WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.320
 This is John chapter 3, verse 1 to 21.

00:00:05.060 --> 00:00:10.400
 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

00:00:11.140 --> 00:00:16.019
! He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.

00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:21.580
 For no one who could perform the signs that you are doing, if God were not with them.

00:00:22.400 --> 00:00:28.179
 Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:32.000
 How can someone be born when they are old? Nicodemus asked.

00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:36.119
 Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born.

00:00:37.140 --> 00:00:43.399
 Jesus answered, Truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

00:00:44.299 --> 00:00:47.480
 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit.

00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:51.980
 You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again.

00:00:52.620 --> 00:00:54.399
 The wind blows wherever it pleases.

00:00:54.399 --> 00:01:00.379
 You hear it sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.

00:01:01.420 --> 00:01:04.459
 So it is everyone born of the Spirit.

00:01:05.140 --> 00:01:07.079
 How can this be? Nicodemus asked.

00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:09.500
 You are Israel's teacher, said Jesus.

00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:11.739
 And do you not understand these things?

00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:17.099
 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know and we testify of what we have seen.

00:01:17.459 --> 00:01:19.939
 But still, you people do not accept our testimony.

00:01:19.939 --> 00:01:25.439
 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe.

00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:28.400
 How then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

00:01:28.679 --> 00:01:35.659
 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven.

00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:42.280
 The Son of Man, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

00:01:42.819 --> 00:01:45.259
 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.

00:01:46.060 --> 00:01:49.000
 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

00:01:49.399 --> 00:01:52.479
 that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

00:01:52.939 --> 00:01:57.420
 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

00:01:57.420 --> 00:02:02.980
 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already

00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:06.359
 because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:07.560
 This is the verdict.

00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:13.460
 Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

00:02:14.740 --> 00:02:21.800
 Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:33.760
 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:35.480
 This is the word of the Lord.

00:02:38.660 --> 00:02:39.500
 Thank you, Anderson.

00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.640
 If we have not met, my name is Seth Campbell.

00:02:43.740 --> 00:02:46.460
 I get to be the pastoral trainee here at West Kilburn.

00:02:46.600 --> 00:02:50.300
 Very exciting job and very excited to be here with you this morning.

00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:53.980
 If you have a Bible, go ahead and turn it there to John 3.

00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:56.060
 We'll be looking at the passage multiple times.

00:02:56.219 --> 00:03:03.580
 If you don't have a Bible, you can grab one of those blue ones, maybe in a chair in front of you or in the pew beside you,

00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:06.260
 or you can look it up on your phone if you trust yourself.

00:03:07.880 --> 00:03:11.060
 So it is indeed the season of new, right?

00:03:11.200 --> 00:03:14.320
 Kids, you just started a new year.

00:03:14.540 --> 00:03:16.860
 How many of you are excited to start a new year at school?

00:03:19.100 --> 00:03:20.180
 That sounds about right.

00:03:20.379 --> 00:03:23.840
 Parents, how many of you were excited that your kids started back to school?

00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:25.379
 Fair enough.

00:03:26.200 --> 00:03:27.040
 Fair enough.

00:03:27.200 --> 00:03:34.599
 So here at the church, we are going to be starting a new sermon series next week going through the book of Romans.

00:03:35.040 --> 00:03:39.879
 I very much encourage you to come back and to see Steve go through that.

00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:45.259
 But as we start this term off, we wanted to start with something simple because I know you guys,

00:03:45.620 --> 00:03:48.500
 your brains have been kind of churning a little bit as you go back to school.

00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:51.379
 So we're going to just make something really simple for us today.

00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:53.379
 And what I want it to be simple.

00:03:53.659 --> 00:03:57.659
 So it's going to be just a one-point sermon.

00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:01.439
 Now I know some of you, and you just heard that, said,

00:04:01.579 --> 00:04:05.319
 hey, that may mean that we get out of here a little bit early, huh?

00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:09.259
 And to that, I say, we'll see.

00:04:09.259 --> 00:04:15.359
 But the one point that I want to make today is really a question.

00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:18.379
 And I want you to answer this question.

00:04:19.379 --> 00:04:21.980
 The question is, am I a Christian?

00:04:21.980 --> 00:04:26.240
 When you walked in, you should have gotten an order of service.

00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:27.680
 It's that sheet of paper that's in front of you.

00:04:27.860 --> 00:04:28.960
 I want you to open it up.

00:04:28.980 --> 00:04:32.580
 And on the inside there, I want you to write that question.

00:04:32.780 --> 00:04:36.060
 Everybody in the room, I want you to write this question here.

00:04:36.700 --> 00:04:38.500
 Am I a Christian?

00:04:40.520 --> 00:04:44.900
 Now I know for some of us, that answer to that question just popped up right on top of our head, right?

00:04:45.939 --> 00:04:50.000
 You're like, Seth, I wouldn't be here at 11 a.m. on a Sunday if I wasn't a Christian.

00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:53.920
 But then maybe others of you that are in this room,

00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:57.180
 and your worst nightmare may have just come true.

00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:00.639
 You may say, ah, I knew I shouldn't have come.

00:05:01.060 --> 00:05:02.459
 I knew they were going to single me out.

00:05:03.959 --> 00:05:07.279
 Wherever you are on that spectrum,

00:05:08.279 --> 00:05:14.040
 I want you to wait about 20 minutes to answer that question.

00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:20.280
 See, church, if you've been in church for any amount of time,

00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:23.260
 you've probably heard one of those verses that we just talked about, right?

