Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 18 April 2021

Text: John 3

Subject: Evangelism

Sub-Topic: Personal Evangelism: “Born Again” I

INTRODUCTION

1. The religious hierarchy of Israel in the days of the Lord Jesus

a) There was a hierarchy

b) It regulated the religious understanding and beliefs of the nation

2. A brief breakdown of the hierarchy

a) The Sanhedrin Council

b) This was the Highest Ruling religious body

c) Head of the Sanhedrin: The High Priest

d) Members of the Sanhedrin
They numbered 70

i) Chief priests

ii) Teachers/ Rabbis

iii) Pharisees

iv) Sadducees

v)  Herodians (a small number)

vi) Individuals of high standing

vii) “A ruler of the Jews”

INTRODUCING NICODEMUS

1. Nicodemus

2. A Pharisee

3. A ruler of the Jews (John 3:1-2)

4. He came to see the Lord Jesus at night (John 3:2a)

5. His impression of the Lord Jesus

a) He was addressed as “Rabbi” (John 3:2b)

b) “A teacher come from God” (John 3:2c)

c) “No one can do these things unless God is with him” (John 3:2d)

6. These words:

a) Polite and appropriate

b) Good and socially acceptable

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS

1. What He did not do

a) Engage Nicodemus in polite niceties

b) It was already night time

c) He was not going to discuss what Nicodemus said about Him

2. The Lord knew the true spiritual state of Nicodemus

a) He brought out what He knew Nicodemus did not have

b) He introduced the concept of being “Born again”

c) He knew that Nicodemus for all his reputation was not “born again”

3. The words of the Lord Jesus are worth studying carefully

a) “Unless one is born again” (John 3:3a)

b) “He cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3b)

4. The common understanding of Israel

a) They were in the kingdom of God

b) They were the descendants of Abraham

c) They were God’s people by heritage

NICODEMUS’ WORDS CONFIRMED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE

1. “How can a man be born when he is old?” (John 3:4a)

2. “Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4b)

THE EXPLANATION OF THE LORD JESUS (Key ideas)

1. Born of the Spirit (John 3:5)

a) Born of water (symbol of life)

b) And (even) of the Spirit (The One who brings about regeneration)

2. He cannot enter the kingdom of God

a) This is in contradiction to the common understanding of Israel

b) One has to be born again by the Spirit of God to gain entrance into the Kingdom

3. The Physical and the Spiritual Contrasted

a) The Physical

i) That is, “the flesh”

ii) That which is born of the flesh is flesh (John 3:6a)

b) The Spiritual

i) That is, “The Spirit”

ii) That which is born of the Spirit, is spirit (John 3:6b)

4. Repetition

a) “Do not marvel that I said to you” (John 3:7a)

b) “You must be born again” (John 3:7b)

5. Explanation by the Lord Jesus

a) The illustration of “the wind” (John 3:8a)

i) “blows where it wishes”

ii) “You hear the sound of it”

iii) “But cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes”

b) “So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8b)

i) The work of the Spirit is invisible

ii) There are usually visible manifestations

iii) His work cannot be fully fathomed by the human mind alone

THE STRUGGLE OF NICODEMUS

1. He could not fully comprehend

2. “How can these things be?” (John 3:9)

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS

1. “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?”

2. The Lord Jesus understood where Nicodemus was coming from

a) He lacked knowledge

b) He needed instruction

c) He needed time to contemplate

d) There was no hurry to get Nicodemus to make a decision

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