The Bible says, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”
So, I want you to notice that Nicodemus was impressed and interested in the Lord Jesus Christ. But I also want you to notice that he was embarrassed to associate himself with the Lord Jesus Christ. You say well how do you know that or where do we get that from the passage? Notice in verse 2 again it says “The same came to Jesus by night”. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. We’re going to focus on that later on in the sermon. But I want you notice that as a Pharisee and as a ruler he chose to want to come to Jesus and want to have a conversation with Jesus. But notice, he comes under the cover of darkness. He comes to him at night and it seems like he is just a little embarrassed to have people know that he was interested, that he was intrigued, that he was impressed with and that he was wanting to learn about the Lord Jesus Christ. Nicodemus comes and gives this flattery “we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”
I want you to notice that Jesus just gets right to the heart of the matter in verse 3. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” These are some of the most famous verses in the Bible. I’m not sure if this phrase is used too often today but that phrase “born again” was used for years and years. You would hear of people who were saved saying they were born again or refer to others that are saved as being born again. That comes from this conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus where he says to him “except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God”. There are 3 main areas or lessons I would like to focus on from this story this morning.
The first thing we can learn from this story are lessons on salvation. Now Salvation is something that is basic. Something that I hope everyone in here understands. If you don’t understand salvation and if you’re not saved then please don’t leave here this morning without getting saved. We would love to get you saved and explain that to you. But here Jesus gives some fundamental basic truths in regards to Salvation. That’s good for all of us from time to time to be refreshed and reminded about just the basic fundamental truths of Christianity. Notice Jesus explains to Nicodemus about the second birth. He says that someone needs to be born again. The second birth is required for Salvation. In fact, the second birth is Salvation. Notice again in verse 3:
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:4
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
We’ll come back to that in a second.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
And the kingdom of God is referring to heaven.
John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The second birth is required for Salvation and it’s interesting and I’m thankful that Jesus uses this terminology. He explains that Salvation is a new birth. It was a second birth. You had to be born again into the family of God. You say why? Because there’s many truths that we can pull out from that concept there in John 3. Keep your place in John 3 which is obviously our text for this morning. But go back with me to John chapter one. Let me just make a couple of statements in regards to this idea of the second birth. Number one: Salvation (like birth) is not by personal effort. When a woman gives birth to a child, that child does not do anything in regards to that labor. That child is literally there along for the ride. Now there is a lot of labor that goes into birth. In fact, it’s called labor for a reason. There’s a lot of pain and energy that goes into birth. There’s a lot of effort that goes into it but none of it is done by the child. In fact, all of it is done by the mother who is birthing the child. Salvation is the same way.
John 1:12, notice what the Bible says
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
How do you become a son of God? You were born into the family of God or born again by believing on his name. What does it mean to receive Jesus? It means you believe on him. You accept him as your Savior. In John 1:13, notice:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
If you get born again, it is not by your personal effort. You did not get born again because you worked hard for it, lived a good enough life, repented of your sins, turned over a new leaf, started over, started coming to church, started praying, started reading the Bible or started to try to get your life right. None of those things will bring Salvation because Salvation is not of our works. You say “Why is it not work?”.
Because it’s a birth and with a birth, the mom does all of the work. It’s a loving mother does all the work. It is not the baby. The baby is just along for the ride. In Salvation, your role is to believe. Your role is to receive salvation. Your role is to call upon Jesus by faith. Christ does all the work. Salvation requires no work and requires none of your work but Jesus did a lot of work on the cross to save you. So we see that Salvation (Like Birth) is not a personal effort.
Secondly notice: Salvation (Like Birth) happens in a moment. Birth takes place in a moment. Now the process of birth may take a long time. The process of laboring may take a long time. Now some ladies will have a short labor of just a couple of hours. Sometimes ladies will be in labor for a couple of days. For several days before the baby is born, there is a process that may take time. But birth itself takes just a moment. It happens in a moment. My wife and I got a really tough lesson on this when our daughter Ruth was born. Our 5th daughter Ruth has a birthday that we were doing our best to avoid. She was born on Halloween (October 31st). For whatever it’s worth, we just didn’t want a child born on Halloween but she was born on October 31st at 12:10 AM. 10 minutes into October 31st our daughter was born. This was her first act of rebellion. My wife was doing everything in her power to get that baby out because we wanted her to be born on the 30th. Or we wanted to be born on November 1st. We did not want her to be born on October 31st. My wife had been in labor all day and she had been in labour on the 30th. But Ruth was born on the 31st (10 minutes into the day). We talked to the midwife. We pled with the midwife. We said “I’ve got a George Washington here). You know the $1 bill, not the $100 bill. We told her “Just say that she was born 10 minutes earlier”. But she was born October 31st at 12:10 am.