00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:24.560
 John 3.16.

00:05:25.180 --> 00:05:27.020
 When I was a kid, going to Sunday school,

00:05:27.140 --> 00:05:30.640
 I memorized it in the good old New King James Version.

00:05:31.200 --> 00:05:35.100
 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,

00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:39.939
 that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

00:05:41.100 --> 00:05:45.820
 This verse is one of the most popular verses in the Bible, right?

00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:51.400
 You can find it on signs, wristbands, car decals.

00:05:51.760 --> 00:05:53.120
 You can even find it in the street.

00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:59.300
 See, this verse, John 3.16, is a microcosm of the gospel.

00:05:59.300 --> 00:06:03.660
 The German reformer, Martin Luther, even said that.

00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:07.220
 He said, John 3.16 is the gospel in miniature.

00:06:08.180 --> 00:06:10.660
 So this verse, right here, this one verse,

00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:13.780
 has the power to change your life.

00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:16.199
 And the question that we are asking today,

00:06:16.280 --> 00:06:19.160
 and that we need to answer, is, has it?

00:06:21.240 --> 00:06:24.460
 See, in Western Christianity, in 2025,

00:06:25.220 --> 00:06:27.439
 I believe that there is a lot of people

00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:31.300
 that have misunderstood what it means to be a Christian.

00:06:32.719 --> 00:06:34.300
 I think we think of Christianity

00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:36.500
 as our get-out-of-hell-free card.

00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.779
 We said a prayer, and we think we say a prayer

00:06:40.779 --> 00:06:43.560
 one point in time, and then we can live our lives

00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:45.519
 however we want, and then we get to the end of our lives,

00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:47.639
 big bad God, when he comes to punish us

00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:48.959
 for all of our wrongdoings, and say,

00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:50.120
 hey, not me.

00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:53.019
 I prayed that prayer that one time.

00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:54.180
 I'm good. No thanks.

00:06:54.540 --> 00:06:55.240
 No hell for me.

00:06:55.240 --> 00:07:00.439
 Church, I want you to listen to me here.

00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:04.860
 That is not Christianity.

00:07:05.900 --> 00:07:09.620
 You will never find that described in the Bible.

00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:16.960
 So, I want to ask the question,

00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:21.079
 and I want us to answer it honestly.

00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:24.879
 Am I a Christian?

00:07:26.599 --> 00:07:28.219
 We're going to look at one person

00:07:28.219 --> 00:07:29.359
 in two illustrations

00:07:29.359 --> 00:07:32.180
 to help us answer that question.

00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:34.339
 So, let's go ahead and dive in.

00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:35.860
 We're going to start where Scripture starts,

00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:37.219
 with Nicodemus.

00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:39.699
 So, Nicodemus, in verse 1,

00:07:39.719 --> 00:07:42.479
 it says that he's a part of the Jewish ruling council.

00:07:42.599 --> 00:07:43.399
 You can also know that,

00:07:43.539 --> 00:07:44.959
 call this the Sanhedrin.

00:07:46.159 --> 00:07:48.479
 These are the people that dedicated their lives

00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:49.160
 to the Scriptures.

00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:51.980
 So, if you had a question

00:07:51.980 --> 00:07:53.100
 about interpreting the Scriptures,

00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:54.460
 you went to the Sanhedrin.

00:07:54.520 --> 00:07:55.580
 You went to these guys.

00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:57.620
 When you hear these guys,

00:07:58.020 --> 00:07:59.560
 when you hear the word Sanhedrin,

00:07:59.640 --> 00:08:02.620
 I want you to think these guys had power.

00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:08.180
 See, these were the people

00:08:08.180 --> 00:08:11.500
 that the nation of Israel would have looked to

00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:13.279
 for rulings on religious matters.

00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:16.060
 And Nicodemus,

00:08:16.259 --> 00:08:18.300
 he was a part of these people.

00:08:19.779 --> 00:08:20.939
 And so, Nicodemus,

00:08:20.980 --> 00:08:22.139
 he comes to Jesus,

00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:22.819
 and he says,

00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:24.500
 Rabbi, we know

00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:26.759
 that you are a teacher of God.

00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:27.620
 Well, first of all,

00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:29.939
 where did this we come from, Nicodemus?

00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:30.899
 It's just you and Jesus.

00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:34.500
 See, Nicodemus,

00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:36.240
 when he says we,

00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:37.200
 he's referring to me

00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:38.840
 and the Sanhedrin,

00:08:38.900 --> 00:08:40.340
 this powerful group of people,

00:08:40.540 --> 00:08:42.040
 we've been thinking about it.

00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.000
 And we think

00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:45.560
 we figured you out, Jesus.

00:08:46.800 --> 00:08:49.040
 We think that you

00:08:49.040 --> 00:08:50.879
 are a wise teacher.

00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:54.840
 There's two things wrong

00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:55.620
 with this phrase.

00:08:56.220 --> 00:08:56.680
 Number one,

00:08:56.780 --> 00:08:57.540
 the title Rabbi.

00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.020
 Now, the word Rabbi

00:08:59.020 --> 00:09:00.580
 was a title of respect

00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:01.720
 in the first century.

00:09:02.140 --> 00:09:03.060
 It meant teacher

00:09:03.060 --> 00:09:04.220
 or wise one

00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:05.220
 or my great one.

