Lesson 1051

(Lesson 1051)(07-31-14) John 3:13-21

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

Today's lesson very clearly demonstrates how a lost soul is to become spiritually "reborn" and thereby awarded eternal life and eternal access to the presence of God.
Jesus said; "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.".

Those of us whom have studied the Old Testament will know that Jesus was referring to a time when the Hebrew people, during their exodus from Egypt, were plagued by countless poisonous snakes. "And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." (Numbers 21:6-9)

We can determine from what Jesus said in today's quote and His reference to the brass serpent, that all we must do to achieve a spiritual rebirth, and to be saved from eternal death, is to have faith enough to look upon, and rely upon, the risen Jesus Christ just in the same manner that the Hebrew people in the days of Moses looked upon the elevated brass serpent and were given life. Just as is so plainly stated in todays lesson, there are no other hoops that must be jumped through, nor are there other steps to be taken, we need only have faith in a risen Jesus Christ to have eternal life.

Jesus went further in the remaining verses of today's quote to relate the reasons for providing redemption for the sins of the world, He said; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Because He loved us, God presented a promised means by which we could attain eternal life other than relying upon our own good works.

As Jesus said; "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

The last part of this lesson establishes where we stand without faith; "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Keep in mind, this did not say he is condemned because he was not baptized in water, or because he hasn't lived a perfect sin free life, it clearly says that mankind is condemned because he/she did not BELIEVE in the only begotten Son of God.~

Lesson 1050

(Lesson 1050)(07-30-14) John 3:9-12

"Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?"

In today's quote, Nicodemus did not yet understand how being "born again" would work. He obviously did not understand, as we now know, that the rebirth would be accomplished when the lost accepted the renewal of spiritual life that came when Jesus completed His, yet to come, sin remitting sacrifice.

Jesus told Nicodemus, in essence, that as a Jewish spiritual authority, he should have gathered from the study of the prophets, that Jesus (The Messiah), would someday inevitably come and offer a means by which all humanity could receive a spiritual renewal, and a means by which they could have their sin remitted and be redeemed back to the good graces of God.

Jesus said; "we speak what we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness." Jesus, in essence, told Nicodemus that his thinking, much like many today, was restricted to purely physical aspects of redemption and that he had not perceived the spiritual aspects of the same.

Jesus implied that Nicodemus had not understood that the message of the prophets had also predicted a spiritual renewal .

Jesus then said further; "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" In that quote, Jesus told Nicodemus that if he was unable to understand and believe the physical aspects of the divine rebirth, then he most certainly would not be able to understand how the renewing (rebirth) of the spirit.

Looking back on this lesson, and knowing what we now know, we should consider how confusing this must have seemed to Nicodemus, seeing that he was being challenged to accept what Jesus said, purely by faith.

More of what Jesus was teaching during His encounter with Nicodemus as tomorrow we continue through the third chapter of John.~

Lesson 1049

(Lesson 1049)(07-29-14) John 3:8

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."

In this verse, Jesus told Nicodemus not to be puzzled by His statement, "Ye must be born again". As was determined in yesterday's quote, the rebirth Jesus was referring to was a rebirth of the spirit, not the physical, or water rebirth.

Sadly, there are too many who sincerely believe that by using the phrase "born of water", as it was applied in yesterday's lesson, and which clearly refers to the physical or "water" birth, Jesus was implying that being immersed in water, or having water sprinkled on one's body constitutes being reborn.

The context of this entire series of lessons and the common sense Jesus applied as He explained it to Nicodemus, simply disallows that possibility.

As was discussed in yesterday's lesson, Jesus spoke of only two births, a natural birth and a rebirth. In order to allow for a separate "water" birth, one would necessarily be required to have a third birth. As was also stated yesterday, the phrase "born of the flesh" is clearly in reference to the physical, or first birth. The phrase "born of the spirit" was clearly in reference to the rebirth of renewal of the spirit. There was no mention of a third birth.

There will be further clarification of this misunderstanding as the study of John 3 continues.~

　

Lesson 1048

(Lesson 1048)(07-28-14) John 3:1-6

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 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. 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. 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? 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. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

Today's lesson is a very important one and when correctly understood, it refutes some scriptural misconceptions that are used as a foundation for the tenets of many erroneous religious isms.

When Jesus saw that Nicodemus was puzzled by His actions, Jesus told him, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jesus explained to Nicodemus that until His soul had been saved and transformed by undergoing a spiritual rebirth, he would not be able to enter into the "kingdom of God". In other words, Nicodemus would not be saved from eternal death and hell until his spirit had been transformed by the rebirth brought about by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Himself.

Not understanding what Jesus meant by being "born again", Nicodemus asked Jesus to explain. Jesus went further to say; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

As we study the rest of this encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus in the coming days, we should note that Jesus, by making the point made in the last verse of this quote, makes it very clear that He is speaking of only two births not three, the natural birth, "that which is born of the flesh" and the spiritual birth, "that which is born of the spirit".

When, in today's quote, Jesus said; "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.", the "water' birth Jesus referenced is clearly the birth of the flesh and has nothing to do with water baptism.

Note that Jesus NEVER made reference to three births, only two. If His use of the phrase "born of water" had implied a water baptism, He would have of a necessity told Nicodemus he must be born three times, one: Birth of the flesh. Two: Born of water. Three Born of the spirit.

Water baptism is by no stretch of the imagination, implied in what Jesus said in today's quote. Keep this in mind as we continue this lesson tomorrow.~

Lesson 1047

(Lesson 1047)(07-26-14) John 2:12-25

"After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."

Today's quote relates how Jesus chased the merchants out of the temple. When the merchants asked Jesus why He had thrown them out, He made a comparison between the destruction of the temple to His forthcoming death, burial, and resurrection.

The final point of this lesson explains why Jesus would not, knowing the hearts of mankind, associate Himself with the common people for fear that they would perceive Him as just another sorcerer. There were, however, many who recognized Him for who He really was and believed in Him.~

Lesson 1046

(Lesson 1046)(07-25-14) John 2:1-10

"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."

Today's lesson relates the first miracle performed by Jesus whereas He turned water into wine for the wedding party.

This was the beginning of the many miracles Jesus would perform as He taught and proved Himself to be the only begotten Son of God.~

Lesson 1045

(Lesson 1045)(07-24-14) John 1:35-51

"Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

In today's lesson, Jesus began the selection of His twelve Apostles. John's account of this selection process differs slightly from that of Matthew and Mark. In both of those accounts Peter was the first to be called. Here in John's account it was Andrew who brought Peter to Christ.

There are several instances of slight differences in the gospel accounts given of the ministry of Jesus, none of which have any bearing on either the content or intent of His holy word. ~