In Salvation, it’s the same process. You’re born in a moment. The labor may have taken time. The process may have been 9 months. A lot went into preparing for that moment but the birth happened in just a moment. Salvation is the same way. Now listen to me, I’m not saying you need to know the date or the time but there should be a clear moment in your life that you can look back to and say that is the moment when I believed. That is the moment when I called. That is the moment when i got saved. You say why? Because Salvation (like birth) happens in a moment. Again, you don’t need to have the exact time or day. I don’t remember the day but I remember when i got saved. I remember being a kid and having my dad explain the gospel to me and I called and asked Jesus to save me. Physical birth is the same way. Many people don’t know the exact day or time that they were born but we know this, they were born. It happens in a moment. Salvation (like birth) is not by personal effort. Salvation (like birth) happens in a moment.
#3 Salvation (like birth) gives you a new family. Look, when you got born again, you didn’t just get born again. You got born again into the family of God.
Romans 8:14-15
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Bible says that you and I have the ability and the right to call upon God the Father, not just as God and not just as creator. But we have the ability to call God ABBA father. The reason that you can approach God and say “Our Father” is only if you have been born again.
Romans 8:16
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
See Salvation (like birth) gives you a new family. Salvation (like birth) gives you a new father. You were born into the family of God. Salvation (like birth) is not my personal effort. Salvation (like birth) happens in a moment. Salvation (like birth) gives you a new family. Let me just say this, your physical family may have failed. Your father or family may have forsaken you. Your husband or your wife may have failed. Your children may have failed. But when you got saved, you got born again into a new family and you have a father that is faithful and will never fail. He is there for you and will love you. When you got saved, you got borm into a new family.
But let me say this, Salvation (like the new birth) cannot be lost. You say “I was born into a really terrible family or a deadbeat dad”. You know I’m sorry about that and embrace your heavenly father. But here’s the thing about birth, you can’t undo it. Once you’re born, you are born into that family and nothing will ever change that. Now you could have a good relationship with your parents or a bad relationship with your parents or you can never know your parents but nothing will change the fact that you were physically born to that woman and that man. Physical birth cannot be changed. Let me say this, spiritual birth can’t be changed. The concept of being born again teaches of eternal security. When you got born in to a family, that can’t be reversed. Today people will teach “Well, if you don’t live a good life, follow the commandments or if you walk away from God then you’ll lose your Salvation”.
Look, I can walk away from my father but he’ll never stop being my father. “If I walk away from God the father then he will take away my salvation”. No he won’t. You got born into the family of God. Now people don’t understand this and let me just explain this along with that concept of eternal security. God became my father and he will never stop being my father but he will punish you on earth.
You say “Well now since you’re teaching people they could never lose their Salvation, you’re giving people a license to sin”. Wait a minute, I’m telling people they have a Heavenly Father. Here’s what you need to understand about that, he will correct you and chastise you when you do wrong.
Hebrews 12:5-8
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, ……..
Look, if you’re a child of God this is for you. “You guys are teaching people that once they get saved, they can do whatever they want and they’ll never lose their Salvation”. Yeah that’s exactly what we’re teaching people is that once you’re saved, you can do whatever you want and God will never stop being your father.
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
We believe that once you’re saved or born again that God is your Father and nothing will ever change that. But if you live in a way displeasing to your father then whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Like any good father, God disciplines his children. You say “Before I was saved I was able to commit sins and get away with things and nothing ever happened to me.”. Ya, because you were an orphan spiritually. “Now that I’m saved, I can’t get away with anything.”. That’s because you have a heavenly father.