00:09:05.220 --> 00:09:07.300
 So there's inherently

00:09:07.300 --> 00:09:08.200
 nothing wrong

00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:08.840
 with Nicodemus

00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:10.620
 calling Jesus Rabbi here.

00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:11.960
 But when he pairs it

00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:12.940
 with the second part

00:09:12.940 --> 00:09:13.620
 where he says,

00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:14.540
 we know you are

00:09:14.540 --> 00:09:16.100
 a teacher of God,

00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:17.759
 there's some subtext

00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:18.720
 that comes with that.

00:09:20.560 --> 00:09:21.080
 Nicodemus

00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:23.379
 is calling Jesus

00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:24.120
 a teacher.

00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:27.420
 He is defining,

00:09:27.680 --> 00:09:28.759
 Nicodemus is defining

00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:30.460
 who Jesus is

00:09:30.460 --> 00:09:32.480
 and what role

00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:33.639
 Jesus is going to play

00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:34.960
 in his life

00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:37.440
 to Jesus.

00:09:39.220 --> 00:09:39.940
 As I was thinking

00:09:39.940 --> 00:09:40.320
 about this,

00:09:40.400 --> 00:09:41.300
 it reminded me a bit,

00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:42.320
 imagine you have a toddler,

00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:43.639
 three, four years old,

00:09:43.800 --> 00:09:44.340
 and your toddler

00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:45.080
 comes up to you

00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:45.560
 as a parent

00:09:45.560 --> 00:09:45.960
 and says,

00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:47.120
 Mom, Dad,

00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:48.160
 listen,

00:09:48.300 --> 00:09:48.860
 I've been reviewing

00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:49.360
 the numbers

00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.220
 and I'm just not

00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:51.019
 liking what I'm seeing.

00:09:52.180 --> 00:09:53.460
 My bluey intake

00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:54.180
 has been down

00:09:54.180 --> 00:09:55.400
 by 34%.

00:09:55.400 --> 00:09:56.840
 And honestly,

00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:57.540
 you've started

00:09:57.540 --> 00:09:58.500
 introducing these things

00:09:58.500 --> 00:09:59.139
 into my diet

00:09:59.139 --> 00:10:00.320
 called vegetables.

00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:02.500
 And honestly,

00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:03.860
 I'm not a fan.

00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:05.019
 So here's what

00:10:05.019 --> 00:10:05.480
 I'm going to do.

00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:07.259
 You can still

00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:08.559
 cook me dinner

00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:09.799
 because honestly,

00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:10.700
 who wants to be bothered

00:10:10.700 --> 00:10:11.379
 with cooking dinner,

00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:11.639
 right?

00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:14.200
 But vegetables,

00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:15.879
 not so much.

00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:16.899
 Every dinner needs

00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:17.720
 to have chicken nuggets.

00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:19.840
 And then,

00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:20.480
 when it comes

00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:21.500
 to entertainment choices,

00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:23.460
 I'll take care of that.

00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:24.759
 Don't worry about that.

00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:25.840
 I got that under control.

00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:27.539
 If you genuinely

00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:27.940
 think about it,

00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:29.500
 it's preposterous, right?

00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:30.519
 You think,

00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:31.340
 what?

00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.600
 You can't do those things.

00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:35.039
 And yet,

00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:36.299
 is that not what Nicodemus

00:10:36.299 --> 00:10:37.259
 is doing to Jesus here?

00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:39.980
 And if I can push

00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:40.840
 just a little bit further,

00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:42.720
 is that not what we

00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:44.820
 will do the same thing

00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:45.679
 to Jesus?

00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:47.980
 We come to Jesus

00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:49.139
 with our predetermined

00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:51.059
 definitions of who he is.

00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:51.840
 And hey,

00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:52.899
 we're not rude about it.

00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:54.159
 We honor him, right?

00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:54.679
 We say,

00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:54.860
 hey,

00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:56.399
 he is a great teacher.

00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:57.879
 That's stuff that he said

00:10:57.879 --> 00:10:59.259
 about loving your neighbor.

00:10:59.500 --> 00:10:59.860
 Man,

00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:00.860
 that stuff is amazing.

00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:01.460
 I want to put that

00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:02.159
 into my life.

00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:04.240
 What about his way

00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:04.919
 of leadership?

00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:05.779
 Oh man,

00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:06.759
 I'd love to put that

00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:07.779
 and implicate,

00:11:07.940 --> 00:11:09.559
 put that into my work

00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:12.080
 and replicate it.

00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:14.220
 But not once

00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:15.700
 do we ask Jesus,

00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:16.620
 do we go to Jesus

00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:17.480
 and do we ask him

00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:18.360
 who he really is?

00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:21.100
 Instead,

00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:22.940
 we want to put him,

00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:25.019
 got a handy little prop here,

00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:26.460
 we want to put him

00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:28.679
 into a little box,

00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:29.200
 right?

00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:32.379
 And so we put him

00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:32.740
 in this box

00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:32.960
 and say,

00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:33.159
 hey,

00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.240
 where can you

00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.279
 benefit me

00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:36.820
 in this Jesus?

00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:38.639
 And see,

00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:39.379
 we want to put him

00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:39.919
 in this box

00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:40.740
 and then when it comes

00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:41.240
 to work,

00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:42.220
 we want to put him

00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:43.500
 over to the side.

00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:44.419
 But when something

00:11:44.419 --> 00:11:45.220
 goes wrong

00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:46.120
 in our life,

00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:46.799
 we want to take

00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:47.539
 this box out,

00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:48.700
 we want to pull Jesus

00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:49.460
 out of it and say,

00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:49.700
 Jesus,

00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:50.580
 something is wrong

00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:51.559
 with my life.

