WEBVTT

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 It's good to see you all here this morning, both in person and on the live stream.

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 This morning we're going to celebrate the Lord's Supper at the end of the service.

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 If you're in the pews and you don't have one of these little packages of the elements,

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 you can go back to the back and the ushers would be happy to serve you with those.

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 And for those of you at home, this is just a heads up.

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 We'll transition from the sermon right into the Lord's Supper.

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 So that's where we're going for the rest of our time.

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 So the snow is falling, but we have a rich text for us to look at this morning.

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 So we will endeavor to get out of here in a timely manner,

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 but we will linger now over the Word of God for a few minutes.

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 So going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger.

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 So I heard from Keith Green a long time ago, and Keith Green was a Christian musician.

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 The logic of this is not very strong, so the philosophers out there don't put too much weight in this.

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 It's a poor analogy, but the question that it's raising is a good one.

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 What is being a Christian really about?

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 It's easy for us to think about all sorts of reasons why or what being a Christian is really about.

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 For some of us, it may be something that we've grown up with, a family or a social identity.

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 For some of us, it may be that we love the aesthetics and the beauty of the gospel

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 and the sense of transcendence in worship.

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 Some of us may love the ethics, the call to righteousness and justice in a better world and a better society.

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 Some of us may love the morals and family values that shape and are espoused by the church.

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 Some of us may love the ritual, the music, the comfort of the familiar and the regular.

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 Some of us may love the community and people who love us.

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 Some of us may love the system and the logic of doctrine that makes sense of our world.

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 And all of these things are beautiful and wonderful things and aspects of what true Christianity is about.

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 But when we come to our text this morning, which is in John 3,

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 Jesus is going to help us understand the very heart of what being a Christian is really about.

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 And remember that this is now, if you want to turn in your Bibles to John 3, that's where we'll be.

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 The context, the gospel of John is shaped to help us see Jesus, to lift up Jesus and the person of who he is

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 and the work that he did while he was here on earth.

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 And it's shaped, if you remember, Pastor Nick opened by preaching this grand prologue about the word became flesh,

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 how God came to earth and incarnated himself, took on flesh and blood so that we might know God

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 and so that we might have life in him.

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 And we've seen in the chapters unfolding and continuing throughout this,

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 John is slowly peeling back the onion, giving us layer after layer of who Jesus is.

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 And this brings us to our chapter.

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 We're actually going to begin, if you're going to read along with me, at the end of chapter 2.

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 The end of chapter 2 is verse 23 will actually be the beginning of our passage this morning.

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 So we're going to read and look at this.

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 This is the first of three encounters with individuals where Jesus clarifies who he is more and more.

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 And as we go, Kevin, are we using the...

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 Can I get rid of this or...

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 What are we using?

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 All right.

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 Good.

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 All right.

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 So we're going to read John and then pray and then we'll dive in.

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 John 2 verse 23.

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 Now when he, that is Jesus, was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast,

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 many believed in his names when they saw the signs that he was doing.

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 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them because he knew all people

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 and needed no one to bear witness about man for he knew, for he himself knew what was in man.

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 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

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 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him,

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 Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God,

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 for no one can do the signs that you do unless God is with him.

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 Jesus answered him,

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 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

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 Nicodemus said to him,

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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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 And Jesus answered,

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 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,

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 he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

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 That which is born of the flesh is flesh.

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 That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

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 Do not marvel when I said to you, you must be born again.

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 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its 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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 Nicodemus said to him,

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 How can these things be?

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 And Jesus answered him,

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 Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

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 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen,

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 but you do not receive our testimony.

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 If I had told you earthly things, and you do not believe,

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 how can you believe if I tell you of heavenly things?

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 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

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 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

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 so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

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 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

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 For God so loved the world,

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 that he gave his only Son,

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 that whoever believes in him should not perish,

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 but have eternal life.

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 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

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 but in order that the world might be saved through him.

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 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,

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 but whoever does not believe is condemned already,

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 because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

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 God, this is the judgment.

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 Light has come into the world,

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 and people love the darkness rather than the light,

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 because their deeds were evil.

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 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light,

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 and does not come to the light,

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 lest his deeds should be exposed.

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 But whoever does what is true comes to the light,

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 so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Lord, thank you for your word.

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 Lord, we thank you for this passage that so beautifully reveals to us,

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 Lord, the greatness of Jesus and his work for us.

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 Lord, I pray this morning that your Spirit would enable us to hear your word,

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 and Lord, that you would apply it by your Spirit to our hearts.

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 Lord, that we would know the greatness of your power,

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 the depth of your love,

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 and the wonder and amazing grace that you have shown us in Jesus Christ.

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 Lord, be with us, we pray.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Friends, here is the good news.

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 We can be born again.

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 We can be changed from the inside out,

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 not because we are good enough,

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 but because God is gracious and powerful enough to work in us.

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 This is the big idea that John wants us to get from this picture this morning,

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 that through Jesus, we can be made new and transformed.

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 What does this mean?

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 Well, let's look at it.

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 Let's think about this and explore this passage together.

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 We're going to ask three questions.

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 One, of the new birth.

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 One, what is the new birth?

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 Two, how can it happen to us?

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 And three, will you respond?

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 So the first one.

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 What is the new birth?

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 Verses 1 through 8 tells us this well-known story of Nicodemus the Pharisee,

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 a law-abiding citizen,

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 a law-abiding citizen,

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 one who would be a faithful member of the Jewish ruling class.

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 He would know the law and keep it carefully.

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 He would be an upstanding man of character.

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 He'd be the guy that you would trust to mow your lawn,

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 put your mail in, and watch your pets while you went away for two weeks.

