From Gary... "FRAMED"

Recently, I did a post about the "SUPER-MOON".  And, how big and beautiful it was!!!  But, the clouds prevented me from getting a good picture that night.  I wish I could have captured the "SUPER-MOON" in this position- how marvelous it would have been to have the moon "FRAMED"; emphasizing its importance. This reminded me of a passage of Scripture from the book of Hebrews...

Hebrews, Chapter 1

 1 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.  3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power...

Jesus is the focal point of all human beings.  He made everything and and upholds it to this very hour.  Like the moon in the picture, God the father has emphasized both his person and his work as meriting our special attention. Ask yourself- Do I really appreciate Jesus as the center of my life?  Is he SUPER to me?  Do I shine as a result of having known him?  Now, I can see the "FRAMED" moon in the sky, but I can't look into your heart to answer these questions.  Time for a little reflection on your part- and I don't mean moonlight either!!!

From Bill and Laura Dayton... LETTING GO!

LETTING GO!

For most Christians, especially first generation Christians, letting go of the past is probably one of our greatest challenges. We so often allow ourselves to be defined by who we once were instead of who we are now in Christ Jesus. Here is God’s answer to our problem: WE ARE FORGIVEN!!! Unless we can accept this teaching from Scripture, we will be forever paralyzed in our faith. Let’s consider a few thoughts.

We must accept the forgiveness of God! In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul tells us that Christ came to this earth to “save sinners.” Paul confessed that he was a sinner and that God’s grace, mercy and love forgave us of ALL our sins. We now can live at peace with our God Romans 5:1 see also: Col. 1:14, 2:13. We are a new creation, reborn for God’s purpose.

Forgiving ourselves is the biggest challenge for us all. Let’s remember someone who needed a lot of grace and mercy from God – King David. His two great sins were: he committed adultery with Bathsheba and he numbered the people that cost the lives of 70,000 . What did God do with the life of David when he came to God with a genuine repentant heart? Solomon was born from Bathsheba and built the temple on the land where David built an alter to seek God’s forgiveness for his lack of faith in numbering the people.

From the Heart of a Servant

 Today, accept God’s forgiveness! Today give up your pride and forgive yourself! God has much good to do through you. 

From Jim McGuiggan... Cornelius and The Spirit (2)

Cornelius & The Spirit (2)

      “Yes, yes, but if Cornelius got the Spirit before he was baptized then he was in the body of Christ and saved in Christ before and without baptism.”

We come up with these quick analyses by picking verses from here and there and piecing them together, but this is hardly the way to work with scripture.

The world cannot receive the Spirit

Cornelius received the Spirit

Therefore Cornelius was not of the world

It looks plain and simple but it isn’t!

If Cornelius was not of the world then what was he?

Was he already in Jesus Christ when the Spirit came?

Did Jesus have a Cornelius in mind in John 14:17?

Did that rascal Caiaphas receive the Spirit in John 11:51?

It simply isn’t good enough to quote a passage out of Romans that is addressed to one who has been baptized into Jesus Christ (Romans 6:1-6), tack it on to a discussion about people in general and then draw conclusions that we say are normative about people in general.

 The Holy Spirit's a person (a difficult word, I acknowledge, but when he calls himself “I” or refers to himself as “me” as in Acts 10:20 and Acts 13:2, we’ll live with the difficulty) and the central issue is, “How does this Person relate to us when he is acting on us or in us? What does he mean to convey by what he is now doing?”

If we’re not in Jesus Christ he relates to us and works with us in this way or that and if we are in Jesus Christ he relates to and works with us in ways he doesn’t relate to us when we’re not in Jesus Christ. There’s overlapping, of course!

Christian prophets prophesied by the Holy Spirit but so did the high priest Caiaphas (John 11:49-51). Christians in Acts 8:14-19 had received Jesus Christ by faith but as yet the Spirit had not “fallen” on them. The obvious notion in that context is that though they were now part of the New Covenant community, the body of Jesus Christ which is indwelt by the Spirit, they hadn’t yet shared in the various miraculous gifts the Spirit bestowed on the church. Two Jewish apostles laid hands on them and they “received the Holy Spirit.” These people didn’t become Christians when the apostles laid their hands on them—they were already Christians and were sharers in the Spirit that indwelled the body of Christ (Acts 2:38, “and you will receive the Holy Spirit”). What they received via apostles was a share in gifts that the Spirit gave to some and not to all (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31). But Luke doesn’t say, “They received gifts from the Holy Spirit.” He says they received the Holy Spirit. [We should at least take that into account when reading Acts 10 and 11.]

