Hello, and welcome to
Foundation of Our Faith.
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My name is John Dinzey.
It's a pleasure to be with you.
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And I'm glad to be
a part of this hour
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when we will hear a
message from God's Word.
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And today, we have
a message from heaven
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through our invited
Pastor Furman Fordham II.
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He's a native of
Kansas City, Missouri.
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And the Lord has blessed him
to pastor in different places
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including youth pastor
in Melbourne, Australia
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but he is also
pastor in Illinois,
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Kansan City, Missouri,
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and also now senior pastor
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in Riverside
Seventh-day Adventist church
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in Nashville, Tennessee.
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The Lord blessed him
with a wife Jennifer,
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that a former
elementary school teacher
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that has accepted
the great privilege
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to be a home-school mom.
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And they have been blessed
with three wonderful children.
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And the first one,
Furman III also called Pace,
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Irwin also called Pax,
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and Jennings Walter
also called Price lovingly,
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nicknames the
family has given them.
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And Pastor Fordham is a person
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that the Lord has also
used to write a book co-authored
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with Eddie Polite.
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The book called
Mission Driven Ministry.
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And the Lord has
blessed Pastor Fordham
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with a desire to
see churches move
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from just maintenance
to mission-driven churches.
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So through the ministry of
the Holy Spirit in his life,
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he has been quite a
blessing in all the churches
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he has been in thus far.
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And we know you will be blessed
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as you stay with
us during this hour
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because we have a
message from heaven entitled,
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"The A, B, C."
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So if you think
you know the ABCs,
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you need to stay by
and listen to God's message
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through Pastor Fordham.
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And we also have a
musical guest ministry,
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a music evangelist
Sister Chavvah Lister.
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Sister Chavvah
Lister is a person
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that loves the Lord
and wants to communicate
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that through her music
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so that people will be
inspired to follow Jesus
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with all of their heart.
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She's also been
blessed with a loving husband
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who is also a senior pastor,
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Pastor Martin, senior pastor
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of the Orchard Park
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and they have two
wonderful children.
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And during this hour,
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you will hear a music or
a message in song entitled,
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"Were it not for Grace."
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Before we listen to
this message and song,
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we are going to ask
you to join us in prayer.
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So wherever you are,
we encourage you to pause
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and join us as we go
to the Lord in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Our loving heavenly
Father, we thank you so much,
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that You have loved so much
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to bring us another
message from heaven.
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And we pray Lord
that as we listen,
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we will be drawn close to you.
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We pray that you will use
Pastor Fordham to speak to us.
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And, Father, we pray that
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if people that are
listening to this message
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are going in the wrong way,
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we pray that as a
result of listening
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to this message
they will find Jesus,
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the way, the
truth, and the life.
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And heavenly Father,
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we know that some are listening,
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not because they plan to listen
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but because You have
called them for this moment.
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They just turned to the channel,
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they just turned to the webpage,
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found this
message on the radio dial,
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and we pray that
You will speak to them
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and we pray that
they will listen to You
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through your
servant Pastor Fordham.
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And we pray heavenly Father
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that as they also
listen to the ministering song,
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they will be drawn close to you.
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And we thank you for
listening to our prayer,
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for we bring it to
you in Jesus' name, Amen.
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Amen.
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Well, we now
invite Sister Chavvah
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and we encourage
you to be blessed
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as you listen to
Were it not for Grace.
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Immediately after this,
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we will hear
the message from God
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through Pastor Fordham.
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May God bless him.
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Time measured out my days
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Life carried me along
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In my heart I
yearned to follow God
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But knew I'd never be so strong
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I looked hard at this world
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To learn how heaven
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Could be gained
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Just to end where I began
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Where human effort
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Is all in vain
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Were it not for grace
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I can tell you where I'd be
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Wandering down
some pointless road
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To nowhere
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With my salvation up to me
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I know how that would go
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The battles I, I would face
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Forever running
but losing the race
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Were it not for grace
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So here is all my praise
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Expressed with all my heart
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Offered to our
Friend who took my place
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And ran the
course I could not start
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And when He saw in full
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Just how much
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His love would cost
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He still went the final
mile between me and heaven
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So I would not be lost
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Were it not for grace
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I can tell you where I'd be
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I'd be wandering
down some pointless road
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To nowhere
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With my salvation up to me
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And I know how that would go
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The battles I
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I would face
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I'd be forever running
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But losing the race
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Were it not for grace
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Forever running
but losing the race
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Were it not for grace
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Forever running
but losing the race,
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were it not for grace.
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Praise the Lord
for the grace of God
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that gives us everlasting life.
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We wanna thank Chavvah
for ministering to us in song.
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And, John, once again, thank you
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for your introduction.
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It is a blessing to be
able to share God's Word
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with the Dare to Dream family,
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happy to be a part of
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The Foundation of
Our Faith program.
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My wife is a
kindergarten teacher.
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And one of the unique aspects
of being a kindergarten teacher
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is you deal with the foundation,
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the fundamentals.
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You are teaching
individuals how to get in line.
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You are teaching them
how to tie their shoes.
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You are teaching
the fundamentals.
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You are teaching the ABCs.
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I wanna share from
God's Word a conversation
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that Jesus had
where he taught the ABCs.
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I wanna invite you to
turn with me to John 3.
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And I'm reading
beginning with verse 1
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in the New King
James Version of the Bible.
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John 3:1 says,
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"There was a
man of the Pharisees
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named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews.
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This man came to Jesus
by night and said to Him,
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'Rabbi, we know
that You are a teacher
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come from God,
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for no one can do these signs
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that You do
unless God is with him.'
00:10:46.81\00:10:51.45
Jesus answered and said to him,
'Most assuredly, I say to you,
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unless one is born again,
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he cannot see
the kingdom of God.'
00:10:58.39\00:11:02.72
Nicodemus said to Him,
00:11:02.76\00:11:04.16
'How can a man be
born when he is old?'
00:11:04.19\00:11:08.80
Can he enter a second time
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into his mother's
womb and be born?'
00:11:10.70\00:11:13.94
Jesus answered, 'Most
assuredly, I say to you,
00:11:13.97\00:11:17.84
unless one is born of
water and of the Spirit,
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he cannot enter
the kingdom of God
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that which is born
of the flesh is flesh,
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and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit.
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Do not marvel
that I said to you,
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'You must be born again.'
00:11:36.19\00:11:40.53
The wind blows where it wishes,
and you hear the sound of it,
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but cannot tell where it
comes from and where it goes,
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so is everyone who
is born of the Spirit."
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Verse 9, "Nicodemus
answered and said to Him,
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'How can these things be?'"
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Let's bow our heads together.
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Hover over me Holy Spirit,
00:12:04.89\00:12:08.09
bathe my
trembling heart and brow,
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fill me with Your
Hallowed presence,
00:12:11.63\00:12:14.60
come, oh, come and fill me now.
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Fill me now, fill me
now, only You can fill me now.
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So fill me with
Thy hallowed presence.
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Come, please
come, and fill us now.
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In the name of
Jesus we pray, Amen.
00:12:32.98\00:12:37.25
The ABCs,
00:12:37.29\00:12:40.22
the Bible says there
was a man of the Pharisees,
00:12:40.26\00:12:45.46
a ruler of the Jews,
a man named Nicodemus.
00:12:45.49\00:12:52.13
The Pharisees in Jesus' day
00:12:52.17\00:12:55.60
were over against the Sadducees,
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like the republicans
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and democrats
would be in our day.
00:13:02.28\00:13:06.11
With the addition that they
were not just the civic leaders
00:13:06.15\00:13:11.35
and the rulers of the state,
00:13:11.39\00:13:14.89
they were also the
leaders of the church.
00:13:14.92\00:13:17.89
So if you were a
Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews,
00:13:17.93\00:13:22.43
you were a
leader in the government
00:13:22.46\00:13:25.47
as well as a
leader in the church.
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So Nicodemus is like a
congressman and an elder.
00:13:28.40\00:13:33.71
He's a legislator
and as well as a deacon.
00:13:33.74\00:13:37.91
Nicodemus is a
Pharisee, a rule of the Jews,
00:13:37.95\00:13:43.02
he probably is well-educated,
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probably has a
decent amount of resources,
00:13:46.59\00:13:50.79
he has pedigree.
00:13:50.83\00:13:52.73
He is an example of the best
00:13:52.76\00:13:55.66
that the Jewish
religion can offer.
00:13:55.70\00:13:58.73
Nicodemus is a
part of the upper crust,
00:13:58.77\00:14:02.30
the higher class.
00:14:02.34\00:14:04.37
He's a part of the
elite social establishment.
00:14:04.41\00:14:08.54
And this is the
individual who came to Jesus.
00:14:08.58\00:14:13.92
Jesus was the polar
opposite of Nicodemus.
00:14:13.95\00:14:18.45
Jesus is a country
hit preacher from Galilee.
00:14:18.49\00:14:23.59
Jesus didn't attend the
higher schools of learning.
00:14:23.63\00:14:27.96
Jesus was homeschooled
there on His mama's knee.
00:14:28.00\00:14:31.73
Jesus is not a
part of the aristocracy.
00:14:31.77\00:14:35.84
Jesus is the polar
opposite of Nicodemus.
00:14:35.87\00:14:40.11
He told someone
that foxes have dens
00:14:40.14\00:14:44.35
and others have
places to lay their head,
00:14:44.38\00:14:47.38
but Jesus was dependent
upon the hospitality of others.
00:14:47.42\00:14:51.89
He was a lonely Galilean.
00:14:51.92\00:14:54.29
He's the polar
opposite of Nicodemus
00:14:54.32\00:14:58.23
but yet there is
something about Jesus
00:14:58.26\00:15:03.03
that has grabbed
Nicodemus's attention.
00:15:03.06\00:15:06.07
Something about Jesus,
00:15:06.10\00:15:07.87
that is attracting
him and drawing him.
00:15:07.90\00:15:12.51
It's possible that
Nicodemus was among that number
00:15:12.54\00:15:16.98
that went out to
the river Jordan,
00:15:17.01\00:15:19.88
where John the
Baptist was baptizing.
00:15:19.91\00:15:22.88
And he may have
heard John the Baptist
00:15:22.92\00:15:26.19
point to Jesus and say,
00:15:26.22\00:15:28.09
"Behold, the lamb of God
00:15:28.12\00:15:30.89
that takes away
the sin of the world."
00:15:30.93\00:15:33.36
It's possible that Nicodemus
had heard about that wedding
00:15:33.40\00:15:37.90
at Cana where Jesus
turned the water into wine.
00:15:37.93\00:15:42.77
It is probable that
Nicodemus was there in person
00:15:42.80\00:15:48.71
when Jesus came into the temple
as a part of that feast day
00:15:48.74\00:15:54.65
and He threw out
the money changers.
00:15:54.68\00:15:57.79
It would have
been the equivalent
00:15:57.82\00:15:59.85
of an inauguration
in our state capital
00:15:59.89\00:16:03.26
and one of
these country bumpkins
00:16:03.29\00:16:05.86
from way down south comes
00:16:05.89\00:16:08.30
and just disrupts
the entire festivities.
00:16:08.33\00:16:11.90
Nicodemus, as a
ruler of the Jews,
00:16:11.93\00:16:14.94
would have been
there and he sees in Jesus,
00:16:14.97\00:16:19.17
one who is obviously
imbued with the power
00:16:19.21\00:16:22.94
and the spirit of God,
and he says to himself,
00:16:22.98\00:16:26.35
"I've got to have a
conversation with Jesus."
00:16:26.38\00:16:31.25
But it wouldn't be
appropriate for big Nicodemus
00:16:31.29\00:16:35.86
to be seen in
conversation with unknown Jesus.
00:16:35.89\00:16:42.86
That would
compromise Nicodemus's station,
00:16:42.90\00:16:46.13
it would ruin his reputation.
00:16:46.17\00:16:48.24
So Nicodemus decides,
00:16:48.27\00:16:51.11
"I'll secure an
interview at night.
00:16:51.14\00:16:54.41
I don't want anybody to see me.
00:16:54.44\00:16:57.91
I don't want to cause
any hubbub or any trouble."
00:16:57.95\00:17:02.18
So Nicodemus makes his
way up the Mount of Olives.
00:17:02.22\00:17:07.82
Imagine him with his
regal pharisaical robes
00:17:07.86\00:17:12.33
trying to not be
caught in any bushes,
00:17:12.36\00:17:16.46
or bramble, or thorns,
00:17:16.50\00:17:17.90
and he's winding up the corridor
00:17:17.93\00:17:21.07
trying to find the retreat
00:17:21.10\00:17:23.51
where Jesus spends the night.
00:17:23.54\00:17:25.54
And once he comes
in contact with Jesus,
00:17:25.57\00:17:29.41
he tries to regain his composure
00:17:29.44\00:17:32.31
and get his demeanor
00:17:32.35\00:17:34.38
and he clears his
throat and he says,
00:17:34.42\00:17:37.29
"Rabbi, we know that you
are teacher come from God,
00:17:37.32\00:17:43.49
for no one can do these signs
00:17:43.53\00:17:46.23
that you do
unless God is with Him."
00:17:46.26\00:17:49.63
That sounds likes a
very dignified address,
00:17:49.66\00:17:53.67
a very appropriate way of
showing respect and honor.
00:17:53.70\00:17:58.64
Nicodemus is
trying to engage Jesus
00:17:58.67\00:18:02.11
and he uses a salutation
00:18:02.14\00:18:05.61
to try to elicit a response,
00:18:05.65\00:18:09.18
but Jesus cuts
right through the charade
00:18:09.22\00:18:13.49
and notices not
just what Nicodemus says
00:18:13.52\00:18:18.96
but notices what
Nicodemus did not say.
00:18:18.99\00:18:23.97
Nicodemus said,
00:18:24.00\00:18:25.33
"We know You are a
teacher come from God,"
00:18:25.37\00:18:30.54
but Nicodemus didn't say,
00:18:30.57\00:18:32.21
"I believe that You
are the Son of God."
00:18:32.24\00:18:36.95
Nicodemus is approaching
Jesus like a colleague.
00:18:36.98\00:18:40.12
Nicodemus believes that he
is a teacher sent from God.
00:18:40.15\00:18:43.39
Nicodemus is coming as
if Jesus is a contemporary
00:18:43.42\00:18:47.49
and they're gonna
share and trade secrets.
00:18:47.52\00:18:50.53
It's possible that
Nicodemus wants Jesus
00:18:50.56\00:18:53.83
to become his disciple.
00:18:53.86\00:18:56.06
He can bend and
mould this Young Man
00:18:56.10\00:18:58.77
and he might be able to have him
00:18:58.80\00:19:01.20
as a part of his
school of theology.
