John 3:16 Part 3 by Brian Valentine
=== The Most Quoted and Least Understood Verse in the Bible ===
PART 3 John 3:12-16 First see # 1570 and # 1573
*******Every Serious Christian Should take time to read this.*******
Nicodemus.. an elderly but Elect Child of God is at this point sitting in disbelief..maybe like you.. thinking "these things Can Not Be"
Jesus has rebuked Nick saying:
John3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
John3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
John3:13 And no man, hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Jesus , knowing that Nicodemus has studied the Mosaic Covenant, draws Nicodemus back to what he does know and believes for sure.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
( The serpent on the pole has become the symbol for medicine today )
Often in scripture the "serpent" represents Satan.. but in this case
==== The SERPENT represented Jesus the Cure on the Pole ====
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
So then by the time one reads John 3:15 They should have already seen in the book of John that It is God alone that causes a man to approach Him even as Nicodemus has come not fully knowing why !!
Psalms 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
This verse says that the "ones believing" it DOES NOT say
========= WHOSOEVER wants to BELIEVE ================
But that is what modern Preacher Teach... They know less Than Nicodemus.
It simply says those who believe with Saving Faith !
Why say I saving Faith ??
There is a difference between Saving Faith and believing...
When we saw in John 1:12 it said "even to those who believe on His name." What does that mean?
Is the kind of Faith given as a gift from God the same as Positive thinking based on human presumption ???
==== Satan Believes in Jesus - will he be saved !====
Even the demons said:
Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
These demons both believe and KNOW WITHOUT DOUBT that Jesus will torment them forever when the "time" comes. THEY believe in His name !!!
What of these fellows:
Mathew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
=== These men believed in His name... they even did miracles !!! ===
Nicodemus first said:
John3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Nicodemus was called and drawn by God to Jesus that night by the Spirit of God as a Chosen Vessel of Mercy but he was not yet" Born of the Spirit" He did not yet know he was predestined to be a son of GOD. He did not possess saving FAITH as a GIFT !
Was Nicodemus saved... did he "accept" Jesus or was God already working in His LIFE !
1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
==== Nicodemus was elect and chosen and in the end saved. ====
Jesus explained Spiritual Birth and He could not believe that the FLESH and efforts of Men Profited NOTHING...
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Where was Nicodemus in the end of the Matter:
John7:50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
Here we see Nicodemus trying as did Peter to defend the Christ and yet failing in his Flesh !!
But again after the Death of Jesus :
John 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury
Which came first at night...
Oh how bold now he is - not ashamed to be seen with the Christ even in His DEATH !
Next Part 4 JOHN 3:16 THE VERY VERSE ITSELF This time I mean it :-}
|
