~ 3 Musts from John 3
~
Consider
three profound statements from one chapter.
The Sinner’s Absolute (3:7)
~ “There
was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came
to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come
from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’
Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can
a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb
and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born
of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born
of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not
marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. The wind blows
where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes
from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit’” (John
3:1-8).
The Savior’s Absolute (3:14) ~ “Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can these things
be?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not
know these things? Most assuredly, I say
to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not
receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe,
how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to
heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in
heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is
not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has
not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the
condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil
hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be
exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be
clearly seen, that they have been done in God’” (John
3:9-21).
The Servant’s Absolute (3:30) ~ “After these things
Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with
them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because
there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not
yet been thrown into prison. Then there arose a dispute between some of John's
disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to
him, ‘Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified
— behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!’ John answered and said,
‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves
bear me witness, that I said, “I am not the Christ,” but, “have been sent
before Him.” He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the
bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the
bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must
increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is
of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is
above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one
receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that
God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not
give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things
into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does
not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him’” (John
3:22-36).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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