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 He would be someone who would be trustworthy.

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 And he was trusting in the religion that he knew

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 and the practices that he knew to know God.

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 And he knew a lot about God because he knew the Old Testament Scriptures.

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 And he comes to Jesus and he says,

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 I've seen the signs.

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 And this is a theme we've already talked about a little bit.

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 It's why I read the very end of chapter 2

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 because John recounts that many people saw these signs

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 and believed in Jesus because of the signs that they saw.

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 And Nicodemus comes and says,

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 you must have come from God

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 because of the things that you're doing,

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 because of the things that we have seen you do.

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 You've got a good thing going,

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 and I want to know more.

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 I might even want in on whatever it is you've brought.

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 I think that's the heart of Nicodemus coming to Jesus.

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 He comes at night,

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 maybe because he was afraid,

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 but I think probably more symbolically,

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 he comes at night

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 because he comes as a figure,

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 as a type of one who doesn't fully understand who Jesus is yet.

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 And he comes and he asks these questions.

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 And Jesus, as he is so prone to do,

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 here's a question,

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 and then he turns it back

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 and he reframes the question.

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 And he restates it to say,

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 you know what,

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 what you're bringing to me is helpful.

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 Okay, you think I'm from God.

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 That's good.

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 You want in on this.

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 I'm actually going to push this into a place

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 you never thought it was going to happen.

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 Jesus changes the question.

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 He says, you know what?

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 If you want to see the kingdom of God,

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 you want to be a full participant

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 of all the promises that God has given to Israel.

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 You want to know that God

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 the way you think you do,

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 you must be born again.

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 If you look at your footnote,

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 it might say born from above.

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 The word there could mean either of these things.

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 Born again or born from above.

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 And Nicodemus responds by taking the first part,

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 the being born again idea,

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 and he says,

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 Jesus, that's the craziest thing I ever heard.

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 His questions reveal his incredulity.

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 You mean I, a grown man,

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 have to go back into my mother's womb?

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 That's crazy.

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 I've been studying and knowing God for 70 years.

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 You want me to now start over like a baby?

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 He doesn't understand what Jesus is talking about.

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 And so Jesus, in verse 5,

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 begins to clarify.

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 What does Jesus mean by being born again

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 or born from above?

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 He means, he says,

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 it means being born of water and the Spirit.

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 Okay, what does that mean?

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 Well, there's been lots of conversation

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 in the church about this.

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 Some people seem to think that it was,

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 that Jesus was referring to the baptism of John

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 in the river Jordan

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 and then the baptism of the Spirit.

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 Some people think that it might be referring

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 to our physical birth

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 because we're born in water,

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 because we swim in a uterus

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 that has amniotic fluid.

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 And so that's the water

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 and then we're born in the Spirit

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 because we have,

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 along with that physical birth,

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 we have a spiritual birth that comes later.

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 Some people seem to think

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 it relates to baptism in the church

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 and how the church is,

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 brings, or is a part of baptism

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 by water and by the Spirit.

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 All of these things are

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 relatively possible,

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 but I don't think that they're

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 the easiest way to do it,

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 easiest way to understand it.

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 Jesus is not referring to two things

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 when he says born of water and the Spirit.

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 He's referring to one thing.

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 This is why I say that.

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 First of all, because the grammar tells us that.

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 If you look very carefully in the ESV,

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 it's helpful because it points it out.

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 It says,

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 unless one is born of water and the Spirit.

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 He doesn't say of water and of the Spirit,

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 which would have one preposition

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 for each element.

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 It's one preposition

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 that then encompasses

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 both of the two things afterwards.

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 The second reason why I think it's one thing

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 is because it's parallel to being born again

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 in verse above.

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 And then in verse 8,

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 he says being born of the Spirit

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 without clarifying more,

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 I think Jesus is just talking about one thing.

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 He's being,

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 he's talking about this work of God

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 that renews us,

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 makes us alive again spiritually.

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 And the reason why I think Jesus did that

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 is because I think Jesus had in his mind

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 the passage from Ezekiel

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 that was read earlier in the service.

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 I'm going to read again the passage,

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 verses 25 and 26 from Ezekiel 36.

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 This is the promise of God to his people

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 of the coming new covenant promise

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 and the coming new age that will happen.

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 He says,

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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 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 a new spirit I will put within you.

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 And I will remove the heart of stone

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 from your flesh

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 and give you a heart of flesh.

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 You see,

00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:05.559
 Jesus talking to this Old Testament scholar

00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:08.059
 says,

00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:09.899
 this is what it's about.

00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:12.159
 This is the promise from the Old Testament.

00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:14.819
 You must be born again,

00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:18.720
 which means being cleansed from your sin,

00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:21.559
 being freed from your idolatry

00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:23.980
 and being given a new heart.

00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:28.080
 That sin has made our hearts hard like a stone.

00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:30.200
 And that by God's spirit,

00:15:30.420 --> 00:15:31.879
 he's going to take that heart out

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.220
 and give us a new one

00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:35.980
 that's made alive by his spirit.

00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:38.500
 And this is the picture.

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:41.580
 These are two elements of this one work

00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:43.180
 that the Bible calls regeneration.

00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:45.800
 An internal transformation

00:15:45.800 --> 00:15:47.360
 whereby we are transferred

00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:50.879
 from darkness or from death to life.

00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:53.460
 And remember,

00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:54.559
 in Ezekiel,

00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.340
 maybe you don't remember,

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.580
 in Ezekiel 37,

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:59.100
 there's this famous vision

00:15:59.100 --> 00:16:00.799
 that God gives to Ezekiel

00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:02.799
 where he takes him to a valley

00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:04.100
 and this valley is filled

00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:06.220
 with dry, desiccated bones.

