God so Loved

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March 25, 2012

Lesson: John 3:11–21

Key Verse: John 3:16

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Introduction

A favorite memory verse of God’s children is John 3:16. They are the words that Christ the Son spoke: “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.” God directs his love and his compassion toward the world. It pleases the triune Godhead to direct his compassion by the giving of his only begotten Son. We acknowledge the truth of John 3:16 every time we pray as we have been taught to pray, “Our Father …thy will be done!” God so loves the world that he ‘has given’ his only begotten Son! What a wonderful expression of grace. It is a grace given to God’s chosen people from generation to generation. We can know the reality of the Son given today as did Isaiah: “For unto us a child is born, and unto us a Son is given; and the government is upon his shoulder, and he shall call his name, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The prince of peace.” (Isa 9:6).

It is written that Christ “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Gal. 1:3–5). We are enabled by the Holy Spirit to claim that this grace is ours, as did Paul when he testified, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). This grace is revealed in these words of our Lord who saw those for whom He shed His precious blood: “All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast him out” (John 6:37). The Son of God, who came and took upon himself our flesh, born of the virgin Mary; this Son accepted the work for which he was given, saying, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

How is it that we have come to believe in him, that we “should not perish but have eternal life”? How is it that we suddenly enter into sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, the kingdom of the Son of God, the household of our heavenly Father? As the second Person of the Godhead took upon himself our flesh and died for the forgiveness of our sins, so the Holy Spirit acts in our lives that we might know just what Christ has done for us. We are adopted into the family of God our Father, who first loved us, by sending his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. The Father and Son sent the Spirit that we might have eyes to see and hearts to believe in what Christ has done for us. Justified by the blood of Christ we are now able, by the Spirit, to claim our adoption, to enter or see the kingdom of God. As it is written, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Rom. 8:14–15).

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Nicodemus—John 3:1–2

Nicodemus was a member of the Pharisees (meaning ‘separated’). They had separated themselves from the heathen and the unfaithful. The distinguishing mark of the Pharisee during the time of Jesus was that they highly desired to know the law of God. They became interpreters of the law, delivering to the people, even those things which were not of the Law of Moses. They had great influence over the people. They believed in the existence of angels, the resurrection of the dead, and the coming of the Messiah. However, Christ, the Messiah and second person in the Godhead, came with the promise of grace and mercy through the new-birth. The Pharisees, on the other hand, taught a practical religion which was built upon a strict adherence to the law. Therefore, they attacked Jesus as a blasphemer against the God of Israel and His law.

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, sought out Jesus (by night, for it would be dangerous for him to be seen talking with Jesus). He was seeking an answer to a question which was heavy upon his heart: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Nicodemus’ heart was being challenged by the Spirit of God. As the Holy Spirit confirmed the ministry of the Messiah on earth, He will confirm to our hearts what Christ Jesus has done for us on the Cross of Calvary. It is by the work of the Holy Spirit that we come to an understanding of the work of Christ our Redeemer, who gave His life that we might have our Father’s forgiveness and life everlasting.

Discussion: What was the purpose of the visit of Nicodemus?

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The Entrance to the Kingdom is by a New Birth!—John 3:3–4

We rejoice in the glory of Christ Jesus, who went to the Cross of Calvary, on our behalf to prepare for us a place in the household of God. Are we then still dead in sin? Are we not now forgiven of our transgression because of Christ’s redemptive work on Calvary’s Cross? Jesus teaches Nicodemus that if he would see the kingdom of God, he must be born again. Jesus is most emphatic, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus attaches himself to the phrase, “Unless one is born again,” by asking the question, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

It is interesting that Nicodemus does not ask Jesus about the kingdom of God. Nicodemus knew that there was a kingdom of God. However, how does one become born again? This is the question, not what is being asked today, “Are you a born-again Christian?” There is no such thing as a Christian who is not born again. Christ, the Son of God, our Savior and Lord, teaches us that there is no other way to recognize or enter into the Kingdom of God. Christ gave warning to the Pharisees that they were justifying themselves “before God,” and “what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15). Jesus said that they had neglected the teaching of the Kingdom, saying, “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it” (Luke 16:16).

