Sunday Morning Podcast December 11, 2016. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: JOHN 3:1-8
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
There are many types of advents of Christ to us, but here we focus on three: 1) Christ’s coming, 2) Christ’s drawing on our heart, 3) Christ making His advent into our heart if we choose Him. Christ’s drawing on our heart is our focus in the third chapter. What advent did Jesus address to Nicodemus? Nicodemus didn’t first really grasp the message of being born again of the Spirit. His search to understand represents coming to Jesus away from the old law, bringing change! The old life, passing away for the new! This is what happens in our heart, with Christ’s advent into it. Nicodemus first represents coming to Christ with much consideration. What do you represent?
The advent of Christ into our heart will bring much change also. A new and needed change. Do you represent kindness, love, helpfulness, etc.? How do people see you? Learning about the teachings of God? Faithful to family and those all around you? If you’re not happy with what you represent, …change it! There are many advents of Christ in a life after Salvation. Changing constantly in life to please God, will be a representation of that. Do you solve problems, …or create them? What do you represent? Nicodemus’s changes were an evolving process, as he left the old for a new life in Christ!
If we profess Christ’s advent into our heart, there should be a witness, or representation to back it up. Once we give our heart to Jesus, we won’t stagnate, but there will be a lively evidence of Christ’s advent …if we continue in Him. Nicodemus went from being skeptical (John 3rd chapter), to challenging the rulers of the law in defense of Christ (John 7th chapter), and finally (in the 19th chapter of John), we see Nicodemus spending a great deal of money for spices to embalm Jesus’s body. He now more greatly loved and honored Jesus. Christ had drawn on Nicodemus’s heart, for him to consider, accept, and then live for Him. Nicodemus’s resulting actions were the fruit of one, who Christ has made an advent into his heart. His now sin free life was evidence that Jesus had greatly changed him. For it’s not okay, if sin is still evident in us. It’s a choice, if we want Christ within us or not. Nicodemus was willing to choose to change.
How is Christ’s advent changing you? We need to examine our heart.