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:08.259
 There's nothing but just skeletons

00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.279
 lying around.

00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:10.759
 And God says,

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:12.299
 Son of man,

00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.820
 can these bones live?

00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:16.559
 Ezekiel says,

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.859
 only you know.

00:16:19.319 --> 00:16:19.619
 He says,

00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:20.839
 prophesy and pray.

00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:21.859
 And the spirit,

00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:24.000
 the wind of the spirit of God

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:26.479
 blows over these skeletons.

00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.819
 And they are regenerated.

00:16:29.939 --> 00:16:31.379
 They are brought back to life.

00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:32.739
 And not like zombie,

00:16:32.979 --> 00:16:34.079
 scary horror film,

00:16:34.319 --> 00:16:36.019
 but they're actually brought back

00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:38.139
 to full human health

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.959
 as if they had not died.

00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:42.860
 They were resurrected.

00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:47.519
 The spirit of God comes

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:50.120
 and brings life

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.340
 into these skeletons.

00:16:52.400 --> 00:16:53.460
 And Jesus says,

00:16:53.680 --> 00:16:55.000
 this is what it means

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:57.000
 to know God.

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:59.220
 That God is able to breathe

00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:01.639
 a spiritual life into us.

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.019
 I wonder,

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.340
 as you're sitting here,

00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:05.960
 if you know this experience.

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.620
 Some of us experience this

00:17:08.619 --> 00:17:10.079
 in maybe a more dramatic way,

00:17:10.159 --> 00:17:11.639
 and some of us experience it

00:17:11.639 --> 00:17:13.539
 in a more gradual way.

00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:15.779
 But the signs of being born again

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:17.000
 are very clear.

00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.959
 I can remember distinctly,

00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.479
 I grew up going to church,

00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.719
 I read the Bible,

00:17:21.899 --> 00:17:23.539
 I heard about Jesus,

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:25.879
 and it didn't mean anything to me.

00:17:26.959 --> 00:17:27.619
 And then,

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:29.779
 as God began to work in my heart,

00:17:29.939 --> 00:17:31.059
 He began to pull me

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:31.879
 towards Himself.

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.239
 And I have a moment,

00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:37.339
 but some of you may have a process,

00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:39.220
 where, like C.S. Lewis,

00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:40.339
 at one point you knew

00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:41.459
 you didn't believe in God,

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.259
 and then at the end

00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:43.319
 you knew that you did.

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.980
 And at one point you know

00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.139
 you didn't trust in Jesus,

00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:48.759
 and then further on you did.

00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:51.119
 But you know what comes with that?

00:17:51.199 --> 00:17:52.559
 A new spiritual life.

00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.919
 A hunger to know God.

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.500
 An ability to read His Word

00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:59.259
 with greater clarity

00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:00.279
 and understanding.

00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:02.500
 A desire to love God

00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.919
 and to order your life

00:18:03.919 --> 00:18:05.419
 in a way to worship Him.

00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:08.480
 This is the fruit of a new life

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:11.180
 where God becomes the center

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:12.500
 and we are unseated.

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:16.060
 And this is what God promises us

00:18:16.060 --> 00:18:17.920
 when He gives us a new heart,

00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.259
 when He cleanses us from our sin.

00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.960
 This is the new birth

00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:25.320
 that Jesus says we need.

00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.500
 He looks at Nicodemus

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.000
 and He says,

00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:29.380
 it's not enough for you

00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:30.960
 to be good on the outside

00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:32.880
 or to try to reform yourself

00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:34.240
 to be a little better

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:35.420
 than you used to be.

00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.280
 It's not enough for you

00:18:37.280 --> 00:18:38.620
 to simply keep the law

00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:40.260
 and to keep your hands clean

00:18:40.260 --> 00:18:40.740
 and think,

00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.820
 I've done enough.

00:18:43.280 --> 00:18:44.220
 Jesus says,

00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:44.600
 no,

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:47.140
 you must be born again,

00:18:47.800 --> 00:18:50.180
 made new by God's Spirit and power.

00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:52.700
 Friends,

00:18:52.780 --> 00:18:53.580
 this is the power

00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:55.540
 that turns a political hatchet man

00:18:55.540 --> 00:18:57.220
 like Chuck Colson

00:18:57.220 --> 00:18:59.460
 into a prison minister

00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:01.100
 for the gospel.

00:19:01.600 --> 00:19:02.740
 This is what turns

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:04.600
 a bitter and depressed

00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:05.940
 paraplegic woman

00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:07.420
 like Johnny Erickson Tata

00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:09.559
 into a joyful artist

00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:12.000
 and minister of hope

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.819
 to many

00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:14.759
 as she ministers

00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.720
 to the disabled.

00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.640
 And with Nicodemus,

00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.360
 it's what turns

00:19:19.360 --> 00:19:22.220
 a fervently zealous

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.420
 religious leader

00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:25.880
 into a humble follower

00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:27.180
 of Jesus.

00:19:30.600 --> 00:19:32.220
 You can be born again,

00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.380
 Jesus says to Nicodemus

00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:36.100
 and to us.

00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.160
 And Nicodemus then

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:40.100
 asks the question

00:19:40.100 --> 00:19:40.940
 that leads us

00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:41.680
 to our next section

00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.200
 of the text.

00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:42.960
 And the question

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.720
 that maybe is in all

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.240
 of our hearts,

00:19:44.340 --> 00:19:44.680
 which is,

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.080
 well,

00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:46.640
 how can this happen to us?

