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SEPTEMBER 25, 2022
STUDY NOTES
JOHN 3:1-8
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN
INTRODUCTION
Last Sunday the sermon was, “Hell Is a Real Place,” a real place where real people will go
People who go to Hell will really spend an eternity in real torment (Luke 16:19-31)
Today our subject is, “You Must Be Born Again,” which is the “only way” you can miss Hell
In the beginning of John 3 we find a conversation between Jesus and a man named Nicodemus
The story of Nicodemus begins at the end of John chapter two
Nicodemus, along with many others, had witnessed Jesus performing miracles, Joh 2:23 Now when he
was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles
which he did.
Their belief in Jesus was not the faith unto salvation, it was not true saving faith totally trusting Jesus
We can learn the true meaning of “believing in Jesus” from this account and the next verse, Joh 2:24 But
Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
They did not truly commit themselves to Jesus in faith, so Jesus did not commit himself to them
In their so-called faith was no evidence of repentance from sin or a desire to commit their life to Jesus
There are many such decisions among church members throughout America today
James calls it a “say-so” faith, Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith,
and have not works?
can faith save him?
The question is not, “Can faith save him?”
The thought is not just faith, but that kind of faith
Can a faith that claims character but is without conduct be the true faith of salvation?
The answer is “no,” a workless faith is not a genuine faith of salvation, it is a worthless faith
Salvation is Jesus giving His life to us when we give our life to Jesus in complete faith, trusting Jesus
Sinners do not get saved from their sins because they get excited or emotional about religion
You can impress others by a good look, a good talk, and a good walk, but you don’t fool Jesus
You may claim to have a personal experience with Jesus and fool the preacher (Sometimes)
But you cannot fool Jesus anytime, Jesus knows, Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man:
for he knew what was in man.
(Jesus knows your mind, heart, will, and the true desire of your decision)
Jesus does not need the preacher to tell him that you have been saved
Jesus knew that they were not genuine believers desiring a new life in Christ
Their interest in Jesus was based upon the excitement of signs and miracles
They were only interested in physical miracles and not a spiritual miracle
Today there are those who want a physical miracle but are not interested in a new spiritual life
I have witnessed many hospital-bed promises to God that didn’t last any longer than their hospital-stay
Jesus knows the mind, heart, and will of every one of us
The conversation with Nicodemus is an example of the supernatural knowledge of Jesus
SUCH A MAN--Joh 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Such a man as identified in the previous verses of chapter 2 is singled out for an example
An important question is, “Why was Nicodemus selected as an example for us?”
There were many who came to talk to Jesus, so why are we told about this man?
Because in the life of Nicodemus were many good characteristics, he was a “good man”
Characteristics that many today trust in and accept as a means of salvation (Good life, good works)
Because they can compare themselves with other people and look good, they think they are alright
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Believing that they have as good a chance as anyone for it to turn out all right in the end
No finer example of a man could have been found than the man “named Nicodemus”
Nicodemus was a Greek name meaning, “victor over the people”
He was a man of charisma and had a magnetism that attracted people (He was well liked by all)
He had a mysterious ability to control others, but he needed Jesus to be in control of him
The destiny of his life was not under his own direction, eternity is in the hands of Jesus
As a “Pharisee” he was a very religious person, but religion is not salvation (No religion is)
You are not saved because you joined the church, were baptized, and took communion
Nicodemus was a strict keeper of the law of Moses, but good works cannot save (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Nicodemus was not a wicked and sinful man in the eyes of man
He was a good citizen, a good neighbor, and a good family man
He was a highly moral person, highly respected, honest, and law-abiding
He was even a good example for young men to pattern their life after, he was “a ruler of the Jews”
A member of the Sanhedrin, the religious rulers and governing council of Israel
The Sanhedrin was the Supreme Court of Israel, so we can call him a Supreme Court Judge
But he comes to stand before the Judge of the Eternal Court, he stands before the King of Kings
Earthly position and earthly authority will not gain entrance into the Kingdom of God, Tit 3:5 Not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Regeneration refers to the spiritual birth, born-again)
WHAT MAN NEEDS TO KNOW--Joh 3:2 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.
“The same” puts an emphasis upon Nicodemus, this was the same man identified in verse one
The man of good character and outstanding credentials, the man with a great resume according to man
Many different reasons have been given by scholars as to why he “came to Jesus by night”
As to why he came at night we can only speculate, but it must be significant
There are two other accounts of Nicodemus found in John and each speak of his night visit
He rebuked the Pharisees for condemning Jesus without hearing Him, Joh 7:50 Nicodemus saith unto
them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Joh 7:51 Doth our law judge any man, before
it hear him, and know what he doeth?
(Evidence that he had listened to Jesus and was born-again)
He assisted Joseph of Arimathaea in the burial of Jesus, Joh 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus,
which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred
pound weight.
They prepared the body of Jesus for burial, Joh 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in
linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
These verses may indicate that Nicodemus had a life changing experience the night he came to Jesus
Why he came is not as important as the fact that he did come stand before Jesus
This is a good place to ask the question, “Why do people come to talk to Jesus today?”
Some come because they are confused:
When all other answers to the meaning of life have failed, life wasn’t there
And there seems to be no reason left for living
Some come in times of financial loss:
When the things you have valued as life are gone, when money didn’t pay off
When there are no more funds and life is no more fun
Some will come in times of financial freedom or prosperity:
When they realize that financial freedom is not the answer to spiritual freedom
When they learn that the fullness of life is not in material possessions
Realizing that peace and joy is not in worldly things, it is found only in Jesus
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