Transcript Who Was Nicodemus? John 3:1-2

1. Who Was Nicodemus?
John 3:1-2
1. He Made A Spiritual Commitment To Serve God
He
Was A Descendant Of Abraham
He was a ruler of the Jews
He
was a member of the Sanhedrin
The–Lesser
had 23
members
ourTo
court
of appeals
Acts 25:13-26:23
Paul Sanhedrin
stands before
Agrippa
Onlike
Trial
Plead
His Case.
The
greater Sanhedrin had 71 members High Priest presiding
The greater Sanhedrin was the Supreme Court of the Jews
Acts 26:1-5
He
was asaid
man
of Paul,
the Pharisees
Vs. 1 to speak for thyself. Then Paul
1Then
Agrippa
unto
Thou art permitted
He was
religious
his day2I think myself happy,
stretchedforth
theahand,
andconservative
answered fororhimself:
Not because
like the liberal
rejected
thebefore
resurrection
king Agrippa,
I shall Sadducees
answer for who
myself
this day
thee touching all
This is
howaccused
judgmentof
was
the things whereof
I am
theadministered
Jews: 3Especially because I know thee
day this
a corrupt
body are among the Jews: wherefore
to be expert inBy
allJesus’
customs
andwas
questions
which
session formed
a semicircle
I beseechThe
theeSanhedrin
to hear meinpatiently.
4My manner
of life from my youth,
Prisoners
stood in
the middle
in viewatofJerusalem,
all
which was at the
first among
mine
own nation
know all the Jews;
Capital sentences could not be passed on trial dates
5Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most
Therefore no capital cases were tried on Fridays to avoid death penalty on
straitest sect Sabb.
of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
The
Version,
(Cambridge:
Cambridge)
1769.Court

He King
had James
the stature
of our
Justice Of
the Supreme
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Who Was Nicodemus?
2. He Was Sincere Regarding Spiritual Things
Jesus
healed a man at the Pool of Bethesda John 5:1-18
Jesus Fed 5,000 John 6
Jesus
proves His teaching “I am the bread of life” with miracles
The Jews complained about His teaching 6:41-59
Many of His disciples walked with Him no more 6:60-66
Jesus
Was At The Feast Of Booths John 7:1-2
Jesus
went into the Temple to teach during this feast
The Jews marveled at Jesus learning Vs. 14-15
Jesus said I made one man well on the Sabbath and you seek to kill me?
The Jerusalem Jews said “Is this not Him they seek to kill?” Vs. 25-49
Enter
Nicodemus A Ruler Of The Jews Vs. 50-51
Does
our law judge a man before hearing Him?
Nicodemus comes to the aid of Jesus against injustice
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Who Was Nicodemus?
3. He Was A Seeker Of Truth
He
came to Jesus by night
He
came desiring to learn the truth
He came at night for fear of the Jews
Just like those Jews who believed 7:13
He
was searching for the Kingdom of God
His
ancestry did not qualify him for it
Neither will our ancestry qualify us for the kingdom
What people today need to know is the new birth
4.
Jesus Taught Him What He Needed To Know
Hence
Jesus reasoning “one cannot enter the kingdom except via the N.B.
Jesus was showing him how one enters the kingdom
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2. Except One Is Born Again
John 3:3-8
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Except – Only under the following conditions
 Only
 Only
 Only
 Only
 Only
by the New Birth Is One Jo. 3:3-5
by being converted Matt. 18:3
for the cause of Adultery Matt. 19:9
the penitent person Escapes Lk 13:3
if gives me a hug will get a quarter
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He Shall Not See The Kingdom Of
God – John 3:3
See carries force of entering, experiencing
 Therefore Vs. 5 cannot “enter” the Kingdom
 The Kingdom of God

 It
is from God
 It belongs to God
 It is where God rules
 Where one has fellowship with God 1 Jo. 1:1-9
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How Can One Be Born When He Is
Old? Vs. 4
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We Must Understand The Question
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Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born again
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Not asking about the physical birth
Denominationalists claim water is birth sack
They say the spirit is the Holy Spirit baptism
Some apply this to baptism but baptize infants
But Nicodemus was instructed what HE must do
He was the one responsible for his actions and conduct
The New Birth had two coordinate elements
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One part water
One part spirit
These two equal elements only provide the promised end (salvation)
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The Bible Enlightens Us To The New
Birth – In Every Case
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John 3:5 – Water + Spirit = Entrance in God’s Kingdom
Titus 3:5 – Water of regen. + Renewing of H. S. = Saved
1 Cor. 12:13 – Baptism + H. S. = Entrance into one body
1 Cor. 1:13 – Baptism + Teaching Of Holy Spirit (gospel) =
Family of God (Eph 2:14-19)
1 Pet. 3:21 – Baptism + Truth of Holy Spirit = Purified soul
Acts 2:38 – Believe (gospel) + baptism = salvation
Mark 16:16 – Believe (gospel) + baptized = saved
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New Birth Is Spiritual Not Physical
John 3:6-8
It makes the inner man new again
 It requires both water and teaching of H.S.
 Both Elements are required for salvation
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3. You Do Not Receive Our Witness
John 3:9-12
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Nicodemus Doesn’t Understand Jesus
 How
can these things be?
 Jesus is incredulous
 Jesus uses the plural pronoun “OUR witness”
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Earthly and Heavenly things
 If
I tell you earthly things and you do not
believe
 How will you believe if I tell you heavenly
things
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Who Was Nicodemus?
Review
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He
He
He
He
Made A Spiritual Commitment To God
Was Sincere About Spiritual Things
Was A Seeker Of Truth
Defended Jesus Against The Jews
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Points To Consider – John 3:1-21
1.
2.
3.
Who Was Nicodemus?
Except One Is Born Again He Cannot See The
Kingdom Of Heaven
Nicodemus Did Not Receive Our Testimony
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4. The Serpent And The Cross
John 3:13-17
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The Brazen Serpent Raised Num. 21:4-9
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So The Son Of Man Must Be lifted Up
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Children of Israel complained
God sent fiery serpents
Moses instructed lift up brazen serpent
Simple belief not enough
We have the complaint of sin
Only by looking to the cross is cure
Simple belief not enough
This Connects Baptism With The Cross
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New Birth made effective by the cross
As following Moses’ instructions brought salvation from serpents
So following Jesus’ instruction brings about salvation from sin
God does His part in providing the plan
Man must do his part – be born of water + spirit
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5. The Choice Is Between Light And
Darkness John 3:18-21
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Did Nicodemus obey the gospel?
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Possibly
He defended Jesus against the Pharisees 7:50
 He helped Joseph bury Jesus body John 12:42-43
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Possibly Not
He could have been of those in John 12:42-43
 Who believed on Jesus but for fear of the Jews did not confess
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For You Will It Be Light Or Darkness?
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You have the same choice
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If Nicodemus disobeyed – he loved darkness
If Nicodemus obeyed Jesus – he loved light
Will it be darkness of disobedience
Or will it be the light of obedience to Jesus’ teaching
Ye Must Be Born Again
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