One of the grandest doctrines in the Bible is that of the new birth. Few church members know anything concerning it; few ministers declare it; few seminarians understand it. Yet, it is paramount in its importance, for except a man is born again, he shall not see the kingdom of God, let alone enter into it.
Our text for this brief study is found in the popular passage of the third chapter of the gospel of John. This passage is the plainest text in the Bible regarding the new birth. While it is true that many so-called preachers today emphasize “steps to becoming a better man;” “steps to raising a better family;” “how to be more successful;” and other such themes, the cry of the Saviour is yet the same – “Ye must be born again.” The supreme requirement needed to enter the kingdom of God has not been altered – “Ye must be born again!” It is not A METHOD to salvation; it is THE ONLY METHOD to salvation. It is not an option; it is an obligation. It is not one of the roads to heaven; it is the absolute only path that leads from here to heaven. You’ll be born again or you’ll not lay eyes on the heavenly city.
Religious, but Lost!
John 3:1 – “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.”
John opens this chapter by introducing us to a man by the name of Nicodemus. Two phrases identify this man for us. First, Nicodemus is “a man of the Pharisees.” The Pharisees were a religious group of the day. Second, Nicodemus is “a ruler of the Jews.” Clearly, Nicodemus is a religious man. He is not only a religious individual; he is a religious leader. Here is a man who says his prayers; yet he is lost! Here is a man who leads religious services; but he is lacking that which is most important. Nicodemus, at the opening of John 3, keeps religious laws and ceremonies; yet, if he dies at this point, he will wake up in hell.
In the first chapter of John’s gospel, I find an interesting phrase in verse eighteen:
John 1:18 – “No man hath seen God at any time.”
What a statement! This is an indictment against all religion; for all religion claims to have the correct glimpse of God Almighty! Every religion says, “We understand God to be this way or that way.” However, John writes emphatically, “No man hath seen God at any time.” No man has God figured out. Religious creeds have failed to figure out God. Church traditions are inadequate in revealing God to mankind. Religion is not what you need! I suppose there will be more religious people in the flames of hell than anyone else. Someone says, “I think all religions lead to the same place.” This person is partly correct – all religions lead to the same hell. Make no mistake about it – religion of any sort is insufficient in showing God Almighty to mankind.
After John tells us in John 1:18 that no man has seen God at any time, he goes on to reveal something most interesting. John goes on to tell us about a man named Philip who found Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the King of the Jews. Philip then tells Nathaniel. When Nathaniel comes to Jesus, Jesus tells Nathaniel that he is an individual in whom is no guile! Nathaniel is surprised that Jesus would make such a statement, since Jesus did not know Nathaniel. Look at Nathaniel’s response:
John 1:48 – “Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.”
The eighteenth verse of this chapter informs us that no man has seen God at any time; but the forty-eighth verse of this chapter shows us that Jesus saw Nathaniel. Religion is man’s efforts in attempting to see God; but Jesus came to inform us that we can’t see God, but He sees us! We never have God figured out; but He has us figured out!
The goal of religion is to find God; but the message of the gospel is that Christ came to find lost sinners!
Matthew 18:11 – “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” – NOTE: The vast majority of Bible versions have completely omitted this verse, including the NIV, TNIV, RSV, NRSV, and the NASV. The claim that newer versions just “make the Bible easier to understand” is a bold-faced lie.
In all the attempts of the many religions to find and understand God, mankind is as lost today as ever. Religion is not what is needed. Nicodemus was religious, but he was lost.
TO BE CONTINUED…