This should warn us against simply collecting verses about the Spirit and homogenising them in a theological blender. It won’t do to work like this:

They received the Holy Spirit by apostolic hands

Therefore they didn’t have the Holy Spirit before

Therefore they weren’t Christians before the apostles 

laid hands on them.

That would be nonsense. Getting back to Cornelius, it won’t do to claim this:

Only those in Jesus Christ receive the Holy Spirit

Cornelius received the Holy Spirit

Therefore Cornelius was in Jesus Christ

It’s manifestly clear that whatever Cornelius was when the Spirit fell on him, he had not committed himself to Jesus Christ in faith. We need to make up our minds about this! He had not yet come to Jesus Christ in faith so the opening line in the above syllogism—even if true, which it’s not—does not apply to Cornelius. If we say Cornelius was already in Jesus Christ by faith before the Spirit fell then the entire incident unravels and comes apart. If he was already a Christian before the Holy Spirit fell it means he would already have had the Holy Spirit (since he would have been a part of the body of Christ, a temple in which the Spirit of Christ dwelled--1 Corinthians 6).

We can’t have it both ways. We can’t say that only those (already) in Jesus Christ receive the Holy Spirit without having Cornelius in Jesus Christ before that moment when the Spirit fell on him.

Some of us in our anxiety to dispense with baptism as part of the conversion experience have Cornelius out of Christ before the Spirit fell, in Christ at the moment the Spirit fell and thus in Christ before baptism. But if only those in Christ receive the Holy Spirit then Cornelius had to be in Christ before the Spirit fell.

“Ah, yes, but maybe the falling of the Spirit saved him in that instant.”

Apart from faith in Jesus Christ?

“Maybe the falling of the Spirit created faith in Jesus in that instant.”

You mean faith was miraculously created in him apart from the gospel? Wonder why the Spirit doesn’t save everyone that way? If he did that with Cornelius the least we'd have to admit is that it is exceptional since the entire NT witness runs against it. And if it is an exceptional case we shouldn't pretend it's normative. I would suppose that anyone who thought Cornelius' saving faith in Jesus Christ was miraculously generated is too tied to a theory obout the significance of the Spirit's falling on the man.

The question isn’t, did the Holy Spirit work on Cornelius?—he did—it's, what are we to make of it? Can one have the Holy Spirit in him apart from being in covenant relationship with Jesus Christ? David did (Psalm 51:11). Can the Holy Spirit work on and in one apart from their being in covenant relationship with Jesus Christ? He did it all through the OT (see below). Can a non-Christian be kind and gentle and caring? Certainly! But can she be that without the Holy Spirit nurturing such things in her (Galatians 5:22-23)?

What the Spirit does in or through or on a person is to be interpreted not merely by the fact that he acted. The significance of that act is to be interpreted in the light of the context and we don’t create that context by importing texts from their own settings into that one.

Samaritans received the Spirit—what was the significance of that?

Ephesians received the Spirit in Acts 19:5-6—what was the significance of that?

People in Acts 2:38; 5:32 received the Spirit—what was the significance of that?

OT people received the Holy Spirit—what was the significance of that?

Caiaphas received the Spirit—what was the significance of that?

Cornelius received the Spirit—what was the significance of that?

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Jim McGuiggan... Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

What was the significance of the Spirit coming on the godly and God-approved Cornelius?

The exaltation of Jesus the Messiah to the position of Lord of all (Acts 2:33-36) was marked out by the coming of the Spirit. In John 14:26 Jesus said the Father would send the Spirit in his name so when the Spirit came in fulfilment of scores of OT texts and the drift of the prophets his followers knew he had been glorified. See again, John 1:33.

But the promise of the Spirit was embedded in Jewish scriptures and it was addressed to the Jewish people so there was no reason to think “raw” Gentiles (righteous or decadent) would share in the Spirit.

