14 "Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. NKJV
Of all the passages, this one and John 3:16 always seems to come up .......that people can quote on the spot.............."For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
But of late, I am seeing those "license plates" that have John 3:18 and every time I read one passing us on the Interstate, I wonder how many really know what that verse states. It is in the same passage of scripture and is just as important as the verses above it!
John 3:1-21
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." NKJV
As we make our way through this passage of scripture, we find a man of the Pharisees who is named Nicodemus. Now we know from scripture that the Pharisees had some beliefs and some were.......found........Acts 23:6-8
6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) NIV
Paul was a Pharisee and Jesus told them what was wrong with their stand of making their total devotion a rigid patriotism toward the history of Moses and that generation! The Pharisees had a faithfulness to the covenant given through Moses. Yet Jesus denounced their flaunting hypocrisy in regards to their being the "better class". He called attention to their love of preeminence and of their praying extremely long prayers in a manner of being on exhibit for others to see and to hear. Their fueled a hatred towards Jesus' teachings was evident, as was their opposing Him every opportunity they had, and the continually ill-will talk against Him.
Paul was consistently telling others of what a bondage he was held in as a rigid Pharisee. When Jesus showed up in his life, that bondage was broken, he was set free and was led under the Spirit of God being justified by faith and began his ministry to see others set free from religion!
So Nicodemus comes by night, so he is not seen by the others, and he makes his way to Jesus to ask some questions.
"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
Jesus tells him that he is to be born again, not to the flesh a second time, but born into the spirit. The Holy Spirit moves as He is willed by the Father. We have no say in that! But like Jesus spoke, the spirit moves through like the wind moves and causes the leaves to move, to fall from trees, and to gather together on the ground. We hear the sound of the wind, but the effects on the leaves is the falling from the tree, and gathering at their lowest point on the ground.
We are born again into the kingdom of God! It is one that is "supernatural" ruled by a "supernatural God"and has given to us the gift of life through His Son Jesus Christ! Jesus was telling of His being lifted up for sinners, a lifting up much like the serpent in the desert concerning Moses. Jesus was the answer to life eternal........and it came when the kingdom was set up! His words are "spirit and life" to us who believe! Moses was the one who God sent to remind Israel of the Covenant keeping God He WAS AND IS! Ultimately when Israel was led out of Egypt they had no law or priesthood. Through Moses, God presented them with the ten commandments, the priesthood, the Atonement, the sacrifices , the offerings and the laws that would govern the sacrifices. We understand that this Covenant did not belong to the 10 commandments. The Covenant was the reason for the law. But in all of this, this Covenant Israel could not keep. It is called the Old Covenant. Of all that had to be done to obey the Old Covenant, man failed miserably. So here we see the New Covenant come on the scene of history of Israel.
The Old Covenant was sealed with circumcision, and the New Covenant was sealed with the New Birth.
When Jesus arrived on the scene and was baptized by John the Baptist.......the kingdom was being introduced. It is the kingdom of God being set up on earth. It is God's wills and His ways being established on the earth. It was the Word of God, declaring God, truth, righteousness, justice and holiness! But all that is seen on the scene today, makes it appear that we are very far from that way of righteousness.
All that Jesus spoke in the Gospels was for our benefit. It was given to show us what the kingdom of God looked like. There is no sickness in heaven, There is no death or tears, or lack. Heaven is peace, joy, health, strength and courage. And Jesus came to set up on earth what was in Heaven! Yes, there should be no sickness, lack, disease, tears, or pain.
God sent Jesus so the world through Jesus might be saved. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned but he who does not believe in Jesus is condemned already. The God of Love, sent the Son of His love, into this world that we could be with Him for all eternity.
That LIGHT has come into the world. And when men love darkness rather than light, it is because their deeds are evil.
In John 3: 20.... For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." NKJV
My prayer for all who read this and know truth, that Jesus is the LIGHT come into the world that according to John 1:1-18........that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Even as then, all things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made. He is the Light that shines in the darkness. Without Him, we have nothing! But with Him, we are the saved, the Redeemed, the Righteous, the forgiven!
As John the Baptist bore witness of that Light, we too, have seen that great "Light". He is that light that shines in our hearts......and declares God's plan to a broken and dying world.
Today I pray for eyes and ears to be open to see the Lord of glory. I pray for those who are to be saved, that they become children of God, to those who believe in His name, not born of blood nor of the will of the flesh but of God! Even though He was sent to the nation of Israel first, but because of their refusal, this glorious Kingdom came to the gentile to any who believe in His name.
Father we pray in Jesus' name. and know You sent Your best for us. Thank You for sending Jesus and salvation. Thank YOU for love everlasting, love unconditional and never failing. Today, I stand with others knowing we will not perish but have everlasting life through Jesus, the Son of Your love. Your Love was demonstrated on the Cross, and may we be as extreme in giving You praise and much thanks for that demonstration. Today for our salvation may we give to Father, the Faithful God, the merciful God, the Living God, our love. Hallowed be Your name. May we leave yesterday behind and choose to prosper in the things of God and His kingdom. I pray that all our days be done in God in His truth, spirit and life. You are the Author of Hope and receive Your joy that is inexpressible and full or glory and peace in facing the future and adventures with YOU! Amen
You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV)
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