 3 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You 4 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here must be born again.’ 8 The wind 5 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you 6 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12 do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 7 3:13 Some manuscripts add who is in heaven 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 8 3:15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation ends at verse 15
Footnotes
[1] 3:2 Greek him[2] 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7
[3] 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
[4] 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here
[5] 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
[6] 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12
[7] 3:13 Some manuscripts add who is in heaven
[8] 3:15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation ends at verse 15
Dive Deeper | John 3:1–15
Nicodemus was one of Jerusalem’s most outstanding teachers and one of the top echelon of Pharisees. Generally, the Pharisees weren’t really interested in what a person believed in his heart. Rather, they were more concerned with a "faux identity," which is as Pastor Matt Chandler explains:
“. . . [A] veneer, a faux identity that is placated around a false strength and a false, ‘I have it all together,’ that has us constantly comparing, constantly trying to better ourselves, not based on any universal biblical standard but actually by the standards of our current age.” (Women's Hurdles Transcript, 2014)
As a Pharisee, Nicodemus thought that the way he lived his life—his ancestry, his position in politics, and his religious acts—would ensure him access to heaven. But he missed this vital point: Until we can come to understand the depravity of our circumstances—that we all by nature are outside the kingdom of Heaven—we can make no progress in remedying our problem.
The cure for sin lies wholly outside of our ability.
Because of Nicodemus’ background and knowledge of Scripture, he was well aware that Jesus was referring to a time when Moses “lifted up a snake in the desert” so that all of the Israelites who looked upon it would be cured of venomous snakebites (Numbers 21). The Israelites were healed by looking in faith upon the uplifted serpent, not by working, striving, or running.
God could have sent Jesus into the world to immediately condemn the world, destroy all the wickedness, and judge all who have sinned. Yet in His loving-kindness and compassion, the Lord sent Jesus into the world as our Savior (John 3:17)! Jesus became the second and better uplifted One that Moses' act had foreshadowed. Moses’ actions brought physical life to all dying Jews who looked upon it in faith. Christ's actions bring spiritual life to all who look upon Him in faith. We must resolve to do nothing but trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross. The answer to our sin problem has been and will always be Jesus Christ. You have to decide: Do you believe?
Discussion Questions
1. On a scale from 0-10, 0 being uncertain and 10 being 100% certain: How certain are you that you are going to heaven?
2. If you were asked why you should go to heaven, what would you say? Does your answer start with "Because I" or "Because He"?
3. How often do you feel like you have to take the reigns of your own salvation? Do you understand that your salvation is not based on anything that you do? (Ephesians 2:8-9)
4. If you believe in this truth, what is keeping you from sharing the good news with others?