In passages like Acts 2:38-39 the Spirit is promised to as many as God would call but that doesn’t settle the question about uncircumcised Gentiles. In the OT, blessing in the coming age is said to come only to Gentiles who come to Jews asking to be taught and allowed to engage in Jewish worship. See this in passages like Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:10; Micah 4:1-4; Zechariah 8:23; 14:16-19.

Peter understood that God accepted righteous Gentiles. Peter understood that the Spirit was for Gentiles if they became part of the Jewish nation but he didn’t think that fellowship in the Messiah and the sharing of the outpoured Spirit was for Gentiles apart fromconversion to Judaism. It was the outpouring of the Spirit in the middle of Peter’s speech that astonished the Jewish contingent (10:45-46).

Although Peter knew the Spirit had sent Cornelius’ men to him and sent him to Cornelius (10:19-20; 11:12) he was still in the dark and wanted to know, “Why am I here?” (10:29). He tells Cornelius that he and his fellow-apostles had been commissioned to preach the resurrected and saving Lord Jesus to the Jews (10:42). He knew that Jesus could bring forgiveness to all men from any nation (10:43 and see 2:10) but what he did not know—because up to this point he did not need to know—was that uncircumcised Gentiles were to share in the Spirit given by the Messiah; the Spirit through whom the exalted Lord would dwell in a temple made out of Jews and Gentiles on equal terms (see Ephesians 2:11-27).

Paul said that that truth—of Gentile equality in the Christ—had not been made known earlier or had not been made clear until the Holy Spirit made it known through New Covenant apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:1-6).

It’s important to note that in Ephesians 3:4 Paul doesn’t say “the mystery of the church” but the “mystery of the Christ” (we need to take the Greek definite article seriously here). The mystery was about the Messiah! He was certainly the Jewish Messiah and they understandably claimed him as their own (Romans 9:5; 15:8; Ephesians 2:12, Matthew 15:24 and elsewhere in the Gospels). What wasn’t understood was that (the body of) the Christ would be made up of more than Jews. And note again that this was revealed “by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:5).

The Jews maintained “the flesh” line of demarcation and restricted the Messiah to Jews. The Spirit called a halt to that the moment it pleased him. Acts 10 was just such a pivotal moment (see Acts 15:7). It wasn’t enough now to grant such Gentiles a place in the category of “righteous Gentiles”—accepted but still outsiders.

Peter regards the Spirit’s intervention as the destruction of the wall that stood between Jews and Gentiles. “In light of this, do any of you want to deny this man his place in Jesus Christ?” he wants to know (10:47). What could they say? The Spirit marked these people out—the very same Spirit they had received. In 11:15-17 he makes the same point but gives it an extra edge—“Did you want me to defy God when he gave them the same Spirit he gave us?”

In that text he wasn’t talking about going with the Gentiles to Cornelius’ house. He had already done that at the Spirit’s instruction. He wasn’t talking about laying hands on Cornelius and imparting the Spirit (see Acts 8:17-18); he quite literally didn’t a have a hand in the imparting of the Spirit to Cornelius. What galled the “conservatives” was Peter’s commanding him to be baptized and take on him the name of Jesus the Christ (10:47). It galled them that he widened the Messianic fellowship beyond the borders of the Jewish nation but they were stumped and accepted the obvious—Gentiles were embraced by God in Jesus Christ (11:18).

This entire narrative is not about God accepting Gentiles. Mark 16:15 and Matthew 28:19 and Luke 24:47 had settled all that. God now made it clear that Jews had no monopoly on Jesus and all he brought. Such a question would not be settled by Peter’s private vision or claims about Spirit instruction—note how quick his critics gathered in 11:2. His apostleship didn’t protect him from rebuke and accusation. The only way it would be settled (or, at least, the way God chose to settle it) was by replicating what had happened at the beginning (see 11:15)—look no hands!

The Spirit’s function here was complex but it was certainly to sound out the message that Jewish exclusiveness and Jewish national righteousness had come to an end. No one would have offered the gospel to this man and no one would have baptized him in the name of Jesus Christ if the Spirit had not acted ahead of them.