But if ye be without chastisement,…
Look, if you can just live any way you want without consequences and God never gives you a spiritual spanking…
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
People get offended at this word “bastard” but you know every word of God is pure. You say “I can do whatever I want and nothing ever happens to me”. Then you might not be saved. Because But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Being born again teaches us that Salvation is eternal and can never be lost. I can never be unborn and it can never be undone. I can never give it back. It’s a done deal but it also teaches us you can’t just live life however you want without having your heavenly father lovingly, chasten and correct you. He’s never going to throw you out of the family. I tell my kids to clean their room and they don’t then I don’t just kick them out of the family. I spank them and discipline them. I correct them. Salvation (like birth) is not my personal efforts. Salvation (like birth) gives you a new family.
Let me say this, Salvation (like birth) is just the beginning. Today, people have this idea like “Oh, I’m saved so I’m good to go now.”. You know what, if all you ever do is get saved then praise the Lord for that but Salvation (like birth) is just the beginning. It’s funny watching new parents who get this idea “It’s all about the birth, it’s all about the birth, it’s all about the birth”. But those of us on the other side realize “Now that pregnancy is over, this is where the work begins”. Birth is just the beginning. Now you’ve got to feed this child, care for this child, nurture this child and make sure it grows.
1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes,….
Why does he say that? Because every Christian begins as a new born babe because salvation is a birth.
1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
God wants you to grow. Why? Because salvation is just the beginning. Birth is just the beginning. When a child is born, they’ve literally just begun life. It’s just the beginning. There is a whole process of growing and learning and understanding. And you know the Christian life is the same way.
2 Peter 3:18
18 But grow in grace,….
Did you know that God desires for you to grow?
2 Peter 3:18
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Please understand this. Salvation like birth is just the beginning. God wants you to grow. You’re a newborn babe. Great. Desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby. We’ve been talking about these lessons of salvation from this conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. The first thing we see is that Jesus tells Nicodemus, Ye must be born again. And he uses that term because salvation like birth is not by personal effort. You don’t get yourself saved. You didn’t give birth to yourself. It was not by your effort. Salvation like birth happens in a moment. Salvation like brith gives a new life. Salvaiton like birth cannot be lost or returned. Salvaiton like birth is just the beginning.
There is something else that Jesus explains about this new birth. The 2nd birth is done through the Spirit. It is a spiritual birth. I want you to notice in John 3 that Jesus gives 2 examples or 2 phases:
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
He says look, a man has to be born of water and of the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God. You say, what does that mean. Today people will take this verse to try to teach baptismal regeneration. They’ll try to teach that someone has to be baptized in order to be saved. Now look, as soon as you teach someone that they have to do anything in order to be saved, you are preaching a false gospel and works salvation. The Bible says “Not by works of righteousness which we have done but by his mercy he saved us”. They’ll say well here it says except a man be born of water. Now there are many ways to kill this but the easiest is to look at the context. Never arrest a verse from it’s context. If there’s ever a question as to what the Bible means then just look at the context. He gives 2 phases. Look at verse 6.
John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
He explains to us what he means. The water birth is a physical birth and the birth by spirit is a Spiritual Birth. He says look, someone has to be born physically and spiritually in order to enter in to the kingdom of God. Now people say, what does being born of water have to do with a physical birth. Anyone who says this has never had a child or been around a birth before. Let me just explain this to you.
During pregnancy, the baby is surrounded and cushioned by a fluid filled, membranous sack called the Amniotic Sac. Typically at the beginning of or during labor, a lady’s membrane will rupture also known as your water breaking. Often times a lady will say that her water broke. What does that mean? The baby’s coming.
So if being born of water is baptism, then how did Jesus tell the thief on the cross “Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.”. If that guy never got off the cross to get baptized. If that’s baptism then what do you do with all of the verses that say “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. If that’s baptism then what do you do with this verse when it says “that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit”. Here’s what he’s saying. The 2nd birth is done through the Spirit. It is a spiritual birth. It is a quickening of the Spirit. Let me say this, the 2nd birth is not only required for salvation and is not only done spiritually but it is heard, not seen.
