Class 3 from this series was used in GCT Episode 367.<\/p>\n
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\nOK, so I’d like to start out
\nthis morning sharing with you <\/p>\n
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\nsome of the scriptural
\nreferences and characters of the<\/p>\n
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\nBible that have helped people’s
\nfaith to be built up. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd I’ve been very pleased with
\nthe ones that I’ve gotten so <\/p>\n
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\nfar.
\nSo if you have some after today <\/p>\n
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\nor today, later today, bring
\nthem to me as well. <\/p>\n
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\nSo we actually started out with
\nRuth the Moabitess. <\/p>\n
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\nRuth was able to see the truth
\nin her mother-in-law and chose <\/p>\n
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\nthe truth.
\nActually we I was thinking we <\/p>\n
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\nwere going to end with Naomi,
\nbut we had a few more. <\/p>\n
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\nNaomi made the good choice to go
\nback even with all of the bad <\/p>\n
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\nthings that had happened to her.
\nRahab just had an incredible <\/p>\n
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\nfaith.
\nThe woman that anointed Jesus <\/p>\n
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\nfeet when others was saying
\nthat, that she was wasting money<\/p>\n
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\nthat could have been given to
\nthe poor Peter. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd Peter’s my only duplicate
\nand I was surprised by that. <\/p>\n
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\nIn the list of people so far,
\nPeter is so real. <\/p>\n
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\nHe’s probably better than me and
\nyet people didn’t think of him <\/p>\n
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\nthat way.
\nHe’s so complex, he’s so real, <\/p>\n
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\nbut then he walks on the water
\nand then he falls into the <\/p>\n
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\nwater.
\nSo a great guy with Peter and <\/p>\n
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\nthe brother that told me about
\nPeter was wondering why I didn’t<\/p>\n
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\nhave a class on Peter.
\nSo yeah, good point. <\/p>\n
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\nMaybe if he gives me a little
\nbit more information, we could <\/p>\n
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\ndo that in the future.
\nElijah in his failure, and I <\/p>\n
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\nthought that was great.
\nHe had some some things he had <\/p>\n
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\nto learn.
\nTimothy because he was in a <\/p>\n
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\nsituation just like mine.
\nThe brother told me Romans talks<\/p>\n
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\nabout being justified by faith.
\nWe had Romans chapter 838 and <\/p>\n
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\n39.
\nFor I am persuaded that neither <\/p>\n
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\ndeath, nor life, nor angels, nor
\nprincipalities, nor powers, nor <\/p>\n
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\nthings present, nor things to
\ncome, nor height, nor depth, nor<\/p>\n
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\nany other creature should be
\nable to separate us from the <\/p>\n
35
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\nlove of God, which is in Christ
\nJesus our Lord. <\/p>\n
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\nSo very, very powerful verses
\nthere, Joseph. <\/p>\n
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\nHe says over and over again.
\nThe Scripture says over and over<\/p>\n
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\nagain that God was with him.
\nPsalm 11937 turn my eyes from <\/p>\n
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\nlooking at worthless things we
\nthought of we’re thinking there <\/p>\n
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\nabout the the gods of this
\nworld, Gideon God’s incredible <\/p>\n
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\npatience with Gideon and then
\nPeter for the second time, Peter<\/p>\n
42
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\nalways gets back up.
\nWe had Psalm one verse one <\/p>\n
43
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\nblessed is the man that walketh
\nnot in the counsel of the <\/p>\n
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\nungodly, nor standeth in the way
\nof sinners, nor sitteth in the <\/p>\n
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\nseat of the scornful.
\nThey’re like a tree that’s <\/p>\n
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\nplanted by the rivers of water.
\nSo again, just really, really <\/p>\n
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\npowerful.
\nWe had Joshua be strong and of <\/p>\n
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\ngood courage from a sister going
\nthrough some very difficult <\/p>\n
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\ntimes.
\nAnd then we had job and the <\/p>\n
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\nsuffering of job from a brother
\nthat’s also going through some <\/p>\n
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\nsome very difficult times and
\nlooked at job for for strength <\/p>\n
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\nin that.
\nSo those are really good. <\/p>\n
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\nI guess I got a couple more.
\nI thought that was the end. <\/p>\n
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\nGenesis 15 One after these
\nthings, the word of the Lord <\/p>\n
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\ncame unto Abraham in a vision,
\nsaying, Fear not, Abram, I am <\/p>\n
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\nthy shield and thy exceeding
\ngreat reward. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd the brother here says that
\nhe likes to substitute his own <\/p>\n
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\nname in there and instead of
\nAbram. <\/p>\n
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\nSo that’s really good.
\nWe had Jephthah’s daughter who <\/p>\n
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\ngave a life of service and was
\nwilling to submit to a vow that <\/p>\n
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\nwasn’t even her own in her in
\nher humility. <\/p>\n
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\nJoshua 9.
\nAnd that could just do the whole<\/p>\n
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\nclass.
\nI think on these right? <\/p>\n
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\nJoshua one verse 9.
\nHave I not commanded you be <\/p>\n
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\nstrong and of good courage?
\nSo that was a really good one as<\/p>\n
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\nwell.
\nSo some great things that we <\/p>\n
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\nhave here.
\nPlease keep them coming and <\/p>\n
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\nwe’ll we’ll share them with
\nothers later on. <\/p>\n
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\nSo from yesterday, just a quick
\na quick review of yesterday. <\/p>\n
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\nWe learned that if we want to
\nhave a saving faith, that we <\/p>\n
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\nmust have the knowledge of the
\nWord of God if we want to have a<\/p>\n
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\nsaving faith.
\nI mean, there’s people that have<\/p>\n
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\nbelief, but it’s not a saving
\nbelief unless it’s based on the <\/p>\n
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\nWord of God.
\nWe also learned that it’s <\/p>\n
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\npossible for us to read the Word
\nand to not develop faith, to be <\/p>\n
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\nin it, to be academic with it,
\nand for not to have an impact on<\/p>\n
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\nus.
\nSo today what we’re going to <\/p>\n
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\nlook at is we’re going to look
\nat the example of Nicodemus. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd after Jesus left Capernaum,
\nsorry, he left Cana, he went to <\/p>\n
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\nCapernaum, and then he goes up
\nto Jerusalem for the first time <\/p>\n
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\npublicly, really in his ministry
\nto go to the feast of the <\/p>\n
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\nPassover.
\nSo the first Passover, his first<\/p>\n
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\nreal trip to Jerusalem in his
\nministry. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd he makes a really big
\nappearance at that place. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd the title of this class, as
\nJames mentioned, is Men Loved <\/p>\n
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\nDarkness.
\nAnd it’s about really, when it <\/p>\n
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\ncomes down to it, the importance
\nof the belief that we have. <\/p>\n
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\nWe might think that it doesn’t
\nmatter what we believe. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd that’s a, that’s a very
\ncommon idea, but it very much <\/p>\n
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\nmatters what we believe.
\nAnd that’s what Jesus is going <\/p>\n
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\nto, he’s going to work here with
\nNicodemus to show him in chapter<\/p>\n
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\nchapter 3.
\nSo if you open your Bibles to <\/p>\n
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\nchapter 2, there’s a little bit
\nof information in Chapter 2 that<\/p>\n
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\ngets us started with the story
\nof Nicodemus. <\/p>\n
95
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\nPicture the people all at the
\nPassover that this huge, huge <\/p>\n
96
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\nfestival commemorating Israel’s
\ndeliverance from Egypt, their <\/p>\n
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\ndeliverance from the bondage to
\nsin. <\/p>\n
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\nThat’s important for what we’re
\ngoing to look at today. <\/p>\n
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\nThe Passover feast was also
\nknown as the Feast of Unleavened<\/p>\n
100
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\nBread.
\nAlso very important, the people <\/p>\n
101
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\nwould remove leaven from their
\nhomes. <\/p>\n
102
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\nSo this is the beginning of the
\nyear. <\/p>\n
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\nThey’re removing leaven from
\ntheir homes, and this is a great<\/p>\n
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\nstart to the year, kind of
\ngiving them the need or making <\/p>\n
105
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\nthem understand the need to do
\nthat for the whole year. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd that was their focus.
\nAnd so people from all over <\/p>\n
107
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\nIsrael would come to Jerusalem.
\nAnd Josephus tells us that at <\/p>\n
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\nthese during the 1st century,
\nthere might be as many as 3 <\/p>\n
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\nmillion people that would come
\nup to Jerusalem for the <\/p>\n
110
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\nPassover.
\nNow, that seems like an <\/p>\n
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\nincredibly large number, but
\nthat’s what Josephus tells us <\/p>\n
112
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\nabout that.
\nSo Jesus comes into the city for<\/p>\n
113
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\nthe feast and the first thing he
\ndoes, I found very surprising. <\/p>\n
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\nThe first thing he does is he
\ngoes into the temple and he <\/p>\n
115
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\nfinds the people that are
\nselling oxen, sheep and doves <\/p>\n
116
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\nand the money changers and he
\nmakes a whip of small cords and <\/p>\n
117
\n00:06:31,080 –> 00:06:33,960
\nhe drives them out of the
\ntemple. <\/p>\n
118
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\nWe’re told that he was consumed
\nwith his zeal for God’s house, <\/p>\n
119
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\nhis his heat, his zeal, which is
\nhis heat. <\/p>\n
120
\n00:06:41,760 –> 00:06:46,280
\nHe was so upset for the way that
\nthe temple was being misused and<\/p>\n
121
\n00:06:46,280 –> 00:06:50,440
\nhe said don’t make my father’s
\nhouse a House of trade or a <\/p>\n
122
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\nHouse of merchandise.
\nIt was supposed to be instead a <\/p>\n
123
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\nHouse of prayer for all nations.
\nNow I wonder what the people <\/p>\n
124
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\nwould have thought as Jesus did
\nthat as he came up. <\/p>\n
125
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\nHere’s this guy that they they
\nmay have heard of from what he’d<\/p>\n
126
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\nbeen doing already, and he comes
\nup and he drives out the money <\/p>\n
127
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\nchangers out of out of his
\nfather’s house. <\/p>\n
128
\n00:07:15,480 –> 00:07:18,320
\nI wonder what they would have
\nbeen thinking would they’ve been<\/p>\n
129
\n00:07:18,320 –> 00:07:21,360
\nwondering why isn’t somebody
\nstopping him from doing that? <\/p>\n
130
\n00:07:21,360 –> 00:07:25,240
\nI bet there would have been some
\nthat were thinking, you know, <\/p>\n
131
\n00:07:25,440 –> 00:07:29,400
\nit’s about time somebody did
\nthat to those guys that are <\/p>\n
132
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\nthere in the temple.
\nAnd I think the people of <\/p>\n
133
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\nJerusalem, the people that were
\nthere for the for the Passover <\/p>\n
134
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\nwould never have forgotten the
\nday that Jesus came and he <\/p>\n
135
\n00:07:38,320 –> 00:07:41,120
\ncleansed the temple.
\nAnd they would have been asking <\/p>\n
136
\n00:07:41,400 –> 00:07:44,440
\nwho is he?
\nWhy is he so upset? <\/p>\n
137
\n00:07:45,200 –> 00:07:48,920
\nIs he a prophet?
\nIs he the prophet like Moses? <\/p>\n
138
\n00:07:48,920 –> 00:07:52,480
\nIs he the Messiah?
\nAnd then we get this look into <\/p>\n
139
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\nthe mind of the Pharisees in
\nJohn 2 verse 18. <\/p>\n
140
\n00:07:55,760 –> 00:08:00,440
\nAnd what are they thinking?
\nThey say to Jesus, what sign can<\/p>\n
141
\n00:08:00,440 –> 00:08:03,240
\nyou give us for doing these
\nthings? <\/p>\n
142
\n00:08:04,120 –> 00:08:08,480
\nWhat makes you think that you
\ncan drive us out of the temple? <\/p>\n
143
\n00:08:10,000 –> 00:08:13,520
\nThey would have thought, you
\nknow, if he’s a prophet, if he’s<\/p>\n
144
\n00:08:13,520 –> 00:08:16,920
\nif he’s the Messiah, he should
\nbe able to give us some sort of <\/p>\n
145
\n00:08:16,920 –> 00:08:22,880
\na sign in verse 23 says he was
\ndoing miracles. <\/p>\n
146
\n00:08:22,880 –> 00:08:27,160
\nLook at verse 23 says when Jesus
\nwas in Jerusalem at the Passover<\/p>\n
147
\n00:08:27,160 –> 00:08:30,640
\nfeast.