So the upshot of all this is what? This paradigmatic event was not about, “How is a man saved?” It’s about, “Does Jesus belong only to Jews or to all people?” The Spirit’s descent said, “Jesus belongs to this Gentile as surely as to any Jew!” 

Peter and his fellows got the message and baptized him into the fellowship and covenant of the Lord of all in defiance of centuries of tradition. In light of the Spirit’s involvement in this from start to finish (Acts 10:19 and 11:12 with 10:44 and 11:15-17) Peter really wanted to know, “Does anyone still want to keep them out?” In the absence of protest and in the face of the Spirit’s witness he allowed them entrance into Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus and by the Spirit of God he offered them the privilege and the means by which they took on them the name of Jesus Christ.

[Some think that the Spirit was sent to save the man. I think he was already “saved” when Peter came to him. Some think the Spirit’s descent on the man meant he didn’t need to be baptized. Neither Peter nor his companions saw it that way. He commanded them to be baptized (10:47). Peter wasn’t about to let anyone else have the credit for giving the Spirit so he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ who sent the Spirit. Some insist, “Yes, but he was saved without baptism therefore everyone else can be.”

And should we conclude from this that all who refuse to be baptized are saved? Is that what the Cornelius case teaches us? If people refuse to be baptized are they really like the Cornelius who said he was anxious to do whatever God had in mind for him? (See 10:3-8, 32-33 and 11:11-13) Did Cornelius take the name of Jesus Christ on him in baptism? If so, and Peter thought that’s what was happening (compare Acts 2:39 and 19:5) should we conclude that those who refuse to take the name of Jesus on them in baptism are “saved like Cornelius”? And what was Peter thinking about? Having seen and heard all he had seen and heard, his first response is to challenge his companions with talk about baptism and then to command these people to be baptized in Jesus Christ’s name. Can you even imagine him saying, “Well, one thing’s clear from all this, this man doesn’t need to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”?

All such talk is so foreign to the narrative and occasion. We import such matters into Acts when we have our own agenda. I’m not suggesting we do it with sinister intent—but we do it. If we're to draw "lessons" from the incident it might be better to conclude that if someone like Cornelius had to be baptized the rest of us ought to get on with it without debate.]

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Seven Principles Of Personal Evangelism (Jn.4:1-26)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"

            Seven Principles Of Personal Evangelism (4:1-26)

INTRODUCTION

1. Most Christians want to share the gospel of Christ with others...
   a. Yet many often feel awkward in their attempts to talk with others
   b. Or they simply don't know how to establish contacts for a Bible
      study
   -- Causing many to experience frustration that discourages them from
      trying again

2. Perhaps we learn some things from Jesus, the master teacher...
   a. Who often engaged in personal evangelism as well as public
      preaching
   b. For example, His conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's
      well - Jn 4:1-26

[Observing Jesus in action, it is possible to glean "Seven Principles Of
Personal Evangelism" that we would do well to remember in our own
efforts to teach others.  One such principle is to...]

I. CONTACT PEOPLE SOCIALLY

   A. WE MUST HAVE SOCIAL CONTACT...
      1. The import of Jesus passing through Samaria - Jn 4:1-6
         a. Many Jews, because of their disdain for Samaritans, avoided
            Samaria
         b. Jesus and His disciples chose to pass through Samaria,
            assuring contact
         c. A similar example of Jesus making social contact - cf. Lk 5:
            29-32
      2. When people aren't coming to Christ, it's because we are not
         going to the people!
         a. We can't be fishers of men by fishing in a barrel; if the
            fish won't come to the barrel, then we must go where the
            fish are!
         b. The problem with sowing the seed is not that there is not
            good ground to be found, but that the seed is still in the
            barn! - cf. Hag 2:19

   B. DO NOT CONFUSE SEPARATION WITH ISOLATION...
      1. Yes, we must be separate - 2Co 6:14-18
      2. But this does not mean we are to isolate ourselves
         a. Note the prayer of Christ - Jn 17:15
         b. Note the command of Paul - 1Co 5:9-11
      3. Withdrawing ourselves from those who have not heard or obeyed
         the gospel in contrary to the will of the Lord!

