John 3:1-17John 3:1-17

It’s the plan of our spiritual enemy to lead us awayfrom God and keep us

from “experiencing” Him.

It’s the plan of our spiritual enemy to lead us awayfrom God and keep us

from “experiencing” Him.

“The great dragon was hurled

down – that ancient serpent

called the devil, or Satan,

who leads the whole world

astray...” [TNIV]

“The great dragon was hurled

down – that ancient serpent

called the devil, or Satan,

who leads the whole world

astray...” [TNIV]

Revelation 12:9….Revelation 12:9….

Danger from this serpent is that… we will be led astray

from our real purposein this world to —

Danger from this serpent is that… we will be led astray

from our real purposein this world to —

• know God and• live for Him, • be separated for Him

in the world to come.

• know God and• live for Him, • be separated for Him

in the world to come.

Sometimes even sincere

people who have grown up

in the church do not

understand what it means to

“Experience God,”or how to make it

a reality in their life.

A good & religious personA good & religious person

Knowledgeable of the Scriptures

Knowledgeable of the Scriptures

Kept the rulesKept the rules

Jesus confused Nicodemuswhen He said this in John 3:3….

Jesus confused Nicodemuswhen He said this in John 3:3….

“… Very truly I tell you, no one

can see the kingdom of God without being born again.”

[TNIV]

“… Very truly I tell you, no one

can see the kingdom of God without being born again.”

[TNIV]

Nicodemus was thinkingin terms of

Jesus was talking about

Nicodemus was thinkingin terms of

Jesus was talking about

Nicodemus did not understand

Jesus was talking about

and

God calls us to be

it to Him,

and possibly to others

as well.

We don’t like

to admit

we are wrong.

BUT this is

exactly what

we must do!

We don’t like

to admit

we are wrong.

BUT this is

exactly what

we must do!

“1 Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great

compassion blot out my

transgressions. 2 Wash away

all my iniquity and cleanse me

from my sin. …

“1 Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great

compassion blot out my

transgressions. 2 Wash away

all my iniquity and cleanse me

from my sin. …

Psalm 51:1-4….Psalm 51:1-4….

…. 3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I

sinned and done what is evil in

your sight; so you are right in

your verdict and justified

when you judge.” [TNIV]

…. 3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I

sinned and done what is evil in

your sight; so you are right in

your verdict and justified

when you judge.” [TNIV]

Psalm 51….Psalm 51….

“9 If we confess our sins, he is

faithful and just and will forgive us

our sins and purify us from all

unrighteousness. 10 If we claim

we have not sinned, we make him

out to be a liar and his word

is not in us.” [TNIV]

“9 If we confess our sins, he is

faithful and just and will forgive us

our sins and purify us from all

unrighteousness. 10 If we claim

we have not sinned, we make him

out to be a liar and his word

is not in us.” [TNIV]

1 John 1:9-10….1 John 1:9-10….

“Those who conceal their sins do not prosper,

but those who confess and renounce them find mercy.”

[TNIV]

“Those who conceal their sins do not prosper,

but those who confess and renounce them find mercy.”

[TNIV]

Proverbs 28:13….Proverbs 28:13….

Jesus began His ministrywith these simple words,

“… Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

(Matthew 3:2)

Jesus began His ministrywith these simple words,

“… Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

(Matthew 3:2)

“to have a feeling ofDEEP REGRET that TURNS you from sin and changes

your heart so that you desire to do the will of

God.”

You CHANGE….from doing your will

TO doing God’s will!

You CHANGE….from doing your will

TO doing God’s will!

• Follow God’s way

• Fix your love on God

• Lose your fascination with sin

Does not mean we will never sin again.

It means when we do sin we continue to turn from it.

Is not a one-time event

It is a daily experience

“46 Why do you call me, ‘Lord,

Lord,’ and do not do what I

say? 47 As for those who come

to me and hear my words and

put them into practice, I will

show you what they are like.

…

“46 Why do you call me, ‘Lord,

Lord,’ and do not do what I

say? 47 As for those who come

to me and hear my words and

put them into practice, I will

show you what they are like.

…

Luke 6:46-48….Luke 6:46-48….

…. 48 They are like a man

building a house, who dug

down deep and laid the

foundation on rock. When a

flood came, the torrent struck

that house but could not

shake it, because

it was well built.” [TNIV]

…. 48 They are like a man

building a house, who dug

down deep and laid the

foundation on rock. When a

flood came, the torrent struck

that house but could not

shake it, because

it was well built.” [TNIV]

An experience with Godis not somethingwe manufacture.

It is supernatural!

is not something we do for God.

It is something He does in us. He changes our heart!

“…. I will put my law in their

minds and write it on their

hearts. I will be their God, and

they will be my people ….” (TNIV)

“…. I will put my law in their

minds and write it on their

hearts. I will be their God, and

they will be my people ….” (TNIV)

Jeremiah 31:33….Jeremiah 31:33….

Jeremiah explained CONVERSION….

“17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the

new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ….”

(TNIV)

“17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the

new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ….”

(TNIV)

2 Corinthians 5:17-18….2 Corinthians 5:17-18….

Paul puts it like this….Paul puts it like this….

Nicodemus evidently experienced

a “CONVERSION.”

Something had happened to

the heart of Nicodemus.

What good does it do for God to forgive you IF you do not believe

that He has done whatHe said He would do?

“That is why I am sufferingas I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know

whomI have believed, and am

convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” (TNIV)

“That is why I am sufferingas I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know

whomI have believed, and am

convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” (TNIV)

2 Timothy 1:12….2 Timothy 1:12….

“And without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he

exists and that he rewards those

who earnestly seek him.”

“And without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he

exists and that he rewards those

who earnestly seek him.”

Hebrews 11:6….Hebrews 11:6….