Sermon on John 3:1-16, for Trinity Sunday (1 Yr lectionary), "We can be born again!"


Sermon outline:
·         We just had our school Spring Musical, “Nic’ at Night” about this same story! Beautiful singing and great telling of the story of Nicodemus. “Secret disciple”. That changed when he and Joseph of Arimathea, boldly buried the body of Jesus after His death on Good Friday, and were no doubt among the faithful who saw Him after His resurrection. Refrain from song: John 3:16 means, “we can be born again!”
·         Pharisees—strict laws, Jewish leaders, many on the Sanhedrin, or ruling council of 70. Most would become fierce opponents of Jesus; Sabbath law, forgiving sins and making Himself equal to God, calling God His Father, making Himself equal to God. Saul was a Pharisee, persecuting Christians, before his conversion and becoming the Apostle Paul. This is why the secret visit—going against the group. Made his discipleship open when he buried Jesus.
·         Musical—talked about the temptation to “hide” our discipleship, or be “secret disciples”. Encouraged us to come into the light and let people know who you are. When people mock, laugh, or even insult you for being a Christian—do you hide it, or do you give witness and stand with humble courage? Christians don’t always realize it if we’re in a “bubble”, but for a long time in our society, to be Christian is a mark of “low status.” In other words, if status in this life is important to you, being a Christian won’t advance you very far after those goals. (“status seeking” is of no value before God). But Jesus never paid attention to the “status” of any man or woman—neither Nicodemus, the Pharisees, the outcast Samaritans, tax collectors, etc. He didn’t regard their status, but their hearts in relation to Him. Christ calls us to “acknowledge Him before men” which is what our confirmand Kahoku is doing today. Confess the faith of his baptism by water and the Spirit—new birth, and to say that he has studied and believes this faith in Jesus. By faith in Jesus, we gain the only “status” that should really matter—we’re children of God, loved by our Father, saved by His Son, and filled with His Holy Spirit.
·         V. 3 & 5. Born “again” or “from above”. Born of water and the Spirit. Heavenly or new birth. Baptism, water and Spirit. All have natural birth from our mother—enter the world as flesh, even as Jesus did. But to see or enter the kingdom of God, we must be born again, spiritual rebirth, washing of renewal and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. This second birth can’t happen by any earthly power—not our will or flesh (John 1:12-13), but by God. He gives us the right to become children of God by believing in Jesus. John 3:16 means “We can be born again!”
·         Why is our earthly, natural birth not enough? “What is born of the flesh is flesh, what is born of the spirit is spirit.” 1 Cor. 2:14 the mind of flesh cannot understand the things of God—foolish to him. Our natural, fleshly mind is incapable of “getting it”. To see God’s Kingdom, understand the Gospel of Jesus. We need the mind of Christ, the gift of the Spirit, to understand. God uses His Word to open our ears and mind, so that we can “get it.”
·         What do we learn about the kingdom of God, which the world can’t understand? Moving of the Spirit is invisible to us, but we recognize its effects like we see the moving of objects by the wind. When God begins to work in someone’s life, they are transformed, and others can even see it. Queen Kaahumanu, the queen of the islands in the 1820s, had a reputation for being proud and arrogant, but after years of study with the missionaries, she converted to Christ, and her change in life to become a humble servant to her people, was so dramatic that she was renamed “Kaahumanu Hou” or “the new Kaahumanu” (Awakening: A Christian Nation. Gospel Hawaii Series 3, Dr. Steve Walton, p. 4). Several years later, when she lay dying a friend described her as “more humble, more lovely, more affectionate than ever. Every breath was prayer or praise to God for what He was doing for her people. She had been permitted to see them turning to the Lord and professing their faith by thousands…”. And shortly before her death, she was presented with the freshly printed copy of the New Testament, in the Hawaiian language for the first time, in a red leather cover with her name printed on it—which she held to her chest as she lay dying. (From Kaahumanu: A Memorial prepared by Mrs. H.A.P. Carter, 1892—p. 28 in Na Himeni Haipule Hawaii).
·         The Spirit of God is invisible to us, but the effects on people’s lives are not. In our own lives, we can recognize the working of the Holy Spirit when we are convicted of our sins—we feel the cry of our guilt before God, and feel the yearning to be free of that guilt, as we are when we trust in Him for the forgiveness He freely gives us in His Son Jesus. John 3:16. We “see” the work of the Spirit when we have joy and confidence in His love and protection for us, even in the midst of suffering and crosses in life. We know that our Savior Jesus was not spared suffering, and neither will we—but we know that it’s not for nothing, as Jesus has defeated death for us. By this rebirth from God, of water and the Spirit, we will enter the kingdom of God, by His grace.
·         No one has ascended to heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. We cannot climb up to heaven. The pile of our good works, no matter how high, is an anthill—no flight of stairs or ladder to heaven. Only Jesus has come down from and gone up to heaven. Only He is our ladder, our entrance, the Way and the Door to heaven. Through Him alone we have access to the Father. Not trying to leap up from our works, but being carried up by the death of Jesus for our sin, and His rising to new life again, so that whoever believes in Him has eternal life.
·         In addition to confirmation day, also Trinity Sunday. Here is another mystery—God as three in one. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No way to unravel—but can see the mystery in the way salvation is revealed to us—God the Father loved the World. The Father’s love motivated Him to send His Son Jesus. Jesus came into the world on a salvation rescue mission. He took the lowest status, born in a manger, suffering on a horrible cross, killed alongside criminals—took that lowest status so He could elevate us to eternal life, we might have His riches. And the Holy Spirit is sent by Him to give us the new birth of water and Spirit. To give us faith and renewal, so that we transform from old lives of selfishness and sin, into the new creation we are in Him. The status as God’s children comes to us immediately when we believe in Him. The transformation of our life, our walk of discipleship, takes a lifetime. But when it is complete, in death, and we enter into His eternal kingdom, there will be perfection and live forevermore! Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, has set His seal of ownership and love upon us, when we experienced that new birth of water and the Holy Spirit in our baptism. May He always strengthen and renew us in that faith. Amen.