   C. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL CONTACT...
      1. At school with fellow students
         a. Don't think you are too young to be involved in leading
            others to Christ
         b. Young Christians often possess the greatest opportunities to
            teach others
         c. How you serve now will likely be an indication of how you
            will serve later in life
      2. At work with fellow employees or employers
         a. We spend much of our life with these people
         b. We have the greatest potential to influence them, especially
            by example
      3. At home with neighbors, friends, and family
         a. Do we even know our neighbors?
         b. Those closest to us can be difficult sometimes, but are
            reachable - e.g., Mt 13:54-58; Jn 7:5; Ac 1:14

[Remember, Jesus said "Go into all the world..." (Mk 16:15).  We must go
where the people are!  Another principle we can glean from Jesus'
conversation with the woman is...]

II. ESTABLISH A COMMON INTEREST

   A. COMMON INTERESTS CREATE A BRIDGE...
      1. Note Jesus' first words to the woman - Jn 4:7-8
         a. She had come to draw water
         b. He was thirsty
         c. His first words centered around their common interest
            (water)
      2. Realize the need to build rapport
         a. Meaningful dialogue is not easy, especially involving
            spiritual matters
         b. A common interest allows opportunity for meaningful dialogue
         c. Once a bridge for communication has been established, it
            will be easier to discuss God's word with another person

   B. COMMON INTERESTS ARE MANY...
      1. They include family (such as children, grandchildren)
      2. They include activities (such as work, community projects,
         hobbies)
      3. They include shared experiences (such as travel, or even
         tragedies)

[Don't feel that you must immediately begin talking about spiritual
matters.  Take time to nurture common interests.  Yet at some point we
want to reach the next stage, which leads to our third principle...]

III. AROUSE SPIRITUAL INTEREST

   A. THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS...
      1. The example of Jesus - Jn 4:9
         a. As a man He speaks to her, a woman
         b. As a rabbi He speaks to her, an immoral woman
         c. As a Jew He speaks to her, a Samaritan
         -- He aroused interest by simply speaking to her
      2. Regarding our actions
         a. We can arouse spiritual interest by our example
         b. By showing kindness and compassion to all, even the evil and
            wicked
         c. By not harboring racial or social prejudices to those who
            are different
         d. By our own example of faith and hope - e.g., 1Pe 3:1-2,15

   B. THROUGH YOUR WORDS...
      1. The example of Jesus - Jn 4:10-14
         a. Jesus' statement shifted their conversation to spiritual
            matters
         b. He led them into a discussion on a common spiritual interest
            (living water!)
      2. Regarding our words
         a. We can raise questions or make statements that shift
            conversations to spiritual matters
            1) E.g., "What do you think our world is in such a mess?"
            2) E.g., "Would you be interested in what the Bible says
               about...?"
         b. The discussion should first involve matters of common
            agreement
            1) Start with things upon which you agree, to build rapport
               and instill confidence
            2) This was the practice of apostolic preaching - e.g., Ac 13:16-22

[Once spiritual interest has been aroused, another principle can be
gleaned from Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman...]

IV. DON'T GO TOO FAR, TOO FAST

   A. GIVE A PERSON WHAT THEY ARE READY FOR...
      1. Note Jesus' discussion with the woman - Jn 4:15-16
         a. She wanted the "living water", but did she really
            understand?
         b. Jesus saw the need to slow her down and provide the proper
            ground work
            1) She needed faith in Him as the Messiah
            2) He needed to provide evidence that He was the Messiah
         c. So instead of giving her the "living water"...
            1) He tells her to get her husband
            2) Which will result in her conviction of Him as a prophet
      2. Sometimes people don't realize what they need first
         a. They'll want to talk about a particular subject
         b. But they really need something else first

   B. SOME EXAMPLES...
      1. Some want to study Revelation, when they need to be grounded on
         the rest of the Bible first
      2. Some want to discuss issues related to church organization,
         work, worship, etc., when they ought to focus on the "first
         principles" of the gospel
      3. It is important that a person not choke on the "meat" of the
         Word - cf. 1Co 3:1-2

[There is another principle of evangelism that takes into consideration
the need of the prospect...]