00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:48.200
 How is it

00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:49.200
 that we get

00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.259
 to be born again?

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.460
 Again,

00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:54.259
 verses 9 through 15,

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:54.680
 I think,

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.819
 help us see this.

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:59.140
 Jesus rebukes Nicodemus

00:19:59.140 --> 00:19:59.460
 saying,

00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.359
 you should know

00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:01.039
 these things.

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.740
 You should know

00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.759
 the story of Ezekiel.

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.460
 You should know

00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.119
 these promises

00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:05.259
 from the Old Testament.

00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.519
 He rebukes him

00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.440
 for not knowing them

00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:08.339
 and he rebukes him

00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:09.240
 for not listening

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:09.920
 to Jesus.

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.160
 Think about it.

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:13.240
 Nicodemus in the very beginning

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.720
 said, hey,

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.400
 you've done all these

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.160
 great signs.

00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:16.500
 You come from God.

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.539
 And then Jesus says

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.119
 something that he

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.019
 doesn't understand

00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:20.660
 and Nicodemus

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.440
 is incredulous.

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.079
 Why won't you listen

00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:23.879
 to my testimony?

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:26.180
 You want a sign?

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.259
 You're looking

00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.779
 for some reason

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.539
 to believe

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.579
 my authority

00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.460
 about this?

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.259
 And this is kind

00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.940
 of the flow.

00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:36.160
 The passage is not

00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:38.000
 simple to work through,

00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.039
 but the flow

00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.579
 is that Jesus

00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:40.519
 is leading up

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:45.700
 to verses 14 and 15.

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.819
 Jesus is saying,

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:50.000
 if you want a sign,

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.859
 to know why you

00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.639
 should listen to me,

00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:52.740
 if you want to know

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:54.559
 how this happens

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.599
 in your life,

00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.500
 verse 14,

00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.639
 as Moses lifted up

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:01.099
 the serpent

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.779
 in the wilderness,

00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:03.779
 so must the Son of Man

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.660
 be lifted up

00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:06.339
 that whoever believes

00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:06.900
 in Him

00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:08.119
 may have

00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:09.519
 eternal life.

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:12.440
 Just as Moses

00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:13.379
 lifted up the serpent

00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:13.920
 in the wilderness.

00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.779
 Now, how many people

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.480
 know that one

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.359
 from their Sunday school?

00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:17.240
 I didn't.

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.679
 I mean, I knew it.

00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:20.399
 Jack Lauer knows it.

00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.619
 So, yeah, there we go.

00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:22.659
 Praise God.

00:21:22.719 --> 00:21:23.240
 We have a great

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.939
 children's ministry.

00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.619
 We're doing well.

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:28.439
 So, but this is not,

00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:29.839
 this is in Numbers

00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:31.299
 chapter 21,

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:32.079
 and I'm going to read

00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:33.119
 this to you really quickly

00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:34.479
 because it's a really

00:21:34.479 --> 00:21:36.179
 helpful passage.

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.340
 passage.

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:39.039
 The people of Israel

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:39.740
 have been wandering

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.220
 in the wilderness

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.240
 for 40 years,

00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:42.400
 and now God is moving

00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:43.519
 them again towards

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.400
 entering into the

00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:44.940
 promised land

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:46.200
 after a whole generation

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:47.900
 has died in the wilderness,

00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:49.060
 not experiencing

00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:50.320
 the fullness of the promise

00:21:50.320 --> 00:21:52.200
 because of their disobedience

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.779
 and grumbling

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:53.799
 and doubting of God.

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.940
 And this is what happens

00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.860
 from Mount Hor.

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.759
 They were set out

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.380
 by the way

00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:00.440
 to the Red Sea

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.000
 to go around

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.840
 the land of Edom,

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.600
 and the people

00:22:02.600 --> 00:22:03.660
 became impatient

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.519
 on the way.

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.680
 And the people

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.839
 spoke against God

00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.660
 and against Moses,

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.000
 saying,

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:09.500
 Why have you brought us

00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:11.279
 up out of Egypt

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.960
 to die in the wilderness?

00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:14.319
 For there is no food

00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.279
 and no water,

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.279
 and we loathe

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.779
 this worthless food.

00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.819
 Then God sent

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.879
 fiery serpents

00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:22.779
 among the people,

00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:24.099
 and they bit the people

00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:25.440
 so that many people

00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.460
 of Israel died.

00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:28.059
 And the people

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.740
 came to Moses

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.299
 and said,

00:22:29.379 --> 00:22:30.319
 We have sinned,

00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:31.440
 for we had spoken

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.519
 against the Lord

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.400
 and against you.

00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.500
 Pray to the Lord

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.819
 that he might take away

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:37.160
 the serpents from us.

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.299
 So Moses prayed

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:40.000
 for the people.

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:42.279
 And the Lord said to Moses,

00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.900
 Make a fiery serpent

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:45.299
 and set it on a pole,

00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:47.359
 and everyone who is bitten

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.960
 when he sees it

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:50.400
 shall live.

00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.299
 So Moses made

00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.200
 a bronze serpent

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.299
 and set it on a pole,

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.960
 and if a serpent

00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.880
 bit anyone,

00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.579
 he would look

00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.759
 at the bronze serpent

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:02.000
 and live.

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:07.180
 in light of the disobedience,

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:07.920
 the grumbling

00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:08.599
 and complaining.

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.220
 Think about it.

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.000
 This generation

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.920
 had seen God

00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.720
 provide for them

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:13.099
 for 40 years,

00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:15.259
 and then he moves them along

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:15.759
 and they're like,

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.019
 Ah, we don't like

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:17.559
 the burgers.