\nMany believe, so get your <\/p>\n
148
\n00:08:30,640 –> 00:08:34,679
\nmarking pencils out for that.
\nHe believed in his name when <\/p>\n
149
\n00:08:34,679 –> 00:08:38,919
\nthey saw the signs that he was
\ndoing so Jesus was doing signs. <\/p>\n
150
\n00:08:39,480 –> 00:08:42,600
\nImagine the spectacle.
\nSo we’ve already had one <\/p>\n
151
\n00:08:42,600 –> 00:08:45,720
\nspectacle of him in the temple.
\nNow imagine the second spectacle<\/p>\n
152
\n00:08:45,720 –> 00:08:48,200
\nof Jesus starting to do
\nmiracles. <\/p>\n
153
\n00:08:48,720 –> 00:08:51,640
\nPeople had never seen miracles
\nbefore, right? <\/p>\n
154
\n00:08:51,640 –> 00:08:54,400
\nIf they’d read about them, but
\nthey’ve never seen one. <\/p>\n
155
\n00:08:54,400 –> 00:08:57,560
\nAnd Jesus is doing these
\nmiracles in Jerusalem. <\/p>\n
156
\n00:08:57,560 –> 00:08:59,520
\nAnd they would have been asking,
\nis this the Messiah? <\/p>\n
157
\n00:09:00,320 –> 00:09:03,760
\nIs this, is this the Kingdom of
\nGod that John the Baptist has <\/p>\n
158
\n00:09:03,760 –> 00:09:06,480
\nbeen talking about?
\nAnd the news of Jesus would have<\/p>\n
159
\n00:09:06,480 –> 00:09:08,280
\nwould have raced through the
\ncity of Jerusalem. <\/p>\n
160
\n00:09:08,880 –> 00:09:13,240
\nAnd John tells us that because
\nof those miracles, many people <\/p>\n
161
\n00:09:13,240 –> 00:09:17,400
\nbelieved in Jesus.
\nThere’s no doubt that many <\/p>\n
162
\n00:09:17,400 –> 00:09:20,280
\npeople believed that the Messiah
\nhad come. <\/p>\n
163
\n00:09:20,280 –> 00:09:24,360
\nAnd now I think it would be
\nreally cool to have been able to<\/p>\n
164
\n00:09:24,360 –> 00:09:27,760
\njust stop right there.
\nHundreds of thousands of people <\/p>\n
165
\n00:09:27,760 –> 00:09:30,480
\nbelieved that the Messiah had
\ncome. <\/p>\n
166
\n00:09:31,480 –> 00:09:34,400
\nThey believed that Israel was
\nabout to be restored. <\/p>\n
167
\n00:09:36,120 –> 00:09:40,760
\nBut verse 24 and 25 say
\nsomething that’s really unusual,<\/p>\n
168
\n00:09:41,160 –> 00:09:43,840
\nreally makes us think, and I
\nthink that’s that’s what John is<\/p>\n
169
\n00:09:43,840 –> 00:09:48,520
\ntrying to do here.
\nVerse 24 it says, but Jesus on <\/p>\n
170
\n00:09:48,520 –> 00:09:54,520
\nhis part did not entrust that
\nword and trust, interestingly <\/p>\n
171
\n00:09:54,520 –> 00:09:57,440
\nenough, is the same word for
\nbelieve that we’ve been looking <\/p>\n
172
\n00:09:57,440 –> 00:10:00,280
\nat.
\nSo Jesus on his part did not <\/p>\n
173
\n00:10:00,280 –> 00:10:05,120
\nbelieve himself to them, so he
\ndidn’t entrust himself to them. <\/p>\n
174
\n00:10:06,200 –> 00:10:09,440
\nLiterally, the word there is the
\nword believe, and it’s a play on<\/p>\n
175
\n00:10:09,440 –> 00:10:12,040
\nwords.
\nThey believed in him, but he did<\/p>\n
176
\n00:10:12,040 –> 00:10:16,000
\nnot believe in them.
\nThey were not the kind of people<\/p>\n
177
\n00:10:16,200 –> 00:10:18,880
\nthat Jesus could put his trust
\nin. <\/p>\n
178
\n00:10:19,880 –> 00:10:22,960
\nNow that’s an interesting
\naddition to our study of belief,<\/p>\n
179
\n00:10:22,960 –> 00:10:27,360
\nisn’t it?
\nSometimes people that believe in<\/p>\n
180
\n00:10:27,360 –> 00:10:34,000
\nJesus are of no use to him.
\nThen John I think explains this <\/p>\n
181
\n00:10:34,000 –> 00:10:37,680
\nsomewhat for us.
\nHe says because he knew all <\/p>\n
182
\n00:10:37,680 –> 00:10:41,160
\npeople.
\nAnd verse 25 says and he needed <\/p>\n
183
\n00:10:41,360 –> 00:10:47,640
\nno one to bear witness about man
\nfor he himself knew what was in <\/p>\n
184
\n00:10:48,000 –> 00:10:50,800
\nman.
\nAll right, what’s John saying <\/p>\n
185
\n00:10:50,800 –> 00:10:53,360
\nhere?
\nA lot of people believe that <\/p>\n
186
\n00:10:53,440 –> 00:10:57,960
\nJesus had come from God, that he
\nwas the Messiah and they’d taken<\/p>\n
187
\n00:10:57,960 –> 00:11:01,160
\nand, and had Jesus at this point
\nin time taken the throne, they <\/p>\n
188
\n00:11:01,160 –> 00:11:04,720
\nwould have been happy to follow
\nhim, probably by the millions. <\/p>\n
189
\n00:11:05,920 –> 00:11:09,680
\nBut we know that when later on,
\nwhen Jesus does take the throne,<\/p>\n
190
\n00:11:10,880 –> 00:11:13,320
\nwhat happens?
\nSorry, later on when Jesus <\/p>\n
191
\n00:11:13,320 –> 00:11:15,360
\ndoesn’t take the throne, what
\nhappens? <\/p>\n
192
\n00:11:15,520 –> 00:11:19,480
\nHe instead goes to the cross and
\ntheir belief in him is is is <\/p>\n
193
\n00:11:19,480 –> 00:11:22,040
\nlong gone.
\nSo as chapter 2 ends, we’re, <\/p>\n
194
\n00:11:22,040 –> 00:11:25,160
\nwe’re left wondering what John
\nis actually telling us here <\/p>\n
195
\n00:11:25,760 –> 00:11:29,040
\nabout belief.
\nBut at the end of chapter 2, <\/p>\n
196
\n00:11:29,040 –> 00:11:32,480
\nthen if you look at that last
\nverse, it ends by telling us <\/p>\n
197
\n00:11:32,480 –> 00:11:38,560
\nthat Jesus knew what was in man.
\nAnd then chapter 3 begins with <\/p>\n
198
\n00:11:39,240 –> 00:11:45,040
\nnow there was a man.
\nJohn is saying, look, I, I, I’ve<\/p>\n
199
\n00:11:45,040 –> 00:11:47,000
\nleft something here for you
\nthat’s going to make you wonder.<\/p>\n
200
\n00:11:47,080 –> 00:11:49,840
\nI’m now going to explain to you
\nthat point. <\/p>\n
201
\n00:11:49,840 –> 00:11:52,600
\nI’m going to explain to you what
\nI was trying to say to you, and <\/p>\n
202
\n00:11:52,600 –> 00:11:55,680
\nI’m going to do it in this man,
\nNicodemus. <\/p>\n
203
\n00:11:55,680 –> 00:11:57,600
\nI’m going to show you exactly
\nwhat I had in mind. <\/p>\n
204
\n00:11:58,360 –> 00:12:01,240
\nAnd Nicodemus is a man which is
\njust like the people of <\/p>\n
205
\n00:12:01,240 –> 00:12:03,560
\nJerusalem.
\nHe’s a man which believed in <\/p>\n
206
\n00:12:03,560 –> 00:12:07,680
\nJesus because he saw the
\nmiracles and he’s also a man <\/p>\n
207
\n00:12:07,920 –> 00:12:11,800
\nthat Jesus did not believe in.
\nAs we’re going to see as we read<\/p>\n
208
\n00:12:11,800 –> 00:12:16,120
\nthrough this now we know
\nNicodemus and we know in the end<\/p>\n
209
\n00:12:16,120 –> 00:12:19,240
\nthat this is this is really just
\nthe beginning of a wonderful <\/p>\n
210
\n00:12:19,240 –> 00:12:23,040
\nstory of a man that has great
\nfaith, but that’s not where he’s<\/p>\n
211
\n00:12:23,040 –> 00:12:26,920
\nat in John chapter 3.
\nSo John chapter 3, verse one. <\/p>\n
212
\n00:12:26,920 –> 00:12:30,360
\nAnd there was a man of the
\nPharisees named Nicodemus, a <\/p>\n
213
\n00:12:30,360 –> 00:12:33,720
\nruler of the Jews.
\nSo he’s a, he’s a teacher in <\/p>\n
214
\n00:12:33,720 –> 00:12:35,040
\nIsrael.
\nHe’s a ruler. <\/p>\n
215
\n00:12:35,040 –> 00:12:39,440
\nIt’s literally chief ruler, the
\nmember of the Sanhedrin, and <\/p>\n
216
\n00:12:39,440 –> 00:12:43,360
\nhe’s one of the chief teachers.
\nWe find out later on he knows <\/p>\n
217
\n00:12:43,360 –> 00:12:45,800
\nhis Bible in that way.
\nHe’s like Nathaniel. <\/p>\n
218
\n00:12:46,160 –> 00:12:49,280
\nSo we would expect if he comes
\nto Jesus, that he has a <\/p>\n
219
\n00:12:49,280 –> 00:12:52,760
\nconversation with Jesus, that
\nhis faith would be ready to go. <\/p>\n
220
\n00:12:52,960 –> 00:12:56,960
\nJust just with a few mentions,
\njust like Nathaniel’s was just a<\/p>\n
221
\n00:12:56,960 –> 00:12:59,480
\ncouple of statements that it
\nshould just just click for him. <\/p>\n
222
\n00:13:00,400 –> 00:13:02,040
\nBut that’s not where Nicodemus
\nis. <\/p>\n
223
\n00:13:03,080 –> 00:13:07,960
\nNicodemus famously comes to
\nJesus, we’re told at night and <\/p>\n
224
\n00:13:07,960 –> 00:13:12,480
\nhe says to Jesus in verse 2,
\nRabbi, we know that you’re a <\/p>\n
225
\n00:13:12,480 –> 00:13:16,280
\nteacher, come from God for no
\none could do these signs that <\/p>\n
226
\n00:13:16,280 –> 00:13:19,840
\nyou do unless God is with him.
\nSo like we said, he’s just like <\/p>\n
227
\n00:13:19,840 –> 00:13:22,320
\nthe crowds at the Passover.
\nHe believes. <\/p>\n
228
\n00:13:23,880 –> 00:13:26,760
\nNow what do you think this
\nteacher of Israel would have <\/p>\n
229
\n00:13:26,760 –> 00:13:31,200
\nbeen thinking about Jesus?
\nWhat do you think he’s thinking <\/p>\n
230
\n00:13:31,200 –> 00:13:35,080
\nas he comes at night to Jesus?
\nI think he’s open to the idea <\/p>\n
231
\n00:13:35,080 –> 00:13:39,520
\nthat Jesus was the Messiah.
\nMaybe he’d come to find out what<\/p>\n
232
\n00:13:39,560 –> 00:13:45,560
\nJesus plan was, maybe to see how
\nhe and the Pharisees could be a <\/p>\n
233
\n00:13:45,560 –> 00:13:50,000
\npart of that plan.
\nWhat was Nicodemus expecting <\/p>\n
234
\n00:13:50,360 –> 00:13:55,160
\nfrom the Messiah?
\nWe get a clue if we get out to <\/p>\n
235
\n00:13:55,160 –> 00:13:59,280
\nverse 13 and verse 14.
\nWe get a clue where Jesus uses a<\/p>\n
236
\n00:13:59,280 –> 00:14:03,800
\ntitle for himself, implying that
\nthis is what the conversation is<\/p>\n
237
\n00:14:03,800 –> 00:14:08,040
\nabout with Nicodemus.