00:19:01.24\00:19:04.44
But Jesus cuts right
to the chase, and says,
00:19:04.47\00:19:08.14
"Verily, verily, I say unto you,
00:19:08.18\00:19:11.05
unless one is born again,
00:19:11.08\00:19:15.02
he cannot see
the kingdom of God."
00:19:15.05\00:19:19.95
Jesus is saying it
would do no good for me
00:19:19.99\00:19:24.23
to enter into a
conversation about my theology
00:19:24.26\00:19:28.63
or about my mission
00:19:28.66\00:19:30.30
if you have not been born again.
00:19:30.33\00:19:34.10
Those conversations
will serve no salvific value.
00:19:34.14\00:19:38.91
Jesus is saying, "Nicodemus,
we got to deal with the ABCs.
00:19:38.94\00:19:44.25
You are wanting to
have big conversations
00:19:44.28\00:19:47.95
about theology, and
about predestination,
00:19:47.98\00:19:51.52
and about women's ordination.
00:19:51.55\00:19:53.56
And you want to talk
about the end of time.
00:19:53.59\00:19:56.36
And you want to understand
my prophetic positions
00:19:56.39\00:20:00.13
on various subjects.
00:20:00.16\00:20:01.60
And you want to
talk about the thoughts
00:20:01.63\00:20:04.07
that we have
regarding our different tribes
00:20:04.10\00:20:07.30
and whether or not
this is the Israel of God,
00:20:07.34\00:20:10.07
and the interpretation
of the Mosaic laws
00:20:10.11\00:20:13.24
and the various
rituals in the sanctuary.
00:20:13.27\00:20:16.38
But before we
get to all of that,
00:20:16.41\00:20:18.91
we got to start with the ABCs.
00:20:18.95\00:20:21.92
Nicodemus, verily,
verily, I say unto you,
00:20:21.95\00:20:26.22
unless one is born again,
00:20:26.25\00:20:31.56
he cannot see
the kingdom of God."
00:20:31.59\00:20:35.53
Jesus is making it plain
00:20:35.56\00:20:37.97
that spiritual things
are spiritually discerned.
00:20:38.00\00:20:41.90
Nicodemus, you don't need
more theological information,
00:20:41.94\00:20:46.74
what you need is
spiritual experience.
00:20:46.78\00:20:52.91
There are some things
00:20:52.95\00:20:54.28
that are not sufficiently
grasped just by observing them
00:20:54.32\00:21:00.46
and studying them
and discussing them.
00:21:00.49\00:21:04.29
And Jesus is trying to say,
00:21:04.33\00:21:06.49
"Nicodemus, this spiritual life,
00:21:06.53\00:21:10.10
this Christianity that
I have come to inaugurate
00:21:10.13\00:21:13.44
and implement,
00:21:13.47\00:21:14.80
it can't just be
studied and discussed,
00:21:14.84\00:21:17.67
it has to be experienced."
00:21:17.71\00:21:21.48
As an African
American young man,
00:21:21.51\00:21:23.85
I used to tell my
father that I hated the fact
00:21:23.88\00:21:28.45
that I was born in the
'70s and grew up in the '80s,
00:21:28.48\00:21:32.75
and missed most of the
excitement of the '60s.
00:21:32.79\00:21:38.79
I was jealous
that so much happened
00:21:38.83\00:21:42.06
in that civil
rights movement era,
00:21:42.10\00:21:44.97
and I felt
liked I missed it all.
00:21:45.00\00:21:47.40
I could only read
about it in newspapers,
00:21:47.44\00:21:50.97
and read about it in magazines,
00:21:51.01\00:21:53.17
and watch it in
video presentations,
00:21:53.21\00:21:56.11
but I was missing something
00:21:56.14\00:21:58.21
because I hadn't experienced it.
00:21:58.25\00:22:01.68
And then I remember
00:22:01.72\00:22:04.85
when a senator from
Illinois announced his candidacy
00:22:04.89\00:22:10.63
for the president
of the United States,
00:22:10.66\00:22:13.83
and I remember when he ran
00:22:13.86\00:22:16.87
and when he
foreseen that caucus Iowa.
00:22:16.90\00:22:20.70
And the African
American in these Untied States
00:22:20.74\00:22:25.54
were scared to
hope but started to hope
00:22:25.57\00:22:28.84
that we might
actually experience
00:22:28.88\00:22:31.71
the first black
president of the United States.
00:22:31.75\00:22:34.95
I remember going to cast
my ballot early on Tuesday.
00:22:34.98\00:22:39.25
I went to my polling place,
the library is where I went.
00:22:39.29\00:22:43.39
And there were
older senior citizen,
00:22:43.43\00:22:46.23
African American ladies,
00:22:46.26\00:22:48.00
and they were dressed
in their Sunday finest,
00:22:48.03\00:22:50.77
and they would nod as if to say,
00:22:50.80\00:22:53.13
"I know, we
coming to do business."
00:22:53.17\00:22:55.17
And I remember
when he stood there,
00:22:55.20\00:22:57.91
it was like black
royalty, Michelle and Barack.
00:22:57.94\00:23:02.24
I experienced, I lived through
00:23:02.28\00:23:05.95
the first African
American president
00:23:05.98\00:23:09.12
of the United States.
00:23:09.15\00:23:10.55
Someone will be interviewing
me asking what it was like.
00:23:10.59\00:23:15.26
I didn't study it,
I didn't observe it,
00:23:15.29\00:23:18.29
I didn't discuss
it, I experienced it.
00:23:18.33\00:23:21.60
And Jesus is trying
to say to Nicodemus,
00:23:21.63\00:23:24.83
this spiritual
thing is not something
00:23:24.87\00:23:29.00
that can just be discussed,
or studied, or theorized,
00:23:29.04\00:23:34.11
or bantered about in
the halls of theology,
00:23:34.14\00:23:37.88
it must be experienced
00:23:37.91\00:23:40.05
if you want to see
the kingdom of God,
00:23:40.08\00:23:43.72
you must be born again.
00:23:43.75\00:23:49.89
Nicodemus was caught off guard.
00:23:49.92\00:23:55.73
He's expecting to
have a conversation
00:23:55.76\00:23:57.80
about different
thoughts on teaching the Torah.
00:23:57.83\00:24:01.14
And Jesus hasn't just said,
00:24:01.17\00:24:05.17
"A man must be born again."
00:24:05.21\00:24:08.24
Jesus has suggested that
all must men be born again
00:24:08.28\00:24:13.45
which would include Nicodemus.
00:24:13.48\00:24:17.85
The truth is that the
Jews described gentiles
00:24:17.89\00:24:23.46
who converted to
Judaism as new born babes.
00:24:23.49\00:24:29.16
So Nicodemus is
sketching the implication
00:24:29.20\00:24:33.74
that Jesus is suggesting
00:24:33.77\00:24:36.74
that even he
needs to be born again.
00:24:36.77\00:24:40.41
That he, the ruler
of the Jews, that he,
00:24:40.44\00:24:45.08
the leader of the
church, that he, Nicodemus...
00:24:45.11\00:24:48.88
Not they need to be born again,
00:24:48.92\00:24:51.85
not y'all need to be born again,
00:24:51.89\00:24:54.52
Jesus is saying, "You too."
00:24:54.56\00:24:59.49
This is getting
a little too close
00:24:59.53\00:25:01.20
for comfort for Nicodemus,
00:25:01.23\00:25:02.90
so he decides that
Jesus cannot be suggesting
00:25:02.93\00:25:08.47
that he needs to be born again.
00:25:08.50\00:25:10.44
There must be something
else to this discourse.
00:25:10.47\00:25:13.68
Maybe this is a riddle
and Jesus is engaging him
00:25:13.71\00:25:17.08
in a joke.
00:25:17.11\00:25:18.45
So he decides
he's gonna play along.
00:25:18.48\00:25:20.42
Okay, okay, how can
a man be born again?
00:25:20.45\00:25:23.39
What?
00:25:23.42\00:25:24.75
Does he get back
into his mothers womb
00:25:24.79\00:25:27.02
to be born again.
00:25:27.06\00:25:28.39
And Jesus says, no, Nicodemus,
00:25:28.42\00:25:32.13
I'm not speaking
of spiritual birth
00:25:32.16\00:25:37.07
and physical birth
00:25:37.10\00:25:39.23
in some terms of earthly
00:25:39.27\00:25:44.61
getting inside
of your mothers womb
00:25:44.64\00:25:47.28
and coming out in
some birthing ward.
00:25:47.31\00:25:50.05
No, I'm speaking about the fact
00:25:50.08\00:25:53.01
that just like
flesh gives birth to flesh
00:25:53.05\00:25:58.05
and there is a
literal physical birth,
00:25:58.09\00:26:01.52
there is also real, tangible,
00:26:01.56\00:26:06.29
legitimate, spiritual birth.
00:26:06.33\00:26:08.93
That which is flesh
gives birth to flesh,
00:26:08.96\00:26:12.53
and that which is
spirit gives birth to spirit.
00:26:12.57\00:26:16.17
Nicodemus, do not be
surprised when I say to you,
00:26:16.20\00:26:22.64
even you must be born again.
00:26:22.68\00:26:28.68
Nicodemus is making it obvious
00:26:28.72\00:26:31.62
that he does need
this spiritual birth
00:26:31.65\00:26:36.93
that Jesus is discussing.
00:26:36.96\00:26:39.46
He's making it clear
that spiritual things
00:26:39.49\00:26:43.37
aren't
spiritually discerned with him
00:26:43.40\00:26:45.57
because Nicodemus is
not a spiritual creature.
00:26:45.60\00:26:50.01
Nicodemus has yet to experience
00:26:50.04\00:26:53.17
the ABCs of salvation.
00:26:53.21\00:26:57.11
When Jesus puts the
conversion experience
00:26:57.15\00:27:03.08
in an illustration of birth,
00:27:03.12\00:27:05.89
He's suggesting at
least three things.
00:27:05.92\00:27:09.12
Everyone who comes
00:27:09.16\00:27:11.66
to planet earth must be born.
00:27:11.69\00:27:17.30
You can't skip it, bypass it,
00:27:17.33\00:27:22.37
clip it, you cannot delegate it.
00:27:22.40\00:27:26.47
If you are going to
come to Planet Earth,
00:27:26.51\00:27:29.31
you must be born.
00:27:29.34\00:27:30.81
And in the same
way, Jesus is saying
00:27:30.85\00:27:33.42
if you want to
experience the new heaven
00:27:33.45\00:27:36.89
and the new earth,
00:27:36.92\00:27:38.35
you must be born again.
00:27:38.39\00:27:42.39
Jesus is also teaching
00:27:42.42\00:27:44.63
that there's a
priority to this new birth.
00:27:44.66\00:27:49.83
There's nothing of
importance that you can do
00:27:49.86\00:27:53.50
until you get born.
00:27:53.54\00:27:56.40
You can't go to
school, and get married,
00:27:56.44\00:28:01.48
and have a job, and
have children of your own,
00:28:01.51\00:28:06.45
until you get born.
00:28:06.48\00:28:08.12
There's a
sequence to some things.
00:28:08.15\00:28:10.52
And Jesus is trying
to say to Nicodemus,
00:28:10.55\00:28:13.29
"You skipped a step.
00:28:13.32\00:28:15.42
You're trying to
form huge sentences,
00:28:15.46\00:28:19.73
and make long paragraphs,
00:28:19.76\00:28:22.16
and deal with polysyllabic terms
00:28:22.20\00:28:24.80
and you've yet to get the ABCs.
00:28:24.83\00:28:27.70
Nicodemus, if you want
to see the kingdom of God,
00:28:27.74\00:28:32.14
you must be born again."
00:28:32.17\00:28:35.68
Not only does
this birth illustration
00:28:35.71\00:28:39.25
suggest that
everyone must experience it,
00:28:39.28\00:28:44.15
not only does it suggest
that there's a priority to it,
00:28:44.19\00:28:48.76
we cannot think that
we can bypass this step.
00:28:48.79\00:28:52.89
But it also suggests
00:28:52.93\00:28:55.66
that our conversion experience
00:28:55.70\00:29:00.24
is a gift.
00:29:00.27\00:29:02.90
See, birth is not
something that you can earn,
00:29:02.94\00:29:09.24
something that you can achieve.
00:29:09.28\00:29:13.21
Your life is something
that you can only receive.
00:29:13.25\00:29:19.92
And Jesus is saying to
Nicodemus in the same way
00:29:19.95\00:29:24.53
that you were dependent upon
your earthly mother and father
00:29:24.56\00:29:29.16
to gift you life
that culminated in birth.
00:29:29.20\00:29:34.40
You are dependent upon the
ministry of the Holy Spirit
00:29:34.44\00:29:39.67
to gift you new life.
00:29:39.71\00:29:43.11
"Nicodemus, do not
marvel when I say unto you,
00:29:43.14\00:29:48.82
'You must be born gain.'"
00:29:48.85\00:29:52.62
This is not
optional, this is not a course
00:29:52.65\00:29:56.99
that you can choose to
take or decide to bypass.
00:29:57.03\00:30:01.76
This is
fundamental like the ABCs.
00:30:01.80\00:30:07.74
And I think one
of the challenges
00:30:07.77\00:30:09.67
throughout Christendom
00:30:09.70\00:30:11.34
is we've tried to
bypass this fundamental step.
00:30:11.37\00:30:17.41
We have people who are
engaged in church work,
00:30:17.45\00:30:21.62
who are concerned
about church teachings,
00:30:21.65\00:30:24.75
who want to
discuss worship styles,
00:30:24.79\00:30:27.49
and want to
discuss whether or not
00:30:27.52\00:30:29.76
women can be ordained and
want to deal with tide flow
00:30:29.79\00:30:33.93
and organization
of regular and state
00:30:33.96\00:30:37.03
and church conferences
00:30:37.07\00:30:38.83
and want to deal with all
of these other enterprises,
00:30:38.87\00:30:42.90
but we've bypassed
00:30:42.94\00:30:45.14
the ABCs of being born again.
00:30:45.17\00:30:50.75
And Jesus wants to
explain to Nicodemus
00:30:50.78\00:30:56.32
and I believe He
wants to explain to us
00:30:56.35\00:31:00.19
these ABCs.
00:31:00.22\00:31:04.06
Nicodemus' response to
Jesus, in verse 9 it says,
00:31:04.09\00:31:10.27
"How can these things be?"
00:31:10.30\00:31:15.14
Jesus has said to
him that the wind blows
00:31:15.17\00:31:20.04
where it wishes.
00:31:20.08\00:31:22.54
We may miss it in
our English Versions,
00:31:22.58\00:31:26.01
in the original Greek
that Jesus is speaking
00:31:26.05\00:31:29.58
and that is being written,
00:31:29.62\00:31:31.49
the word for spirit
and the word for wind
00:31:31.52\00:31:35.82
are the exact same.
