The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
[Jesus] I tell you the truth,
unless you are born again,
you cannot [even] see the Kingdom of
God.” (John 3.3)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
Review: What is reality?
God and his kingdom,
“the range of God’s effective will,”
where what God wants done is done.
It hasn’t yet extended to the kingdom of
this world, or people’s personal
kingdoms.
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
Jesus: God’s kingdom is open and
available to everyone, now. Response:
Repent: reconsider your life-strategy;
think about your thinking
Believe: TRUST Jesus (Turn everything over to
him, Relax in his love, Use my life for him, Suffer with
him, Trust what he says)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
How to enter the kingdom of God Jn 3.1-15
Nicodemus was a Jew, born into the
privileged race, God’s people.
...a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious
leader who was a Pharisee. (v 1)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
He was a man, very religious (a Pharisee),
a renowned teacher.
Are you the teacher of Israel and do not
understand these things? (v 10)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
He’s a member of the elite club, the
Sanhedrin (top 70 scholars in the
country), old and rich.
If anyone should be in God’s kingdom,
it’s Nicodemus. But no. Woah!
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
You don’t enter God’s kingdom because
of birth or religion.
Nicodemus comes at night, perhaps to
avoid being seen. He’s not a seeker. He’s
there for a conversation, not a
conversion. He represents his peers,
“We” (v 2), seeking to collaborate with
this young teacher, Jesus.
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
Jesus takes control of the discussion,
because Nicodemus is ignorant. Are you
the teacher of Israel and do not understand
these things? (v 10). It’s not just God is with
you. (v 2) Jesus is God with us! It’s not that
Jesus is just a teacher. No, he must be our
Savior. And as Moses lifted up the bronze
snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of
Man must be lifted up... (v 15)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
Being a Jew is no help for Nicodemus.
Being a Bible scholar is no help. Being
religious is no help at all. He must start at
the first, like everyone else, or he
wouldn’t even see the kingdom. unless
you are born again, you cannot see the
Kingdom of God. (v. 3)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
Jesus’ word picture “born again” is wellknown today, but not understood. About
7% of Canadians self-identify as “born
again” Christians.
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
About a third of Canadians surveyed
(2006, Macleans) feel uneasy around the
“born again”, as they’d be with sex
offenders, alcoholics and mental
patients. Yikes! Why? Because they’re
the broken ones, or the ones needing
moral absolutes.
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
You enter God’s kingdom by a new birth
and a new energy source.
When Jesus mentions new birth,
Nicodemus reacts. “What do you mean?”
exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man
go back into his mother’s womb and be born
again?” (v 4)
It’s easy to get confused, when your
worldview is wrong.
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
It’s a second start, a brand new
beginning. Jesus replied, “I assure you, no
one can enter the Kingdom of God without
being born of water and the Spirit. (v 5).
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
The first birth is water-based, meaning
amniotic fluid. ...being born of water (v 5).
It could also mean washing up a
newborn. Then I’ll sprinkle clean water on
you, and you’ll be clean. Your filth [of sin] will
be washed away, and you’ll no longer worship
idols. And I’ll give you a new heart... put a new
spirit in you. ...take out your stony, stubborn
heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
(Ezek. 36.25-26)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
The new birth is Spirit-based. I’ll put my
Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees
and be careful to obey my regulations. (Ezek.
36.27)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
The religious hate this, because they’re
good enough, Canadians are nice enough.
Who gets it? The ones with broken lives.
[Jesus] Corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes
will get into the Kingdom of God before you
do. (Matt 21.31)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
There’s a mystery to the new birth. It’s
isn’t self-generated energy. It’s life from
God’s Spirit, like the wind. Come, O breath,
from the four winds! Breathe into these dead
bodies so they may live again.’” (Ezek. 37.9)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
The wind is wild and uncontrollable. The
wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can
hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes
from or where it’s going, so you can’t explain
how people are born of the Spirit.” (Jn 3.8).
A Christian is a mystery to others
and even to themselves.
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
It’s not self-improvement, it’s not an addon. It’s a radical restart. It’s not
reformation, but transformation. It’s a
totally new beginning.
End of a story: But it’s not me. Augustine
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
We don’t need new teaching from a
teacher. No one has ever gone to heaven and
returned. But the Son of Man has come down
from heaven. (v 13) We need to be rescued
by a Savior. And as Moses lifted up the
bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so
the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that
everyone who believes in him will have eternal
life. (vv 14-15)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
Nicodemus took years to figure it out. He
kept listening “Is it legal to convict a man
before he is given a hearing?” Nicodemus
asked. (7.51).
After the crucifixion he identified with
Jesus, and started to live born again.
When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came
and took the body away. With him came
Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at
night. (Jn 19.38-39)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
Nicodemus took years to figure it out. He
kept listening “Is it legal to convict a man
before he is given a hearing?” Nicodemus
asked. (7.51).
After the crucifixion he identified with
Jesus, and started to live born again.
When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came
and took the body away. With him came
Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at
night. (Jn 19.38-39)
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
And you?
Are you trying to improve yourself, or are
you accepting God’s new birth?
Have you stopped believing in your own
efforts, and believe in Jesus?
The Kingdom of God – See, Believe, Enter
And ROOTS?
Imagine ROOTS full of Spirit-energized
people, radically new.