00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:53.200
 Can you fix it?

00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:54.779
 Will you fix it?

00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:56.819
 Why is this

00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:57.379
 going wrong?

00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:01.720
 So Nicodemus

00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:03.399
 pulls out his box

00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:03.919
 to Jesus

00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:04.500
 and he looks

00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:04.959
 at his box

00:12:04.959 --> 00:12:05.259
 and he says,

00:12:05.339 --> 00:12:05.620
 Jesus,

00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:07.819
 where do you

00:12:07.819 --> 00:12:09.519
 fit in here?

00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:11.879
 How does Jesus

00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:12.339
 respond?

00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.319
 Jesus tears

00:12:15.319 --> 00:12:16.600
 through the box.

00:12:17.699 --> 00:12:18.679
 He says,

00:12:18.779 --> 00:12:19.339
 I will not be

00:12:19.339 --> 00:12:20.039
 defined

00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:21.559
 by your box,

00:12:21.599 --> 00:12:21.879
 right?

00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:24.799
 He says,

00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:25.559
 no one,

00:12:25.599 --> 00:12:26.179
 look at the passage,

00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:26.419
 he says,

00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.639
 no one can see

00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:29.240
 the kingdom of God

00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:30.439
 unless they are

00:12:30.439 --> 00:12:31.939
 born again.

00:12:32.459 --> 00:12:33.079
 Jesus doesn't even

00:12:33.079 --> 00:12:34.099
 address Nicodemus'

00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:34.719
 question.

00:12:35.459 --> 00:12:35.719
 He says,

00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:36.099
 Nicodemus,

00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:36.759
 you are in the

00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:38.059
 wrong postcode.

00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:39.059
 I don't fit

00:12:39.059 --> 00:12:40.019
 into your box.

00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:40.740
 I don't fit

00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:41.659
 into anyone's box.

00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:42.679
 I am not just

00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:43.279
 a teacher.

00:12:43.819 --> 00:12:45.899
 I am your savior.

00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:49.259
 So let's look now

00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:51.899
 at two illustrations

00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:53.220
 that are going

00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:53.580
 to help us

00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:54.299
 understand what

00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:54.879
 Jesus means

00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.700
 by savior.

00:12:57.240 --> 00:12:58.419
 Help us to answer

00:12:58.419 --> 00:12:59.299
 that question

00:12:59.299 --> 00:12:59.879
 that we posed

00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:00.279
 earlier.

00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:03.059
 Am I a Christian?

00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:04.779
 Let's look at

00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:05.480
 the first example.

00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:06.220
 Look in your Bible

00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.100
 at verse 7.

00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:09.319
 It says,

00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:09.779
 you should not

00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:10.500
 be surprised

00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.379
 at my saying

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.080
 you must be

00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:12.960
 born again.

00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.279
 The wind blows

00:13:14.279 --> 00:13:15.220
 wherever it pleases.

00:13:15.419 --> 00:13:16.379
 You hear its sound

00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:17.480
 but you cannot tell

00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.879
 where it comes from

00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:19.960
 or where it is

00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:20.340
 going.

00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:21.480
 So it is with

00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.460
 everyone born

00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.159
 of the spirit.

00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:24.740
 I have to admit

00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:25.720
 when I first read

00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:27.460
 this I had no idea

00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:28.019
 what Jesus meant

00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:28.220
 here.

00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:29.919
 It's like,

00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:30.100
 Jesus,

00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:31.059
 we were just

00:13:31.059 --> 00:13:31.799
 talking about

00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:32.399
 new birth.

00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:33.200
 Where does the

00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:34.039
 wind fit in

00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:34.860
 with all of this?

00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:36.519
 But if you take

00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:37.279
 a closer look,

00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.200
 Jesus is saying

00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:39.279
 the wind

00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:41.139
 is mysterious

00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:42.980
 but it is

00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:43.500
 felt.

00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:45.580
 We have a lot

00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.179
 of technology

00:13:46.179 --> 00:13:46.719
 today,

00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:47.099
 right?

00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.259
 We can forecast

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:49.299
 with a decent

00:13:49.299 --> 00:13:50.359
 amount of accuracy

00:13:50.359 --> 00:13:51.739
 wind speed

00:13:51.739 --> 00:13:52.799
 and direction.

00:13:53.699 --> 00:13:54.179
 In fact,

00:13:54.199 --> 00:13:54.719
 if you're ever

00:13:54.719 --> 00:13:55.379
 having trouble

00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.259
 sleeping at night,

00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.659
 tune into something

00:13:57.659 --> 00:13:58.500
 called the shipping

00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.159
 forecast.

00:13:59.259 --> 00:13:59.579
 Anybody ever

00:13:59.579 --> 00:13:59.939
 heard of that?

00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:02.959
 This is literally

00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:04.219
 just a radio broadcast

00:14:04.219 --> 00:14:05.120
 of a man talking

00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:05.859
 into a microphone

00:14:05.859 --> 00:14:06.479
 and saying

00:14:06.479 --> 00:14:07.259
 wind speed,

00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:08.179
 direction,

00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:09.120
 and roughness

00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:09.799
 of the seas

00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:10.799
 around England.