V. DON'T CONDEMN UNNECESSARILY

   A. THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS...
      1. He could have dwelt on her being an adulteress - Jn 4:17-18
      2. As stated elsewhere, He came to save the world, not to condemn
         it - cf. Jn 3:17
      3. Not to say He will not one day judge the world, but that the
         primary purpose of His first coming was to offer salvation 
         - cf. Jn 12:46-48

   B. IN OUR EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS...
      1. Though we preach against sin, our primary purpose is to save,
         not judge - 1Co 5:12-13
      2. Our focus should be to inform others of the forgiveness God
         offers - cf. 2Co 5:18-20
         a. God seeks reconciliation with sinners
         b. Ours is a ministry of reconciliation

[Another important principle in evangelism to remember is...]

VI. STICK WITH THE MAIN ISSUE

   A. IN THE CASE OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN...
      1. She turned the subject away from herself to where one should
         worship - Jn 4:19-20
      2. Jesus answered her question, while effectively turning the
         conversation back to the original subject:  Who He is and what
         He offers - Jn 4:21-25 (cf. Jn 4:10)

   B. REMAIN STEADFAST TO YOUR OBJECTIVES...
      1. If seeking to establish a common ground of agreement, avoid
         jumping ahead
      2. As you move from common to uncommon ground...
         a. Take one step at a time
         b. Do not go on until agreement at each step has occurred
      3. If your objective is simply to obtain consent for a home Bible
         study, avoid getting into a detailed discussion at that time 
         - cf. Pr 15:28

[One last principle in evangelism gleaned from Jesus' conversation with
the woman at the well...]

VII. CONFRONT DIRECTLY

   A. JESUS' EXAMPLE THEN...
      1. Finally, Jesus confronted the woman with His identity - Jn 4:26
      2. This came after He had laid the groundwork

   B. EXAMPLES FOR TODAY...
      1. In trying to set up a home Bible study
         a. Take advantage of social contacts
         b. Develop common interests
         c. Be open to comments that indicate a spiritual interest,
            while demonstrating your own faith through actions and words
         d. Avoid fruitless arguments, emphasize instead common beliefs
         e. Praise their good points and encourage them in the right
            direction
         f. Have one primary objective:  to encourage them to study the
            Bible even more
            a. Ask if they would like to learn more about Jesus, the
               Bible, His church
            b. Note the example of Aquila and Priscilla with Apollos 
               - Ac 18:24-26
         g. Confront them directly with the opportunity to study the
            Bible
      2. During the course of a home Bible study
         a. Continue to develop the social contact
         b. Continue to establish common interests
         c. Take time to accentuate common ground you share in your
            spiritual interests
         d. Go from common ground to uncommon ground carefully
         e. Stress the gospel message; don't obsess on their individual
            shortcomings
         f. Have one primary objective:  to help them understand their
            need and gospel plan of salvation - Mk 16:15-16; Col 1:5-6
         g. Confront them directly with the invitation to obey the
            gospel of Christ; for example, by asking...
            1) "Does this make sense?"
            2) "Is there anything I have said that you do not
               understand?"
            3) "Have I been teaching you anything other than what the
               Bible teaches?"
            4) "Would you like to obey Christ now and be baptized for
               the remission of your sins?"

CONCLUSION

1. The result of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman was the
   conversion of many people in the city of Sychar - Jn 4:39-42

2. This demonstrates the potential of personal evangelism...
   a. Who knows whether the one person you teach may in turn bring many
      to Christ?
   b. That one person may be like a seed from which seeds may come forth

Realizing this potential, we can better appreciate the words of Jesus:

   "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and [then] comes
   the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look
   at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (Jn 4:35)

Perhaps by following the example of our Lord, we can be more useful in
His service...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Mark Copeland... The New Birth (Jn.3:1-21)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"

                         The New Birth (3:1-21)

INTRODUCTION

1. A commonly used phrase is "born again Christian"...
   a. Often in the context of distinguishing between Christians who are
      "born again" and those not
   b. Which is a really an incorrect distinction, for all true
      Christians have been "born again"
   -- But what does it mean to be "born again"?