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:19.319
 We'd like Chick-fil-A

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.019
 instead.

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.440
 Grumbling

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.380
 and complaining

00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:23.220
 and doubting

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:23.980
 God's goodness

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.599
 to them.

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.740
 God sends

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.240
 a judgment.

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:31.099
 He sends poisonous snakes.

00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.019
 And the people,

00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:32.880
 they cry out,

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.599
 God, save us.

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.299
 Help us.

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.660
 God tells Moses

00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:38.059
 to make a metal snake,

00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.680
 an image,

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.519
 and to put it

00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:41.539
 on a wooden pole

00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:43.019
 and to lift it up

00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:44.079
 among the gathering

00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:45.019
 of God's people.

00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.620
 And everyone

00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.420
 who was bitten

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.099
 and poisoned

00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:51.440
 who saw that snake,

00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:54.740
 who saw that it was

00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:56.440
 a symbol of God's

00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.680
 saving presence

00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.340
 among them,

00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:00.120
 would not die

00:24:00.120 --> 00:24:01.120
 because of the poison

00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:01.519
 in them,

00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:02.259
 but would live.

00:24:03.100 --> 00:24:04.120
 It is a picture

00:24:04.120 --> 00:24:05.799
 of a gracious salvation

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:07.259
 for people

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.340
 who can't save

00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:08.920
 themselves.

00:24:11.820 --> 00:24:12.680
 And friends,

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.539
 this is what Jesus

00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.340
 wants us to know

00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:15.480
 about being born again.

00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:18.779
 We are born again

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:20.340
 because just like

00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:21.220
 that serpent

00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.240
 was lifted up

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:22.840
 in the wilderness

00:24:22.840 --> 00:24:24.420
 for a disobedient people

00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:25.180
 so that they could

00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:26.940
 look on it in faith

00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:28.920
 and be saved.

00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:31.200
 So the Son of Man

00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.320
 will be lifted up

00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:34.160
 on a wooden cross

00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:37.000
 among people

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.019
 who are dying

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:40.380
 because of their sin,

00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:42.799
 people who are helpless

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:44.440
 to save themselves.

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.180
 When the Son of Man

00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.000
 is lifted up

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.000
 in the Gospel of John,

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.759
 it is always lifted up

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.339
 on the cross

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.579
 of Christ.

00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:58.599
 Lifted up on the cross

00:24:58.599 --> 00:24:59.920
 where Jesus died.

00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:01.440
 You see,

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.440
 here's the logic

00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.460
 that undergirds us.

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.140
 You see this

00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:05.000
 played out

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.779
 and fulfilled

00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:08.859
 in the apostles.

00:25:10.380 --> 00:25:11.740
 We are spiritually dead

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:13.460
 and under judgment

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.339
 for our sin.

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.259
 All of us,

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.480
 every one of us,

00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.819
 and all of us

00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.940
 need salvation

00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:20.059
 without exception.

00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:21.500
 Just like Nicodemus,

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.839
 we may be a very good man,

00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:24.879
 but it's not enough.

00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:26.039
 We could not overcome

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.200
 our sin on our own.

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.079
 What we see

00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:34.740
 is that the only hope

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.359
 that we have

00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.339
 is to look outside

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.019
 of ourselves

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.740
 for a Savior.

00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.000
 And Jesus,

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.079
 being lifted up,

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.879
 takes the sin,

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:45.259
 takes our sin

00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:46.159
 and the punishment

00:25:46.159 --> 00:25:46.940
 for our sin

00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:48.200
 of death,

00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.680
 God's judgment

00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.820
 and condemnation

00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:51.620
 on our sin.

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.900
 Jesus bears all of that

00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.740
 for Himself

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:57.039
 so that we might be saved.

00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:59.980
 It is not our work.

00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:01.340
 It cannot be our work.

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:03.400
 It must be His work

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:05.539
 that is able to save us.

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.880
 So Jesus is saying,

00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:08.820
 how does this happen?

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.500
 Look.

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:11.259
 Look at the Son of Man.

00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:11.980
 Lift it up.

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.759
 Look at Him in faith.

00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:15.080
 Believe and trust.

00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:15.960
 and you will have

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.799
 eternal life.

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.980
 And eternal life here

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.619
 is connected to this idea

00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.519
 of being born again.

00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:23.259
 We often think of eternal life

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.619
 as being some future thing.

00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:25.460
 And in fact,

00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.119
 if we're honest,

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:26.859
 many of us think

00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:28.139
 eternal life sounds boring.

00:26:28.699 --> 00:26:30.259
 It sounds like eternally

00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.819
 sitting in a

00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:33.240
 pillow soft,

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:33.759
 you know,

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.899
 sort of commercial

00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:35.799
 where it's clouds

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:37.220
 and sunlight

00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:39.339
 and nothing very interesting happens.

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.619
 But instead,

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.559
 what He is saying is,

00:26:41.899 --> 00:26:42.179
 no,

00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:43.519
 this eternal life

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:45.200
 is something that can happen now,

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.460
 that begins now,

00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:48.980
 and will continue for eternity.

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:50.700
 And it does have to do with us

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.799
 being caught up

00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:53.060
 in the life of God

00:26:53.060 --> 00:26:54.759
 and all of the richness

00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:56.200
 of this world that we live in

00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:57.240
 and all the signs

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.460
 of the goodness of life

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.920
 that we see throughout this,

00:27:00.320 --> 00:27:02.039
 even this fallen world.

00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:04.580
 We get to take hold

00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:05.299
 of that life.