\nHe uses the title for himself. <\/p>\n
238
\n00:14:08,040 –> 00:14:10,520
\nThat’s very familiar to the
\nJews. <\/p>\n
239
\n00:14:11,200 –> 00:14:14,320
\nAnd he calls himself the Son of
\nMan. <\/p>\n
240
\n00:14:15,000 –> 00:14:18,680
\nAnd of all the names that Jesus
\nuses for himself, the Son of Man<\/p>\n
241
\n00:14:19,160 –> 00:14:21,720
\nis the name, the title that he
\nuses the most. <\/p>\n
242
\n00:14:22,160 –> 00:14:26,640
\nAnd in verse 14, he tells
\nNicodemus that the Son of Man <\/p>\n
243
\n00:14:27,000 –> 00:14:30,960
\nmust be lifted up.
\nSo our question is, we’re going <\/p>\n
244
\n00:14:30,960 –> 00:14:32,200
\nto try to research and look at
\nyou. <\/p>\n
245
\n00:14:32,280 –> 00:14:37,880
\nWhat did the term the Son of Man
\nmean to Nicodemus? <\/p>\n
246
\n00:14:38,880 –> 00:14:41,240
\nThere’s a couple of helpful
\nprophecies that probably come to<\/p>\n
247
\n00:14:41,240 –> 00:14:42,840
\nyour mind.
\nLet’s go first to Psalm 8. <\/p>\n
248
\n00:14:44,760 –> 00:14:48,320
\nSo Psalm 8 is about the work of
\nChrist and the Saints. <\/p>\n
249
\n00:14:48,640 –> 00:14:52,440
\nIt’s written by David after he
\nkilled Goliath, and it’s about <\/p>\n
250
\n00:14:52,440 –> 00:14:57,440
\nthe victory ultimately of Christ
\nand the victory of the Saints. <\/p>\n
251
\n00:14:57,880 –> 00:15:01,000
\nPsalm 8 verse 4 says, what is
\nman? <\/p>\n
252
\n00:15:01,000 –> 00:15:05,280
\nThat thou art mindful of him and
\nthe Son of man that thou <\/p>\n
253
\n00:15:05,280 –> 00:15:08,840
\nvisitest him.
\nNow Rotherham there says that <\/p>\n
254
\n00:15:08,840 –> 00:15:12,600
\nthou should set him in charge.
\nSo this is talking about the Son<\/p>\n
255
\n00:15:12,600 –> 00:15:15,320
\nof man being set in charge by
\nGod. <\/p>\n
256
\n00:15:16,000 –> 00:15:19,480
\nHe says for thou has made him a
\nlittle lower than the angels and<\/p>\n
257
\n00:15:19,480 –> 00:15:21,840
\nwe recognize that as a quote
\nfrom Hebrews 2. <\/p>\n
258
\n00:15:21,960 –> 00:15:24,560
\nSo he’s he’s this is clearly a
\nreference to Christ. <\/p>\n
259
\n00:15:25,000 –> 00:15:27,760
\nAnd then he continues in verse
\nverse 5. <\/p>\n
260
\n00:15:27,760 –> 00:15:31,640
\nHe says, what is man that thou
\nare mindful of him for thou has <\/p>\n
261
\n00:15:31,640 –> 00:15:35,520
\nmade him a little lower than the
\nangels. <\/p>\n
262
\n00:15:35,840 –> 00:15:40,440
\nSee here.
\nAnd then he says, And as crowned<\/p>\n
263
\n00:15:40,440 –> 00:15:46,280
\nhim with glory and honor, Thou
\nmade us him to have dominion <\/p>\n
264
\n00:15:46,800 –> 00:15:49,760
\nover the works of thy hands.
\nAnd what do we think of when we <\/p>\n
265
\n00:15:49,760 –> 00:15:53,520
\nthink of dominion?
\nWe think about man having <\/p>\n
266
\n00:15:53,520 –> 00:15:55,240
\ndominion.
\nWe think about Genesis chapter <\/p>\n
267
\n00:15:55,240 –> 00:15:57,800
\n1.
\nI think Genesis 1 and verse 26. <\/p>\n
268
\n00:15:58,080 –> 00:16:03,040
\nSo Genesis 1 and 26 talks about
\nthe dominion that God intended <\/p>\n
269
\n00:16:03,040 –> 00:16:05,640
\nfor man to have over His
\ncreation. <\/p>\n
270
\n00:16:06,040 –> 00:16:09,040
\nSo he says thou made us him to
\nhave dominion over the works of <\/p>\n
271
\n00:16:09,040 –> 00:16:12,400
\nthy hands.
\nThou has put all things under <\/p>\n
272
\n00:16:12,400 –> 00:16:16,160
\nhis feet.
\nWell Genesis one verse 26 also <\/p>\n
273
\n00:16:16,160 –> 00:16:19,360
\ntalks about man being created in
\nthe image of God. <\/p>\n
274
\n00:16:20,200 –> 00:16:23,800
\nThe image here in, in Genesis
\none, verse 26, I should say, <\/p>\n
275
\n00:16:24,280 –> 00:16:28,560
\ntalks about Jesus or man being
\ngiven the ability to develop <\/p>\n
276
\n00:16:28,560 –> 00:16:32,440
\ngodly thinking and a godly
\ncharacter and ability that the <\/p>\n
277
\n00:16:32,440 –> 00:16:36,400
\nother creatures didn’t have.
\nHowever, we know Adam and Eve <\/p>\n
278
\n00:16:36,400 –> 00:16:40,760
\ndidn’t didn’t live up to that.
\nSo verse 8 talks about all <\/p>\n
279
\n00:16:40,760 –> 00:16:44,480
\nthings being put under his feet.
\nThe Son of man was going to rule<\/p>\n
280
\n00:16:44,480 –> 00:16:46,760
\nover creation.
\nSo that’s interesting. <\/p>\n
281
\n00:16:46,760 –> 00:16:49,880
\nThat would have been on the mind
\nof, of, of Nicodemus as he <\/p>\n
282
\n00:16:49,880 –> 00:16:53,040
\nthinks about the son of man,
\nwho’s also the the Messiah. <\/p>\n
283
\n00:16:53,680 –> 00:16:56,040
\nLet’s also go to another one.
\nYou’ll be very familiar with <\/p>\n
284
\n00:16:56,040 –> 00:17:00,560
\nDaniel Chapter 7.
\nNow Daniel Chapter 7, we know as<\/p>\n
285
\n00:17:00,560 –> 00:17:04,640
\na very important prophecy of the
\nof the world empires that we’re <\/p>\n
286
\n00:17:04,640 –> 00:17:08,359
\ngoing to come after Babylon.
\nWe know the lion represents <\/p>\n
287
\n00:17:08,359 –> 00:17:12,480
\nBabylon, the bear Medo, Persia,
\nthe leopard, Greece. <\/p>\n
288
\n00:17:13,040 –> 00:17:15,079
\nAnd then the 4th beast
\nrepresents Rome. <\/p>\n
289
\n00:17:15,920 –> 00:17:18,200
\nSo that’s the context of Daniel
\nChapter 7. <\/p>\n
290
\n00:17:18,680 –> 00:17:21,920
\nAnd Daniel 7 is where the Son of
\nman is mentioned. <\/p>\n
291
\n00:17:22,480 –> 00:17:26,280
\nAnd verse 13, Daniel 7, verse
\n13, I think it’s, it’s probably <\/p>\n
292
\n00:17:26,280 –> 00:17:28,359
\na verse that would have been a
\nbit confusing to them. <\/p>\n
293
\n00:17:28,720 –> 00:17:32,440
\nIt’s pretty clear to us.
\nDaniel 713 says I saw in the <\/p>\n
294
\n00:17:32,440 –> 00:17:37,440
\nnight visions and behold, one
\nlike the Son of man came with <\/p>\n
295
\n00:17:37,440 –> 00:17:40,320
\nthe clouds of heaven.
\nIt came to the ancient of days <\/p>\n
296
\n00:17:40,680 –> 00:17:42,960
\nand they brought him near before
\nhim. <\/p>\n
297
\n00:17:43,480 –> 00:17:47,600
\nAnd we recognize this, I think
\nas the as a being fulfilled in <\/p>\n
298
\n00:17:47,600 –> 00:17:51,120
\nActs chapter 1 when Christ
\nascended up into the clouds and <\/p>\n
299
\n00:17:51,120 –> 00:17:54,080
\nultimately went to the right
\nhand of God and he’s taken into <\/p>\n
300
\n00:17:54,080 –> 00:17:58,880
\nthe presence of God.
\nSo Jesus is is brought near to <\/p>\n
301
\n00:17:58,880 –> 00:18:00,960
\nthe ancient of days is what
\nthat’s telling us. <\/p>\n
302
\n00:18:01,480 –> 00:18:07,720
\nSo what does he say next?
\nHe says, and there was given him<\/p>\n
303
\n00:18:08,120 –> 00:18:14,120
\ndominion and glory and a Kingdom
\nthat all people and nations and <\/p>\n
304
\n00:18:14,120 –> 00:18:18,400
\nlanguages should serve him.
\nSo if you’re a Jew and you’re <\/p>\n
305
\n00:18:18,400 –> 00:18:21,840
\nwaiting for the Messiah to come
\nand you recognize that the <\/p>\n
306
\n00:18:21,840 –> 00:18:25,720
\nMessiah has this name, the Son
\nof Man, that’s a name that was <\/p>\n
307
\n00:18:25,800 –> 00:18:29,240
\nthat was recognized by them.
\nYou’re thinking this is going to<\/p>\n
308
\n00:18:29,240 –> 00:18:32,200
\nbe great.
\nThe Jews are the ones that are <\/p>\n
309
\n00:18:32,200 –> 00:18:36,680
\ngoing to be set to be in control
\nof God’s creation and all <\/p>\n
310
\n00:18:36,680 –> 00:18:41,880
\npeople, all nations are going to
\nserve this Messiah and they’re <\/p>\n
311
\n00:18:41,880 –> 00:18:44,960
\ngoing to serve the Jews along
\nwith it. <\/p>\n
312
\n00:18:45,600 –> 00:18:48,520
\nHis dominion, it says it’s an
\neverlasting dominion which shall<\/p>\n
313
\n00:18:48,520 –> 00:18:51,840
\nnot pass away in his Kingdom,
\nthat which should not be <\/p>\n
314
\n00:18:51,840 –> 00:18:55,400
\ndestroyed.
\nAnd then verse 26 and 27, I <\/p>\n
315
\n00:18:55,400 –> 00:18:58,400
\nthink the Jews would have found
\nas their their favorite part. <\/p>\n
316
\n00:18:58,400 –> 00:18:59,960
\nThat’s the best part of this
\nprophecy. <\/p>\n
317
\n00:19:00,320 –> 00:19:02,680
\nIt says, but the judgments shall
\nsit. <\/p>\n
318
\n00:19:02,880 –> 00:19:05,800
\nAnd and this is talking about
\nthe judgment against the 4th <\/p>\n
319
\n00:19:05,800 –> 00:19:07,600
\nbeast.
\nAnd who was the 4th beast <\/p>\n
320
\n00:19:07,600 –> 00:19:10,120
\nagainst who was the 4th beast
\nagain? <\/p>\n
321
\n00:19:11,200 –> 00:19:13,600
\nRome, right.
\nSo they’re sitting there under <\/p>\n
322
\n00:19:13,600 –> 00:19:16,560
\nthe control of Rome.
\nRome is, is, is their master. <\/p>\n
323
\n00:19:16,920 –> 00:19:18,680
\nRome is the empire that’s ruling
\nover them. <\/p>\n
324
\n00:19:18,680 –> 00:19:21,840
\nAnd they’re thinking our Messiah
\nis going to come, and our <\/p>\n
325
\n00:19:21,840 –> 00:19:24,200
\nMessiah is going to get rid of
\nRome. <\/p>\n
326
\n00:19:24,520 –> 00:19:25,960
\nAnd so they’re thinking, guess
\nwhat? <\/p>\n
327
\n00:19:26,080 –> 00:19:28,640
\nThis is happening.
\nThe judgments shall sit. <\/p>\n
328
\n00:19:28,880 –> 00:19:30,560
\nThey shall take away his
\ndominion. <\/p>\n
329
\n00:19:30,560 –> 00:19:33,440
\nRome’s going to be gone to
\nconsume and to destroy it to the<\/p>\n
330
\n00:19:33,480 –> 00:19:35,600
\nend.
\nAnd the Kingdom and the dominion<\/p>\n
331
\n00:19:35,600 –> 00:19:38,320
\nand the greatness of the Kingdom
\nunder the whole heaven shall be <\/p>\n
332
\n00:19:38,320 –> 00:19:41,760
\ngiven to the people of the
\nSaints of the Most High, whose <\/p>\n
333
\n00:19:41,760 –> 00:19:44,880
\nKingdom is an everlasting
\nKingdom, and all dominions shall<\/p>\n
334
\n00:19:44,880 –> 00:19:49,040
\nserve and obey him.
\nNow I think we get a taste now <\/p>\n
335
\n00:19:49,360 –> 00:19:52,960
\nof the excitement that people
\nwould have been starting to feel<\/p>\n
336
\n00:19:52,960 –> 00:19:57,160
\nat that Passover as Jesus
\nperforms these miracles, as <\/p>\n
337
\n00:19:57,160 –> 00:20:00,640
\nJesus goes into the temple and,
\nand, and makes a statement in <\/p>\n
338
\n00:20:00,640 –> 00:20:04,440
\nthe temple about these things.
\nSo they’re looking for the <\/p>\n
339
\n00:20:04,440 –> 00:20:08,360
\nMessiah to come to defeat Rome,
\nto get Rome out of the picture <\/p>\n
340
\n00:20:08,560 –> 00:20:10,760
\nand to make Israel great again.
\nHere’s a. <\/p>\n
341
\n00:20:10,840 –> 00:20:13,480
\nHere’s a.
\nA list that I put together kind <\/p>\n
342
\n00:20:13,480 –> 00:20:16,480
\nof giving us an idea, I think we
\ndon’t know. <\/p>\n
343
\n00:20:16,720 –> 00:20:20,080
\nI think of what Nicodemus would
\nhave been expecting and what the<\/p>\n
344
\n00:20:20,080 –> 00:20:23,400
\nJews would have been expecting
\nfor the restoration of Israel. <\/p>\n
345
\n00:20:23,760 –> 00:20:26,640
\nSo the Jews expect expectation
\nfor the restoration of the <\/p>\n
346
\n00:20:26,640 –> 00:20:28,520
\nKingdom.
\nThey they would have expected <\/p>\n
347
\n00:20:28,520 –> 00:20:32,040
\nthe Messiah would come and we’d
\nbe a powerful world leader. <\/p>\n
348
\n00:20:32,560 –> 00:20:35,920
\nThey would expect Rome, the 4th
\nbeast, to be destroyed. <\/p>\n
349
\n00:20:36,360 –> 00:20:40,840
\nThey would expect the Messiah
\nwould restore Israel and possess<\/p>\n
350
\n00:20:40,840 –> 00:20:43,280
\nthe promised land from the Nile
\nto the Euphrates. <\/p>\n
351
\n00:20:43,680 –> 00:20:48,440
\nThey would expect the Messiah to
\nrule the nations with the Jews <\/p>\n
352
\n00:20:48,440 –> 00:20:52,240
\nat his side.
\nAnd Nicodemus and I think the <\/p>\n
353
\n00:20:52,240 –> 00:20:55,040
\nJews that were aware of these
\nprophecies probably can almost <\/p>\n
354
\n00:20:55,040 –> 00:20:59,040
\ntaste it at this point in time.
\nSo I’ve changed the title a <\/p>\n
355
\n00:20:59,040 –> 00:21:02,240
\nlittle bit.
\nThe things concerning the <\/p>\n
356
\n00:21:02,240 –> 00:21:05,440
\nKingdom of God, and you might
\nrecognize that title, The Things<\/p>\n
357
\n00:21:05,720 –> 00:21:08,760
\nconcerning the Kingdom of God.
\nI think it’s helpful for us to <\/p>\n
358
\n00:21:08,760 –> 00:21:11,720
\nthink about Nathaniel.
\nI’m sorry, Nicodemus, those are <\/p>\n
359
\n00:21:12,040 –> 00:21:13,520
\ngoing to get me probably again
\nand again. <\/p>\n
360
\n00:21:13,720 –> 00:21:17,520
\nBut it’s helpful for us to think
\nhere about Nicodemus, <\/p>\n
361
\n00:21:17,640 –> 00:21:20,680
\nunderstanding of the things
\nconcerning the Kingdom of God, <\/p>\n
362
\n00:21:21,080 –> 00:21:24,280
\nand to think about the
\nimportance that that term has <\/p>\n
363
\n00:21:24,280 –> 00:21:26,960
\nfor us in how we define the
\ngospel. <\/p>\n
364
\n00:21:27,280 –> 00:21:30,200
\nWe define it as the things
\nconcerning the Kingdom of God <\/p>\n
365
\n00:21:30,480 –> 00:21:36,080
\nand the name of Jesus Christ.
\nAnd Nicodemus has that idea in <\/p>\n
366
\n00:21:36,080 –> 00:21:38,520
\nmind, the things concerning the
\nKingdom of God and is, I think, <\/p>\n
367
\n00:21:38,520 –> 00:21:41,080
\na pretty good idea of what
\nthat’s going to be like. <\/p>\n
368
\n00:21:41,680 –> 00:21:44,240
\nSo with that in mind, then let’s
\ngo back to John three and three <\/p>\n
369
\n00:21:45,320 –> 00:21:47,480
\nand let’s see how this this
\nworks as we go. <\/p>\n
370
\n00:21:50,800 –> 00:21:54,640
\nSo Nicodemus comes to Jesus and
\nhe says, we know that you’re a <\/p>\n
371
\n00:21:54,640 –> 00:21:59,520
\nteacher that has come from God,
\nand he’s probably thinking, we <\/p>\n
372
\n00:21:59,520 –> 00:22:03,080
\nwant to work with you in setting
\nup the Kingdom and all the stuff<\/p>\n
373
\n00:22:03,080 –> 00:22:05,280
\nthat’s on the screen right now.
\nWe want to be a part of all of <\/p>\n
374
\n00:22:05,280 –> 00:22:07,080
\nthat because that looks great to
\nus. <\/p>\n
375
\n00:22:07,560 –> 00:22:11,600
\nAnd Jesus says to Nicodemus,
\ntruly, truly, I say to you, <\/p>\n
376
\n00:22:12,760 –> 00:22:15,960
\nunless one is born again, he
\ncannot see the Kingdom of God. <\/p>\n
377
\n00:22:17,200 –> 00:22:24,200
\nJesus says, actually, Nicodemus,
\nyou’re not fit to be a part of <\/p>\n
378
\n00:22:24,200 –> 00:22:29,400
\nGod’s Kingdom.
\nYou don’t have belief. <\/p>\n
379
\n00:22:32,000 –> 00:22:37,360
\nJesus says the problem is you
\nhaven’t been born again. <\/p>\n
380
\n00:22:38,560 –> 00:22:43,200
\nNow, Nicodemus, I think, would
\nhave been familiar with baptism.<\/p>\n
381
\n00:22:44,160 –> 00:22:47,160
\nHe would be familiar with, of
\ncourse, John the Baptist going <\/p>\n
382
\n00:22:47,160 –> 00:22:50,240
\nout and baptizing it and the
\npopularity of John the Baptist <\/p>\n
383
\n00:22:50,240 –> 00:22:53,360
\ndoing that.
\nBut to the Pharisees, baptism <\/p>\n
384
\n00:22:53,720 –> 00:22:56,800
\nwas for Gentiles.
\nThey were the ones that needed <\/p>\n
385
\n00:22:56,800 –> 00:23:01,840
\nto be baptized because they were
\nnot God’s chosen people like the<\/p>\n
386
\n00:23:01,840 –> 00:23:06,000
\nJews were, and so they needed to
\nbe reborn as Jews. <\/p>\n
387
\n00:23:06,000 –> 00:23:07,480
\nThey needed to become
\nproselytes. <\/p>\n
388
\n00:23:08,280 –> 00:23:12,120
\nAnd to the Pharisees, it would
\nhave made sense that John the <\/p>\n
389
\n00:23:12,120 –> 00:23:16,280
\nBaptist was baptizing the
\nsinners of Israel because they <\/p>\n
390
\n00:23:16,280 –> 00:23:18,920
\ndefinitely needed to start their
\nlives again. <\/p>\n
391
\n00:23:19,080 –> 00:23:21,680
\nThose people are sinners.
\nThat’s why they need to be <\/p>\n
392
\n00:23:21,680 –> 00:23:25,160
\nbaptized.
\nBut the Pharisees looked at <\/p>\n
393
\n00:23:25,160 –> 00:23:28,560
\nthemselves and they said, you
\nknow, we’ve already been born <\/p>\n
394
\n00:23:28,560 –> 00:23:30,960
\ninto the to the right nation.
\nWe’re already the seed of <\/p>\n
395
\n00:23:30,960 –> 00:23:34,120
\nAbraham.
\nWe’re not Gentiles and we’re <\/p>\n
396
\n00:23:34,120 –> 00:23:36,840
\nrighteous.
\nWe’re not sinners. <\/p>\n
397
\n00:23:37,520 –> 00:23:40,040
\nAnd so the Pharisees had not
\nbeen baptized. <\/p>\n
398
\n00:23:40,600 –> 00:23:43,800
\nLuke actually tells us that the
\nPharisees rejected John the <\/p>\n
399
\n00:23:43,800 –> 00:23:46,760
\nBaptist and that they refused to
\nbe baptized. <\/p>\n
400
\n00:23:47,160 –> 00:23:49,760
\nThat’s Luke Chapter 7, verse 29
\nand 30. <\/p>\n
401
\n00:23:50,040 –> 00:23:53,360
\nIt says the Pharisees and the
\nlawyers rejected the purpose of <\/p>\n
402
\n00:23:53,360 –> 00:23:57,280
\nGod for themselves not having
\nbeen baptized by John. <\/p>\n
403
\n00:23:58,480 –> 00:24:01,400
\nSo it’s fair to say that
\nNicodemus would have been taken <\/p>\n
404
\n00:24:01,400 –> 00:24:03,760
\nback, I think by the words of
\nJesus. <\/p>\n
405
\n00:24:04,440 –> 00:24:07,280
\nSo in verse 4, we have
\nNicodemus’s reply and I think <\/p>\n
406
\n00:24:07,280 –> 00:24:09,040
\nthere’s, there’s some sarcasm
\nthere. <\/p>\n
407
\n00:24:09,200 –> 00:24:12,920
\nThere’s some, some he’s not
\nhappy with the answer that Jesus<\/p>\n
408
\n00:24:12,920 –> 00:24:14,480
\nhas given him, what Jesus has
\nsaid. <\/p>\n
409
\n00:24:14,680 –> 00:24:18,240
\nAnd there’s some definitely some
\nignorance in Nicodemus’s reply. <\/p>\n
410
\n00:24:18,920 –> 00:24:21,480
\nSo Nicodemus says, how can a man
\nbe born when he’s old? <\/p>\n
411
\n00:24:22,160 –> 00:24:25,200
\nCan you enter a second time in
\nhis mother’s womb and be born? <\/p>\n
412
\n00:24:26,040 –> 00:24:27,440
\nHe just doesn’t know what to
\nsay. <\/p>\n
413
\n00:24:28,600 –> 00:24:30,440
\nIt’s like he’s saying Jesus to
\nJesus. <\/p>\n
414
\n00:24:30,440 –> 00:24:33,080
\nAre you insulting me?
\nDo you expect me to be born <\/p>\n
415
\n00:24:33,080 –> 00:24:34,760
\nagain?
\nMaybe. <\/p>\n
416
\n00:24:34,840 –> 00:24:36,920
\nMaybe I’m thinking I’m, I’m not
\na Gentile. <\/p>\n
417
\n00:24:37,200 –> 00:24:39,760
\nI’m not like those sinners that
\nare going out to John the <\/p>\n
418
\n00:24:39,760 –> 00:24:42,560
\nBaptist.
\nSo in verse 5, what does Jesus <\/p>\n
419
\n00:24:42,560 –> 00:24:45,000
\ndo?
\nHe says, OK, I’m going to <\/p>\n
420
\n00:24:45,000 –> 00:24:48,040
\nexplain it to you.
\nHe says truly, truly. <\/p>\n
421
\n00:24:48,040 –> 00:24:52,200
\nSo this is important.
