#Jesus #John #Message #Isaiah #Israel #Nicodemus #BornAgain #HydeHeath #LearningTheBibleTogether #PhilipWoodley #HeatherWoodley #ChartridgeMissionChurch #Chesham
Dr Philip Woodley explores the time when Nicodemus, the leader of the Jews, met Jesus. Nicodemus' life was about to be radically changed, as Jesus explained that everyone must be born again of The Holy Spirit to see the Kingdom of God. This part of John's Gospel may be overly familiar to many Christians, but Philip Woodley offers insights that even the most learned will appreciate.
Philip Woodley YouTube Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeLtfVhcCUFsbMjekcadpfP3u5BXt8xmu
Chartridge Mission Church, a beacon of faith, was founded in 1844 and remains in the village of Chartridge, just outside Chesham, in the picturesque Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire, England, UK.
We are a warm and welcoming fellowship and would be delighted to have you visit us in person. Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm, followed by refreshments.
Our Church is fully accessible, with wheelchair ramps and an accessible toilet, ensuring everyone can participate in our services.
Chartridge Mission Church, Chapel Lane, Chartridge, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2TH
The village Church with an international audience.
Support our work at Chartridge Mission Church:
Donations via Stewardship.org.uk:
https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20005300
Please make cheques payable to Chartridge Mission Church and send them to the address above, attention Pastor Barry Kempson.
Recorded on Sunday, 3rd May 2026.
Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm.
www.Chartridge.UK
The Friendliest Fellowship.
Dr Philip Woodley explores the time when Nicodemus, the leader of the Jews, met Jesus. Nicodemus' life was about to be radically changed, as Jesus explained that everyone must be born again of The Holy Spirit to see the Kingdom of God. This part of John's Gospel may be overly familiar to many Christians, but Philip Woodley offers insights that even the most learned will appreciate.
Philip Woodley YouTube Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeLtfVhcCUFsbMjekcadpfP3u5BXt8xmu
Chartridge Mission Church, a beacon of faith, was founded in 1844 and remains in the village of Chartridge, just outside Chesham, in the picturesque Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire, England, UK.
We are a warm and welcoming fellowship and would be delighted to have you visit us in person. Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm, followed by refreshments.
Our Church is fully accessible, with wheelchair ramps and an accessible toilet, ensuring everyone can participate in our services.
Chartridge Mission Church, Chapel Lane, Chartridge, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2TH
The village Church with an international audience.
Support our work at Chartridge Mission Church:
Donations via Stewardship.org.uk:
https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20005300
Please make cheques payable to Chartridge Mission Church and send them to the address above, attention Pastor Barry Kempson.
Recorded on Sunday, 3rd May 2026.
Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm.
www.Chartridge.UK
The Friendliest Fellowship.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Three pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen.
00:09Bright skies will soon be or be, where the dark clouds have been.
00:19My hope I cannot measure, my heart to life is free.
00:28My Saviour has my treasure, and he will walk with me.
00:58This is a psalm about salvation, about our love for God, and about God's love for us.
01:05I love the Lord, for he heard my voice.
01:09He heard my cry for mercy.
01:12Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
01:19The cords of death entangled me.
01:21The anguish of the grave came over me.
01:24I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
01:27Then I called on the name of the Lord.
01:33The Lord is gracious and righteous.
01:36Our God is full of compassion.
01:38The Lord protects the unwary.
01:41When I was brought low, he saved me.
01:45Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
01:51For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
01:58that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
02:04I trusted in the Lord when I said, I am greatly afflicted.
02:08In my alarm I said, everyone is a liar.
02:12What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?
02:17I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
02:22I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
02:28Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.
02:34Truly, I am your servant, Lord.
02:36I serve you just as my mother did.
02:39You have freed me from my chains.
02:41I will sacrifice thank-offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.
02:47I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
02:53in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, Jerusalem.
02:58Praise the Lord.
03:02This psalm, at one time, probably not originally,
03:06but later, was thought to be two psalms.
03:08It was divided at verse 10.
03:11And very much in the first part of the psalm,
03:13the psalmist is talking about his dire circumstances.
03:19He finds, as it says in verse 3,
03:22that the cords of death entangled him.
03:24He was bound, he was imprisoned in some way or other.
03:30It may have been physically,
03:32or it may have been that he was unwell,
03:35he was suffering some serious illness,
03:38but he was in great distress and sorrow.
03:41But he called on the name of the Lord,
03:44and the Lord saved him.
03:48So this psalm can be, for any of us,
03:51in any different circumstances,
03:52that's one of the good things about the Bible.
03:55Think of Paul and his thorn in the flesh.
03:58We don't know what that was.
03:59But it stands for any problem that we face,
04:02that the Lord allows to come into our lives,
04:05to try and test us, to make us to depend upon him.
04:09And in this psalm, he then goes on,
04:12in the second half of the psalm,
04:14to talk about his response, particularly to the Lord,
04:18although that's mentioned in the first half,
04:21because he says that he looked to the Lord,
04:23the Lord saved him, and he praises the Lord for that.
04:26But in the second half, he says things like,
04:30I will lift up the cup of salvation.
04:33And that's the only time in the Old Testament
04:35that that phrase is used.
04:37But we think of that in terms,
04:39perhaps of the suffering of the Lord,
04:42that he suffered the cup of wrath that God poured out
04:48so that we might have salvation.
04:50So it's a response, really,
04:52to the suffering of the Lord who brings us salvation.
04:57It also says here in verse 11,
05:01everyone is a liar.
05:02Now, that probably means everyone is not dependable,
05:08that they can't be trusted on.
05:10And it's contrasting that with the Lord,
05:13because it was the Lord who saved him
05:15in his great affliction.
05:19And also we have in verse 15,
05:23precious in the sight of the Lord
05:25is the death of his faithful servants.
05:27That seems a bit of an odd phrase,
05:29that precious is the Lord when we die.
05:32But it's thought that it's meant to illustrate
05:38that God sees us as valuable,
05:41as precious,
05:42that he takes care of us,
05:46even in our death.
05:48Because we know that if we trust in the Lord Jesus,
05:52that we ultimately will be with God in eternity.
05:56So this is a psalm which encourages us
05:59to trust in the Lord,
06:02to give thanks to the Lord,
06:03because he has heard us,
06:05he has heard our cry for mercy,
06:07and we turn to him,
06:09and we seek him,
06:10and because he loves us,
06:12he redeems us,
06:13and makes us his.
06:18John chapter 3.
06:22Now there was a Pharisee,
06:24a man named Nicodemus,
06:26who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.
06:29He came to Jesus at night and said,
06:33Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher
06:36who has come from God,
06:37for no one can perform the signs you are doing
06:41if God were not with him.