00:27:05.820 --> 00:27:06.340
 Jesus said,

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.299
 I have come

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.700
 that they might have life

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.600
 and that they might have it

00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.819
 abundantly,

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.539
 overflowingly,

00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.580
 richly,

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:15.440
 with joy and peace

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.259
 and patience,

00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:18.000
 with celebration,

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.860
 with mission,

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.580
 with purpose,

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.460
 with creativity,

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.200
 with beauty,

00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:22.860
 all of these things.

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.559
 And Jesus is saying

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:25.900
 to Nicodemus and to us,

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:26.620
 look,

00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:28.360
 look at the Son of Man,

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.180
 lift it up

00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.980
 and take hold

00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.779
 of this life.

00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:34.460
 You can be born again.

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:37.700
 And with that,

00:27:37.860 --> 00:27:39.420
 Jesus' sermon is ended.

00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.720
 His message

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.559
 and his interaction

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:43.660
 with Nicodemus

00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.140
 is ended.

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.240
 There's a footnote

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.039
 in your ESV.

00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:47.240
 I think John

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.019
 then steps in

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:49.319
 in verse 16.

00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.860
 The apostle steps in

00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:51.220
 and says,

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.460
 this is commentary

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:54.160
 now on what Jesus

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:55.039
 has just said.

00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.259
 He says,

00:27:58.360 --> 00:28:00.140
 God so loved the world

00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:01.039
 that he gave

00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:02.240
 his only begotten Son.

00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.940
 That whoever believes in him

00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.779
 would not perish

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:08.500
 but have eternal life.

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.620
 One of the most famous

00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:11.440
 verses in all of the Bible.

00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:13.019
 And now you've seen

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:14.079
 some of the run-up to it

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:15.079
 and what the context

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.779
 of it is.

00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:17.460
 John is saying,

00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.440
 do you see

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:20.880
 God has loved this world?

00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:23.120
 And we need to be clear

00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:23.660
 on the grammar.

00:28:24.340 --> 00:28:26.100
 It's true that God loves us

00:28:26.100 --> 00:28:27.620
 hugely and abundantly

00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.480
 and overwhelmingly,

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.460
 but it's not that

00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:30.900
 God loved this world

00:28:30.900 --> 00:28:31.720
 so much.

00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.220
 It's actually saying

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:34.440
 God loved this world

00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:36.460
 in this particular way.

00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:38.640
 God loved the world

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.360
 thus,

00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:41.940
 by sending his Son

00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:43.380
 to be our Savior.

00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:46.320
 He sent his Son

00:28:46.320 --> 00:28:47.320
 to rescue us

00:28:47.320 --> 00:28:48.140
 and God loved

00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:50.400
 not just nice people

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.160
 who are trying

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.820
 to get to him

00:28:51.820 --> 00:28:52.900
 and are a little confused,

00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.759
 but God loved the world

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:56.160
 which in the Gospel of John

00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.900
 means a place of rebellion,

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:59.680
 a place of rejection

00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.700
 against God.

00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.559
 The systems

00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:03.059
 of our world

00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:03.799
 that are fallen

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.440
 and broken

00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.460
 and dishonor

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.539
 and refuse

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.899
 to acknowledge

00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:09.879
 or submit to God.

00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:12.039
 God loved the world

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.980
 not because it was

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.720
 a nice place

00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.960
 he was trying to fix up,

00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:15.879
 but because it was

00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:17.039
 a place of brokenness

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.759
 and rebellion

00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:19.299
 that he was trying

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.940
 to rescue.

00:29:21.859 --> 00:29:23.000
 And God's intent

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.659
 throughout this

00:29:23.659 --> 00:29:24.440
 is so clear.

00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:25.460
 He came

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.799
 to save people.

00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.480
 That's what verse 17 says,

00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:30.460
 that though he is the judge

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.579
 and rightfully will judge

00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.259
 the whole world,

00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.920
 his heart and his intent

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.420
 in the coming of Jesus

00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:37.319
 is that people would be saved,

00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:39.180
 not that they would be condemned.

00:29:40.120 --> 00:29:41.559
 What a terrible thing it is

00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:43.039
 that in our culture today

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:44.380
 people believe

00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:45.079
 that the church

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:46.839
 is all about condemning sinners.

00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:49.180
 When Jesus Christ said,

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:51.180
 I do not come to condemn them

00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:52.400
 but to save them

00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:54.620
 by offering this invitation,

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.420
 come,

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.900
 will you believe?

00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:01.680
 The final verses,

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.640
 18 through 21,

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:04.440
 may feel very deterministic.

00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.940
 May feel like,

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.140
 well,

00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:08.819
 it says if I believe

00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:10.240
 then I'm in,

00:30:10.360 --> 00:30:11.240
 but if I don't believe

00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:12.220
 then I'm already condemned

00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.380
 and what's the hope?

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.519
 I think that's a misreading

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.380
 of this text.

00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:19.440
 John is trying to help us

00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:20.059
 see clearly.

00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.539
 Here's the thing.

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.579
 If the problem

00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.579
 that we've diagnosed

00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.200
 is right,

00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.940
 that all people

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.700
 are under sin

00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:27.039
 and the solution

00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.680
 is presented

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.860
 as the only one,

00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.259
 Jesus,

00:30:30.100 --> 00:30:31.080
 because only Jesus

00:30:31.080 --> 00:30:32.019
 has died on the cross

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.480
 for our sin.

00:30:32.580 --> 00:30:33.900
 Only Jesus could do

00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:34.539
 what he did.

00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:36.420
 Because of his sinless life

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.480
 he could take our place.

00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:38.759
 Because of his humanity

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.240
 he could die for us.

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.720
 Because of his resurrection

00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.860
 he shows that he

00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:43.900
 in the,

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.920
 by din of his

00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:46.220
 indestructible power,

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.779
 indestructible life,

00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:49.299
 is able to have victory

00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:50.560
 over sin and death

00:30:50.560 --> 00:30:52.720
 because he is a risen savior.

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.680
 He alone is the one

00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:56.880
 that can save us.

00:30:58.060 --> 00:30:59.279
 Christians are not exclusive

00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:00.120
 because we think

00:31:00.120 --> 00:31:01.259
 everyone else is stupid

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.060
 or we just want

00:31:02.060 --> 00:31:03.259
 our tribe to win.

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.700
 Christianity is exclusive

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.880
 because there's only

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.799
 one solution

00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:10.060
 and it's Jesus.

00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:12.200
 Only he has done

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:13.060
 what we need

00:31:13.060 --> 00:31:14.519
 to be saved.

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:19.340
 John acknowledges

00:31:19.340 --> 00:31:20.299
 that some of us

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:22.460
 don't turn to Jesus.

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:24.000
 Some of us continue

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:25.299
 to love the darkness

00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.819
 instead of the light.

00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:28.100
 Some of us are ashamed.

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:30.360
 Some of us are clinging

00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:31.000
 desperately

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:32.860
 to our own lives

00:31:32.860 --> 00:31:33.799
 apart from him

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.960
 hoping that we can

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:35.960
 make it on our own.

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.900
 But as commentator

00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:41.579
 D.A. Carson

00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:42.340
 who by the way

00:31:42.340 --> 00:31:42.980
 if you haven't read

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.500
 his commentary

00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:44.420
 it's the best commentary

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:44.960
 on John.

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.140
 D.A. Carson

00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:49.299
 he summarizes

00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:50.700
 this passage like this.

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.940
 John expresses

00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.640
 these points

00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:53.080
 in the hope

00:31:53.080 --> 00:31:53.720
 that his readers

00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.940
 will beseech God

00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:57.200
 that all that they do

00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.980
 might be done

00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.799
 through him.

00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.680
 That is in short

00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:02.039
 that they will turn

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:03.080
 to the lifted up

00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:03.759
 son of man

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:05.120
 with the same desperate

00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:07.059
 unqualified faith

00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:08.200
 as the Israelites

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.980
 displayed

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.940
 who turned

00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.940
 to the bronze snake

00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.660
 in the desert.

00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:13.440
 By such faith

00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:15.039
 and such faith alone

00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:16.220
 can anyone

00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:17.080
 experience

00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:17.799
 the new birth

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.840
 and thereby gain

00:32:18.840 --> 00:32:20.080
 eternal life.

00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:23.699
 friends

00:32:23.699 --> 00:32:24.639
 will you respond

00:32:24.639 --> 00:32:25.839
 to this call?

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:28.339
 Jesus' encounter

00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:29.299
 with Nicodemus

00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.419
 then turns into

00:32:30.419 --> 00:32:31.000
 a sermon

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.779
 and a call

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:33.059
 by the apostle John.

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:34.799
 Will you respond

00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:36.179
 to this call

00:32:36.179 --> 00:32:36.699
 today?

00:32:40.439 --> 00:32:41.500
 Maybe you're

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.399
 one of those people

00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:43.980
 who loves church

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.960
 because of the beauty

00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.779
 and the aesthetics

00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:47.299
 or because you love

00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:47.899
 the community

00:32:47.899 --> 00:32:48.480
 and the love

00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.259
 for one another.

00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:50.640
 but when you hear

00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:51.400
 me talk about

00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:52.440
 being born again

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:54.599
 it feels foreign

00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:55.720
 it feels alien

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.920
 it's something

00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:57.500
 you've never

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.339
 really considered

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:58.920
 before.

00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:01.019
 Maybe you've

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.019
 grown up in church

00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:05.119
 and it's because

00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.879
 of your family

00:33:05.879 --> 00:33:06.539
 because of your

00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:07.099
 background

00:33:07.099 --> 00:33:08.059
 because of your

00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:08.480
 community

00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.279
 it's just kind of

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:10.440
 who you are

00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:11.460
 but you've never

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.440
 actually known

00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:13.240
 what it's like

00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:15.299
 to experience

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:16.779
 this new power

00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.960
 this new life

00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:19.139
 in you.

00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:21.299
 Jesus says

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:21.660
 come

00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:23.960
 come and believe

00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:25.319
 put your faith

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:26.200
 and trust in me

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:28.200
 and you will be

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:28.819
 born again.

00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.599
 We're about to go

00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:33.359
 to the Lord's table

00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:34.500
 we're going to

00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:35.220
 celebrate communion

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:36.579
 what communion is

00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:37.259
 is a celebration

00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:38.180
 of these things

00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:39.299
 is a celebration

00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.279
 of what Jesus

00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:40.899
 has done

00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:42.000
 for us

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.039
 and for those of us

00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:43.660
 who have trusted

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.299
 in Jesus

00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:45.200
 who know

00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:45.919
 that we are born

00:33:45.919 --> 00:33:46.740
 again through faith

00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:47.159
 in him

00:33:47.159 --> 00:33:48.200
 then the table

00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:48.759
 is a place

00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:49.519
 of remembering

00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:50.379
 and a place

00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:51.220
 of celebrating

00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:51.819
 together

00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:52.680
 the new

00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:53.240
 and eternal

00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:53.940
 life that we

00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:54.700
 have in him.