It’s interesting that Jesus says this. Look at what he says. Verse 7.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
He just got done telling them that you have to be born of the Spirit. It’s through the Spirit. And then he explains the spiritual birth. Notice verse 8:
The wind…
Now all throughout the bible there are many different emblems or symbols of the Holy Spirit. One is oil. One is fire. But one is wind. You will often find that the wind is associated with the Holy Spirit. We just saw this in our Ezekiel series when we were in Chapter 37. Remember he prophesied to the wind and the wind resurrected the different bones and brought them back from the dead. If you remember Acts Chapter 2 in the famous Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they heard a great and mighty rushing wind. The word wind is always associated with the Holy Spirit. Here Jesus says the same thing.
The wind (which is a picture of the Holy Spirit) bloweth where it listeth. The word listeth means bloweth where it wants to. He says the wind bloweth where it wants to. He says “and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence”…. The word whence means from where. From where it cometh, and whither…the word “whither” means to where. “whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
He says the wind bloweth where it listeth. The wind bloweth wherever it wants. And you can hear it. You can hear the rushing of the wind. You can hear the wind blowing through the leaves. But you can’t see it. You can’t tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. Notice what he says, “So is every one that is born of the Spirit”. Here’s what he says: If you’re going to be born of the spirit, it’s something that you’re going to hear but not see. It’s something you’re going to hear but not perceive with your eyes. You say, “What are you talking about?”. Go to John Chapter 5. Look at verse 24. Remember, the wind is a spirit, right?
John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you,..
Notice what he says
He that heareth my word, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
What does that mean? They’ve been born again. They’ve been given a new life. But notice, how does it begin? It begins by hearing the Word. He that heareth my Word. You say, “Well what does that have to do with the Spirit?”. Doesn’t Ephesians 6 say “The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God?”. You have to hear the Spirit through the Word. Jesus said, “he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life”. This term born again is only used 2 times in the Bible. One time by Jesus and the other time in 1 Peter 1:23. Notice what the Bible says:
1 Peter 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,….
You have to be born by the incorruptible seed. What does that mean?
….by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
See, salvation happens this way. You hear the Word of God and then you are born again by the Word of God. Go to Romans 10.
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing,…
Notice how consistent the Bible is. By hearing what?
Romans 10:17
…and hearing by the word of God.
Look, you need the Word of God to get saved. Period. You say “Pastor, I wasn’t thinking about bringing the wordless book to preach the gospel out soulwinning”. Here’s the problem with the wordless book. YOU NEED THE WORD. And by the way, you need the uncorrupted, incorruptible word. You need the King James Bible. “Well I think I can get someone saved with the NIV”. Well look, if I have to choose between believing you and believing the Bible then I’m going to stick with the Bible. The Bible says being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible. Not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible. By the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever. If that doesn’t make sense to you. I can explain it later. I have sermons where I talk about it. But let me say this, the 2nd birth is heard not seen. You know what people want today? They want to see salvation. “How do I know someone got saved”. Well this is what the Bible says “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so”. The Bible says the word of faith is in your mouth. The Bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. You say “Pastor Jimenez. How do you know if someone is saved?”. I ask them. I let their testimony tell me because salvation is heard. That’s why when we go out soulwinning we ask people if they know for sure if they are going to heaven when they die. “Why do you ask them that question?”. Because the answer to that question will tell us what is in their heart. “No, I don’t know”. Well then you’re not saved. “Does someone have to know””. Well look, you know you got born physically. Have you ever been born? “I’m not sure.”. You’re a 33 year old man. “Ya I’m still working on it”. No it happens in a moment. Look, you were either born or you weren’t.
What are you trusting to get yourself to heaven? “Baptism”. You’re not saved. “I repented of my sins”. You’re not saved. “I was in Vietnam”. Thank you but you’re not saved. You say, “What gives you confidence that you’re on your way to heaven”. “Jesus died on the cross for my sins and I called upon him for salvation”. You know that person is saved. How do you know that? Because I heard it. “But they’re still living a wicked life. They’re still smoking and drinking”. Ya but salvation is heard, not seen. You say “I need evidence”. Faith is the evidence. The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Look, salvation is not an experience. And I’m not minimizing your experience. I’m just telling you that Salvation is Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. The 2nd birth is heard, not seen. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So when we dissect this conversation, we learn there are a lot of lessons between Jesus and Nicodemus. We not only learn lessons on salvation but we learn lessons on the spiritually discerned.
The theme of Nicodemus is that of confusion in this conversation.