06:44Jesus replied,
06:45Very truly I tell you,
06:47no one can see the kingdom of God
06:49unless they are born again.
06:52How can someone be born when they are old?
06:55Nicodemus asked.
06:58Surely they cannot enter a second time
07:00into their mother's womb to be born.
07:04Jesus answered,
07:05Very truly I tell you,
07:07no one can enter the kingdom of God
07:09unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
07:13Flesh gives birth to flesh,
07:16but the Spirit gives birth to the Spirit.
07:20You should not be surprised at my saying,
07:23You must be born again.
07:25The wind blows wherever it pleases.
07:28You hear its sound,
07:30but you cannot tell where it comes from
07:32or where it is going.
07:33So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
07:37How can this be?
07:39Nicodemus asked.
07:41You are Israel's teacher,
07:43said Jesus,
07:44and do you not understand these things?
07:47Very truly I tell you,
07:50we speak of what we know
07:52and we testify to what we have seen,
07:56but still you people do not accept our testimony.
08:01I have spoken to you of earthly things
08:03and you do not believe.
08:05How then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
08:10No one has ever gone into heaven
08:13except the one who came from heaven,
08:15the Son of Man.
08:18Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,
08:22so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
08:24that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
08:29For God so loved the world
08:32that he gave his one and only Son
08:34that whoever believes in him
08:37shall not perish,
08:38but have eternal life.
08:41For God did not send his Son into the world
08:44to condemn the world,
08:46but to save the world through him.
08:50Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
08:52but whoever does not believe
08:55stands condemned already
08:56because they have not believed
08:58in the name of God's one and only Son.
09:03This is the verdict.
09:05Light has come into the world,
09:07but people loved darkness instead of light
09:10because their deeds were evil.
09:13Everyone who does evil hates the light
09:16and will not come into the light
09:18for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
09:21But whoever lives by the truth
09:23comes into the light
09:24so that it may be seen plainly
09:27that what they have done
09:28has been done in the sight of God.
09:33After this, Jesus and his disciples
09:35went out into the Judean countryside
09:38where he spent some time with them
09:41and baptized.
09:43Now, John also was baptizing
09:46at Aenon near Salem
09:48because there was plenty of water
09:51and people were coming
09:53and being baptized.
09:55This was before John was put in prison.
09:59An argument developed
10:00between some of John's disciples
10:03and a certain Jew
10:04over the matter of ceremonial washing.
10:07They came to John and said to him,
10:10Rabbi, that man who was with you
10:13on the other side of the Jordan,
10:15the one you testified about,
10:17look, he is baptizing
10:19and everyone is going to him.
10:23To this, John replied,
10:25a person can receive
10:27only what is given them from heaven.
10:30You yourselves can testify
10:32that I said,
10:33I am not the Messiah,
10:35but I am sent ahead of him.
10:38The bride belongs to the bridegroom.
10:41The friend who attends the bridegroom
10:43waits and listens for him
10:45and is full of joy
10:46when he hears the bridegroom's voice.
10:49That joy is mine
10:51and it is now complete.
10:54He must become greater.
10:56I must become less.
10:59The one who comes from above
11:01is above all.
11:02The one who is from the earth
11:04belongs to the earth
11:05and speaks as one from the earth.
11:08The one who comes from heaven
11:10is above all.
11:11He testifies to what he has seen
11:14and heard,
11:14but no one accepts his testimony.
11:18Whoever has accepted it
11:20has certified that God is truthful.
11:22For the one whom God has sent
11:24speaks the words of God,
11:26for God gives the spirit without limit.
11:30The Father loves the Son
11:32and has placed everything in his hands.
11:35Whoever believes in the Son
11:37has eternal life,
11:39but whoever rejects the Son
11:41will not see life,
11:43for God's wrath remains on them.
11:48writing to Timothy,
11:50Paul makes this clear statement.
11:53All scripture is God-breathed
11:55and is useful for teaching,
11:58rebuking,
11:59correcting,
12:00and training in righteousness
12:02so that the servant of God
12:04may be thoroughly equipped
12:06for every good work.
12:10Whilst that is true,
12:12some parts of scripture,
12:14for example,
12:14lists of names,
12:16have much less to teach us.
12:18Other passages
12:19have great value.
12:22The great preacher,
12:23George Whitefield,
12:24in the 18th century
12:25was known to speak a lot
12:27about this passage.
12:29And one day
12:30someone asked him,
12:32why do you keep preaching
12:34that we must be born again?
12:36And Whitefield's answer was,
12:39because you must be born again.
12:41The passage seems to me
12:43to be one of the most crucial
12:44in our understanding
12:46of our Christian faith.
12:48So I thought it would be helpful
12:49to look at it in some detail,
12:51although we won't do so exhaustively,
12:54otherwise we'd be here a long time.
12:56Unlike some people
12:57in other religions,
12:58we do not believe
13:00that we are born Christians.
13:03We believe we are born in enmity
13:05with God,
13:06born in sin,
13:08as Psalm 51 tells us.
13:11Only by new birth,
13:13spiritual rebirth,
13:15are we restored
13:16to a positive relationship
13:17with the Almighty God.
13:20Thus, this passage
13:22is vital
13:23for our Christian faith.
13:26It is a conversation
13:28between two people
13:29with added commentary
13:31from John the writer,
13:33one of Jesus' disciples.
13:34But first,
13:35let's think about
13:36who these two people
13:37in conversation were.
13:40Verse 1.
13:42Nicodemus
13:43was a Pharisee.
13:45The Pharisees
13:46were one of the two
13:47mainstream Jewish ruling parties.
13:51The Pharisees believed
13:53that one day
13:54there would be
13:55a day of resurrection
13:57for God's people.
13:59But the other group,
14:01the Sadducees,
14:02were far more influential,
14:04but didn't believe
14:05in the resurrection,
14:07in the angels
14:08or spirits.
14:10However,
14:11the Sadducees
14:12dominated
14:13the oversight
14:14of the temple
14:15in Jerusalem.
14:17Now,
14:18in John chapter 2,
14:20Jesus had come
14:21to the temple
14:21probably
14:22for the first time
14:23during his ministry,
14:25and he had cleansed
14:26the temple
14:26by driving out
14:28the people
14:28who were carrying
14:29on trading activities
14:31there.
14:32This would have
14:33angered
14:34the Sadducees
14:35because their trading
14:37earned them money.
14:39It might well
14:40have amused
14:41the Pharisees
14:42to see this happen.
14:43There was no great love
14:44lost between
14:45the Pharisees
14:46and the Sadducees.