00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:13.719
 So we have

00:14:13.719 --> 00:14:14.159
 a lot of

00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:14.659
 technology,

00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:15.039
 but can

00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:15.659
 technology

00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:16.299
 correctly

00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:17.000
 predict the

00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:17.879
 wind all

00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:18.339
 of the time?

00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.319
 No.

00:14:21.339 --> 00:14:21.879
 And if I was

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.379
 to ask you

00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:22.899
 a question

00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:23.359
 a little bit

00:14:23.359 --> 00:14:23.599
 deeper,

00:14:23.719 --> 00:14:24.099
 do you even

00:14:24.099 --> 00:14:24.620
 know where

00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.199
 the wind

00:14:25.199 --> 00:14:26.079
 comes from?

00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:28.159
 Now,

00:14:28.359 --> 00:14:29.159
 before any

00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:29.519
 amateur

00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.259
 meteorologists

00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:30.879
 get on to me,

00:14:30.939 --> 00:14:31.219
 I know it

00:14:31.219 --> 00:14:31.539
 has something

00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:32.000
 to do with

00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:32.759
 currents and

00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.240
 fronts and

00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:33.679
 blah,

00:14:33.719 --> 00:14:33.799
 blah,

00:14:33.839 --> 00:14:34.139
 whatever,

00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:36.240
 but when

00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:36.779
 you're sitting

00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:37.659
 in your garden

00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:38.519
 or at the

00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:39.199
 park on a

00:14:39.199 --> 00:14:39.899
 warm September

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:40.519
 evening,

00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:41.799
 and the

00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:42.599
 breeze blows

00:14:42.599 --> 00:14:43.359
 past your

00:14:43.359 --> 00:14:43.919
 face,

00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:45.379
 do you know

00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:45.659
 where that

00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:46.359
 breeze comes

00:14:46.359 --> 00:14:46.659
 from?

00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:49.199
 See,

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:49.659
 you can't

00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.339
 handle the

00:14:50.339 --> 00:14:50.819
 wind with

00:14:50.819 --> 00:14:51.839
 your hands.

00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:52.859
 You can't

00:14:52.859 --> 00:14:53.620
 even see

00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:54.359
 the wind

00:14:54.359 --> 00:14:55.000
 with your

00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:55.579
 eyes,

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:55.899
 right?

00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:58.219
 But you

00:14:58.219 --> 00:14:59.740
 do know

00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:00.559
 it's there.

00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:02.000
 I may not

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:02.339
 be able to

00:15:02.339 --> 00:15:03.019
 identify the

00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:03.599
 spot where

00:15:03.599 --> 00:15:04.419
 it started

00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:05.539
 or the

00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:06.359
 exact spot

00:15:06.359 --> 00:15:06.759
 where it's

00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:07.159
 going to

00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:07.459
 end,

00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:08.059
 but I do

00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:08.699
 know it

00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:09.019
 is there.

00:15:09.099 --> 00:15:09.519
 I can see

00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.099
 the effects

00:15:10.099 --> 00:15:10.519
 of it,

00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.879
 all around

00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.179
 me.

00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:13.620
 Maybe it's

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.159
 your hair

00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:14.939
 blowing in

00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:15.460
 the wind,

00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:16.740
 maybe it's

00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:17.419
 the leaves

00:15:17.419 --> 00:15:18.159
 rustling in

00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:18.679
 the trees,

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:19.759
 or maybe

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.379
 since we're

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:20.939
 in London,

00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:21.759
 it's rubbish

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.620
 skipping by.

00:15:22.939 --> 00:15:23.539
 Whatever it

00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:24.059
 is, you

00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:25.279
 can see the

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.279
 effects of

00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:26.799
 the wind,

00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:27.120
 right?

00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:29.519
 Jesus is

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:29.939
 saying the

00:15:29.939 --> 00:15:30.659
 same thing

00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.500
 is true of

00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.019
 the Christian

00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.759
 that is true

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.340
 of the wind.

00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:35.500
 Salvation

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:37.679
 is mysterious,

00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:38.480
 yes.

00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.139
 We're not

00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:39.300
 going to

00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:39.639
 know all

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.039
 the ins

00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:40.399
 and outs

00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:40.960
 of salvation

00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.460
 until the

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:41.940
 very end

00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:42.159
 of the

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:42.440
 age.

00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:44.480
 But there

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:44.960
 is one

00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:45.360
 thing that

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:45.960
 you cannot

00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:47.700
 deny from

00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.240
 the scriptures,

00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.120
 and Jesus

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:49.360
 says,

00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:50.139
 if you say

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:50.500
 you're a

00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:50.800
 Christian,

00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:51.420
 you should

00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:51.720
 be able

00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.259
 to tell

00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:52.899
 that you're

00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.300
 a Christian.

00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:56.800
 J.C.

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.200
 Ryle,

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:57.840
 a pastor

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.360
 in Liverpool,

00:15:58.600 --> 00:15:59.039
 he says it

00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.460
 like this,

00:15:59.700 --> 00:16:00.159
 the new

00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:00.759
 birth is

00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.320
 something that

00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:01.960
 cannot be

00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:02.300
 hidden.

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:04.519
 there will

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.120
 always be

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:05.759
 visible fruits

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.019
 of the

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:06.519
 Spirit in

00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.240
 everyone that

00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:07.779
 is born

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.620
 of the

00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:08.959
 Spirit.

