[:en]Our Daily Scripture – 4/5/22[:]

[:en]SCRIPTURE:  JOHN 3

Bible Verses:

“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.  You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ (John 3:4-7)

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (John 3:14-15)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ” (John 3:16-18)

“Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.’ (john 3:20-21)

“You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.” (John 3:28-29)

“He must become greater; I must become less.”[ The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.” (John 3:30-31)

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36)

JESUS TEACHES NICODEMUS (vs. 1-21)

Jesus told Nicodemus, a teacher and a member of the Jewish ruling council that no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.  Confused and perplexed he asked Jesus:  “How can a man be born when he is old?  He cannot enter into his mother’s womb to be born a second time” (v. 4)  Jesus explained to him  that “Born Again” means to be born of water and the Spirit.  That means believing in His Son whom the Father had sent to save the world through him.

JOHN THE BAPTIST’S TESTIMONY (vs. 22-35)

John the Baptist was sent ahead of Jesus to prepare His way.  His task was to bear witness to win people to Christ.  Someone came to John and told him that people were coming to Jesus and he was baptizing them. John answered:  “I am not Christ but one sent ahead of him.  He is the bridegroom and I am just the best man.  “He must become greater and I must become less” (v. 30)

HOW DID JOHN DESCRIBED JESUS:

  1. He is the one who comes from heaven.
  2. He is truthful.
  3. He speaks the words of God.
  4. He has the Spirit without without limit.
  5. Everything has been place in his hands by the Father.
  6. He gives eternal life to whoever believes in Him.

LESSONS:

  1.  It is necessary for us to be born again in order to enter the Kingdom of God.  Ne new birth signifies the spiritual aspect of changing the old nature born in sin and receive a new nature from God.  A person is born again when the Spirit of God used the Word to produce faith and impart the the new nature when that person believes.
  2. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of Sanhedrin who came to Jesus to search for truth.  Let us come to Jesus with an open mind and heart  to learn God’s truth.
  3. To believe in Christ in John 3:16 means to put our trust and confidence in Him on our present plans and eternal destiny.  It is trusting his unchanging and reliable words with the power to change.  Are you willing to accept the invitation of Jesus?
  4. The disciples of John the Baptist were disturbed because people were following Jesus instead of John.  But John responded:  “He must become greater; I must become less” (v. 30).  Let us not get jealous by the popularity of other ministry by sowing seeds of discord and division.  Remember that our true mission is to lead people to Christ, not to us.
  5. John’s humility and devotion to God teach us to focus on Christ and not on the success of the ministries.  Never put emphasis on your own achievements than on God’s kingdom.

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