14:47So to see Jesus
14:49upset their opponents
14:50could have started
14:52a debate
14:52about who
14:53Jesus was.
14:55You see,
14:56there was an
14:56established process
14:57of becoming
14:58a rabbi,
15:00a teacher,
15:01and Jesus
15:02had suddenly
15:02appeared on the scene.
15:04He had stamped
15:05his authority
15:06on the situation,
15:07even confronting
15:08the ruling authorities.
15:11To become
15:12a rabbi,
15:13a man would have
15:14had to have been
15:15accepted
15:16by an established
15:17rabbi
15:18and taught
15:19by him.
15:20He would be
15:21taught until
15:22the rabbi
15:22decided that
15:23his disciple
15:24had absorbed
15:25all the teaching
15:26that he could
15:27give him.
15:28And then the disciple
15:29would become
15:30a rabbi
15:30in his own right.
15:32He would collect
15:33his own disciples
15:33and teach
15:34and train them.
15:36But Jesus
15:37hadn't done that.
15:38He was a tradesman
15:40from Galilee,
15:41often referred to
15:42as a carpenter.
15:45Now Jesus
15:46had gathered
15:47his disciples,
15:48but he had never
15:49been trained
15:49trained by
15:50an established
15:50rabbi.
15:51So who was he?
15:53He was an
15:54unknown rabbi.
15:56What authority
15:57did he have
15:58to upset
15:59the apple cart?
16:00Yet the Bible
16:01tells us
16:02that people
16:02saw that
16:03Jesus taught
16:04with greater
16:05authority
16:06than either
16:07the Pharisees
16:08or the Sadducees.
16:10And then
16:11there were
16:11the miracles.
16:13Now John
16:13has not listed
16:14all Jesus'
16:15early miracles.
16:16He has recorded
16:17the first
16:18of them,
16:18the turning
16:19of water
16:19into wine
16:20at the wedding
16:21in Canaan
16:22of Galilee.
16:23But reading
16:24the other
16:25Gospels,
16:25it seems
16:26that Jesus
16:27had probably
16:27already
16:28performed
16:29many miracles
16:30of healing
16:31which had
16:32attracted
16:32great attention.
16:35This background
16:36helps to
16:36explain
16:37the opening
16:38statement
16:38of Nicodemus
16:39in verse
16:412.
16:42Rabbi,
16:43we know
16:44that you
16:45are a teacher
16:45who has
16:46come from
16:46God
16:46for no
16:47one could
16:48perform
16:48the signs
16:49that you
16:49are doing
16:49if God
16:51were not
16:51with him.
16:54It looks
16:55as though
16:55Nicodemus
16:56may have
16:56been appointed
16:57by the
16:58leading Pharisees
16:59to go
16:59and to talk
17:00with Jesus
17:00to establish
17:01who he
17:02really was.
17:03He came
17:04with authority
17:05and standing
17:06in Judah.
17:09Jesus
17:09must surely
17:10have God's
17:11authority
17:11on his
17:11work
17:12in order
17:12to be
17:13able to
17:13perform
17:14miracles.
17:15But he
17:16was an
17:16untrained
17:17country
17:18tradesman.
17:19So how
17:19did he
17:20get his
17:20learning
17:21and his
17:21authority?
17:23Was he
17:24perhaps a
17:24new prophet
17:25like the
17:26Old Testament
17:27prophets?
17:29Perhaps
17:29some Pharisees
17:30thought that
17:31they might
17:31be able to
17:32get Jesus
17:32to align
17:33with them
17:33against the
17:34Sadducees.
17:35A powerful
17:36prophet on
17:36their side
17:37would give
17:38the Pharisees
17:39greater status.
17:41But there's
17:42one other
17:42thing in
17:43verse 2.
17:44He,
17:45that is
17:45Nicodemus,
17:46came to
17:47Jesus at
17:48night.
17:50Often
17:50people say
17:51that this
17:52was perhaps
17:52because he
17:53didn't want
17:53to be
17:54seen,
17:55because he
17:56might lose
17:56standing
17:57and status
17:58if he
17:59was
18:00consulting
18:01with this
18:02rebel
18:02rabbi.
18:03And maybe
18:04that's
18:04true.
18:05But John
18:06is almost
18:07certainly,
18:07because of
18:08the theme
18:08that runs
18:09through his
18:10gospel,
18:10making a
18:11different point.
18:12it was
18:13night.
18:14It was
18:15dark.
18:16John is
18:16making the
18:17point that
18:17Nicodemus
18:18is in
18:19the darkness
18:19of the
18:20lack of
18:21understanding.
18:22He has
18:23come to
18:23the eternal
18:24light of
18:24God.
18:25He was
18:25coming to
18:26gain
18:26understanding
18:27from
18:27Jesus.
18:28And we
18:29will return
18:29to that
18:30later.
18:32What
18:32Nicodemus
18:33does not
18:34understand is
18:34that Jesus
18:35is not
18:36just a
18:37simple
18:37country
18:37tradesman.
18:38He is
18:39actually the
18:40eternal
18:40son of
18:41God,
18:42come as
18:42the
18:42promised
18:43Messiah,
18:44the
18:44anointed
18:44one,
18:45the
18:45king,
18:45the
18:46priest,
18:46who will
18:47ultimately
18:47rule on
18:48David's
18:49throne for
18:50all
18:51eternity.
18:53Now,
18:54if we
18:54read this
18:55passage,
18:55it takes
18:56just a
18:56couple of
18:57minutes.
18:57So probably
18:59there is
18:59much more
19:00in this
19:00conversation
19:01than is
19:02recorded
19:02here.
19:03So we
19:03don't know
19:04whether
19:04Jesus'
19:05initial
19:05response
19:06to
19:06Nicodemus
19:07is a
19:08direct
19:08response
19:09to
19:09Nicodemus'
19:10opening
19:10gambit
19:11or not.
19:11It may
19:12not be.
19:13However,
19:14the point
19:14John is
19:15making here
19:16is that
19:16Jesus
19:16cuts right
19:17across
19:17Nicodemus'
19:19understanding.
19:21Typically
19:21though,
19:22a rabbi
19:23would be
19:23able to
19:24recite
19:24all of
19:25the Old
19:26Testament.
19:27So the
19:28method of
19:28teaching
19:28of challenge
19:30between
19:30rabbis
19:31and their
19:31disciples
19:32would be
19:32that the
19:33rabbi
19:33would ask
19:34a question.
19:35The
19:36disciples
19:37would then
19:37argue the
19:38issue
19:38from
19:39their
19:39understanding
19:40of
19:40scriptures
19:41and the
19:41teachings
19:42of the
19:42historically
19:43senior
19:44rabbis.