00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:10.359
 So if

00:16:10.359 --> 00:16:10.539
 you're going

00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:10.959
 to answer

00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:11.839
 that question,

00:16:12.099 --> 00:16:13.219
 am I a

00:16:13.219 --> 00:16:13.639
 Christian,

00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:14.399
 with a

00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:14.839
 yes,

00:16:15.079 --> 00:16:15.839
 your life

00:16:15.839 --> 00:16:17.319
 has to

00:16:17.319 --> 00:16:18.099
 look different

00:16:18.099 --> 00:16:19.240
 than it was

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:19.779
 before you

00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.059
 were a

00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:20.279
 Christian.

00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.179
 Let's take

00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:23.500
 a look now

00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:23.819
 at the

00:16:23.819 --> 00:16:24.139
 second

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:24.699
 illustration,

00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:25.099
 which is

00:16:25.099 --> 00:16:25.240
 going to

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:25.859
 be light

00:16:25.859 --> 00:16:26.699
 and darkness,

00:16:26.819 --> 00:16:27.059
 if you're

00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:27.699
 taking notes.

00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:29.259
 That starts

00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:29.620
 in verse

00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:30.120
 19.

00:16:30.219 --> 00:16:30.479
 So look

00:16:30.479 --> 00:16:30.679
 at the

00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:31.620
 verse 19

00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:32.060
 back in

00:16:32.060 --> 00:16:32.440
 your Bible.

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.480
 It says,

00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.340
 this is

00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:34.720
 the

00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.340
 verdict.

00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:35.860
 Light

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:36.159
 has come

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:36.500
 into the

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:36.820
 world,

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.279
 but people

00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:37.919
 loved

00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:38.720
 darkness

00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.399
 instead of

00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:39.620
 light,

00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:40.440
 because their

00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:41.320
 deeds were

00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:41.919
 evil.

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:42.860
 Everyone

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:43.179
 who does

00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:43.820
 evil hates

00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:44.200
 the light

00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:44.360
 and will

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:44.679
 not come

00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:45.159
 into the

00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:45.480
 light for

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.019
 fear that

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.700
 their deeds

00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:47.799
 will be

00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.560
 exposed.

00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:49.960
 But whoever

00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:50.679
 lives by

00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:51.159
 the truth

00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:51.799
 comes into

00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:52.179
 the light

00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:52.639
 so that it

00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:52.980
 may be

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.399
 seen

00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.000
 plainly

00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.460
 that what

00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:54.720
 they have

00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:55.060
 done

00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:55.379
 has been

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:55.720
 done

00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.060
 in the

00:16:56.060 --> 00:16:56.539
 sight of

00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:56.820
 God.

00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:58.500
 So the

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:58.700
 end of

00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:59.299
 our passage

00:16:59.299 --> 00:16:59.860
 here,

00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:00.960
 we're going

00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:01.240
 to end

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:01.440
 with the

00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:01.919
 motif of

00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:02.560
 light and

00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:03.320
 darkness to

00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:04.000
 help explain

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.319
 what it

00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:04.720
 means to

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.160
 be a

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:05.500
 Christian.

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:06.980
 But what

00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:07.559
 does light

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.180
 and darkness

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.099
 mean here?

00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:10.720
 Well,

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:11.940
 light is

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.299
 Jesus.

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.720
 Jesus came

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.079
 into the

00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:15.420
 world to be

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:15.819
 the light

00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.059
 of the

00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.240
 world,

00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.180
 to save

00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:18.000
 people.

00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.519
 He came to

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.160
 shine in the

00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:20.480
 darkness,

00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.079
 to give

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:21.559
 hope.

00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.220
 Later on

00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:23.720
 in this

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.500
 same gospel,

00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:24.980
 in John

00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.440
 H,

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.279
 Jesus says

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.720
 he is the

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.740
 light of

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.400
 the world.

00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:28.519
 world.

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:29.960
 In 1

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.480
 John 1,

00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:31.700
 the apostle

00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.140
 says that

00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:32.759
 God is

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.280
 light and

00:17:33.280 --> 00:17:33.540
 there is

00:17:33.540 --> 00:17:34.220
 no darkness

00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:34.860
 in him

00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:35.740
 at all.

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.160
 So if

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:39.900
 we run

00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:40.460
 to the

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:40.759
 light,

00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:41.240
 all we

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:41.500
 have to

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:41.780
 do is

00:17:41.780 --> 00:17:42.360
 run to

00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:42.820
 the light

00:17:42.820 --> 00:17:43.180
 and we

00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:43.540
 will be

00:17:43.540 --> 00:17:43.940
 saved.

00:17:44.780 --> 00:17:45.120
 But what

00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:45.640
 do we

00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:46.080
 as human

00:17:46.080 --> 00:17:46.440
 beings

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:46.759
 prefer?

00:17:48.100 --> 00:17:48.580
 We

00:17:48.580 --> 00:17:49.019
 prefer the

00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.320
 dark.

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.140
 See,

00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:52.700
 every use

00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:52.920
 of the

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:53.060
 word

00:17:53.060 --> 00:17:53.480
 darkness

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.200
 in the

00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.120
 gospel of

00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:55.440
 John,

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:55.960
 the apostle

00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:56.440
 is talking

00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:56.720
 about

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.340
 moral

00:17:57.340 --> 00:17:57.920
 and

00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.460
 spiritual

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:58.900
 darkness.

00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:01.940
 It means

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.400
 that every

00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:02.980
 person

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.720
 that is

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.039
 in

00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:04.500
 darkness,

00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:04.799
 that's

00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.019
 what this

00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.200
 means,

00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:05.860
 every person

00:18:05.860 --> 00:18:06.140
 that is

00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:06.480
 in

00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:06.920
 darkness

00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.559
 will

00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.120
 be

00:18:08.120 --> 00:18:08.799
 lost.

