Bible League: Living His Word Jesus answered, "I assure you; everyone must be born again. Anyone who is not born again cannot be in God's kingdom." — John 3:3 ERV Salvation is reconciliation with God through Christ Jesus! It is unmerited favor and forgiveness of sin. God sees those who have repented as guilt-free because the blood of Jesus has spoken for our deliverance and salvation! Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, a governing body for the Jews. In the Roman government, the Jews were allowed to have their independent court attending to matters regarding Jewish law and faith. Nicodemus did not know much about being born-again. He came at night to Jesus because of the miracles that Jesus had done. However, Jesus did not beat around the bush; He emphasized the importance of being born-again to Nicodemus. Jesus reiterates the word "born-again" several times in this chapter. In Acts 8, Philip had to reach out to the unreached and he led many people to Christ! The Ethiopian man went home excited after hearing the Good News. "The official continued on his way home. He was very happy" (Acts 8:39). The Good News draws our hearts to Christ's grace, leading each one to repentance! A minister of the Word once said that he would have lived a useless life if he did not lead his audience and colleagues to Christ! He shared a story about two friends who used to socialize and have parties together. One passed on before he was saved, and the minister was requested to preach and comfort the bereaving family. The friend who was alive heard the Gospel message and gave his heart to Jesus. Several years later, the saved friend died too. The minister imagined that in the spiritual world, they met together since both had died. The one who died before receiving Jesus invited the one who received Christ to the area where there are worldly parties, but the born-again one said, "No, my friend, I cannot come where you are, because I accepted Jesus Christ at your funeral. Now, I am crossing over from judgement to eternity, from darkness to light, from death to life in Christ" (John 5:24)! Beloved, Jesus said everyone must be born again! Give Jesus your heart and follow him! The Kingdom of God is governed by one King, Jesus Christ! So, to be part of it, one has to surrender everything to Jesus Christ. Nicodemus was a blessed man, but he visited Jesus during the night because of fear. You might be going through the darkest valley, but Jesus is there; even during the brightest day in your life, He is extending an invitation to come to His Kingdom! When the judgement was supposed to condemn us, we escaped by coming to His Kingdom which is filled with grace and wonder! (John 3:18). Nicodemus realized the most important decision was to give his life to Jesus. Scripture says: "I tell you this, brothers, and sisters: Our bodies of flesh and blood cannot have a part in God's kingdom. Something that will ruin cannot have a part in something that never ruins" (1 Corinthians 15:50). Nicodemus became a true follower of Jesus while being a leader of his community, he advocated that Jesus must have a fair trial (John 7:50-51). He even assisted a wealthy man in burying Christ's body after he died (John 19:38-39). When you follow Christ, you are not to be persuaded by anything—focus on Him alone! By Christopher Thetswe, Bible League International staff, South Africa Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingZechariah 10, 11, 12 Zechariah 10 -- God Will Bless Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Zechariah 11 -- The Two Shepherds: Feed the flock of slaughter NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Zechariah 12 -- Jerusalem a Burdensome Stone to Her Adversaries: They will mourn the one they have pierced NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 20 Revelation 20 -- Satan Bound for a Thousand Years; The Judgment NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.Insight Here, John was attacking the second claim of the false teachers: that people had no natural tendency toward sin, that they “[had] no sin,'' and that they were then incapable of sinning. This idea is at best self-deception and at worst a bald-faced lie. The false teachers refused to take sin seriously. They wanted to be considered Christians, but they saw no need to confess and repent. The death of Christ did not mean much to them because they didn't think they needed it. Instead of repenting and being purified by Christ's blood, they were encouraging sin among believers. Challenge In this life we are always capable of sinning, so we should never let down our guard. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Samuel 7:12 Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.The word "hitherto" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, "hitherto the Lord hath helped!" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honor, in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, "hitherto hath the Lord helped us!" We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "hitherto." But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes "hitherto," he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus' likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fulness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy "Ebenezer," for-- He who hath helped thee hitherto Will help thee all thy journey through. When read in heaven's light how glorious and marvellous a prospect will thy "hitherto" unfold to thy grateful eye! Daily Light on the Daily Path Ephesians 5:17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; Job 22:21 "Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you. John 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Colossians 1:9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Ephesians 1:17-19 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. • I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, • and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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