Third of Five People - The Religious Man

John Chapter 3.  The religious man. 

"He [Nicodemus] came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”  “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." - John 3:2-6

Nicodemus was a very religious man ... he had spent his whole life learning about God ... learning right from wrong ... teaching others what he had learned … lately, he had been watching Jesus … Nicodemus saw that God was with 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." Nicodemus had never seen anyone like Jesus. 

I think Nicodemus came at night because he did not want his friends to know what he was doing ...  they would make fun of him ...  reject him ... perhaps he did not want to lose his position of respect in the community ... in the temple … so he came at night when no one could see or would know. Have you ever kept quiet about your spiritual interest because of other people in your life? Nicodemus came to talk to Jesus because apparently, he knew that there was something missing in his life and understanding.  In all of his knowledge ... all his learning … all his studies ... he had missed something … but he did not know what it was, so he thought that maybe Jesus would know what it was.

Jesus saw his heart … just like the woman at the well … Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again … that He must believe that He, Jesus was and is the Messiah ... the One that Nicodemus had spent his life learning about ... Nicodemus had been placing his confidence in his religion ... trusting that knowing about God was all he had to do to go to heaven ... to be as good as he could be …. But Jesus told Nicodemus that he must put his faith in Jesus and then God would put his spirit in Nicodemus as a guarantee of his salvation … he would be born again, spiritually.  That he would not and could not go to heaven unless he was born again by the Spirit.  

Nicodemus had spent his life trying to find God and heaven with his mind … but Jesus said that he had to do it with his heart by faith.  It is not knowledge about God that will save you from hell ... it is not going to church every Sunday that will ensure you will go to heaven …. it is faith in Jesus Christ … the same one who healed the lame man. Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life and no one can go to heaven unless they believe in Me."  Do you believe that? Jesus asked the disciples ....

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 16:13-17

The truth of who Jesus is can only be revealed to you by the Spirit of God. Like Nicodemus you may know there is something missing in all your religious activity … It is the spirit of God that is missing ... what you are doing is empty ... you must be born again ... you are calling out to God, but He does not hear you ... because you have not put your faith in His Son … you have not been born again.  Have you believed that going to church and learning about God ... even knowing about Jesus was enough to go to heaven ... Like Nicodemus ... Come to Jesus and find the life you have been looking for.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone