Open Bible Church of Kingsville
A Valid Birth Certificate - John 3:1-13
God’s IM: Your radical corruption from sin demands a radical redemption from Me: you need a new birth.
Locations & Times
Open Bible Church of Kingsville
13 Open Bible Way, Kingsville, MD 21087, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
A Valid Birth Certificate - May 31, 2020
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John calls attention here to two things about Nicodemus: who he was, and what he said.
John calls attention here to two things about Nicodemus: who he was, and what he said.
2. entrance
Here our Lord is laying the foundation for that most unpalatable doctrine of Scripture that teaches we all belong to a lost race. That is the problem. It is who we are that is wrong, not so much what we do or do not do. Once again Jesus prefaces his reply with the words 'truly, truly”
Here our Lord is laying the foundation for that most unpalatable doctrine of Scripture that teaches we all belong to a lost race. That is the problem. It is who we are that is wrong, not so much what we do or do not do. Once again Jesus prefaces his reply with the words 'truly, truly”
3. Astonishment
Once again Nicodemus is puzzled. "How can this be?" he asks (John 3:9 RSV). For the third time Jesus answers with a "truly, truly”
Once again Nicodemus is puzzled. "How can this be?" he asks (John 3:9 RSV). For the third time Jesus answers with a "truly, truly”
4. Incarnation
That is the incarnation. The way this would work out in historical manifestation is the appearing of God himself as a man on earth. That had already occurred. The one who came down from heaven, Jesus, witnessed to the truth of God.
That is the incarnation. The way this would work out in historical manifestation is the appearing of God himself as a man on earth. That had already occurred. The one who came down from heaven, Jesus, witnessed to the truth of God.
Implication for Life #1
So do you have a valid birth certificate? What Nicodemus thought was a title of honor - I’m a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, the teacher of Israel - was actually a stumbling block keeping him from God. What is keeping you from being born again? Someday we will stand before God and he will ask for our credentials. You can’t bluff him. You can’t trick him. You can’t impress him. All that matters is whether he has transformed you from the inside out - whether he has made you new.
So do you have a valid birth certificate? What Nicodemus thought was a title of honor - I’m a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, the teacher of Israel - was actually a stumbling block keeping him from God. What is keeping you from being born again? Someday we will stand before God and he will ask for our credentials. You can’t bluff him. You can’t trick him. You can’t impress him. All that matters is whether he has transformed you from the inside out - whether he has made you new.
Implication for Life #2
If you have a valid birth certificate, the journey is just beginning. We are to mature in our faith. God gives us means of grace to accomplish this by his Spirit in our lives. We have the Bible and our reading it. We have prayer and our conversation with God the Father. We have fellowship with other believers as we encourage one another. We have the gathering of God’s people to worship in one place with one voice. We have the Lord’s Supper and Believer’s baptism whereby we witness God’s grace and presence. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
If you have a valid birth certificate, the journey is just beginning. We are to mature in our faith. God gives us means of grace to accomplish this by his Spirit in our lives. We have the Bible and our reading it. We have prayer and our conversation with God the Father. We have fellowship with other believers as we encourage one another. We have the gathering of God’s people to worship in one place with one voice. We have the Lord’s Supper and Believer’s baptism whereby we witness God’s grace and presence. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.