John 3:9
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
He says how can this be? How can this happen?
John 3:4
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Jesus just told him that he has to be born again and he says “How can that be?”. He’s thinking like he has to get born again physically. And by the way, that’s why Jesus said “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit”. So we’re not talking about a physical birth but a spiritual birth. Nicodemus shows us that unsaved people do not understand spiritual things. The unsaved who do not have the Spirit of God cannot understand spiritual things. And by the way, Nicodemus was a very religious man. He was a Pharisee and yet had no clue of what the Bible taught or spiritual things. If you don’t believe us then go soulwinning with us. We meet very religious people who have no idea what the Bible says. And they can’t understand it. Why? They are like Nicodemus.
The unsaved person, the natural man does not understand spiritual things.
1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The unsaved, unregenerate man cannot understand the things of God. Jesus kind of rebukes Nicodemus in John 3 because he says “Art thou a Master of Israel and knowest not these things?”. Jesus says, “How do you not know this?”. People will often say “Well, in the Old Testament it never talks about a new birth or second birth or being born again”. But that’s not true. We just learned about this in the book of Ezekiel. It comes up several times in Ezekiel. It comes up in Jeremiah. It comes up in different places throughout the Old Testament. You don’t have to turn there but I’ll just read this to you.
Ezekiel 36:26-28
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
So this concept of a new birth is found in the Old Testament. And Jesus expected Nicodemus to understand that. He says “Art thou a master of Israel and knowest not these things?”. He says “How do you not know this?”. But Jesus is highlighting the fact that this is spiritually discerned. He did not understand. What can we take away? Unsaved people need someone to explain spiritual things.
Joh 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak
There’s a lot of different thoughts of who Jesus is talking about when he speaks in the plural “we”. I tend to think he is talking about him and God the Father since that is a common theme we find in the book of John.
He says “We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.”
Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Here’s what he’s saying. “I’m trying to help you understand this and I’m using earthly themes to help you get this”. Here’s what we learn from Jesus. It’s ok for us to use illustrations and even earthly things to help people understand spiritual concepts. Jesus would do this often. That’s what all of the parables are. The parables are Jesus using earthly things to help people understand spiritual concepts. We see him using birth which is something we all understand. And he’s using that to illustrate salvation and he makes it clear that he’s referring to spiritual, not physical, birth. But here’s what we understand from Nicodemus, you can’t hand John 3:16 to an unsaved person and expect for them to get saved. I don’t care how many football games you go to. I don’t care how big you write John 3:16 on your belly and take your shirt off. People think “I’m going to show my naked torso to millions of people at this football game and revival is going to break out”. These people will stand out on a corner with a sign that says John 3:16. Look, unsaved people cannot understand the Bible.
Acts 8:30
Act 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Here we have an unsaved man reading the Bible. Philip who is saved walks up and asks “Do you understand what you’re reading?”.
Act 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
You say “Why do you guys go out soulwinning? Why do you knock on doors? Why do you guys go out with a King James Bible and try to reach people with the gospel?”
Because unsaved people need someone to explain the gospel to them. They can’t understand the Bible. They can’t understand anything spiritual. Do you know how many times my wife or I have been around a new believer who hears Amazing Grace and they say “Woah, that song is about salvation”. We’re like “Ya, we know.”. Just go out and find some unsaved person and ask them what the song of Amazing Grace is about. Ask them if they know the song. They’ll probably say “Ya I’ve heard of it”. What’s it about? “I don’t know. Is it a Patriotic song?”. Literally that’s what people think. They come to church and sing “Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound.”….It’s about salvation!. That’s happened to some of you. Some of you just realized that right now. You say “Why?”. Because unsaved people can’t understand spiritual things. How can I except some man should guide me? And Jesus here is spending time with this unsaved man trying to help him understand and trying to help him comprehend. Here’s a 3rd lesson. We learned a lesson on salvation. Salvation is a birth. It happens in a moment. It can’t be undone. It gives you a new father and a new identity. We learned a lesson on the spiritually discerned that unsaved people can’t understand.
But thirdly, the story of Nicodemus gives us a couple lessons on soulwinning. Here’s the first lesson. Everyone needs the gospel. Go back to John 3:1.