00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:11.980
 Paul

00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.460
 says in

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:12.980
 Romans,

00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.460
 he says

00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:14.759
 it this

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:14.940
 way,

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:15.799
 for all

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.240
 have

00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:16.660
 sinned

00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:16.960
 and fallen

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.240
 short

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:17.519
 of the

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:17.720
 glory

00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:18.039
 of God.

00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:18.759
 Every

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.140
 single

00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:19.539
 one of

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:19.680
 us

00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.380
 is in

00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.220
 darkness,

00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:21.880
 to borrow

00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:22.620
 from

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.100
 bane,

00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:23.340
 and the

00:18:23.340 --> 00:18:23.759
 dark night

00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.240
 rises,

00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:24.620
 right?

00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:28.100
 I was

00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.539
 born

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.120
 into

00:18:29.120 --> 00:18:29.519
 darkness.

00:18:30.100 --> 00:18:30.600
 I was

00:18:30.600 --> 00:18:31.279
 molded

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.019
 by it.

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.059
 Decided

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:33.320
 not to

00:18:33.320 --> 00:18:33.500
 do the

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:33.720
 voice.

00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:36.980
 But just

00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.779
 like that

00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:38.240
 villain,

00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:40.160
 see,

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:40.779
 we actually

00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:41.340
 like the

00:18:41.340 --> 00:18:41.680
 darkness,

00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:42.200
 don't we?

00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:43.620
 See,

00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:43.840
 to be

00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:44.500
 exposed to

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:44.880
 the light

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.400
 would be

00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:46.080
 painful.

00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:47.580
 See,

00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:47.900
 the light

00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:48.580
 refines,

00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.400
 it purifies,

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.100
 it shows

00:18:50.100 --> 00:18:51.059
 our defects.

00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.100
 So in

00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:53.500
 order to

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:53.920
 answer the

00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:54.400
 question,

00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.160
 am I a

00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:55.519
 Christian,

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.160
 I'm going

00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:56.359
 to have

00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.039
 to expose

00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.920
 myself to

00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:58.660
 the powerful,

00:18:58.940 --> 00:18:59.480
 cleansing,

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:01.099
 pure light

00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:02.299
 of Christ.

00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:04.599
 But see,

00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:04.980
 when you do

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.139
 this,

00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:05.500
 don't think

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:05.900
 that darkness

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.639
 just automatically

00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.099
 goes away.

00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:07.440
 Darkness

00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:07.980
 wants to

00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:08.720
 hang on.

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.480
 The enemy

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:09.839
 will tell

00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:09.980
 you,

00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.139
 hey,

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:10.740
 you don't

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.079
 have to

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.359
 give up

00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:12.079
 everything.

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.039
 That bit

00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.359
 of you,

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:13.759
 maybe that

00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.240
 addiction

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.660
 that you

00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:14.960
 hold on

00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.079
 to,

00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:15.619
 you don't

00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.059
 have to

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.579
 give that

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:16.879
 up.

00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.079
 Maybe

00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:18.779
 that disdain

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.059
 that you

00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.519
 have for

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:19.700
 your

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.200
 coworker,

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:20.579
 you don't

00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:21.359
 have to

00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:22.059
 give that

00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:22.420
 up.

00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:23.700
 For kids

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.079
 in the room,

00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:24.339
 they can say,

00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:24.500
 hey,

00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.140
 you don't

00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:25.759
 always have

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:26.200
 to listen

00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:26.640
 to your

00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.220
 parents.

00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:28.500
 Parents,

00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:28.680
 you can

00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:28.880
 thank me

00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:29.059
 for that

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.319
 one later.

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:32.400
 The enemy

00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:34.359
 wants to

00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.160
 hold on.

00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:37.079
 But if we're

00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:37.400
 going to be

00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.839
 obedient to

00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:39.339
 Jesus,

00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.640
 we have to

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:43.099
 fully surrender

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:44.380
 ourselves to

00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:44.980
 the light.

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.140
 put in

00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:45.799
 Tammy's

00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.799


00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:50.360
!

00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:50.360


00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:51.799
 Tammy's

00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:51.860
!

00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:51.860


00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:20.279
 the point of this sermon is in order to answer yes to the question, am I a Christian, you need

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:27.019
 to go home and clean up your life. You say, yes, yes, that's what I'll do. I'll go home. I'll work

00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:32.160
 harder. I'll be nicer to my parents. I'll smile more at the office. I'll say sorry to the people

00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:37.000
 that I was rude to. And by this time next week, I'll come back into this room and I'll be able

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:45.079
 to answer that question, am I a Christian, with a yes. Can I ask you to listen carefully

00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:57.819
 one more time? That's not Christianity either. So then where does this leave us? If my works

00:20:57.819 --> 00:21:06.079
 do not save me, and just saying that I am a Christian does not save me, how do I become

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:14.519
 a Christian? In this passage, Jesus tells Nicodemus, in order to be a Christian, you have to be born

00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:22.639
 again. Well, Jesus, what does it mean to be born again? It doesn't literally mean that you have to

00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:28.339
 be born out of your mother's womb again. Jesus answers that in the next verse. But what Jesus

00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:33.939
 is saying to Nicodemus, and what he means is in order to be a Christian, you must be completely new.