\nUnless one is born of water and <\/p>\n
422
\n00:24:52,200 –> 00:24:55,080
\nthe Spirit, he cannot enter the
\nKingdom of God. <\/p>\n
423
\n00:24:56,040 –> 00:24:59,840
\nHe says born of water and that’s
\nthat’s clearly talking about <\/p>\n
424
\n00:24:59,840 –> 00:25:01,960
\nbaptism.
\nNicodemus, I think, would have <\/p>\n
425
\n00:25:01,960 –> 00:25:04,840
\nunderstood that that’s what he
\nwas talking about, the fact that<\/p>\n
426
\n00:25:04,840 –> 00:25:08,200
\nthey had not gone out to be
\nbaptized and that Jesus was was <\/p>\n
427
\n00:25:08,200 –> 00:25:11,320
\ncommenting on that.
\nBut what did Jesus mean by being<\/p>\n
428
\n00:25:11,320 –> 00:25:15,800
\nborn of the Spirit?
\nNicodemus wasn’t familiar with <\/p>\n
429
\n00:25:15,800 –> 00:25:21,280
\nthat term, but what does it mean
\nto be born of the spirit? <\/p>\n
430
\n00:25:21,280 –> 00:25:23,760
\nBecause that’s a really
\nimportant, really important <\/p>\n
431
\n00:25:23,760 –> 00:25:28,720
\nquestion.
\nBut being born of the spirit is <\/p>\n
432
\n00:25:28,840 –> 00:25:34,040
\nultimately the process that
\nleads to immortality, the <\/p>\n
433
\n00:25:34,040 –> 00:25:37,080
\nprocess that leads us to having
\na spirit body. <\/p>\n
434
\n00:25:37,960 –> 00:25:41,920
\nAnd being immortal is an
\nimportant part, is a critical <\/p>\n
435
\n00:25:41,920 –> 00:25:46,480
\npart of being born into God’s
\nfamily and being a part of God’s<\/p>\n
436
\n00:25:46,480 –> 00:25:50,520
\nfamily because God our Father
\nhimself is immortal. <\/p>\n
437
\n00:25:50,800 –> 00:25:53,840
\nSo I want to spend just a minute
\non that process and just to see <\/p>\n
438
\n00:25:53,840 –> 00:25:56,440
\nwhat what Nicodemus was missing
\nin his thinking. <\/p>\n
439
\n00:25:59,200 –> 00:26:02,120
\nBorn of the Spirit.
\nSo this is the part now that <\/p>\n
440
\n00:26:02,120 –> 00:26:04,600
\nI’ve titled as and the name of
\nJesus Christ. <\/p>\n
441
\n00:26:05,120 –> 00:26:06,920
\nI’ve taken a bit of a liberty
\nthere. <\/p>\n
442
\n00:26:07,160 –> 00:26:09,520
\nAnd I think you’ll recognize
\nthese as probably the questions <\/p>\n
443
\n00:26:09,520 –> 00:26:11,840
\nthat you’re asked that are asked
\nto a person that’s being <\/p>\n
444
\n00:26:11,840 –> 00:26:14,360
\nbaptized, right?
\nMany ecclesias would do that. <\/p>\n
445
\n00:26:15,040 –> 00:26:17,280
\nYou’ll recognize these as being
\npart of the statement of faith, <\/p>\n
446
\n00:26:17,280 –> 00:26:19,680
\nthe things concerning the
\nKingdom of God and the name of <\/p>\n
447
\n00:26:19,680 –> 00:26:22,200
\nJesus Christ.
\nSo the things concerning the <\/p>\n
448
\n00:26:22,200 –> 00:26:25,360
\nKingdom of God were things that
\nNicodemus, I think, believed, <\/p>\n
449
\n00:26:26,400 –> 00:26:30,160
\nand the name of Jesus Christ
\nroughly here are the things that<\/p>\n
450
\n00:26:30,240 –> 00:26:34,360
\nJesus, sorry, Nicodemus, doesn’t
\nunderstand about God’s plan, but<\/p>\n
451
\n00:26:34,360 –> 00:26:36,520
\nthese are things that he wants
\nhim to understand. <\/p>\n
452
\n00:26:37,080 –> 00:26:40,480
\nSo let’s go back then to the
\nstart. <\/p>\n
453
\n00:26:40,520 –> 00:26:43,800
\nSo let’s see God’s plan then
\nfor, for the name of Jesus <\/p>\n
454
\n00:26:43,800 –> 00:26:49,000
\nChrist is to fill the earth with
\nrighteous immortal people, <\/p>\n
455
\n00:26:49,640 –> 00:26:53,120
\npeople that are born of the
\nspirit, not just not just <\/p>\n
456
\n00:26:53,120 –> 00:26:56,920
\nmentally born of the spirit, but
\nultimately given immortality is <\/p>\n
457
\n00:26:56,920 –> 00:26:59,480
\nthe idea here.
\nAnd it says, before we will be <\/p>\n
458
\n00:26:59,480 –> 00:27:03,600
\ngiven immortal bodies or spirit
\nbodies, we must replace human <\/p>\n
459
\n00:27:03,600 –> 00:27:11,120
\nthinking with godly thinking.
\nDeveloping spiritual thinking <\/p>\n
460
\n00:27:11,440 –> 00:27:16,640
\nrequires the transformation of
\nour minds by the gradual <\/p>\n
461
\n00:27:16,640 –> 00:27:21,400
\nassimilation of divine ideas.
\nThat that kind of quotes from <\/p>\n
462
\n00:27:21,480 –> 00:27:26,000
\nfrom John Carter’s book on this
\non, on the Gospel of John, which<\/p>\n
463
\n00:27:26,000 –> 00:27:27,560
\nwe’ll look at a quote from there
\nin just a minute. <\/p>\n
464
\n00:27:28,000 –> 00:27:32,880
\nSo Jesus is using this term of
\nof born because it’s a process <\/p>\n
465
\n00:27:33,080 –> 00:27:38,320
\nlike the development of a child.
\nIt takes time in the Word of <\/p>\n
466
\n00:27:38,320 –> 00:27:41,040
\nGod.
\nIt takes the trials of life. <\/p>\n
467
\n00:27:41,320 –> 00:27:43,600
\nIt takes God’s influence in our
\nlives. <\/p>\n
468
\n00:27:43,960 –> 00:27:46,480
\nAnd this change takes place in
\nus. <\/p>\n
469
\n00:27:46,720 –> 00:27:50,760
\nThis birth process takes place
\nin us, but it will only happen <\/p>\n
470
\n00:27:50,760 –> 00:27:53,080
\nif we’re changed by, of course,
\nthe Word of God. <\/p>\n
471
\n00:27:53,640 –> 00:27:56,600
\nAnd at the return of Christ,
\nthose that have developed minds <\/p>\n
472
\n00:27:56,600 –> 00:28:01,360
\nof the Spirit walk after the
\nSpirit will be given immortal <\/p>\n
473
\n00:28:01,440 –> 00:28:04,560
\nbodies.
\nAnd so then our last one, only <\/p>\n
474
\n00:28:04,560 –> 00:28:08,200
\npeople born of the Spirit will
\nrule the world with Christ. <\/p>\n
475
\n00:28:08,200 –> 00:28:12,480
\nAnd that was that was what Jesus
\nwas saying to Nicodemus. <\/p>\n
476
\n00:28:13,320 –> 00:28:15,560
\nNow there’s a lot of verses that
\nwe could go to. <\/p>\n
477
\n00:28:15,720 –> 00:28:18,760
\nThere’s actually a very large
\nnumber of that we could go to <\/p>\n
478
\n00:28:19,040 –> 00:28:21,200
\nthat give us this idea of being
\nborn of the Spirit. <\/p>\n
479
\n00:28:21,680 –> 00:28:24,840
\nBut I like Galatians 5 because
\nwe all know Galatians 5 and the <\/p>\n
480
\n00:28:24,840 –> 00:28:27,680
\nfruit of the Spirit because it
\ndescribes the mind of the <\/p>\n
481
\n00:28:27,680 –> 00:28:29,840
\nSpirit.
\nAnd our, I mean, our camp is, is<\/p>\n
482
\n00:28:29,840 –> 00:28:31,120
\nperfect for this.
\nNow, isn’t it? <\/p>\n
483
\n00:28:31,280 –> 00:28:34,520
\nThis idea of developing the mind
\nof Christ, It’s the mind of the <\/p>\n
484
\n00:28:34,520 –> 00:28:36,600
\nSpirit.
\nIt’s, it’s the thinking and the <\/p>\n
485
\n00:28:36,600 –> 00:28:39,560
\ncharacter and the ideas of our
\nheavenly Father and developing <\/p>\n
486
\n00:28:39,560 –> 00:28:42,760
\nthose.
\nSo Galatians 5 talks about the <\/p>\n
487
\n00:28:42,760 –> 00:28:45,840
\nfruit of the Spirit.
\nAnd I like this because we can <\/p>\n
488
\n00:28:45,840 –> 00:28:49,360
\nlook at these words and we can
\nlook at our lives and say, how <\/p>\n
489
\n00:28:49,360 –> 00:28:51,440
\nare we doing?
\nWe can almost measure our <\/p>\n
490
\n00:28:51,440 –> 00:28:56,000
\ndevelopment in spiritual things,
\nin this spiritual being born of <\/p>\n
491
\n00:28:56,000 –> 00:28:57,640
\nthe spirit and see how we’re
\ndoing. <\/p>\n
492
\n00:28:58,080 –> 00:29:02,040
\nSo if we’re born of the spirit,
\nwe’ll be developing love, we’ll <\/p>\n
493
\n00:29:02,040 –> 00:29:04,440
\nbe developing a self sacrificing
\nlove. <\/p>\n
494
\n00:29:04,840 –> 00:29:08,720
\nWe’ll be developing joy, a sense
\nof happiness and purpose, <\/p>\n
495
\n00:29:09,160 –> 00:29:12,880
\nrecognizing what God has done
\nfor us, and peace and patience <\/p>\n
496
\n00:29:12,880 –> 00:29:16,320
\nand kindness and goodness.
\nAnd there’s a great one, right? <\/p>\n
497
\n00:29:16,320 –> 00:29:19,520
\nFaith and gentleness and
\nself-control. <\/p>\n
498
\n00:29:19,960 –> 00:29:21,840
\nAnd he says against these,
\nthere’s no law. <\/p>\n
499
\n00:29:21,920 –> 00:29:25,880
\nHe says basically there’s no law
\nthat you could keep that’s going<\/p>\n
500
\n00:29:25,880 –> 00:29:28,600
\nto get you to a place where
\nthese things are being developed<\/p>\n
501
\n00:29:28,600 –> 00:29:30,880
\nin you.
\nIt comes not from keeping the <\/p>\n
502
\n00:29:30,880 –> 00:29:33,920
\nlaw, but it comes from a higher
\nlevel of thinking. <\/p>\n
503
\n00:29:34,280 –> 00:29:36,280
\nOK, so here’s the quote that
\nfrom John Carter. <\/p>\n
504
\n00:29:36,800 –> 00:29:41,280
\nHe says the doctrine of Christ
\nis one that purifies and <\/p>\n
505
\n00:29:41,280 –> 00:29:46,440
\nsanctifies when its principles
\nare heartily espoused and the <\/p>\n
506
\n00:29:46,440 –> 00:29:51,600
\nmind is renewed by the gradual
\nassimilation of divine ideas <\/p>\n
507
\n00:29:52,480 –> 00:29:55,400
\nleading to a transformation of
\nthe individual. <\/p>\n
508
\n00:29:55,400 –> 00:29:59,240
\nSo we’re going through this
\nprocess, the continual long <\/p>\n
509
\n00:29:59,240 –> 00:30:01,280
\nprocess at it.
\nThe older you get, the more you <\/p>\n
510
\n00:30:01,280 –> 00:30:04,880
\nrecognize that this process has
\nbeen taking place in us. <\/p>\n
511
\n00:30:05,960 –> 00:30:10,080
\nThe old man is put off, the new
\nman is put on, and the character<\/p>\n
512
\n00:30:10,080 –> 00:30:13,880
\nso formed is prepared for an
\nabiding place in the Kingdom of <\/p>\n
513
\n00:30:13,880 –> 00:30:16,840
\nGod.
