Let's cut to the chase. We are just like Nicodemus. Whether you are a seasoned Christian or a nonbeliever, we all miss God's meaning...on everything. Yes, the Holy Spirit is a guide to enlighten us and help us to understand. But even Paul knew that we see in part, then we will see in full. Like Nicodemus we need Jesus to guide us into the heart of God. God wants us to be a part of His kingdom. He has always wanted us to be with Him. Jesus tries to work through to Nicodemus and wade through his misconceptions of God. (Read John 3)
1. You have to be like a new born babe to get into God's kingdom - new in thinking, new in heart, new in mind, new everything...you can't rely on your past, corrupted thinking.
2. People who are living in Christ are living by the Spirit. They are experiencing true freedom and communion with God
3. You have to be taught by God/Jesus/Holy Spirit to have true knowledge and understanding. You can't simply know that Jesus is the answer, you have to believe and act it out. (vs 14, Numbers 21:4-9) Just like the Israelites we have a provision of salvation lifted up but we have to look to it for our salvation.
Jesus took this opportunity to take one of the teachers of Israel to task. He has quickly hit on a number of points that the "teachers" have not understood the heart of God. Notice this: Jesus goes from talking about the sacrifice he will make (lifted up) to the love of God. Nicodemus did not realized the prediction but he did understand that Jesus was calling himself the savior of the Jews. Israel (the whole world) would need to look to Jesus to be saved.
Once Nicodemus got this then he would be ready to understand God's love. If we don't understand the significance of Jesus' sacrifice we will never understand God's love.
Tomorrow...the world...
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