19:45The
19:46rabbi
19:46would then
19:46ask them
19:47about the
19:47things
19:48that they
19:49hadn't
19:49mentioned.
19:50But Jesus
19:51doesn't do
19:52that.
19:52He speaks
19:54with his
19:54own
19:54authority.
19:56In
19:56Matthew
19:575,
19:5721,
19:5822,
19:59Jesus
19:59says,
20:00you have
20:00heard that
20:01it was
20:01said to
20:02the people
20:02long ago,
20:03you shall
20:04not murder
20:04and anyone
20:06who murders
20:06will be
20:07subject to
20:07judgment.
20:09But I
20:10tell you
20:11that anyone
20:12who is
20:13angry with
20:13his brother
20:14or sister
20:14will be
20:15subject to
20:16judgment.
20:18Jesus
20:19was not
20:19overturning
20:20the Old
20:20Testament
20:20law.
20:21He was
20:22explaining
20:22its true
20:23meaning,
20:24a meaning
20:24that goes
20:25beyond the
20:25simple words
20:26of the
20:27sixth
20:27commandment
20:28given
20:29through
20:29Moses.
20:30Jesus
20:31is speaking
20:32with the
20:33authority
20:34of God
20:35himself.
20:37So
20:37Jesus'
20:38response
20:38to
20:38Nicodemus
20:39cuts
20:39right
20:40through
20:40the
20:40situation.
20:41Jesus
20:42is the
20:42one
20:42with
20:42the
20:43authority,
20:43not
20:44Nicodemus.
20:45He
20:46declares
20:46the
20:46great
20:47truth
20:47that
20:47troubles
20:48Nicodemus.
20:49Jesus
20:49is not
20:50going to
20:50bandy
20:51words
20:51with
20:51Nicodemus.
20:52Instead,
20:53he declares
20:54with
20:54authority,
20:55very
20:56truly,
20:57I tell
20:57you,
20:58no one
20:59can see
20:59the
20:59kingdom
21:00of God
21:00unless
21:01he is
21:02born
21:03again.
21:04No
21:05one
21:05can
21:06enter
21:06God's
21:06heaven
21:07unless
21:08they
21:08have
21:08true
21:09spiritual
21:09life.
21:12Despite
21:12his
21:13great
21:13learning,
21:14despite
21:14his
21:14standing,
21:15Nicodemus
21:16is
21:17floored
21:17by this
21:18statement.
21:18He
21:19has no
21:19understanding
21:20of what
21:20it means.
21:21He
21:21thinks
21:21purely
21:22in terms
21:22of
21:23physical
21:23birth
21:24and
21:24life.
21:25But
21:25Jesus
21:26is
21:27talking
21:27about
21:27spiritual
21:28life.
21:31In
21:32verses
21:325-8
21:33Jesus
21:33unpacks
21:34and
21:34explains
21:35his
21:36statement.
21:37In
21:37verses
21:389-10
21:39Jesus
21:39challenges
21:40Nicodemus
21:41and presents
21:42his own
21:42authority.
21:43And in
21:44verses
21:4416-21
21:46almost
21:47certainly
21:47this is
21:48John's
21:48commentary
21:49and
21:50expansion
21:50of
21:51Jesus'
21:52teaching.
21:53We
21:54won't
21:54dwell on
21:55verses
21:5522-36
21:57much
21:58because
21:58of
21:58time
21:59but
22:00they
22:00are
22:00specifically
22:00relevant
22:01as we
22:02shall
22:02see
22:02later.
22:04In
22:05verse
22:066
22:06Jesus
22:07explains
22:08something
22:08that
22:10Nicodemus
22:10should
22:11be able
22:12to
22:12grasp.
22:14Flesh
22:15gives
22:15birth to
22:16flesh
22:16but
22:18spirit
22:18gives
22:19birth to
22:20spirit.
22:22Jesus
22:23simply
22:23compares
22:24physical
22:25birth
22:25with
22:25spiritual
22:26birth.
22:28We
22:28are
22:28born
22:29of
22:29physical
22:30parents
22:30and
22:31to
22:31a
22:31degree
22:32that
22:32physical
22:33nature
22:33is
22:34replicated.
22:35As
22:36soon as
22:36a child
22:37is born
22:37people
22:38look for
22:38similarity
22:39between
22:40parents
22:40and
22:40children.
22:41Oh
22:41he's
22:42got
22:42his
22:42dad's
22:43nose
22:43or
22:43his
22:44mum's
22:44eyes.
22:45That
22:46sort
22:46of
22:46thing.
22:47In
22:47my
22:48family
22:48although
22:49we
22:49do
22:49look
22:49different
22:50it
22:51always
22:51used
22:51to
22:51be
22:51said
22:52once
22:52you've
22:53seen
22:53one
22:53male
22:53Woodley
22:54you've
22:54seen
22:55them
22:55all.
22:55And
22:56there's
22:56a
22:56degree
22:56of
22:57truth
22:57in
22:57that
22:57we
22:58do
22:58have
22:58great
22:59similarity.
23:01So
23:01flesh
23:02gives
23:02birth
23:02to
23:02flesh
23:03so
23:04it's
23:04also
23:05logical
23:05that
23:06spirit
23:06gives
23:07birth
23:08to
23:08spirit
23:08but
23:09in
23:09some
23:09versions
23:10it
23:10will
23:11say
23:11the
23:12spirit
23:12gives
23:12birth
23:13to
23:13spirit
23:13but
23:14some
23:14versions
23:15merely
23:16say
23:16but
23:17spirit
23:17gives
23:18birth
23:18to
23:18spirit.
23:19The
23:19issue
23:20which
23:20is
23:20unclear
23:20from
23:21ancient
23:21manuscripts
23:22is
23:23whether
23:23that
23:24Jesus
23:24is
23:25specifically
23:26talking
23:26about
23:27the
23:27work
23:28of
23:29the
23:29Holy
23:29Spirit
23:29or
23:30is
23:31he
23:31just
23:31making
23:31a
23:32general
23:32point
23:32about
23:33spiritual
23:33life
23:34coming
23:34from
23:35the
23:35spirit.
23:36Either
23:37way
23:37the
23:37point
23:37really
23:38is
23:38the
23:38same
23:39spiritual
23:40life
23:40is
23:41really
23:41only
23:42granted
23:42by
23:43the
23:43work
23:43of
23:44the
23:44Holy
23:44Spirit.
23:45The
23:46point
23:46Jesus
23:47is
23:47making
23:47is
23:47that
23:48physical
23:48life
23:49comes
23:49from
23:50physical
23:50parents
23:51spiritual
23:52life
23:52comes
23:53from
23:53spiritual
23:54sources.
23:55It
23:56is a
23:56simple
23:56but
23:57profound
23:58statement.
24:00Because
24:01Adam and
24:01Eve rebelled
24:02against
24:02God's
24:03command
24:03in
24:04Genesis
24:042
24:05they
24:05died
24:05spiritually
24:06although
24:07they
24:07didn't
24:08immediately
24:08die
24:09physically.
24:10By
24:10breaking
24:11God's
24:11law
24:12they
24:12were
24:12alienated
24:13from
24:13God.
24:14They
24:14suffered
24:15spiritual
24:16death.
24:18Consequently
24:19Adam and
24:20Eve had
24:20no
24:21spiritual
24:21life to
24:22pass to
24:22their
24:22children
24:23when they
24:24were
24:24born.
24:25They
24:25could
24:25only
24:26pass on
24:26physical
24:27life and
24:28characteristics.
24:29Spiritual
24:30life has
24:31to be
24:31granted
24:32anew
24:32by a
24:34spiritual
24:34source.
24:35It
24:36has to
24:36be
24:36granted
24:37by the
24:38Holy
24:38Spirit.
24:41Jesus
24:41compares
24:42the
24:42Holy
24:43Spirit
24:43with
24:43the
24:44wind.
24:45We
24:45see
24:46the
24:46effects
24:46of
24:47the
24:47wind
24:47but
24:48where
24:48does
24:48that
24:48wind
24:48come
24:49from?
24:50It
24:51is a
24:51movement
24:51of the
24:52air.
24:53Meteorologists
24:53will
24:54describe
24:54the high
24:55pressures
24:55and low
24:56pressure
24:56systems
24:57that drive
24:58the movement
24:59of air
24:59and we
25:00might be
25:00able to
25:00pick up
25:01traces in
25:01the air
25:02of where
25:02it has
25:03been.
25:03For
25:04example
25:04Saharan
25:05dust,
25:06pollution
25:07from
25:07major
25:08population
25:09centres
25:10or
25:10industrial
25:10centres,
25:12water
25:12vapour
25:13that's
25:13brought
25:14from the
25:14sea and
25:15so on.
25:16But where
25:17does it
25:17truly come
25:18from?
25:19It
25:19circulates
25:20around so
25:21we can't
25:21really know
25:22its specific
25:23origin.
25:25And so it
25:26is with the
25:26Holy Spirit.
25:27We can see
25:28the change
25:29in people's
25:29lives as
25:30new spiritual
25:31life begins
25:33to transform
25:34somebody's
25:35life.
25:36But we
25:37do not
25:37see it
25:38happen.
25:38It is a
25:39silent,
25:40invisible
25:40process.
25:42It is a
25:42spiritual
25:43process.
25:45We are
25:46spiritual
25:46beings
25:47when God
25:48grants
25:49new life.
25:50But we
25:51cannot see
25:52someone's
25:52spirit.
25:53We merely
25:53see the
25:54way that
25:54that person's
25:55spirit
25:55affects the
25:57life of
25:58that
25:58individual.
26:00But before
26:01we leave
26:01this section
26:02I want
26:02to highlight
26:03one other
26:03point.
26:04Verse 5
26:05Very truly
26:06I tell you
26:07no one
26:07can enter
26:08the kingdom
26:08of God
26:09unless they
26:10are born
26:10of water
26:11and the
26:13spirit.
26:15We are
26:15born again
26:16by being
26:17given new
26:18spiritual
26:18life.
26:19But Jesus
26:19also says
26:20here that
26:21we are born
26:22of water.
26:23What does
26:24he mean?
26:25Some people
26:26think in terms
26:27of what Paul
26:28says in
26:29Ephesians 5
26:30verse 26
26:31there he
26:32talks about
26:33washing with
26:34the water
26:34through the
26:35word.
26:36In other
26:37words the
26:38words of
26:38scripture are
26:39purifying like
26:41cleansing water.
26:42It is through
26:43the Bible and
26:44the preaching
26:45of God's
26:45word that
26:47we gain
26:48understanding
26:49of salvation.
26:50It is the
26:51inspired word
26:52of God as
26:53we said at
26:54the start.
26:55So the
26:55Holy Spirit
26:56uses God's
26:57word to
26:58revitalise the
27:00soul.
27:01But there is
27:02one other
27:03idea that
27:04is perhaps
27:04more likely.
27:06In chapter
27:07one and
27:08the last
27:09part of
27:09this chapter
27:10John talks
27:11about the
27:12work of
27:12John the
27:13Baptist.
27:14Now John
27:15the Baptist's
27:16baptism was
27:17a baptism
27:18of repentance.
27:20He was
27:20calling on
27:21people to
27:22turn from
27:22their sin
27:23because Jesus
27:24was coming
27:25to teach
27:25them the
27:26way of
27:27new life.
27:28It would
27:29be Jesus
27:29who sends
27:30the Holy
27:31Spirit to
27:32grant that
27:33gift of
27:34new life.
27:35So this
27:36may be
27:36Jesus'
27:37way of
27:37calling people
27:38to repent
27:39which is an
27:40essential part
27:41of being
27:42born again.
27:44A new
27:44spiritual life
27:45is transformative.
27:48It is that
27:48transformation
27:49which is the
27:50evidence of
27:52new birth.
27:52But for it
27:54to be evident
27:55not only
27:55would we
27:56expect to
27:57see new
27:57things we
27:58would expect
27:59to see an
28:00abandonment of
28:01the old ways
28:02of living,
28:03the sinful
28:03ways, the
28:04things that
28:05displease
28:06God.
28:07In
28:08confirmation
28:09this some
28:10commentators
28:11believe that
28:12Jesus was
28:13hinting at
28:14Ezekiel
28:14chapter 36
28:15verses 25
28:16to 27
28:18where the
28:19prophet gives
28:20God's message
28:21to the
28:22exiles in
28:23Babylon.
28:25I will
28:26bring you
28:26back into
28:26your land.
28:28I will
28:28sprinkle clean
28:29water on
28:30you and
28:31you will be
28:32clean.
28:32I will
28:33cleanse you
28:34from your
28:34impurities and
28:35from all your
28:36idols.
28:37I will give
28:37you a new
28:38heart and
28:39put a new
28:40spirit in
28:40you.
28:41I will
28:42remove from
28:43you your
28:43heart of
28:44stone and
28:45give you a
28:45heart of
28:46flesh and
28:47I will put
28:48my spirit
28:48in you and
28:49move to
28:50follow my
28:51decrees
28:51and be
28:52careful to
28:53keep my
28:53laws.