Sermon Talking Points
Read sermons at:   http://thejoshuavictortheory.blogspot.com
Listen: search your podcast app for “The Joshua Victor Theory” or
listen online at http://thejoshuavictortheory.podbean.com

  1. The Pharisees were influential leaders among the Jews, and strict followers of the law (as they saw it). Nicodemus was also on the Sanhedrin, the 70 member ruling council. Why did Nic’ come to Jesus at night? John 3:2; 5:18; 7:30-31; 10:31-33.
  2. Read John 3 vs. 3 & 5 carefully and compare them. Being “born again” or “born from above” is parallel to “born of water and Spirit.” What is this referring to? How do we receive this new birth? Cf. John 1:12-13; Titus 3:5-6.
  3. If someone is not “born from above” (3:3), why can’t they “see” or enter (3:5) the kingdom of God? 1 Corinthians 2:11-16. What then gives them the ability to see and to access it?
  4. How is the movement of the Holy Spirit like the wind? John 3:8 What other movements or forces are invisible to us, but have a very real, recognizable effect on us and the world?
  5. Who is the only one who is our path, our ladder, or our door into heaven? John 3:13; 1:51; 14:6.
  6. How does this passage speak of all three members of the Trinity? John 3:16, 3:5, 8, 13. While we cannot unravel this mystery, how is it shown and revealed in the way that all three Persons of the Trinity work for our salvation?
  7. How wide does God’s love extend? How wide the sacrifice or payment that Jesus makes for sin?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sermon on Mark 14:12-26 and Exodus 24:3-11 for Maundy Thursday. "The Blood of the Covenant"

Sermon on Isaiah 40:25-31, for the 4th Sunday of Easter (1 Year Lectionary)--Jubilate (Shout for Joy) Sunday, "Who is Like God?"

Colossians 3:12-17, Wedding Sermon