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:39.000
 If you're going to be a Christian, you cannot just remodel parts of your life.

00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:45.980
 You have to give everything over to him. You have to be a completely new creation.

00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:54.220
 So how? How do you become that new creation? You have to believe in Jesus. That's what John 3.16

00:21:54.220 --> 00:22:02.019
 says, right? For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:08.539
 in him, believes in him, shall not perish but have eternal life. In order to be a new creation, you must

00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:18.279
 believe. Believe what, Seth? Look again at John 3.16. Believe that you were so precious and so valuable

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:26.319
 in the eyes of God that he sent his Son for you. Believe that when he sent his Son, that Son lived a perfect

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:36.000
 life and died on the cross for you. Believe that when Jesus died on the cross, the wrath and shame that we

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:47.759
 deserve was laid on Jesus' shoulders. And believe that the shame and wrath that we deserve was buried in the grave

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:55.900
 with Jesus in his death. And then believe. Believe three days later that Jesus did not stay dead,

00:22:56.019 --> 00:23:04.740
 but he rose to show who has ultimate victory over this world. Come on, church. Who has ultimate victory

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:09.500
 over this world is Jesus. And you just have to believe.

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:28.000
 If you believe this, you cannot be condemned. But if you reject this, you'll be left alone to defend

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:33.200
 against a perfect, holy, righteous God at the end of your life.

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:45.720
 So look at that question one more time. Am I a Christian? Has your life been radically changed

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:54.940
 by Jesus Christ? Have you believed and realized that you bring nothing to the table in salvation?

00:23:54.940 --> 00:24:04.500
 Instead of what Jesus did on the cross that saves you? Have you believed that Christ is the one and only Savior?

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:10.100
 And then because of that, you become a new creation and your life is different now than it was before?

00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:16.519
 Here in just a moment, we're going to have a moment of reflection as we take the Lord's Supper.

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:27.259
 If you answered that question, am I a Christian, with a yes, then what we're about to do is a glorious,

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:30.259
 glorious, glorious covenant that God has made with us.

00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:40.119
 So as we go to this time of reflection, I invite you to stop. If you answered yes to that question,

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:48.239
 am I a Christian, I invite you to stop and to think about our Savior and the great sacrifice that he made for us.

00:24:50.239 --> 00:24:56.039
 I want you to reflect on his graciousness and love towards you and the sacrifice that he made.

00:24:57.319 --> 00:25:02.839
 But if you looked at that question and says, am I a Christian, and you would honestly answer it no,

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:09.459
 no, then listen, we are extremely glad that you are here.

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:19.119
 We believe that the good news that I just shared is for everyone, and we want you here to hear it.

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:24.299
 But what we're about to do in the Lord's Supper is not for you.

00:25:25.419 --> 00:25:28.240
 It's not because we're some exclusive club,

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:34.160
 but because the Lord's Supper is a sign of a covenant that God made with us.

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:38.000
 It would be no more appropriate for you to take this cup and this bread

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:40.980
 than it would be for you to wear this wedding ring that's on my finger.

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:48.420
 So as the band is going to come up and sing, I invite you to reflect as well.

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:52.539
 I've heard a lot of pastors say

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:56.640
 that there'll be people that miss heaven by 18 inches,

00:25:56.640 --> 00:26:00.700
 the distance between your head and your heart.

00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:05.660
 You say that there is a God.

00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:06.460
 Great.

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:09.720
 Later on in the Bible, the book of James,

00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:13.480
 James says even the demons know there's a God.

00:26:15.820 --> 00:26:19.940
 But have you believed that God came to save you,

00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:23.540
 and he is worth giving everything up for?

00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:29.040
 Reflect on that as we move to the supper.

00:26:29.840 --> 00:26:30.440
 Let's pray.

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:36.680
 Father in heaven, we thank you that this word that you have given us

00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:39.080
 is true yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

00:26:40.280 --> 00:26:43.900
 God, I thank you that the hope that is in these verses

00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:47.980
 is nothing that I have done, but everything that you have done.

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:50.820
 God, it does not depend on me.

00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:54.259
 But when my life has been changed by you,

00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:56.720
 I can't help but to show it to those around me.

00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:59.960
 So Lord, I pray as this light shines today,

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:02.319
 Lord, if there are people in this room

00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:04.399
 that would say that they are in darkness,

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:06.079
 I pray that you'd bring them to life, God.

00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:08.079
 Bring them into the light.

00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:11.019
 Yes, it will be painful at times, but God, you can do it.

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:13.299
 Lord, for those of us that are in the light,

00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:14.339
 that are followers of you,

00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:18.019
 Lord, I pray that we would never take this good news lightly.

00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.740
 Jesus lightly.

00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:23.559
 What you have done for us changes our life.

00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.819
 God, we thank you for that.

00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:30.519
 As we come to a moment here to reflect on what the cross means

00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:32.460
 and what it means that you took on our sins,

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:35.940
 God, we pray this moment,

00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:37.740
 there would be people in the room

00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:39.980
 that would not have any shadow of a doubt

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:43.160
 on what side of the light and dark they are on.

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:46.839
 Lord, and we pray that you would bring people to you.

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:49.980
 God, thank you for this day.

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:51.240
 Thank you for this church.

00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:54.160
 Thank you for your word and your son.

00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.619
 Pray this in your name.

00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.240
 Amen.

00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.139
 Amen.

00:27:57.139 --> 00:27:57.240
 Amen.

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.240


00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.240


00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.240


00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.240