00:31:35.86\00:31:38.23
Jesus is saying,
00:31:38.26\00:31:39.76
just as the wind is invisible
and you cannot control it
00:31:39.79\00:31:45.57
or bottle it or grab it,
00:31:45.60\00:31:49.14
you also cannot disprove it.
00:31:49.17\00:31:53.01
The fact that you
can't see the wind
00:31:53.04\00:31:55.18
doesn't mean that
the wind does not exist.
00:31:55.21\00:31:57.88
Just because you can't
see the spirit, Nicodemus,
00:31:57.91\00:32:01.28
just 'cause you
can't grab the spirit
00:32:01.32\00:32:03.42
and hold the spirit,
00:32:03.45\00:32:05.09
does not mean that there's
no such thing as the spirit.
00:32:05.12\00:32:08.69
Nicodemus, in the same
way that the wind moves
00:32:08.72\00:32:13.53
and it creates and you can tell
00:32:13.56\00:32:16.53
by what it
affects that it exists,
00:32:16.56\00:32:19.57
allow the Holy
Spirit to move up on you
00:32:19.60\00:32:23.27
and have his way with you,
00:32:23.30\00:32:25.47
and by the change
that we see in you,
00:32:25.51\00:32:28.81
we will be able to
attest that this is true.
00:32:28.84\00:32:33.18
And, Nicodemus is wondering,
00:32:33.21\00:32:35.72
how in the world
can these things be?
00:32:35.75\00:32:40.79
Jesus says to him, I
thought you were the teacher
00:32:40.82\00:32:43.69
and you don't
understand the ABCs.
00:32:43.73\00:32:47.00
The first thing, Nicodemus,
00:32:47.03\00:32:48.96
you need to admit that
even you need to be born again.
00:32:49.00\00:32:54.30
I want us to understand
00:32:54.34\00:32:56.37
that the A in our
salvation experience
00:32:56.40\00:33:00.48
is to admit that we
have a need of a Savior,
00:33:00.51\00:33:04.95
it's not just them
that need to be born again
00:33:04.98\00:33:08.85
or they who need
to be born again,
00:33:08.88\00:33:12.15
it is me, it is me, oh Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.
00:33:12.19\00:33:17.26
I need to be born again.
00:33:17.29\00:33:22.56
The Bible says in
Genesis 5:1, 2, 3,
00:33:22.60\00:33:29.54
what seems like
00:33:29.57\00:33:31.17
a surface
family tree discussion,
00:33:31.21\00:33:36.71
it says that Adam
00:33:36.75\00:33:39.91
was created in
the likeness of God
00:33:39.95\00:33:45.09
and then Adam
had a son named Seth,
00:33:45.12\00:33:49.56
who was created in Adam's image.
00:33:49.59\00:33:54.53
It's interesting
that Adam was created
00:33:54.56\00:33:59.10
in the righteous
spotless image of God,
00:33:59.13\00:34:05.24
but then Adam sinned and failed,
00:34:05.27\00:34:08.64
he distrusted God, he
removed himself from God.
00:34:08.68\00:34:13.58
After Adam sinned,
00:34:13.62\00:34:15.52
God comes looking for
Adam and Adam fears God,
00:34:15.55\00:34:19.75
Adam runs from
God, Adam distrusts God.
00:34:19.79\00:34:23.79
By the time Seth comes along,
00:34:23.83\00:34:27.80
that son that was
born after Cain and Abel,
00:34:27.83\00:34:31.47
when Adam and Eve are
outside of the garden,
00:34:31.50\00:34:34.90
this is after
sin has entered in,
00:34:34.94\00:34:38.14
this son is not
born, the Bible says,
00:34:38.17\00:34:41.54
in the likeness of God,
00:34:41.58\00:34:43.58
he is born in the image of Adam.
00:34:43.61\00:34:47.45
Something is now
wrong with our birth,
00:34:47.48\00:34:52.85
we come here broken, bruised,
00:34:52.89\00:34:57.79
dysfunctional, defamed.
00:34:57.83\00:35:01.26
We come here distrusting God.
00:35:01.30\00:35:04.47
David said, I'm born in
sin and shaped in iniquity
00:35:04.50\00:35:08.34
and the reason why
that first step is to admit
00:35:08.37\00:35:12.67
that you need a Savior,
00:35:12.71\00:35:14.74
admit that something's
wrong with your first birth,
00:35:14.78\00:35:18.31
is because all come here broken
00:35:18.35\00:35:21.68
and damaged and
sinful from birth.
00:35:21.72\00:35:24.99
Sin is not just what
we do, sin is what we are.
00:35:25.02\00:35:31.26
It is a condition that we have.
00:35:31.29\00:35:33.73
It does not
matter how many degrees,
00:35:33.76\00:35:36.73
what pedigree, how many
days you spend in church,
00:35:36.77\00:35:40.34
how much offering you give,
00:35:40.37\00:35:42.37
we are born in sin
and shaped in iniquity.
00:35:42.40\00:35:46.78
We have an incurable disease.
00:35:46.81\00:35:51.35
Something was wrong
with our first birth
00:35:51.38\00:35:54.58
and we need to admit
00:35:54.62\00:35:57.89
that even I need
to be born again.
00:35:57.92\00:36:01.99
Jesus is trying to say
to Nicodemus, "You too."
00:36:02.02\00:36:08.66
And I believe
that the Word of God
00:36:08.70\00:36:10.83
needs to speak to
you too, to me too.
00:36:10.87\00:36:17.04
A, Admit my need
00:36:17.07\00:36:20.64
of a Savior.
00:36:20.68\00:36:24.41
The reality is that we
can look at physical birth
00:36:24.45\00:36:30.49
and tell that something is
wrong with that first birth.
00:36:30.52\00:36:35.32
I know that you like
I see your newborn baby
00:36:35.36\00:36:40.20
and think that
they're perfect and pure
00:36:40.23\00:36:43.70
and could almost think
that they're righteous,
00:36:43.73\00:36:46.27
but let one of those babies
cry in the middle of the night
00:36:46.30\00:36:50.01
and you realize they're
the most selfish creatures
00:36:50.04\00:36:53.34
that have ever been created.
00:36:53.38\00:36:54.84
Only concerned about my,
00:36:54.88\00:36:56.95
could care less about how
long you worked the night before
00:36:56.98\00:36:59.78
and whether or
not you got any rest.
00:36:59.81\00:37:01.45
Babies come here selfish.
00:37:01.48\00:37:03.75
I remember when my
oldest son was about
00:37:03.79\00:37:07.32
three years old or so
00:37:07.36\00:37:08.69
and my middle son was
about six months old or so,
00:37:08.72\00:37:13.19
and the middle son was
stealing a cart carrier
00:37:13.23\00:37:17.33
and he was being placed
in the kitchen on the floor
00:37:17.37\00:37:21.44
as my wife was
preparing to take him
00:37:21.47\00:37:24.21
and his older
brother into the car
00:37:24.24\00:37:25.97
to go on a little trip.
00:37:26.01\00:37:27.34
So he is on the
floor in his carrier
00:37:27.38\00:37:30.61
and his two and half,
three year old brother
00:37:30.65\00:37:33.01
is in the
kitchen walking around.
00:37:33.05\00:37:34.92
And my wife hears some big bang,
00:37:34.95\00:37:38.05
it's obvious that
something has fallen
00:37:38.09\00:37:40.39
and something has broken.
00:37:40.42\00:37:41.86
She comes down and she
says to the oldest boy,
00:37:41.89\00:37:44.59
"Pace, what happened?"