\nI guess that’s a great <\/p>\n
514
\n00:30:16,840 –> 00:30:19,600
\ndefinition of what the being
\nborn of the Spirit is all about.<\/p>\n
515
\n00:30:20,080 –> 00:30:23,480
\nSo I’m going to put together on
\nthe screen here just some steps <\/p>\n
516
\n00:30:23,480 –> 00:30:27,520
\nthat lead to to the Kingdom.
\nAnd this is way, way, way <\/p>\n
517
\n00:30:27,520 –> 00:30:30,200
\nabbreviated.
\nSo don’t think that this is a <\/p>\n
518
\n00:30:31,240 –> 00:30:34,520
\ncomprehensive list of these.
\nSo the first one in the steps of<\/p>\n
519
\n00:30:35,040 –> 00:30:40,960
\nof our path to the Kingdom,
\nthose who embrace God’s way and <\/p>\n
520
\n00:30:40,960 –> 00:30:44,840
\nfight sin in their lives will be
\ngiven immortality because they <\/p>\n
521
\n00:30:44,840 –> 00:30:49,200
\nhave been born fully of the
\nspirit which which is being <\/p>\n
522
\n00:30:49,200 –> 00:30:53,120
\ngiven immortality.
\nThe next one, they’ll be part of<\/p>\n
523
\n00:30:53,120 –> 00:30:56,440
\nChrist’s family and they’ll rule
\nwith him. <\/p>\n
524
\n00:30:58,360 –> 00:31:00,720
\nThen the Messiah will come to
\nIsrael. <\/p>\n
525
\n00:31:00,720 –> 00:31:04,240
\nSo now bring in Nicodemus.
\nThis is where Nicodemus starts <\/p>\n
526
\n00:31:04,240 –> 00:31:07,040
\nto know the first principles
\nhere that we’re looking at. <\/p>\n
527
\n00:31:07,520 –> 00:31:10,840
\nAnd then what he understands and
\nwhat he’s looking for is Rome, <\/p>\n
528
\n00:31:11,320 –> 00:31:15,840
\nthe 4th beast will be destroyed.
\nHe and his people will restore <\/p>\n
529
\n00:31:15,840 –> 00:31:20,000
\nIsrael, possessing the land
\npromised from the Nile to the <\/p>\n
530
\n00:31:20,000 –> 00:31:22,400
\nEuphrates.
\nAnd so he’s looking for all of <\/p>\n
531
\n00:31:22,400 –> 00:31:25,480
\nthis, all of this.
\nBut the problem with Nicodemus <\/p>\n
532
\n00:31:26,040 –> 00:31:30,720
\nis that all that he can see,
\nreally, when he looks at this <\/p>\n
533
\n00:31:30,720 –> 00:31:34,040
\nand the steps leading to the
\nKingdom is the Messiah comes. <\/p>\n
534
\n00:31:34,480 –> 00:31:37,440
\nRome’s destroyed and Israel’s
\nrestored. <\/p>\n
535
\n00:31:38,320 –> 00:31:44,120
\nHe’s missing that first section
\nthere of God’s plan and purpose <\/p>\n
536
\n00:31:44,120 –> 00:31:47,840
\nfor the bringing of the Kingdom.
\nAnother way of putting this, if <\/p>\n
537
\n00:31:47,840 –> 00:31:51,600
\nyou think about the message that
\nJohn the Baptist had, the <\/p>\n
538
\n00:31:51,600 –> 00:31:54,200
\nproclamation of John the Baptist
\nwas what? <\/p>\n
539
\n00:31:54,200 –> 00:31:57,200
\nWhen he came, the proclamation
\nof Jesus was exactly the same <\/p>\n
540
\n00:31:57,200 –> 00:32:02,000
\nwhen his ministry began, right?
\nRepent for the Kingdom of heaven<\/p>\n
541
\n00:32:02,040 –> 00:32:06,120
\nis at hand.
\nNow when Nicodemus and the <\/p>\n
542
\n00:32:06,120 –> 00:32:09,560
\nPharisees saw that, they didn’t
\nsee repent for the Kingdom of <\/p>\n
543
\n00:32:09,560 –> 00:32:13,480
\nheaven is at hand.
\nThey saw the Kingdom of heaven <\/p>\n
544
\n00:32:13,480 –> 00:32:15,560
\nis at hand, right?
\nThat’s what they saw. <\/p>\n
545
\n00:32:16,000 –> 00:32:19,200
\nThey completely forgot about the
\nrepent part because they didn’t <\/p>\n
546
\n00:32:19,200 –> 00:32:22,200
\nunderstand the process of being
\nborn of the Spirit. <\/p>\n
547
\n00:32:22,680 –> 00:32:24,840
\nThey didn’t recognize that that
\nwas necessary. <\/p>\n
548
\n00:32:26,000 –> 00:32:28,760
\nSo let’s go back then to John.
\nJohn chapter 3, verse 6. <\/p>\n
549
\n00:32:30,520 –> 00:32:34,080
\nJesus says that which is born of
\nthe flesh is flesh. <\/p>\n
550
\n00:32:35,120 –> 00:32:39,520
\nFleshly dying parents have
\nchildren that are fleshly dying <\/p>\n
551
\n00:32:39,520 –> 00:32:42,160
\npeople.
\nThat’s not what the kingdom’s <\/p>\n
552
\n00:32:42,160 –> 00:32:44,800
\ngoing to be made-up of.
\nHe says you don’t know, you <\/p>\n
553
\n00:32:44,800 –> 00:32:47,000
\ndon’t understand.
\nHe says, and that which is born <\/p>\n
554
\n00:32:47,000 –> 00:32:51,160
\nof the spirit is spirit.
\nBeing born of the spirit yields <\/p>\n
555
\n00:32:51,160 –> 00:32:54,880
\npeople that are like God, people
\nthat are spiritually minded, <\/p>\n
556
\n00:32:55,160 –> 00:32:57,560
\npeople that could be made
\nimmortal and God will make <\/p>\n
557
\n00:32:57,560 –> 00:33:00,000
\nimmortal.
\nThat’s what the Kingdom is going<\/p>\n
558
\n00:33:00,000 –> 00:33:03,280
\nto be made-up of.
\nAnd so he continues in verse 7, <\/p>\n
559
\n00:33:03,280 –> 00:33:07,280
\nhe says, don’t marvel that I
\nsaid you must be born again. <\/p>\n
560
\n00:33:08,200 –> 00:33:11,920
\nNicodemus was was marveling.
\nHe was saying, I no way, I <\/p>\n
561
\n00:33:11,920 –> 00:33:13,920
\ncan’t, I don’t believe this.
\nI don’t understand this. <\/p>\n
562
\n00:33:14,440 –> 00:33:16,760
\nHe knew his Bible really, really
\nwell. <\/p>\n
563
\n00:33:17,200 –> 00:33:20,440
\nHe was a teacher in Israel.
\nHe probably thought Jesus could <\/p>\n
564
\n00:33:20,440 –> 00:33:26,240
\nbe the Messiah.
\nBut was it possible that he and <\/p>\n
565
\n00:33:26,240 –> 00:33:29,920
\nthe other Pharisees did not
\nunderstand what God was doing? <\/p>\n
566
\n00:33:31,120 –> 00:33:38,000
\nWas there religion wrong?
\nIn verse 8, Jesus explains that <\/p>\n
567
\n00:33:38,080 –> 00:33:40,600
\nthe Spirit of God works like the
\nwind. <\/p>\n
568
\n00:33:41,280 –> 00:33:43,320
\nWe can’t see it.
\nWe don’t know where it comes <\/p>\n
569
\n00:33:43,320 –> 00:33:44,960
\nfrom.
\nWe don’t know where it’s going. <\/p>\n
570
\n00:33:45,400 –> 00:33:48,440
\nThe Spirit is invisible.
\nIt’s powerful. <\/p>\n
571
\n00:33:49,000 –> 00:33:51,040
\nIt had brought the Word to
\nmankind. <\/p>\n
572
\n00:33:51,040 –> 00:33:53,400
\nThat was John, one that we
\nlooked at on the first class. <\/p>\n
573
\n00:33:53,800 –> 00:33:55,560
\nIt brought about the birth of
\nJesus. <\/p>\n
574
\n00:33:55,840 –> 00:33:58,280
\nIt was at work in the miracles
\nthat Jesus was doing. <\/p>\n
575
\n00:33:58,440 –> 00:34:00,400
\nIt was at work in the words that
\nhe spoke. <\/p>\n
576
\n00:34:00,840 –> 00:34:04,880
\nIt was working to bring people
\nto immortality, to build God’s <\/p>\n
577
\n00:34:04,880 –> 00:34:08,560
\nfamily.
\nIn verse 9, Nicodemus says to <\/p>\n
578
\n00:34:08,560 –> 00:34:13,520
\nhim, how can these things be?
\nHe’s bewildered. <\/p>\n
579
\n00:34:14,440 –> 00:34:18,360
\nHe didn’t really understand what
\nJesus was saying, but he should <\/p>\n
580
\n00:34:18,360 –> 00:34:21,040
\nhave known these things.
\nLook what Jesus says in verse <\/p>\n
581
\n00:34:21,040 –> 00:34:23,320
\n10.
\nHe says, are you a teacher of <\/p>\n
582
\n00:34:23,320 –> 00:34:26,159
\nIsrael and you don’t understand
\nthese things? <\/p>\n
583
\n00:34:26,960 –> 00:34:31,880
\nHow could the guy in charge of
\npreparing the people for the <\/p>\n
584
\n00:34:31,880 –> 00:34:35,639
\nKingdom not understand the need
\nto be born of the Spirit? <\/p>\n
585
\n00:34:37,239 –> 00:34:41,920
\nAnd the question we have to ask
\nis how did the crux, how did the<\/p>\n
586
\n00:34:41,920 –> 00:34:47,280
\nkey concept of salvation get
\ndropped out of the religion of <\/p>\n
587
\n00:34:47,280 –> 00:34:50,040
\nIsrael?
\nAnd how do they miss the need to<\/p>\n
588
\n00:34:50,040 –> 00:34:54,639
\nbe born of the Spirit?
\nAnd the answer is, is that the <\/p>\n
589
\n00:34:54,639 –> 00:34:59,840
\nreligious system in Israel had
\nchanged the gospel. <\/p>\n
590
\n00:35:01,720 –> 00:35:07,240
\nAnd it changed the gospel
\nbecause men loved darkness. <\/p>\n
591
\n00:35:08,960 –> 00:35:12,880
\nWe love to do what we want to
\ndo. <\/p>\n
592
\n00:35:12,880 –> 00:35:18,360
\nAnd so it was a natural thing to
\nhappen for God’s commands, God’s<\/p>\n
593
\n00:35:18,440 –> 00:35:21,120
\nword, to be changed by the
\ntraditions of men. <\/p>\n
594
\n00:35:21,600 –> 00:35:26,640
\nAnd so little by little, the
\nreligion of Israel lost sight of<\/p>\n
595
\n00:35:26,640 –> 00:35:29,120
\nthe need to be born of the
\nSpirit. <\/p>\n
596
\n00:35:29,720 –> 00:35:31,880
\nNow they still had a really good
\nvision of what the Son of Man <\/p>\n
597
\n00:35:31,880 –> 00:35:34,920
\nwas going to do, right?
\nBut they’d lost sight of the <\/p>\n
598
\n00:35:34,920 –> 00:35:38,440
\nneed to be born of the Spirit.
\nLet’s go back to John. <\/p>\n
599
\n00:35:38,440 –> 00:35:42,280
\nOne, this helps us, I think, to
\nunderstand even more fully what <\/p>\n
600
\n00:35:42,280 –> 00:35:46,440
\nwe read about in John chapter 1
\nverses 1112 and 13. <\/p>\n
601
\n00:35:49,200 –> 00:35:52,880
\nHere’s John and he’s telling us
\nabout God’s word coming to <\/p>\n
602
\n00:35:52,880 –> 00:35:57,040
\nIsrael.
\nHe says he and remember that was<\/p>\n
603
\n00:35:57,240 –> 00:35:59,760
\nGod’s God coming through his
\nword. <\/p>\n
604
\n00:36:00,160 –> 00:36:05,840
\nHe came to his own and his
\npeople did not receive him, but <\/p>\n
605
\n00:36:05,840 –> 00:36:10,440
\nto all who did receive him.
\nSo all that did except God’s <\/p>\n
606
\n00:36:10,440 –> 00:36:15,160
\nword who believed in his name.
\nSo all those that accepted his <\/p>\n
607
\n00:36:15,160 –> 00:36:20,240
\nword and who embraced God’s plan
\nto have a family, He gave them <\/p>\n
608
\n00:36:20,240 –> 00:36:23,720
\nthe right to become the children
\nof God. <\/p>\n
609
\n00:36:24,880 –> 00:36:30,160
\nHe made it possible for those
\npeople to be his children, for <\/p>\n
610
\n00:36:30,160 –> 00:36:34,480
\nthem to be immortal.
\nHe says verse 13, who were born <\/p>\n
611
\n00:36:34,480 –> 00:36:38,800
\nnot of blood, nor the will of
\nthe flesh, nor the will of man, <\/p>\n
612
\n00:36:38,800 –> 00:36:44,920
\nbut they were born of God.
\nThey were born again, not of the<\/p>\n
613
\n00:36:44,920 –> 00:36:47,800
\nflesh.
\nThey were people that were born <\/p>\n
614
\n00:36:47,840 –> 00:36:50,040
\nof the Spirit.
\nThat’s the same concept that <\/p>\n
615
\n00:36:50,040 –> 00:36:53,120
\nthat Nicodemus didn’t
\nunderstand, but Jesus is trying <\/p>\n
616
\n00:36:53,120 –> 00:36:56,480
\nto get him to understand.
\nNow come with me to Galatians <\/p>\n
617
\n00:36:56,480 –> 00:36:59,560
\nchapter 5 S again, the words of
\nPaul here. <\/p>\n
618
\n00:37:01,240 –> 00:37:03,720
\nAnd I probably in this case,
\nI’ve highlighted part of it, but<\/p>\n
619
\n00:37:03,720 –> 00:37:05,400
\nI probably should have
\nhighlighted the whole verse <\/p>\n
620
\n00:37:05,400 –> 00:37:07,200
\nhere.
\nBut then that would be kind of <\/p>\n
621
\n00:37:07,200 –> 00:37:10,720
\ncounterproductive, right?
\nBut this verse shows us it comes<\/p>\n
622
\n00:37:10,720 –> 00:37:13,040
\nafter the the fruit of the
\nspirit that we’ve already looked<\/p>\n
623
\n00:37:13,040 –> 00:37:15,000
\nat and it helps us to
\nunderstand. <\/p>\n
624
\n00:37:15,000 –> 00:37:20,120
\nSo he says verse 24, and those
\nwho belong to Christ Jesus have <\/p>\n
625
\n00:37:20,120 –> 00:37:25,560
\ncrucified the flesh with its
\npassions and its desires. <\/p>\n
626
\n00:37:26,760 –> 00:37:29,840
\nIt’s the same message, isn’t it?
\nIf we want to be a part of <\/p>\n
627
\n00:37:29,840 –> 00:37:34,200
\nChrist’s family, we have to
\ncrucify the flesh and we have to<\/p>\n
628
\n00:37:34,200 –> 00:37:40,000
\nbe born again.
\nThat means the death of the old <\/p>\n
629
\n00:37:40,000 –> 00:37:45,520
\nperson and the development of a
\nnew person, a development of the<\/p>\n
630
\n00:37:45,520 –> 00:37:48,840
\nmind of Christ in US.
\nAll right, so let’s go back to <\/p>\n
631
\n00:37:48,840 –> 00:37:50,720
\nJohn 3.
\nNow with this with this in mind,<\/p>\n
632
\n00:37:50,720 –> 00:37:53,600
\nlet’s see what Nicodemus has to
\nsay to Jesus about this. <\/p>\n
633
\n00:37:53,600 –> 00:38:00,200
\nHe says, and as MO sorry, Jesus
\nsays to Nicodemus, he says, and <\/p>\n
634
\n00:38:00,200 –> 00:38:04,120
\nas Moses lifted up the serpent
\nin the wilderness. <\/p>\n
635
\n00:38:04,600 –> 00:38:07,880
\nAnd what’s that a reference to?
\nIt’s a reference to the children<\/p>\n
636
\n00:38:07,880 –> 00:38:10,200
\nof Israel in the wilderness that
\nwere being bitten by by the <\/p>\n
637
\n00:38:10,200 –> 00:38:12,920
\nsnakes, by the serpents.
\nAnd the people in the wilderness<\/p>\n
638
\n00:38:13,680 –> 00:38:16,720
\nwere were to learn from this,
\nthat the serpent represented the<\/p>\n
639
\n00:38:16,720 –> 00:38:21,880
\npower of sin and that all
\nmankind had been bitten by sin <\/p>\n
640
\n00:38:22,200 –> 00:38:24,560
\nand that all of mankind is dying
\nfrom that. <\/p>\n
641
\n00:38:25,120 –> 00:38:30,000
\nAnd the only way to combat that
\nbite of the serpent was for it <\/p>\n
642
\n00:38:30,000 –> 00:38:33,960
\nto be put on the cross for for
\nthe flesh, the thinking of the <\/p>\n
643
\n00:38:33,960 –> 00:38:39,080
\nflesh to be put on the cross.
\nAnd so he says that’s exactly <\/p>\n
644
\n00:38:39,080 –> 00:38:41,480
\nwhat has to happen to the Son of
\nMan. <\/p>\n
645
\n00:38:42,080 –> 00:38:44,080
\nHe’s got to be lifted up on the
\ncross too. <\/p>\n
646
\n00:38:44,720 –> 00:38:46,800
\nNow you can understand why
\nNicodemus has a problem with <\/p>\n
647
\n00:38:46,800 –> 00:38:49,040
\nthat.
\nHe’s thinking, Son of man, this <\/p>\n
648
\n00:38:49,040 –> 00:38:51,520
\nis the guy that’s going to come
\nand he’s going to destroy Rome <\/p>\n
649
\n00:38:51,640 –> 00:38:53,760
\nand he’s going to deliver us and
\nhe’s going to make Israel, <\/p>\n
650
\n00:38:54,520 –> 00:38:57,440
\nrestore Israel to to what God
\nhad promised it would be like. <\/p>\n
651
\n00:38:57,840 –> 00:39:01,040
\nAnd, and he’s being told here,
\nno, the Son of Man has to be put<\/p>\n
652
\n00:39:01,040 –> 00:39:04,760
\non the cross.
\nThe ruler of mankind who’s going<\/p>\n
653
\n00:39:04,760 –> 00:39:08,360
\nto defeat the 4th beast has got
\nto be put on the cross first. <\/p>\n
654
\n00:39:09,240 –> 00:39:14,640
\nNow Paul tells us that the world
\nthinks that’s crazy, that it’s <\/p>\n
655
\n00:39:14,640 –> 00:39:16,440
\nking.
\nIsrael’s king would be put on <\/p>\n
656
\n00:39:16,440 –> 00:39:20,400
\nthe cross, the cross, the Savior
\non the cross. <\/p>\n
657
\n00:39:20,800 –> 00:39:24,960
\nPaul says that a crucified king
\nwas a stumbling block to the <\/p>\n
658
\n00:39:24,960 –> 00:39:29,000
\nJews and to the Greeks.
\nIt was foolishness because they <\/p>\n
659
\n00:39:29,000 –> 00:39:32,360
\ndidn’t understand that if we
\nwant to be in the Kingdom of <\/p>\n
660
\n00:39:32,360 –> 00:39:35,480
\nGod, we must be fighting sin in
\nour lives. <\/p>\n
661
\n00:39:35,640 –> 00:39:38,560
\nSin must be what we’re trying to
\ndefeat. <\/p>\n
662
\n00:39:39,480 –> 00:39:43,680
\nSo verse 14, John 314, again, as
\nMoses lifted up the serpent in <\/p>\n
663
\n00:39:43,680 –> 00:39:47,520
\nthe wilderness, so must the Son
\nof Man be lifted up, verse 15, <\/p>\n
664
\n00:39:47,520 –> 00:39:51,640
\nthat whosoever believes in him
\nmay have eternal life. <\/p>\n
665
\n00:39:52,240 –> 00:39:56,920
\nWhoever sees how Jesus puts sin
\non the cross, how he fought it <\/p>\n
666
\n00:39:57,360 –> 00:40:01,880
\nand beat it, and whoever says,
\nyeah, I need to do the same <\/p>\n
667
\n00:40:01,880 –> 00:40:04,200
\nthing.
\nI need to put to death the <\/p>\n
668
\n00:40:04,200 –> 00:40:08,040
\nfleshly person that I am.
\nI need to put that on the cross.<\/p>\n
669
\n00:40:08,520 –> 00:40:10,000
\nI need to become a different
\nperson. <\/p>\n
670
\n00:40:10,680 –> 00:40:12,400
\nWhoever believes that that’s
\nright. <\/p>\n
671
\n00:40:13,320 –> 00:40:16,600
\nHe says they may have eternal
\nlife. <\/p>\n
672
\n00:40:17,560 –> 00:40:19,640
\nIt’s so powerful, isn’t it, when
\nwe think about this, this <\/p>\n
673
\n00:40:19,640 –> 00:40:24,240
\nconversation with Nicodemus and
\nthen possibly the the most well <\/p>\n
674
\n00:40:24,240 –> 00:40:26,040
\nknown verse in the whole world,
\nverse 16. <\/p>\n
675
\n00:40:26,200 –> 00:40:30,160
\nFor God so loved the world that
\nhe gave his only son. <\/p>\n
676
\n00:40:30,840 –> 00:40:34,760
\nGod was so intent on us
\nunderstanding the need to be <\/p>\n
677
\n00:40:34,760 –> 00:40:38,360
\nborn again, so intent on showing
\nthis us this process. <\/p>\n
678
\n00:40:38,880 –> 00:40:42,760
\nIt was so important that He gave
\nhis only Son in order to make <\/p>\n
679
\n00:40:42,760 –> 00:40:45,840
\nthat happen, that whosoever
\nbelieves in him should not <\/p>\n
680
\n00:40:45,840 –> 00:40:50,800
\nperish but have eternal life.
\nBelief in the cross, in the <\/p>\n
681
\n00:40:50,800 –> 00:40:54,160
\nprocess of being born in this of
\nthe Spirit brings life. <\/p>\n
682
\n00:40:55,440 –> 00:40:57,640
\nSo in verse 17, Jesus then
\nanswers some more of the <\/p>\n
683
\n00:40:57,640 –> 00:41:02,160
\nthoughts of Nicodemus.
\nHe says, for God did not send <\/p>\n
684
\n00:41:02,160 –> 00:41:05,080
\nhis Son into the world to
\ncondemn the world. <\/p>\n
685
\n00:41:06,200 –> 00:41:09,120
\nNicodemus believed that the
\nMessiah would come and that he <\/p>\n
686
\n00:41:09,120 –> 00:41:12,240
\nwould condemn the Gentiles and
\nthe Jews. <\/p>\n
687
\n00:41:12,240 –> 00:41:14,840
\nThe righteous Jews would be set
\nup to rule over the world. <\/p>\n
688
\n00:41:15,640 –> 00:41:19,760
\nBut that wasn’t it at all.
\nHe came that the world might be <\/p>\n
689
\n00:41:19,760 –> 00:41:25,280
\nsaved through him.
\nThe Gentiles included not just <\/p>\n
690
\n00:41:25,280 –> 00:41:30,320
\nthe Jews, but the Gentiles.
\nSo thinking back then to the end<\/p>\n
691
\n00:41:30,320 –> 00:41:34,600
\nof John 2, when Jesus made his
\nfirst a public, public <\/p>\n
692
\n00:41:34,600 –> 00:41:38,360
\nappearance in Jerusalem,
\nmillions of people knew that <\/p>\n
693
\n00:41:38,360 –> 00:41:42,360
\nJesus had done those miracles.
\nThey were amazed at those <\/p>\n
694
\n00:41:42,360 –> 00:41:44,200
\nmiracles.
\nThey believed those miracles. <\/p>\n
695
\n00:41:45,200 –> 00:41:48,040
\nBut they didn’t understand the
\ngospel. <\/p>\n
696
\n00:41:48,720 –> 00:41:50,920
\nThey didn’t understand the
\nthings concerning the Kingdom of<\/p>\n
697
\n00:41:50,920 –> 00:41:54,440
\nGod in the name of Jesus Christ.
