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….