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
I want you to realize that Nicodemus was a man of position and influence. He was a Pharisee (a religious position) and a ruler of the Jews (a political position). This was a very important man, with status and influence. But I want you to see that Jesus understood that his overwhelming need was that of salvation. Look at verse 2 again.
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
I want you to see that Jesus is not impressed with his status. He is not impressed with his position. Jesus understood that the overwhelming need of every man is salvation. Let me say something to you soulwinners. People will often complain “Oh, why do I have to go to this nice neighborhood”. You know our soulwinning is on rotation. We go to nice neighborhood, not nice neighborhood, nice neighborhood, not nice neighborhood, literally. That’s what we do. “Every time I come soulwinning we’re in a nice neighborhood.”. That’s because you only show up once every 6 weeks. You always show up on the wrong week. You say “Why do we have to go to this nice neighborhood?”. Because the overwhelming need for all mankind is salvation. People get this idea “I don’t want to walk up to this house. They have a Mercedes in the driveway. What do I do?”. You walk up to them and preach the gospel to them like you do anybody else.
Matthew 22:16
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
You know Jesus was not impressed with people’s position, status, ability, house, clothing, he didn’t care. Nicodemus comes up and thinks he’s a Pharisee, a ruler and thinks he can get a private meeting with Jesus. He sits down and gives Jesus a compliment. This is what Nicodemus is probably thinking (This is my guess): He’s probably expecting a compliment back. “Well, we know that you’re a Pharisee and I appreciate you taking time”. But Jesus says, forget all of that. You need to get born again. Because the overwhelming need of man, is that of salvation. No matter how rich they are and how many connections they have. Several years ago, we were out soulwinning and my wife and I were in a nice neighborhood. My wife walks up to this guy and he is sitting in his front yard listening to Spanish rap. Now rap in general is annoying and stupid. But when you do it in Spanish then it’s really annoying and stupid. And I speak Spanish. And this guy is listening to Spanish rap. She walks up to him and says we’re from Verity Baptist Church. And she asks him if he knows if he is going to heaven and he says he doesn’t. Somewhere during the conversation she asked him if he worked somewhere and he says “I play ball”. She says what does that mean. He said “I play for the Sacramento Kings”. Then she says “Oh ok. Well you gotta be born again”. And she gave the gospel to him and he got saved. And my wife doesn’t know anything about sports. He said my name is “Cisco whatever”. She said I don’t know what that means but you’re a sinner and you need Jesus to saved you. But here’s what I wonder. I wonder if some of you guys would have knocked on that door if that guy would have gotten saved. Some of you might have said “You’re Francisco Garcia”. Whoever that is. I don’t even know who that is but he plays for the Kings. I don’t think he does anymore but he did make 6 million dollars a year. I just wonder if there was another soulwinner there who was more of a sportsman respecter of persons who would have just talked about him about basketball and not getting this guy saved. I’m glad there was a lady who was clueless and could care less about sports and gave the gospel to this professional athlete. You say why? Because the overwhelming need of man is salvation. You say what did you do when you found out your wife got a basketball player saved. We followed up on him…..like we do for everyone else. You say why? Because the overwhelming need for mankind is that of salvation.
It’s interesting to me if you go back to John 3. Nicodemus says you’re a man from God and Jesus just cuts through all of that and says you must be born again. Jesus was highlighting this man’s sin. Think about it. Have you ever thought about why there’s no “Hey, how you doing?”. He’s just like “Hey, you gotta get born again”.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Have you ever thought that Jesus just kind of cuts in with that. Here’s what I think. I believe Jesus just went with this concept because he’s dealing with this man’s sin. Think about this. He’s telling a Pharisee, a Jewish Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews that your physical birth has no bearing on your salvation and you need a new birth. He’s telling people whose religion teaches them that since they are physically descended from Abraham that they are better than everyone else. Because I’m physically descended from Abraham that I get a free pass in to heaven. And Jesus says, “No actually, your physical birth has no bearing on you going to heaven. You actually need a new birth”. You say, “Why would he do that?”. Because Jesus is no respecter of persons. Because what we learn is that everyone is in need of salvation. And what we learn, not everyone will listen. Here’s the thing about the story of Nicodemus. And this is my opinion but there’s no way to prove it one way or the other. But I believe, and a lot of people that study this out believe this as well, that Nicodemus never got saved. Nicodemus did not get saved at the end of this conversation and he appears a few other times in the gospels and he just doesn’t seem like he ever got saved. Let me just kind of share a couple of those things with you. Go to John 7:47
John 7:47
Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
The Pharisees are attacking people and asking if they are also deceived. This is what the Pharisees are saying against Jesus. Notice what they say in verse 48.
John 7:48
Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
Now that’s exactly what Nicodemus was. That’s what the Bible tells us in John 3. He was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. And they’re saying, “Have any of the Pharisees or rulers believed on him?”.
John 7:49
But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
So here’s what they’re saying. All of you dumb people believe on Him but have any of us who are the rulers or Pharisees believed on him? Here Nicodemus has a great opportunity to stand up for the cause of Christ and testify “Yes. I’m a Pharisee and ruler of the people and I believe on Christ”. But notice, that’s not what he says.
John 7:50
Nicodemus saith unto them,
And notice what the Bible, the narrator of scripture highlights for us. He highlights the fact that
John 7:50
(he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
So in a parenthetical statement, it speaks about Nicodemus but he’s still “one of them”. He’s still one of who? The Pharisees, the Rulers. Notice what Nicodemus says
John 7:51-52
Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
They basically shut him down. He stands up for Jesus a little bit. I think that Nicodemus was a nice guy. I think he was sympathetic toward Christ and the cause of Christ. But I think this passage highlights for us that this guy did not get saved. He had a great opportunity here to stand up and give testimony. You say “Well there were other people that believed secretly and were secretly disciples”. But I don’t think Nicodemus was one of them. Let me show you that. Some of you are secret servants of Jesus at your job. You just don’t want people to know.
John 19:38-39
And after this Joseph of Arimathaea,
Notice what the Bible says but this is John telling a story under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. He’s the narrator. He says about Joseph of Arimathaea.
being a disciple of Jesus,
So look, Joseph of Arimathaea was a disciple of Jesus. No question about it.
but secretly for fear of the Jews,
So notice, he was a secret disciple.
besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
Joh 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first
Notice what’s highlighted.
came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Again, it’s highlighted that he came to Jesus by night. But it’s not highlighted that he ever got saved or did anything with it. In fact, in the previous verse it tells us about Joseph who was a disciple of Christ but secretly. John could have said “And Nicodemus also”. But he doesn’t say that. You say “Why?”. I think when the gospels were still being written, it’s clear that Nicodemus still wasn’t saved. And I tend to think that Nicodemus never got saved. And look, I could be wrong about this but it’s just my opinion. I think that if Nicodemus was going to get saved at any point in his life then the gospel writers would not have gone out of their way to mention someone else who got saved but not him. And here’s what’s interesting. And I want you to see what is very likely the last words that Jesus ever said to Nicodemus. Because when we get to John 3, what we’re reading is John giving us a narrative, he’s telling us a story of Jesus meeting with Nicodemus. Now let me just kind of explain this to you. There’s a lot of debate that goes back and forth as to where exactly the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus ended and where the commentary by John about the conversation begins. Now let me just say this. It doesn’t matter. And this is what I’m talking about. If you have a red lettered Bible edition, then it goes down in red to verse 21 and then in verse 22 begins a new story. And there’s debate about whether Jesus spoke all of those verses all the way down. And let me say, it doesn’t matter. It’s all God’s word. It doesn’t matter if he did or didn’t speak those words. It’s not like the words that came out of his mouth are more the words that John spoke. They’re all God’s Word. But with that, let me say this. You can’t just trust all the red letters in your Bible and say they were spoken by Jesus and here’s why. Because man just decided that. And most Bibles would just take you down to verse 21 and that’s fine. But just keep in mind, the same people that are deciding to go down to verse 21 with the red letters are the same people that put a map in your Bible showing the Children of Israel going around the Red Sea, not crossing the Red Sea. Some of these people put the Bible together and either don’t believe it or have a problem with it. Now, I don’t have a problem with Jesus speaking down through verse 21 but there are some arguments as to whether he spoke some of these words or if his conversation with Nicodemus ended and John takes on the commentary.