2. The Bible uses the expression "born again" only a few times...
   a. Jesus in His conversation with Nicodemus - Jn 3:3,5,7
   b. Peter in his first epistle - 1Pe 1:3,23
   -- Although the idea of being "born" of God is used many times 
      - e.g., Jn 1:13; 1Jn 5:1

[In His discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus reveals much about being "born
again."  With His comments as the basis of our study, let's examine what
the Bible reveals about "The New Birth".  After we are introduced to
Nicodemus (cf. also Jn 7:50; 19:39), we observe Jesus emphasizing...]

I. THE NECESSITY OF THE NEW BIRTH (1-3)

   A. NECESSARY TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD...
      1. Unless one is born again, he cannot see (enter) the kingdom 
         - cf. Jn 1:3,5,7
      2. What is the kingdom of God?  In brief...
         a. The rule and reign of God in the person of Christ - cf. 

            Mt 28:18; Ac 2:36; Re 1:4
         b. A spiritual kingdom not of this world - cf. Jn 18:36; Lk 17:
            20-21
         c. A kingdom made up of faithful subjects (i.e., the church) 
            - cf. Col 1:13; Re 1:6,9
         d. A kingdom both present and future - cf. Mt 13:41-43; 1Co 15:24-26
      -- Do you wish to be in the kingdom now and hereafter?  You must
         be born again!

   B. NECESSARY TO BE SAVED...
      1. To be in the kingdom is to be saved from the powers of darkness
         - cf. Col 1:13
      2. Salvation requires a rebirth, a regeneration - cf. Tit 3:5
      -- Do you wish to be saved from your sins?  You must be born
         again!

[Nicodemus is confused, assuming that Jesus has in mind a physical
birth.  So Jesus explains...]

II. THE NATURE OF THE NEW BIRTH (4-5)

   A. INVOLVES BOTH WATER AND THE SPIRIT...
      1. Note carefully:  one birth involving two elements - water and
         the Spirit
         a. Not two births (born of water and born of the Spirit)
         b. But one birth (born of water and the Spirit)
      2. Compare Paul's description - cf. Tit 3:5
         a. A washing of regeneration (water)
         b. And renewing of the Holy Spirit (Spirit)
      3. An obvious reference to baptism
         a. "There can be no doubt, on any honest interpretation of the
            words, that gennethenai ek hudatos (born of water) refers to
            the token or outward sign of baptism, gennethenai ek
            pneumatos (born of Spirit) to the thing signified, or inward
            grace of the Holy Spirit.  All attempts to get rid of these
            two plain facts have sprung from doctrinal prejudices, by
            which the views of expositors have been warped." - Alford
            (Greek Testament)
         b. "By water, here, is evidently signified baptism." - Albert
            Barnes
         c. "Baptism by water, into the Christian faith, was necessary
            to every Jew and Gentile that entered into the kingdom of
            the Messiah." - Adam Clarke
         d. "There is not any one Christian writer of any antiquity in
            any language but what understands it of baptism....I believe
            Calvin was the first that ever denied this place to mean
            baptism.  He gives it another interpretation, which he
            confesses to be new." - William Wall (History of Infant
            Baptism)
      -- The new birth occurs when one is baptized, for in that simple
         act of faith they are born not only of the water out of which
         they arise, but also born of the Spirit (regenerated) by the
         working of God at that moment - cf. Col 2:12-13
   
   B. INVOLVES THE WORD OF GOD...
      1. One is born again by the Word - 1Pe 1:23
         a. The incorruptible Word that is preached - cf. 1Pe 1:25
         b. The instrument through which the Spirit convicts the sinner
            - cf. Jn 16:7; Ep 6:17
         c. Which includes the command to be baptized - cf. Mk 16:16; 

            Ac 2:38; 22:16
      2. Jesus sanctifies and cleanses His church by the washing of
         water by the word - Ep 5:26
         a. The "washing of water" is another allusion to baptism 
            - Jameison, Fausset, Brown
         b. Yet baptism must be administered in conjunction with the
            Word of God to be of benefit
      -- The new birth involves several elements (water, Spirit, Word of
         God), all coming together when one responds to the gospel in
         baptism - e.g., Ac 2:37-39

[While there is evidence that one is born of water as they rise from the
watery grave of baptism, the evidence of their being born of the Spirit
comes later...]