\nThe religion of the Jews had <\/p>\n
698
\n00:41:54,440 –> 00:42:00,760
\nlost sight of the need for
\npeople to be born again, and so <\/p>\n
699
\n00:42:00,760 –> 00:42:04,840
\nthey were of no use to Jesus.
\nHe didn’t believe in them. <\/p>\n
700
\n00:42:04,840 –> 00:42:10,280
\nAnd Nicodemus, the teacher in
\nIsrael was also no use to Jesus.<\/p>\n
701
\n00:42:11,200 –> 00:42:12,920
\nHe couldn’t believe in him
\neither. <\/p>\n
702
\n00:42:14,280 –> 00:42:18,200
\nJohn 3 verse 19 says, and this
\nis the judgement, this is the <\/p>\n
703
\n00:42:18,200 –> 00:42:21,400
\nconclusion.
\nLight has come into the world, <\/p>\n
704
\n00:42:21,400 –> 00:42:27,120
\nand people love the darkness
\nrather than the light because <\/p>\n
705
\n00:42:27,120 –> 00:42:31,960
\ntheir works were evil.
\nThey preferred not to know <\/p>\n
706
\n00:42:33,040 –> 00:42:36,560
\nbecause they wanted to keep
\ndoing what they were doing, and <\/p>\n
707
\n00:42:36,560 –> 00:42:41,200
\nthey wanted to keep serving sin.
\nAnd so the religion of Israel <\/p>\n
708
\n00:42:41,200 –> 00:42:47,120
\nhad eroded the gospel of God to
\nsuch an extent that it could no <\/p>\n
709
\n00:42:47,120 –> 00:42:50,240
\nlonger save the people.
\nThey’d substituted the <\/p>\n
710
\n00:42:50,240 –> 00:42:53,960
\ntraditions of man for the word
\nof God and as a result, that <\/p>\n
711
\n00:42:53,960 –> 00:42:56,960
\ncouldn’t save.
\nAnd even though Nicodemus was a <\/p>\n
712
\n00:42:56,960 –> 00:43:00,800
\nteacher in Israel and he clearly
\nbelieved that Jesus had come <\/p>\n
713
\n00:43:00,800 –> 00:43:06,400
\nfrom God, he was not fit for the
\nKingdom and he was not fit <\/p>\n
714
\n00:43:06,400 –> 00:43:10,360
\nbecause the gospel he preached
\nwas not the true gospel. <\/p>\n
715
\n00:43:11,480 –> 00:43:14,640
\nNow I think we can learn a lot
\nfrom that, especially today in <\/p>\n
716
\n00:43:14,640 –> 00:43:17,440
\nin the world that we live in
\ntoday, the challenges that we <\/p>\n
717
\n00:43:17,440 –> 00:43:19,680
\nface today.
\nI’ve tried to sum up here on a <\/p>\n
718
\n00:43:19,800 –> 00:43:24,240
\non the screen.
\nHuman thinking seduces us into <\/p>\n
719
\n00:43:24,240 –> 00:43:29,840
\nletting human thinking stay even
\nwhen we know we need to be, <\/p>\n
720
\n00:43:29,840 –> 00:43:33,240
\nreplacing human thinking to
\nthinking the flesh with godly <\/p>\n
721
\n00:43:33,240 –> 00:43:36,040
\nthinking.
\nWe love darkness so much that <\/p>\n
722
\n00:43:36,040 –> 00:43:38,120
\nit’s really hard for us to do
\nit. <\/p>\n
723
\n00:43:39,400 –> 00:43:43,240
\nAnd what happens is modern
\nculture has a way of <\/p>\n
724
\n00:43:43,240 –> 00:43:49,320
\nlegitimizing sin and making the
\nfight against sin seem barbaric.<\/p>\n
725
\n00:43:49,680 –> 00:43:52,360
\nLike why would you try to fight
\nagainst those things? <\/p>\n
726
\n00:43:52,640 –> 00:43:55,960
\nWhy would you go against that?
\nAnd So what we find is, is that <\/p>\n
727
\n00:43:55,960 –> 00:43:59,360
\nmany groups, many religions will
\nadapt to the culture. <\/p>\n
728
\n00:44:00,120 –> 00:44:04,920
\nThey’ll allow for changes in the
\nculture in their gospel, and <\/p>\n
729
\n00:44:04,920 –> 00:44:08,520
\nthey’ll move the line on what it
\nmeans to be godly. <\/p>\n
730
\n00:44:09,360 –> 00:44:11,920
\nWe might think of of some of the
\nthe sins that we know will keep <\/p>\n
731
\n00:44:11,920 –> 00:44:15,120
\npeople from the Kingdom
\nfornication, the erosion of the <\/p>\n
732
\n00:44:15,120 –> 00:44:17,440
\nfamily unit, greed, dishonesty.
\nWe can. <\/p>\n
733
\n00:44:17,440 –> 00:44:20,840
\nWe can read about these.
\nThese are practices that are so <\/p>\n
734
\n00:44:20,840 –> 00:44:26,120
\ncommon in our culture that
\nreligion hesitates to confront <\/p>\n
735
\n00:44:26,120 –> 00:44:30,640
\nthem.
\nAnd so modern religion often <\/p>\n
736
\n00:44:30,640 –> 00:44:35,120
\nfollows modern culture,
\nconstantly eroding the <\/p>\n
737
\n00:44:35,120 –> 00:44:36,520
\nimportance of the fighting of
\nsin. <\/p>\n
738
\n00:44:36,680 –> 00:44:38,000
\nThat’s what had happened in
\nIsrael. <\/p>\n
739
\n00:44:38,600 –> 00:44:42,920
\nMany religions have adapted to
\naccept the works of the flesh, <\/p>\n
740
\n00:44:43,400 –> 00:44:46,760
\nchanging their doctrines.
\nSo here are some of the ideas <\/p>\n
741
\n00:44:46,760 –> 00:44:49,200
\nthat I, I could think of.
\nAnd I, I think that this list <\/p>\n
742
\n00:44:49,200 –> 00:44:51,640
\nprobably is much, much, much
\nbigger than this. <\/p>\n
743
\n00:44:51,880 –> 00:44:54,760
\nBut here are some of the ideas
\nthat go completely counter to <\/p>\n
744
\n00:44:54,760 –> 00:44:56,280
\nthe idea of being born of the
\nSpirit. <\/p>\n
745
\n00:44:57,160 –> 00:45:00,200
\nOK, the first one, the
\nsubstitution of Christ, that <\/p>\n
746
\n00:45:00,280 –> 00:45:03,040
\nsomehow Christ has already paid
\nthe price for sin. <\/p>\n
747
\n00:45:03,400 –> 00:45:08,120
\nIt’s all been done for us, that
\nthere’s no need for us to <\/p>\n
748
\n00:45:08,120 –> 00:45:11,440
\ndevelop the mind of the Spirit.
\nThat’s a common teaching. <\/p>\n
749
\n00:45:11,440 –> 00:45:14,840
\nMost I think would believe this,
\nthat Christ died for us and it’s<\/p>\n
750
\n00:45:14,840 –> 00:45:17,640
\nall done.
\nNo need for us to develop the <\/p>\n
751
\n00:45:17,640 –> 00:45:20,040
\nmind of the spirit.
\nBut that takes us into the same <\/p>\n
752
\n00:45:20,560 –> 00:45:23,880
\nsame position as Nicodemus was
\nin looking just at the Kingdom. <\/p>\n
753
\n00:45:24,040 –> 00:45:26,840
\nLook at the reward and not at
\nthe the part that we have to do.<\/p>\n
754
\n00:45:27,520 –> 00:45:31,440
\nWe think about maybe the devil.
\nThe devil gives the idea that we<\/p>\n
755
\n00:45:31,440 –> 00:45:32,840
\ndon’t need to change our
\nthinking. <\/p>\n
756
\n00:45:33,120 –> 00:45:36,160
\nWe just need to get rid of the
\ndevil because it’s the devil’s <\/p>\n
757
\n00:45:36,160 –> 00:45:37,760
\nfault.
\nWe’re good. <\/p>\n
758
\n00:45:37,760 –> 00:45:40,480
\nIt’s it’s just the devil that’s
\nthe one that’s causing sin. <\/p>\n
759
\n00:45:41,920 –> 00:45:45,200
\nWhat about once saved, always
\nsaved right? <\/p>\n
760
\n00:45:45,200 –> 00:45:48,240
\nYou’re good no matter what.
\nYou really don’t need to change.<\/p>\n
761
\n00:45:48,240 –> 00:45:51,200
\nJust just accept Jesus.
\nThat’s all you need to do. <\/p>\n
762
\n00:45:51,640 –> 00:45:53,920
\nYou don’t need to go through the
\nprocess of being born of the <\/p>\n
763
\n00:45:53,920 –> 00:45:58,240
\nspirit and and maybe the most
\npopular 1 today is you doesn’t <\/p>\n
764
\n00:45:58,240 –> 00:46:01,160
\nmatter what you it doesn’t
\nmatter what you believe God will<\/p>\n
765
\n00:46:01,160 –> 00:46:05,440
\naccept everyone into his family
\nand that’s completely counter <\/p>\n
766
\n00:46:06,120 –> 00:46:09,760
\nwhere’s the battle against sin
\nin that there isn’t 1. <\/p>\n
767
\n00:46:10,080 –> 00:46:12,120
\nWhere’s the, the being born of
\nthe spirit in that there it’s <\/p>\n
768
\n00:46:12,120 –> 00:46:15,000
\nnot there.
\nAs I said, I think that if you <\/p>\n
769
\n00:46:15,040 –> 00:46:18,080
\nif you went through the the,
\nthe, the doctrines that are a <\/p>\n
770
\n00:46:18,080 –> 00:46:21,440
\nproblem that challenge God,
\nyou’ll find that it’s it’s to <\/p>\n
771
\n00:46:21,440 –> 00:46:25,520
\naccommodate the flesh very, very
\nfrequently wrong doctrines are <\/p>\n
772
\n00:46:25,520 –> 00:46:30,720
\nare based on the, the desire to
\naccommodate our fleshly desires.<\/p>\n
773
\n00:46:31,400 –> 00:46:35,720
\nAnd so Nicodemus had to learn
\nthat he had to learn that Jesus <\/p>\n
774
\n00:46:36,080 –> 00:46:38,640
\nhad to be lifted up on the
\ncross. <\/p>\n
775
\n00:46:39,760 –> 00:46:42,480
\nHe had to learn that flesh had
\nto be put to death. <\/p>\n
776
\n00:46:45,480 –> 00:46:48,280
\nAnd you know what?
\nHe learned it. <\/p>\n
777
\n00:46:49,840 –> 00:46:54,320
\nHe learned it when Christ said
\nthat the Son of Man have to be <\/p>\n
778
\n00:46:54,320 –> 00:46:59,520
\nlifted up, Nicodemus thought
\nthat that was crazy. <\/p>\n
779
\n00:47:00,680 –> 00:47:07,760
\nBut in John 19, when Jesus was
\non the cross, dead on the cross,<\/p>\n
780
\n00:47:09,080 –> 00:47:12,560
\nNicodemus is there.
\nHe’s there with Joseph of <\/p>\n
781
\n00:47:12,560 –> 00:47:17,800
\nArimathea, and he’s there
\nlifting Jesus off the cross. <\/p>\n
782
\n00:47:19,160 –> 00:47:24,560
\nAnd finally, Nicodemus knew what
\nit meant to be born of the <\/p>\n
783
\n00:47:24,560 –> 00:47:27,640
\nSpirit.
\nAnd so today we have really just<\/p>\n
784
\n00:47:27,960 –> 00:47:32,840
\njust one lesson, one key lesson.
\nAnd that key lesson is, unless <\/p>\n
785
\n00:47:32,840 –> 00:47:35,520
\nwe’re born of the Spirit, that’s
\nall the water and of the Spirit,<\/p>\n
786
\n00:47:36,400 –> 00:47:40,200
\nwe cannot enter into the Kingdom
\nof God. <\/p>\n
787
\n00:47:41,200 –> 00:47:41,520
\nThank you.\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Class 3 from this series was used in GCT Episode 367. 1 00:00:00,080 –> 00:00:02,040 Thanks,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":786,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/8765608\/podcast\/play\/108939872\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-8-29%2Fc7d856d7-5111-c6db-77db-dcc2d23dc630.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:47:41","filesize":"109.16M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"tags":[],"series":[18],"class_list":["post-1378","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","series-gct-ext"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t