Now here’s one argument and I’m going to give this to you as this is the one I kind of lean toward. One of the arguments is that the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus actually ends in verse 12 and in verse 13, John begins his commentary on the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Another argument is the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus ends at verse 15 and John begins his commentary in verse 16 on the conversation.
So Jesus would end at “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”. And then John would begin his conversation at John 3:16 and saying here’s why Jesus said that: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ”
The other argument is that between verses 12 and 13 is where the conversation ends and John begins his commentary at John 3:13 “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”
Here’s some reasons why people believe that. First reason, when you look at the conversation between John 3:1-12, you see Jesus and Nicodemus speaking and as they are speaking it’s in the 1st person. So when you’re speaking in the 1st person, you’re saying “I, me, we”.
Notice verse 2 “The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him”. This is Nicodemus speaking. “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God”. Notice verse 3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again”. Look at verse 5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”. Verse 7 “Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”. Look at verse 11 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. ”. Verse 12 “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?”. So I want you to notice that he speaks through those verses in the 1st person. “I, we, I, we, I, we”. Between verses 12 and 13 or at 13, there’s now a shift in the wording and we go from 1st person to 3rd person. “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he”. So it’s talking about Jesus. Notice how it doesn’t say “Me or I”. That came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” So because of that, some people believe the conversation between Jesus & Nicodemus ended at verse 12 and switches to the commentary of John.
Here’s another reason why people believe that. And I tend to lean toward that. Verse 16, most famous verse in the Bible.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This is toward the end of this passage when possibly Jesus is speaking or possible John is speaking. Here’s what’s interesting. Verse 22 begins a new story.
John 3:22
“After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea;…”
We get this story about John the Baptist being questioned and then John is speaking toward the end. John 3:27 “John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”. Now here’s the thing, up to verse 30 we know that John the Baptist is speaking. Then it’s like the first story in John 3 where we’re not sure if John the Baptist is speaking or John the Apostle. Verse 31 “He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”. And here’s what I’m saying, there’s a lot of similarities between the last few verses of these stories. Where Jesus says “Not man that ascended up to heaven”. And here we read “He that cometh from above is above”. John 3:32 “And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.”. Of course, this sounds a lot like John 3:16. Verse 36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”. Because of those similarities people think this is now John commenting upon these stories. And here’s the thing, it doesn’t matter. It’s all God’s word. It’s not something to argue about or care about. Here’s the reason why I’m bringing that up. If that argument is true that the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus ends at verse 12, and verse 13 begins John’s commentary upon their conversation which I lean towards unless there is something I’m totally missing; Then it’s really interesting because I want you to notice the last thing that Jesus said to Nicodemus. He says “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?”. And if we go with the argument that at verse 12 the first person dialogue ends and then begins the 3rd person dialogue which is maybe the narrative that John is giving, then the last thing Jesus said to Nicodemus is that you don’t believe. And that kind of goes with everything else we know about Nicodemus that he just never got it. He never got saved. And here’s the lesson, here what we can learn is that many people will not get saved, in fact most people won’t get saved. The Bible says that broad is the way which leadeth to destruction. A lot of soulwinners get discouraged because they go out soulwinning and nobody gets saved. Let me say this. That is the norm. Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it. Let me tell you something, if you’re going out soulwinning and getting most people saved then there is something drastically wrong with your gospel presentation. Because broad is the way that leadeth to destruction. And here’s what’s interesting to me. The most famous conversation in the Bible. The most famous gospel presentation in the Bible. The most famous soulwinning event in the Bible and the guy did not get saved. What does that tell you? Do you know what God is highlighting? Most people aren’t going to get saved. “I talked to 10 people and 8 of them got saved”. You’re not preaching the gospel right. You’re not doing it right because broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat. So you know what, don’t get discouraged. You say, “Most people don’t believe when I go soulwinning”. Most people didn’t believe when Jesus went soulwinning. In fact they killed him. That’s how much they didn’t believe.
So we learn this lesson on soulwinning: It’s very possible that the last thing recorded in scripture that Jesus said to Nicodemus was “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? ”. And here’s what we learn. We learn that everyone needs the gospel but not everybody will get saved. In fact, most people won’t get saved. And there’s nothing wrong with Jesus’ presentation. There’s nothing wrong with the soulwinner. It was perfect. But Nicodemus did not believe.