00:37:44.63\00:37:46.46
And Pace looks at
his little brother,
00:37:46.49\00:37:49.90
points at him,
00:37:49.93\00:37:51.73
while he's still
strapped into the cart seat
00:37:51.77\00:37:55.20
and says, "He did it."
00:37:55.24\00:37:59.01
Now who taught him to lie?
00:37:59.04\00:38:03.71
Why is it that we
must teach children
00:38:03.75\00:38:07.62
to tell the truth?
00:38:07.65\00:38:09.98
Because we come here broken,
00:38:10.02\00:38:14.26
we come here damaged.
00:38:14.29\00:38:17.39
And the first
step in our recovery
00:38:17.43\00:38:22.06
is to admit that
we need a Savior.
00:38:22.10\00:38:27.10
Jesus constantly had a problem
00:38:27.14\00:38:29.67
teaching the ABCs
to the church folk,
00:38:29.70\00:38:33.27
those Pharisees wondered
00:38:33.31\00:38:35.34
why he was always
hanging out with the public kins
00:38:35.38\00:38:39.28
and the sinners
and the tax collectors
00:38:39.31\00:38:42.18
and the prostitutes,
00:38:42.22\00:38:43.79
and all of those
high-handed sinners,
00:38:43.82\00:38:47.36
and Jesus said,
00:38:47.39\00:38:49.32
"It's only the sick that
have need of a physician."
00:38:49.36\00:38:56.10
He was trying to
suggest you are sick too,
00:38:56.13\00:39:00.37
but because you
won't admit your need,
00:39:00.40\00:39:03.94
you feel you have
no need of a Savior.
00:39:03.97\00:39:08.08
The gospel requires
00:39:08.11\00:39:11.15
that we admit our need.
00:39:11.18\00:39:15.62
Jesus is trying
to say to Nicodemus
00:39:15.65\00:39:19.05
and trying to say to us,
00:39:19.09\00:39:22.02
you need to be born again, A,
00:39:22.06\00:39:26.83
Admit your need.
00:39:26.86\00:39:29.76
Then he moves further
and gives him the second step
00:39:29.80\00:39:34.07
in the ABCs of salvation.
00:39:34.10\00:39:37.97
He says in an attempt to
answer Nicodemus's question
00:39:38.01\00:39:42.94
concerning how
these things can be,
00:39:42.98\00:39:46.11
how can this new
birth take place?
00:39:46.15\00:39:49.15
Jesus says in verse
14 of John chapter 3,
00:39:49.18\00:39:53.86
"As Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness,
00:39:53.89\00:40:00.70
even so must the
Son of Man be lifted up.
00:40:00.73\00:40:06.94
That whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish,
00:40:06.97\00:40:12.87
but have everlasting life."
00:40:12.91\00:40:14.81
This was familiar
ground for Nicodemus.
00:40:14.84\00:40:19.15
It was a story from the
history of his people, the Jews,
00:40:19.18\00:40:25.42
it's found in
the Book of Numbers,
00:40:25.45\00:40:29.32
Numbers chapter
21 records the story
00:40:29.36\00:40:34.20
where the children of
Israel are now on their way,
00:40:34.23\00:40:39.27
out of Egyptian slavery,
00:40:39.30\00:40:42.57
and they are making their
way toward the Promised Land.
00:40:42.60\00:40:47.88
And they are
concerned about the fact
00:40:47.91\00:40:51.25
that they
cannot find wool, food,
00:40:51.28\00:40:54.12
and they cannot find
water and in Numbers 21,
00:40:54.15\00:40:59.02
they are
complaining and complaining
00:40:59.05\00:41:01.72
and they are
complaining to Moses
00:41:01.76\00:41:04.19
and finally Moses
goes and prays to God.
00:41:04.23\00:41:08.10
Now God says,
00:41:08.13\00:41:09.73
I will allow
some of these snakes
00:41:09.76\00:41:14.17
in the wilderness,
00:41:14.20\00:41:15.54
some of these serpents
in the wilderness to be free
00:41:15.57\00:41:19.47
and to do what they desire
00:41:19.51\00:41:21.74
since you complained
about me and you're angry at me.
00:41:21.78\00:41:25.61
I will remove the protection
that's provided by me.
00:41:25.65\00:41:29.18
And now the children of Israel
00:41:29.22\00:41:31.29
are being bitten by
these venomous snakes
00:41:31.32\00:41:34.06
and they are
dying by the hundreds.
00:41:34.09\00:41:37.33
They cry out to Moses
and ask him to pray to God
00:41:37.36\00:41:41.26
to remove the fiery serpents.
00:41:41.30\00:41:43.87
And when God goes to
Moses, when Moses goes to God,
00:41:43.90\00:41:48.90
God gives him an
interesting solution.
00:41:48.94\00:41:53.38
He says, I want you
to make a brass pole
00:41:53.41\00:41:58.55
with the form of
a serpent around it,
00:41:58.58\00:42:02.78
and whoever looks at the pole,
00:42:02.82\00:42:07.22
will be healed.
00:42:07.26\00:42:10.26
Now I don't know what
you think about the solution,
00:42:10.29\00:42:15.63
but you'd have to agree
00:42:15.66\00:42:17.00
that it is not the most
scientifically reasonable,
00:42:17.03\00:42:21.90
it would be the equivalent
of me having a heart attack
00:42:21.94\00:42:25.54
and someone calls 911
00:42:25.57\00:42:27.94
and they get the
ambulance to come
00:42:27.98\00:42:30.25
and instead of
them bringing the gurney
00:42:30.28\00:42:31.98
and putting me
into the ambulance,
00:42:32.01\00:42:33.62
they say just prop his head up
00:42:33.65\00:42:35.42
and have him
look at the ambulance
00:42:35.45\00:42:37.19
that has the
picture of the stick
00:42:37.22\00:42:39.05
with the snake around it
that comes from this story.
00:42:39.09\00:42:43.63
But yet the Bible says,
00:42:43.66\00:42:46.59
"That those who looked, lived."
00:42:46.63\00:42:51.63
What God was
trying to teach them
00:42:51.67\00:42:56.04
was that their
sin was equivalent
00:42:56.07\00:43:01.91
to being stung by these serpents
00:43:01.94\00:43:04.68
and the poisonous venom
00:43:04.71\00:43:06.95
was going to
result in their death.
00:43:06.98\00:43:09.72
And their only
solution was to put their faith
00:43:09.75\00:43:15.12
in the promise of God,
00:43:15.16\00:43:17.46
to put their
belief in the Word of God.
00:43:17.49\00:43:21.46
God could have
said, do 10 jumping jacks,
00:43:21.50\00:43:25.13
God could have
said, do 20 push-ups,
00:43:25.17\00:43:27.70
God could have said,
00:43:27.74\00:43:29.07
dip in the river
Jordan seven times,
00:43:29.10\00:43:31.04
God could have said, put
blood over the door post,
00:43:31.07\00:43:33.88
God could have
said, get in an ark.
00:43:33.91\00:43:35.98
But this time, God said,
00:43:36.01\00:43:37.81
"Make a pole
with a brass serpent
00:43:37.85\00:43:40.48
and if you look at
the pole, you'll live."
00:43:40.52\00:43:43.08
God gave a promise and
if you believe God's Word
00:43:43.12\00:43:47.52
and believe His
promise, you'll live.