28:56This is the
28:57Old Testament
28:57way of
28:58expressing what
28:59Jesus has
28:59just said.
29:00This passage
29:01would be
29:02familiar to
29:03Nicodemus.
29:04As a
29:05learned
29:05rabbi
29:05Nicodemus
29:07should have
29:07been thinking
29:08where in
29:09the scriptures
29:09does God
29:11talk about
29:11washing and
29:12new spiritual
29:13life?
29:14He should
29:15have been
29:15thinking about
29:16this passage
29:16from Ezekiel
29:17discussing its
29:18meaning with
29:19Jesus.
29:20but he
29:21missed the
29:21point.
29:23So Jesus
29:24has told
29:25Nicodemus
29:26that only
29:27those who
29:27are born
29:28again by
29:28the Holy
29:29Spirit can
29:30enter heaven.
29:31This is not
29:32a physical
29:33rebirth but
29:35a spiritual
29:35process.
29:36It is not
29:37something we
29:38see physically
29:38but we do
29:40see the
29:40results of
29:41rebirth.
29:42They are a
29:43change of
29:43attitudes and
29:44activities as
29:45the Christian
29:46is born
29:46again.
29:47They are
29:48evidence of
29:50new birth.
29:51I remember
29:52one pastor
29:53telling me
29:54after many
29:55years of
29:56praying for
29:56his parents
29:57his parents
29:58became
29:58Christians.
30:00They bought
30:01a Bible
30:02and started
30:03reading it.
30:04Then they
30:05started attending
30:06the Sunday
30:06morning service
30:07at their
30:07local church.
30:09Then they
30:09went to their
30:10pastor and
30:10said we
30:11understand that
30:12there is an
30:12evening service
30:13can we come
30:14to that too.
30:15They then
30:16wanted to
30:17attend the
30:17midweek Bible
30:18study and
30:18prayer meeting.
30:19They were
30:20spiritually hungry
30:21to understand
30:22more and
30:23more of the
30:24Bible.
30:24It changed
30:25their lives.
30:26It changed
30:27what they
30:28did and
30:29how they
30:29lived.
30:31Although
30:32Jesus has
30:32not thought
30:33to explain
30:34this transformation
30:35to Nicodemus
30:36verse 9
30:37makes it
30:38clear that
30:38Nicodemus
30:39has not
30:40understood.
30:41So Jesus
30:42challenges him
30:43look at
30:45what Jesus
30:45says to
30:46him in
30:47verse 10.
30:49You are
30:50Israel's
30:50teacher says
30:51Jesus and
30:52do you not
30:53understand
30:53these things?
30:56It's not
30:57totally clear
30:58who Nicodemus
30:59is but
31:00Jesus doesn't
31:01say you
31:02are one of
31:02Israel's
31:03teachers but
31:04you are
31:05Israel's
31:06teacher implying
31:08that Nicodemus
31:09is perhaps
31:10more than
31:11just an
31:11ordinary
31:12rabbi.
31:12Instead
31:13he must
31:13be one
31:14of if
31:15not the
31:16leading
31:17pharisaical
31:18rabbi.
31:20And yet
31:21despite his
31:22exhorted
31:22position as
31:23a spiritual
31:24leader and
31:25teacher he
31:26has not
31:26understood
31:27Jesus'
31:27teaching about
31:28spiritual
31:29things.
31:30Effectively
31:31the challenge
31:31is you
31:33are one of
31:33the top
31:33spiritual
31:34leaders and
31:35teachers of
31:36this nation
31:36yet you
31:38have no
31:38spiritual
31:38understanding
31:39yourself.
31:41some
31:42commentators
31:43point out
31:43a seemingly
31:44interesting
31:45but perhaps
31:46rather amusing
31:47twist in
31:48what Jesus
31:48says next.
31:50Back in
31:51verse 2
31:51Nicodemus
31:53starts with
31:53a somewhat
31:54pompous
31:54rabbi
31:55we know
31:56that you
31:56are a
31:57teacher who
31:57has come
31:58from God.
31:59This is
32:00what we
32:00know as
32:01the royal
32:02we,
32:02the head
32:03of state
32:04speaking on
32:04behalf of
32:05their nation
32:06or the
32:06national
32:07leaders and
32:09that's
32:09probably the
32:10way that
32:10Nicodemus
32:11meant it.
32:12We, the
32:13leaders of
32:13the Pharisees
32:14have discussed
32:15this matter
32:16and I have
32:17come as
32:17their
32:17representative
32:18and now
32:19Jesus replies
32:20in a
32:21similar vein
32:24very truly
32:25I tell you
32:26we speak
32:28of what
32:29we know
32:30and we
32:31testify
32:32to what
32:33we have
32:33seen
32:34but still
32:35you people
32:36do not
32:37accept
32:37our
32:38testimony.
32:40Who is
32:41Jesus
32:41speaking of?
32:42Who is
32:43he speaking
32:43on behalf
32:44of?
32:46As the
32:47Son of
32:47God
32:47Jesus
32:48speaks
32:49on behalf
32:49of the
32:50Holy
32:50Trinity
32:50Father
32:52Son
32:52and Holy
32:53Spirit.
32:54This is
32:55underpinned
32:56by what
32:56he says
32:56in verse
32:5713.
32:58No one
32:59has ever
33:00gone into
33:00heaven
33:01except the
33:01one who
33:02came from
33:02heaven
33:03the Son
33:04of Man.
33:06So
33:06Nicodemus
33:07who is
33:08this Son
33:09of Man
33:09that the
33:10Lord Jesus
33:11is talking
33:12about?
33:13You see
33:14the implication
33:15of what
33:15Jesus is
33:16saying is
33:16that there
33:17is someone
33:17who can
33:18come to
33:19earth
33:19but who
33:20can also
33:21enter the
33:22very presence
33:22of Almighty
33:23God.
33:24Who could
33:25that be?
33:26Clearly
33:27such a person
33:28would be able
33:28to speak
33:29about such
33:30spiritual things
33:31with deep
33:32knowledge and
33:32understanding.
33:34So Nicodemus
33:35who is the
33:37Son of Man?
33:38If you could
33:39speak with
33:40such a person
33:40who has
33:42open access
33:42to speak
33:44with Almighty
33:44God
33:45just think
33:46what knowledge
33:47what understanding
33:48you could gain
33:49from such a
33:50person.
33:51So who
33:52is he?
33:54And so
33:54Jesus tells
33:55Nicodemus
33:56who the
33:56Son of Man
33:57is,
33:58what it
33:58means to
33:59believe in
33:59him and
34:01the things
34:01that he
34:02says.
34:03Verse 15
34:05Everyone
34:05who believes
34:06what the
34:07Son of Man
34:08says may
34:09have eternal
34:10life in
34:11him.
34:13The Son
34:13of Man
34:14is the one
34:14who is going
34:15to be lifted
34:15up,
34:16lifted up
34:17on a
34:17pole
34:18like the
34:19serpent
34:19and the
34:20snake
34:20in the
34:21desert
34:21by Moses.
34:23Now again
34:24this should
34:25have started
34:25Nicodemus
34:26thinking.
34:27Son of Man
34:28was a title
34:29that God
34:30used when he
34:30was speaking
34:31to Ezekiel.
34:33Nicodemus
34:34should have been
34:34thinking about
34:35Ezekiel after
34:35the earlier
34:36reference to
34:37spiritual
34:37rebirth and
34:38washing of
34:39water.
34:40But there's
34:41also another
34:41reference to
34:42the Son of Man
34:43and that is
34:44in Daniel
34:45chapter 7
34:46the prophecy
34:47of one of
34:48the great
34:48Old Testament
34:49prophets
34:50during the
34:51exile period.
34:53Daniel 7
34:54is about
34:55one of the
34:55great visions
34:56that Daniel
34:56saw and
34:58in it he
34:58saw one
34:59like a
35:00Son of Man
35:01who comes
35:02on the
35:02clouds of
35:02heaven and
35:03approaches God
35:04the Ancient
35:05of Days
35:06and God
35:07gives the
35:07Son of Man
35:08all authority
35:09and power
35:10so that he
35:10can reign
35:11forever
35:12and all
35:13nations
35:13worship
35:14the Son
35:15of Man.
35:17So
35:18Nicodemus
35:18should be
35:19thinking
35:20Son of
35:21Man
35:21equals
35:22eternal
35:22power
35:23eternal
35:24reign
35:25like the
35:26Messiah.
35:27Then he
35:27ought to
35:28have been
35:28thinking
35:28but the
35:29Son of
35:30Man
35:30is going
35:30to be
35:31lifted up
35:31on a
35:31pole
35:34and that
35:34would mean
35:35execution.
35:36How would
35:37he reconcile
35:38these two
35:38things?
35:39And perhaps
35:40he couldn't.
35:42therefore he
35:43needed to
35:44ask Jesus
35:45the one
35:46with
35:47extraordinary
35:48knowledge and
35:49understanding
35:50but he
35:51didn't.
35:52He went
35:53away again
35:54into the
35:55night.
35:57He went
35:57from the
35:57light
35:58back into
35:59the darkness.
36:02Do you
36:03see how that
36:03fits with
36:04this next
36:04section?
36:05See what
36:06John says
36:06in verses
36:0719 to
36:0820.
36:09This is
36:09the verdict.
36:10light has
36:11come into
36:12the world
36:13but people
36:14loved
36:14darkness
36:15instead of
36:16light
36:16because their
36:17deeds were
36:17evil.
36:18Everyone who
36:19does evil
36:20hates the
36:21light and
36:22will not
36:23come into
36:23the light
36:23for fear
36:24that their
36:24deeds will
36:25be exposed.
36:26But whoever
36:27lives by
36:28the truth
36:28comes into
36:29the light
36:30so that it
36:31may be seen
36:32plainly what
36:33they have
36:33done has
36:34been done
36:35in the
36:36sight of
36:36God.
36:39in chapter
36:408 verse
36:4112 John
36:42records Jesus
36:43as saying
36:44I am the
36:45light of
36:46the world
36:46whoever
36:47follows me
36:48will never
36:49walk in
36:50darkness
36:50but will
36:51have the
36:52light of
36:52life.
36:55Nicodemus
36:55has an
36:56extraordinary
36:56opportunity
36:57to gain
36:58real
36:58understanding
36:59but he
37:00left.
37:01He went
37:02away
37:02confused.
37:05But the
37:05good thing
37:06was that
37:07he continued
37:07to think
37:08about what
37:08he had
37:09heard.
37:11Eventually
37:12he would
37:13come to
37:14understand
37:14who Jesus
37:15really was.
37:16He would
37:17make his
37:18stand against
37:18the council
37:19against the
37:20Sanhedrin
37:21of which he
37:22was a
37:22member.
37:23But for
37:24now we
37:25are left
37:25with one
37:26of the
37:26greatest
37:26summaries
37:27of the
37:27gospel
37:27ever written
37:28verses
37:29that are
37:30probably
37:30some of
37:31the most
37:31well-known
37:32in the
37:33whole
37:33Bible.
37:34Look at
37:35verses
37:3516 and
37:3617.
37:37For God
37:38so loved
37:39the world
37:39that he
37:41gave his
37:41one and
37:42only Son
37:43that whoever
37:44believes in
37:45him shall
37:46not perish
37:47but have
37:48eternal life.
37:50For God
37:51did not send
37:51his Son
37:52into the
37:52world to
37:53condemn
37:54the world
37:55but to
37:56save the
37:56world through
37:57him.
37:59God the
38:00Father
38:01loves the
38:02people of
38:02the world
38:03in such
38:04a way
38:04that he
38:05desires a
38:05relationship
38:06with them.
38:07But they
38:08will not.
38:09They cannot
38:10turn to
38:11him because
38:12they are
38:12spiritually
38:13dead.
38:13They have
38:14sinned
38:15against him.
38:16Those sins
38:17must be
38:18punished.
38:19But the
38:20punishment would
38:21be greater
38:21than mankind
38:22could endure.
38:23It involves
38:25total separation
38:26from God
38:26the Father.
38:27We have a
38:28debt that
38:30we cannot
38:30pay.
38:30we have
38:32all sinned
38:33because we
38:34were born
38:34sinful
38:35people.
38:37Three years
38:38later one
38:39of the
38:39Pharisees
38:39would
38:40challenge
38:40Jesus
38:40as to
38:41what the
38:42greatest
38:42commandment
38:43was.
38:44Jesus
38:45replied
38:45love the
38:47Lord your
38:47God with
38:48all your
38:48heart and
38:49with all
38:49your soul
38:50and with
38:50all your
38:50mind.
38:52Together
38:52with a
38:52second
38:53commandment
38:53love your
38:54neighbour as
38:55yourself.
38:55this is a
38:57summary of
38:58the whole
38:58law.
39:00But we
39:01cannot keep
39:01such demanding
39:02laws.
39:03Moment by
39:04moment we
39:05fail.
39:06We cannot
39:06love God
39:07with everything
39:08that we
39:08are.
39:09It is
39:09impossible.
39:11As failed
39:12sinners we
39:13need to rely
39:14on the
39:14mercy of
39:14God who
39:15alone can
39:16bear the
39:17punishment
39:17we deserve.