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:56.379
 It is always

00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:57.599
 a sobering reminder

00:33:57.599 --> 00:33:58.460
 of the reality

00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:59.200
 of our sin

00:33:59.200 --> 00:33:59.960
 and that it

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:01.259
 cost his death

00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:02.700
 for our salvation.

00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:06.019
 Our table

00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.460
 is open

00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:07.019
 to all

00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:07.819
 who've placed

00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.279
 their faith

00:34:08.279 --> 00:34:08.719
 in Jesus

00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.360
 as their Lord

00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:09.880
 and Savior

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:11.880
 but I wonder

00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:12.480
 if there are those

00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.019
 this morning

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.900
 who are wondering

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.619
 who are hearing

00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:15.639
 about this new life

00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.180
 and going

00:34:16.180 --> 00:34:18.360
 that's not me

00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:20.119
 I've never

00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.820
 I don't know

00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:21.700
 what that is.

00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:28.519
 I pray that you

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:29.420
 would take this time

00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:30.500
 as we celebrate this

00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:32.000
 don't eat the bread

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.420
 and cup

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:33.840
 as you're wondering

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:35.920
 because it's an act

00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:36.440
 of faith

00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.760
 it's an expression

00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:39.019
 of trust in Jesus

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:39.920
 but instead

00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:40.980
 take Jesus

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:42.320
 take Jesus

00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:43.119
 into your heart

00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:46.420
 I'm going to pray

00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.739
 just a minute

00:34:47.739 --> 00:34:48.759
 and I'm going to pray

00:34:48.759 --> 00:34:50.480
 a prayer

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.019
 that maybe

00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:51.539
 some of you

00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:52.119
 want to pray

00:34:52.119 --> 00:34:52.719
 with me

00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:55.719
 as we go to the table

00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:56.380
 I'm going to pray

00:34:56.380 --> 00:34:57.119
 that some of us

00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:58.239
 may invite Jesus

00:34:58.239 --> 00:34:59.699
 into our hearts

00:34:59.699 --> 00:35:01.000
 that we might

00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:01.839
 trust him

00:35:01.839 --> 00:35:03.380
 and be born again

00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:03.920
 today.

00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.839
 Let's pray.

00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:06.179
 Lord Jesus

00:35:06.179 --> 00:35:06.839
 we thank you

00:35:06.839 --> 00:35:07.539
 for what a great

00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.539
 Savior you are.

00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:10.059
 Lord we thank you

00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:10.980
 for your love

00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:12.199
 that you have

00:35:12.199 --> 00:35:12.920
 shown us

00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:14.840
 Lord we thank you

00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:15.779
 for the salvation

00:35:15.779 --> 00:35:16.920
 that has worked

00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:17.619
 at the cost

00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:18.259
 of the life

00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:18.799
 of the very

00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:19.559
 Son of God

00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:21.820
 Lord we thank you

00:35:21.820 --> 00:35:22.480
 for the hope

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.039
 that we have

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.820
 that we can't

00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.539
 be born again

00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:25.940
 that it doesn't

00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:27.139
 depend on our work

00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:28.079
 but Lord that you

00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:28.840
 have done the work

00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:29.219
 needed

00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:31.119
 for us to be

00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:33.000
 truly yours.

00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:35.679
 Lord for those

00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:36.480
 of us this morning

00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:36.980
 who may

00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:38.259
 sense your spirit

00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:39.540
 calling us

00:35:39.540 --> 00:35:40.140
 to place

00:35:40.140 --> 00:35:40.900
 our faith

00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:41.480
 in you.

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.440
 Lord I pray

00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:44.960
 that we might

00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:46.040
 pray these things

00:35:46.040 --> 00:35:47.420
 Lord that we

00:35:47.420 --> 00:35:48.500
 confess our sins

00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:49.160
 to you

00:35:49.160 --> 00:35:51.300
 that our sins

00:35:51.300 --> 00:35:51.520
 are

00:35:51.520 --> 00:35:52.980
 have made us

00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:54.000
 Lord unworthy

00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:54.700
 to be in your

00:35:54.700 --> 00:35:55.200
 presence

00:35:55.200 --> 00:35:56.020
 and under your

00:35:56.020 --> 00:35:56.760
 condemnation

00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:58.660
 but that we

00:35:58.660 --> 00:35:59.500
 can trust

00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.100
 Lord

00:36:00.100 --> 00:36:00.660
 we put our

00:36:00.660 --> 00:36:01.340
 trust this

00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:01.960
 morning in

00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:02.320
 Jesus

00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:05.760
 in his life

00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:06.400
 and in his

00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.340
 death for us

00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:07.700
 and his

00:36:07.700 --> 00:36:08.200
 resurrection

00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:09.159
 from the dead

00:36:09.159 --> 00:36:12.439
 Lord we trust

00:36:12.439 --> 00:36:13.119
 him for the

00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:13.799
 forgiveness of

00:36:13.799 --> 00:36:14.259
 our sins

00:36:14.259 --> 00:36:15.259
 we trust him

00:36:15.259 --> 00:36:16.480
 to be brought

00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:17.559
 from spiritual

00:36:17.559 --> 00:36:18.159
 death to

00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:19.079
 spiritual life

00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:21.000
 that we might

00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:21.779
 be born again

00:36:21.779 --> 00:36:25.500
 Lord we pray

00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:26.079
 that you might

00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:27.099
 lead us as we

00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:28.219
 celebrate the

00:36:28.219 --> 00:36:28.739
 Lord's Supper

00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:29.279
 together

00:36:29.279 --> 00:36:31.759
 in Jesus name

00:36:31.759 --> 00:36:32.819
 Amen