00:43:47.56\00:43:52.23
Jesus is saying to Nicodemus,
00:43:52.26\00:43:55.76
just as Moses
lifted up the serpent
00:43:55.80\00:44:00.30
in the wilderness
00:44:00.34\00:44:01.77
and the people had to
come out from their tents,
00:44:01.80\00:44:05.84
not worried about
what others would think,
00:44:05.87\00:44:08.64
not worried about
whether or not this might fail,
00:44:08.68\00:44:11.78
not even worried about
00:44:11.81\00:44:13.35
whether or not they
thoroughly understood,
00:44:13.38\00:44:16.35
remember, the
gospel is explaining
00:44:16.38\00:44:19.39
that some things
have to be experienced,
00:44:19.42\00:44:22.52
you might not understand
00:44:22.56\00:44:24.46
all of the ins and outs
of the rebirth experience,
00:44:24.49\00:44:28.23
you may never understand
00:44:28.26\00:44:30.47
how God can create
within you a clean heart
00:44:30.50\00:44:33.74
and restore a steadfast spirit,
00:44:33.77\00:44:36.20
but our job is
to stand flatfooted
00:44:36.24\00:44:40.14
on the promises of God,
00:44:40.18\00:44:42.38
standing on the
promises of Christ, my Savior.
00:44:42.41\00:44:47.22
They step out of their tents,
00:44:47.25\00:44:49.68
not worried
about what people said
00:44:49.72\00:44:52.09
or what people saw,
00:44:52.12\00:44:53.59
and they looked on
God with faith and belief
00:44:53.62\00:44:58.83
and those that
believed were healed.
00:44:58.86\00:45:03.83
Just as the Moses
lifted up the serpent
00:45:03.87\00:45:09.04
in the wilderness,
00:45:09.07\00:45:11.07
even so must the Son of Man.
00:45:11.11\00:45:16.88
Jesus referred to
himself as the Son of Man
00:45:16.91\00:45:20.95
borrowing that
image from Daniel 7,
00:45:20.98\00:45:24.52
where Daniel
envisioned, sees one in heaven,
00:45:24.55\00:45:28.32
coming to God,
the ancient of days
00:45:28.36\00:45:31.23
and receiving a kingdom
that would never pass away,
00:45:31.26\00:45:34.63
and he's called the Son of Man.
00:45:34.66\00:45:36.77
Jesus is saying, I
am that Son of Man,
00:45:36.80\00:45:40.87
and I'm going to be
lifted up on a cross
00:45:40.90\00:45:44.64
and whosoever believes on me,
00:45:44.67\00:45:50.15
oh, it doesn't matter
if you don't understand it,
00:45:50.18\00:45:53.82
doesn't matter if
you can't explain it,
00:45:53.85\00:45:56.75
it may not be
scientifically legitimate,
00:45:56.79\00:46:00.72
but your job is not to
thoroughly understand it,
00:46:00.76\00:46:05.09
be able to explain it,
have an ability to exegete it,
00:46:05.13\00:46:09.86
your job is to believe it.
00:46:09.90\00:46:12.30
Your job is to stand
firm on the Word of God,
00:46:12.33\00:46:18.21
admitting your need of a Savior
00:46:18.24\00:46:21.18
and believing
that you have a Savior.
00:46:21.21\00:46:24.41
The Bible through Jesus
00:46:24.45\00:46:26.61
is giving us the
ABCs of salvation.
00:46:26.65\00:46:31.39
Admit your need of a Savior
00:46:31.42\00:46:34.89
and believe that
Jesus is your Savior.
00:46:34.92\00:46:40.90
The reality is
that so many of us
00:46:40.93\00:46:46.17
are satisfied
discussing our religion
00:46:46.20\00:46:50.61
and debating our religion,
00:46:50.64\00:46:53.54
but we need to bring our need,
00:46:53.58\00:46:59.01
our weakness,
00:46:59.05\00:47:01.28
our
hopelessness, our helplessness,
00:47:01.32\00:47:05.72
and then we need to ask God
00:47:05.75\00:47:08.72
for the faith to
believe in His righteousness.
00:47:08.76\00:47:12.69
And when our
admission of our need
00:47:12.73\00:47:16.23
intersects with the belief
00:47:16.26\00:47:18.67
that God and Christ
has served our need,
00:47:18.70\00:47:22.24
it will give birth to change.
00:47:22.27\00:47:27.74
What the Bible is teaching
00:47:27.78\00:47:31.35
is that in order
for us to be born again,
00:47:31.38\00:47:35.92
we need to admit
00:47:35.95\00:47:38.85
that something was
wrong with our first birth.
00:47:38.89\00:47:45.09
I see it every time I...
00:47:45.13\00:47:48.86
Do not respond
consistent with the love of God
00:47:48.90\00:47:53.54
when I do not love
others as I love myself,
00:47:53.57\00:47:58.14
when I realize that I'm
selfish and that I'm envious
00:47:58.17\00:48:02.58
and that I'm jealous
and that inside of me
00:48:02.61\00:48:06.55
is that same kind of propensity
00:48:06.58\00:48:09.95
that Paul talked
about in Romans 7,
00:48:09.98\00:48:12.99
"The things I
want to do, I don't do,
00:48:13.02\00:48:15.52
and the things I
don't want to do,
00:48:15.56\00:48:17.23
I find myself doing,
oh, wretched man that I am,
00:48:17.26\00:48:21.23
who shall deliver me."
00:48:21.26\00:48:23.23
I'm A, admitting my need,
00:48:23.26\00:48:25.87
but then I'm ending
like Paul did in Romans 7,
00:48:25.90\00:48:30.17
and I'm saying praise be to God
00:48:30.21\00:48:33.48
that I have been
delivered in Jesus Christ.
00:48:33.51\00:48:36.98
Jesus is the Savior that I need,
00:48:37.01\00:48:41.42
when he died on the cross,
00:48:41.45\00:48:44.25
dying to pay the
penalty for my sin,
00:48:44.29\00:48:47.99
He was
communicating the love of God,
00:48:48.02\00:48:51.83
a love so deep and so strong,
00:48:51.86\00:48:55.53
so wide and so high,
00:48:55.56\00:48:58.07
so unconditional, so consistent,
00:48:58.10\00:49:01.80
that it looks beyond my thoughts
00:49:01.84\00:49:04.24
and seize all of my needs.
00:49:04.27\00:49:06.41
When I admit
that deep down inside,
00:49:06.44\00:49:09.68
I distrust God,
I don't like God,
00:49:09.71\00:49:13.18
I distrust God, and I
am selfishly unlike God,
00:49:13.21\00:49:18.65
but then when I look on Jesus
00:49:18.69\00:49:22.32
and I believe that
that is God and he loves me,
00:49:22.36\00:49:28.40
it changes me.
00:49:28.43\00:49:32.80
And instead of fearing
God, start trusting God.
00:49:32.83\00:49:39.54
Instead of hating
God, I start loving God.
00:49:39.57\00:49:45.91
When I believe
00:49:45.95\00:49:49.08
that Jesus Christ
is God in the flesh
00:49:49.12\00:49:54.69
and I believe
that He has saved me,
00:49:54.72\00:50:01.10
it produces a change
that is the equivalent
00:50:01.13\00:50:06.70
to being born again.
00:50:06.74\00:50:10.54
No longer am I anti-God,
00:50:10.57\00:50:14.84
disinterested in God.
00:50:14.88\00:50:17.78
No longer am I
apathetic toward God,
00:50:17.81\00:50:20.82
I'm attracted to God.
00:50:20.85\00:50:23.25
Jesus is trying
to teach Nicodemus
00:50:23.28\00:50:26.96
and trying to teach
you and me, the ABCs.
00:50:26.99\00:50:32.33
He wants us to
admit our need of a Savior
00:50:32.36\00:50:38.63
and believe
00:50:38.67\00:50:41.44
that he is the Savior,
00:50:41.47\00:50:45.84
and when my admission of need
00:50:45.87\00:50:50.18
is joined with belief
in the Savior that I need,
00:50:50.21\00:50:56.32
it produces a changed creature.
00:50:56.35\00:51:01.26
We see that change in John 19,
00:51:01.29\00:51:07.83
it's the last time that
we hear about old Nicodemus.
00:51:07.86\00:51:14.64
He thought about that interview
00:51:14.67\00:51:17.24
and reflected on that interview
00:51:17.27\00:51:22.28
and he was a part of
that Sanhedrin council
00:51:22.31\00:51:25.48
that was trying
its best to trap Jesus
00:51:25.51\00:51:29.38
and accost Jesus
and eventually to try
00:51:29.42\00:51:34.39
and judge and crucify Jesus.
00:51:34.42\00:51:37.23
And he would suggest
00:51:37.26\00:51:40.33
an approach of
patience and deliberation.
00:51:40.36\00:51:45.33
He said, we shouldn't try a
man and condemn him as guilty
00:51:45.37\00:51:49.70
before we've given him a
chance to be tried in court.
00:51:49.74\00:51:53.27
He tried his best
to stop the proceedings
00:51:53.31\00:51:57.28
and to halt the
proceedings, but after a while,
00:51:57.31\00:52:00.48
the massive mass of the
Jewish elite establishment,
00:52:00.52\00:52:05.99
they went out and decided
00:52:06.02\00:52:08.09
that they were going
to kill and crucify Jesus,
00:52:08.12\00:52:11.33
and when they
secure their objective,
00:52:11.36\00:52:13.83
Nicodemus saw Jesus
00:52:13.86\00:52:18.17
as the Son of Man,
00:52:18.20\00:52:21.90
hung up between two things.
00:52:21.94\00:52:26.31
But he saw him not angry,
00:52:26.34\00:52:31.48
not cursing,
00:52:31.51\00:52:34.12
not abusing
those who abused him,
00:52:34.15\00:52:37.69
but willingly saying,
"Father, forgive them,
00:52:37.72\00:52:43.46
for they know not what they do."
00:52:43.49\00:52:45.83
And he saw the
divinity of Jesus,
00:52:45.86\00:52:50.37
the messianic
Christ-likeness of Jesus,
00:52:50.40\00:52:55.00
he was convicted
that this was God,
00:52:55.04\00:52:58.87
not just a Savior of the world,
but the Savior of his world.
00:52:58.91\00:53:05.51
And Nicodemus was changed.
00:53:05.55\00:53:08.92
And after Jesus was crucified,
00:53:08.95\00:53:12.32
the Bible says
00:53:12.35\00:53:13.69
in John 19:38,
00:53:13.72\00:53:20.23
"After this,"
after Jesus' death,
00:53:20.26\00:53:23.83
"Joseph of Arimathaea,
being a disciple of Jesus,
00:53:23.87\00:53:27.67
but secretly for
fear of the Jews,
00:53:27.70\00:53:30.74
asked Pilate that he might
take away the body of Jesus,
00:53:30.77\00:53:34.94
and Pilate gave him permission.
00:53:34.98\00:53:37.15
So he came and
took the body of Jesus."
00:53:37.18\00:53:39.81
He wanted to give
Jesus a proper burial.
00:53:39.85\00:53:42.52
But look at verse
39 says in John 19,
00:53:42.55\00:53:48.06
"And Nicodemus,
00:53:48.09\00:53:51.69
who at first came
to Jesus by night..."
00:53:51.73\00:53:57.77
embarrassed Nicodemus,
00:53:57.80\00:54:00.54
who didn't want
to be see Nicodemus,
00:54:00.57\00:54:03.41
who thought he was too
high and mighty Nicodemus,
00:54:03.44\00:54:06.71
who had to come at night
so that no one would know
00:54:06.74\00:54:09.78
he was talking
to Jesus Nicodemus,
00:54:09.81\00:54:12.28
that Nicodemus who at
first came to Jesus by night,
00:54:12.31\00:54:17.32
also came.
00:54:17.35\00:54:19.85
Oh, this is
Nicodemus coming in the day,
00:54:19.89\00:54:22.89
this is Nicodemus
coming during a period
00:54:22.92\00:54:26.53
when the world won't
know what side he is on.
00:54:26.56\00:54:29.76
This is Nicodemus
coming out of the shadows,
00:54:29.80\00:54:32.57
because
Nicodemus has been changed.
00:54:32.60\00:54:36.50
Nicodemus no longer thinks
that he's high and mighty.
00:54:36.54\00:54:40.08
Nicodemus has been
brought humble and laid low.
00:54:40.11\00:54:43.75
And Nicodemus
wants to come to Jesus
00:54:43.78\00:54:46.85
and do whatever
he can to serve Jesus
00:54:46.88\00:54:50.32
because Nicodemus has
been changed by Jesus.
00:54:50.35\00:54:56.32
Nicodemus has learned
00:54:56.36\00:55:00.70
his ABCs.
00:55:00.73\00:55:03.67
Nicodemus has experienced
00:55:03.70\00:55:08.60
the ABCs with
all of his pedigree,
00:55:08.64\00:55:15.44
all of his Pharisaical robes,
00:55:15.48\00:55:18.88
all of his
external righteousness,
00:55:18.91\00:55:22.58
Nicodemus has come to
see that he needs a Savior,
00:55:22.62\00:55:28.72
and he admitted his need,
00:55:28.76\00:55:33.50
his emptiness,
00:55:33.53\00:55:36.00
his brokenness,
his hopelessness.
00:55:36.03\00:55:41.27
But he didn't just
stop at admitting his need,
00:55:41.30\00:55:46.01
he believed in his Savior.
00:55:46.04\00:55:49.81
He believed that
Jesus was God in the flesh
00:55:49.84\00:55:55.42
and that he was
dying for his sin.
00:55:55.45\00:56:00.62
Nicodemus placed
his faith in Jesus,
00:56:00.66\00:56:04.63
placed his trust in Jesus,
Nicodemus looked at Jesus,
00:56:04.66\00:56:10.07
and just like the
children of Israel,
00:56:10.10\00:56:12.67
looked at that pole
with that brazen serpent
00:56:12.70\00:56:16.30
and their poison was healed,
00:56:16.34\00:56:19.37
the poison of Nicodemus's pride
00:56:19.41\00:56:22.51
and Pharisaical
righteousness was healed.
00:56:22.54\00:56:26.05
Nicodemus was changed.
00:56:26.08\00:56:30.92
And my prayer
00:56:30.95\00:56:33.89
is that you and me
00:56:33.92\00:56:39.49
will admit that something
is wrong with our first birth,
00:56:39.53\00:56:46.47
that we will
believe the promise of Jesus
00:56:46.50\00:56:52.01
that says, For
God so loved the world
00:56:52.04\00:56:54.84
that he gave his only unique son
00:56:54.88\00:56:57.68
that whosoever believes in him,
00:56:57.71\00:57:00.45
just trusts him and you
will have everlasting life,"
00:57:00.48\00:57:04.65
all that we might
admit our need of a Savior
00:57:04.69\00:57:08.22
and believe in
the Savior we have,
00:57:08.26\00:57:11.16
and that belief
00:57:11.19\00:57:14.33
will produce change
00:57:14.36\00:57:18.63
and we will be born again.
00:57:18.67\00:57:23.81
Are you willing to
experience the ABCs?
00:57:23.84\00:57:30.15