III. THE EVIDENCE OF THE NEW BIRTH (6-8)

   A. SEEN BY THE EFFECT OF THE SPIRIT...
      1. We should expect that what the Spirit produces is spirit (i.e.,
         spiritual) - Jn 3:6
      2. Like the wind (the same Greek word as Spirit), we do not see
         the Spirit itself but the effect that it produces
      -- Has one been truly born of the Spirit (i.e., born again)?  With
         time there should be clear evidence that a change has occurred 
         - e.g., 1Jn 3:14

   B. SEEN BY THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT...
      1. Paul describes the fruit (evidence) of the Spirit - Ga 5:22-23
      2. Which comes not only being born of the Spirit, but walking in
         the Spirit - Ga 5:16,25
      -- Where the fruit does not appear, either there was never any
         rebirth or one is walking after the flesh, not the Spirit! 
         - cf. Ga 5:17

[As the discussion continues (Jn 3:9-13), it soon turns into a
discourse (Jn 3:14-21), the latter in which Jesus describes...]

IV. THE BASIS FOR THE NEW BIRTH (14-18)

   A. THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST...
      1. Jesus compares His eventual crucifixion to Moses' lifting up of
         the serpent - Jn 3:14; Num 21:4-9
      2. So people would be saved from perishing by believing in Jesus 
         - Jn 3:15
      -- Without redemption from sin, regeneration would be meaningless;
         the new birth provides both! - cf. Ac 22:16; Tit 3:5

   B. THE LOVE OF GOD...
      1. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that
         those who believe might have everlasting life (i.e., enter the
         kingdom of God) - Jn 3:16
      2. God does not want anyone to perish or be condemned, but to be
         saved - Jn 3:16b-17
      -- God's love for man is what makes Christ's sacrifice and the new
         birth possible! - cf. 1Jn 4:9-10

   C. THE FAITH OF MAN...
      1. Those who believe in Jesus will not perish, but have
         everlasting life - Jn 3:15-16
      2. They will not be condemned, unlike those who do not believe 
         - Jn 3:18
      -- The new birth requires faith in Jesus; without faith, being
         born of water is meaningless, and born of the Spirit impossible
         - cf. Mk 16:16; Jn 8:24; Ac 8:36-37

[Christ's sacrifice and God's love, in cooperation with man's faith,
makes the new birth possible.  Yet many remain condemned for lack of
faith in Jesus.  Why?  Jesus offers one reason for...]

V. THE REJECTION OF THE NEW BIRTH (19-21)

   A. MANY LOVE DARKNESS MORE THAN LIGHT...
      1. Light (Jesus) has come into the world - Jn 3:19a; 1:5,9; 8:12
      2. There are those who love the darkness instead, because of their
         evil deeds - Jn 3:19b
      -- Their love for things of the world cause them to reject the
         light of Jesus - e.g. Lk 16:14

   B. MANY DO NOT WANT TO BE EXPOSED BY THE LIGHT...
      1. They know that coming to Jesus will expose their evil deeds 
         - Jn 3:20; cf. Ep 5:13
      2. But those willing to obey (does the truth), do not fear the
         light - Jn 3:21
      -- Unwilling to give up their evil deeds, they are unwilling to
         submit to the new birth which acknowledges one's sinfulness and
         requires repentance - e.g., Ac 2:36-38

CONCLUSION

1. In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus reveals much about being
   born again...
   a. The necessity of the new birth (one cannot be a Christian unless
      "born again")
   b. The nature of the new birth (a birth involving both water and the
      Spirit, i.e., baptism)
   c. The evidence of the new birth (observable by its effects, i.e.,
      the fruit of the Spirit)
   d. The basis of the new birth (Christ's sacrifice, God's love, man's
      faith)
   e. The rejection of the new birth (why many refuse to submit to it)

2. What about you?  Have you been born again...?
   a. Born of water and the Spirit (i.e., a washing of regeneration and
      renewing of the Holy Spirit)?
   b. Born through the Word of God (i.e., by responding to the gospel
      message)?
   c. Responding to God's love and Christ's sacrifice by expressing your
      faith in baptism?

Remember the words of Jesus...

   "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does
   not believe will be condemned." (Mk 16:16)

   "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'"
                                                          (Jn 3:7)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011