39:20As the
39:20Son of
39:21God Jesus
39:21takes on a
39:22human existence
39:23he becomes
39:25one of
39:26us.
39:27In this
39:28way he
39:29can pay
39:29the debt
39:30that we
39:30owe but
39:31cannot pay.
39:32He takes
39:33the punishment
39:34and so all
39:35who believe
39:35in him can
39:36have their
39:37sins forgiven.
39:38As we
39:39repent and
39:39confess our
39:40sins to
39:41God they
39:41are taken
39:42by the
39:43Lord Jesus.
39:43They are
39:44gone.
39:45God sees
39:46us as
39:47righteous.
39:49Now we
39:50will not
39:50truly confess
39:51our sins
39:52if we do
39:52not believe
39:53Jesus can
39:53accept them
39:54and deal
39:54with them
39:55and set
39:56us free.
39:57But when
39:58we have
39:58faith and
39:59trust in
40:00Jesus that
40:01is what
40:02happens.
40:03We gain
40:04new spiritual
40:05life.
40:06We are
40:07cleansed of
40:08sin.
40:08We have
40:09eternal life.
40:11We cannot
40:11see it but
40:12it is promised
40:13to us.
40:14Whoever
40:15believes in
40:16Jesus shall
40:17not perish.
40:18but have
40:19eternal life.
40:21It is
40:22God's
40:22promise.
40:23It is
40:24included in
40:25the inspired
40:25word of
40:26God.
40:26God cannot
40:27fail to
40:28deliver what
40:29he has
40:30promised.
40:31Jesus did
40:32not come to
40:33condemn us
40:34for our
40:35sin but he
40:36came to
40:36save us
40:37from it.
40:38But if we
40:39don't believe
40:40in him we
40:41remain under
40:42God's
40:42condemnation.
40:43Look at
40:44verse 18.
40:45Whoever
40:45believes in
40:46him is not
40:47condemned but
40:49whoever does
40:49not believe
40:50stands condemned
40:52already because
40:53they have not
40:53believed in
40:54the name of
40:55God's one
40:55and only
40:56son.
40:58God is
40:59loving,
41:00gracious and
41:01merciful but
41:03we do have to
41:04exercise faith
41:05and trust in
41:06the Lord Jesus
41:07and his
41:07sacrifice.
41:09If we
41:09refuse to
41:10believe we
41:11are condemned
41:12but we
41:13are under
41:14that
41:14condemnation
41:15already.
41:16Jesus'
41:16sacrifice
41:17opens up
41:18the possibility
41:19of eternal
41:20salvation.
41:22In his
41:22explanation of
41:23John's
41:24work in
41:25verse 22
41:27to 36
41:29John ends
41:30with a very
41:31similar comment.
41:33The father
41:34loves the
41:35son and
41:36has placed
41:36everything in
41:37his hands.
41:38Whoever
41:39believes in
41:40the son
41:41has eternal
41:42life but
41:44whoever rejects
41:45the son will
41:46not see
41:47life for
41:48God's wrath
41:48remains on
41:49them.
41:52Because God
41:53the father
41:53loves the
41:54son God
41:55grants salvation
41:56to all who
41:57believe in
41:57his son.
41:59Those who
42:00love the
42:00son will
42:01be automatically
42:02be loved by
42:04the father.
42:07the things
42:08that we've
42:08looked at
42:09today demand
42:09a response.
42:11Nicodemus
42:12wasn't ready.
42:13He walked
42:14away.
42:15But God
42:16was merciful.
42:18Later
42:18Nicodemus
42:18saw the
42:19sacrifice
42:20that Jesus
42:21made.
42:22He gained
42:22understanding
42:23and believed.
42:24He changed.
42:25He was prepared
42:26to stand up
42:27for Jesus.
42:28He gained
42:29eternal life
42:29by believing
42:31in Jesus.
42:33But there
42:33were many
42:34others who
42:34heard Jesus
42:35and just
42:37walked away.
42:38They didn't
42:39believe in
42:40him and
42:41they were
42:41condemned.
42:43However
42:44there is one
42:44other consideration
42:45to take into
42:46account.
42:48Nicodemus
42:49was fortunate.
42:50God allowed
42:51him time.
42:53But we do
42:53not all
42:54receive such
42:55a blessing.
42:56Paul writes
42:57in 2
42:57Corinthians 6
42:58too.
42:59I tell
43:00you now
43:01is the
43:01time of
43:01God's
43:02favour.
43:03Now
43:03is the
43:04day of
43:05salvation.
43:06We
43:07don't need
43:08to act
43:08now if
43:09we have
43:09not already
43:10accepted
43:11the mercy
43:12of God.
43:12We do
43:13not know
43:13whether
43:14God
43:14will
43:15spare us
43:16for
43:16tomorrow.
43:17We
43:17must
43:18seek
43:18him
43:18today.
43:20Amen.
43:22In
43:22heavenly
43:24love
43:25abiding
43:26no change
43:28my heart
43:30shall be
43:31and safe
43:33is such
43:34confiding
43:36for nothing
43:38changes
43:39here.
43:41The storm
43:43may
43:43or without
43:45be
43:45my heart
43:47may
43:48all be
43:49laid
43:50but God
43:52is round
43:53about me
43:55and cannot
43:57be
43:59dismayed.
44:02Wherever
44:03he may
44:05guide me
44:06no one
44:07shall turn
44:09me
44:09back
44:11my
44:12shepherd
44:13is
44:13beside
44:15me
44:15and
44:16nothing
44:17can
44:18I
44:19lack
44:20His
44:21wisdom
44:22ever
44:24waketh
44:25His
44:26sight
44:27is
44:27never
44:28dear
44:30He
44:31knows
44:32the
44:32way
44:33he
44:33taketh
44:34and
44:36I
44:37will
44:37walk
44:38walk
44:38with
44:39Him
44:39Three
44:41pastures
44:43are
44:43before
44:44me
44:45which
44:47yet
44:47I
44:48have
44:49not
44:49seen
44:50Bright
44:51skies
44:52will
44:53soon
44:53be
44:54or
44:54be
44:55where
44:56the
44:57dark
44:58clouds
44:58have
44:59been
45:00My
45:01hope
45:02I
45:03cannot
45:04measure
45:05My
45:06heart
45:07to
45:08life
45:09is
45:09free
45:10My
45:11Savior
45:12has
45:13my
45:14treasure
45:15and
45:17he
45:17will
45:18walk
45:19with
45:20me
45:20me
45:20to
45:20me
45:20to
45:20me
45:20to
45:22to
45:22me
45:23to
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