Christ has prepared a place for us in the presence of God the Father. Those for whom Christ has died are pressing to come into His Household, His Kingdom. The door through which they press is Christ Himself, who says, “I am that Way, that Truth, and that Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). It is the King of kings and Lord of lords who reigns supreme in God’s kingdom on earth, as well as in His heaven. Therefore, we may ask, “How are we able to be born again?

Discussion: What does it mean to be born into the kingdom of God?

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The Work of the Third Person of the Godhead—John 3:5–8

The answer that our Savior gives to the question of being born again is this: “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 term, “water and of the Spirit” teaches us about the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. It is as if Christ said that we must be born of water, that is, of the Holy Spirit. Calvin writes, “By water, therefore, is meant nothing more than the inward purification and invigoration which is produced by the Holy Spirit.” The new-birth is produced by the Holy Spirit.

We cannot ‘see’ or ‘enter’ into the kingdom of God except to be born of the Spirit of God. Christ uses the word ‘see’ to characterize the entrance into his kingdom as one who is able to see with one’s own eyes, or perceive with one’s own understanding. The word can be translated “to know,” as used by Paul, who wrote, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). The kingdom of God is not a spiritual kingdom to satisfy our yearning for a better place, as if it is just a good experience. The kingdom of God is true reality, not the virtual or pragmatic reality of this world, which turns out to be false, without a real foundation. The kingdom of God is a true gathering of people under the government of Christ the King. His kingdom we can see and know, we can enter and partake of all its works and blessings. The kingdom of God is spiritual because it has its origin in the counsel of the Godhead.

Christ reveals that the new-birth is as real as that birth which is of the flesh. If we marvel not at the physical birth, we ought not to marvel that Christ said, “Ye must be born again!” Though we are not able to see, with our physical eyes, the work of the Spirit, He does bring about the new-birth as surely as the wind blows where it will. These words of John Calvin from his commentary illustrate the truth of this new-birth: “Hence it is evident that we must be formed by the second birth, that we may be fitted for the kingdom of God; and the meaning of Christ’s words is, that as a man is born only carnal from the womb of his mother; he must be formed anew by the Spirit, that he may begin to be spiritual. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. Christ informs us that the Spirit of God is the only Author of a pure and upright nature, and afterwards he states, that we are spiritual, because we have been renewed by his power.”

Discussion: What is our understanding of the new birth?

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Conclusion: Our Adoption!

Our adoption is another example of our new-birth. The Shorter Catechism defines adoption as “an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.” We are in special relationship with our Father in heaven because of the work of Christ and of the Spirit. It is recorded in the first chapter of John that as many as receive Christ Jesus, “to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Our Lord gives to those who believe in him the power, or prerogative, the right, to be called sons, in that we have received an eternal inheritance in the Son.

Come to Jesus the Christ, believe in Him who was raised to his cross, that we “should not perish but have eternal life.” Come to Jesus, for he was sent of the Father whose will was to have compassion upon those whom he chose to be children in his household. Come to Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father, that we “should not perish but have everlasting life.” Come to the Son of God, our Savior, believe, trust in him, and be convinced that he is your Redeemer; for he came not to condemn but to save. Come to Jesus, for the Holy Spirit has moved in your spirit that you are born again, able to enter into the kingdom of God, crying out as an adopted child, “Abba, Father.”

Remember and give thanks; for “God consecrates us with his Spirit. Whom he adopts, he anoints; whom he makes sons, he makes saints. When a man adopts another for his son and heir, he may put his name upon him, but he cannot put his disposition into him. If he be a morose rugged nature, he cannot alter it; but whom God adopts he sanctifies; he not only gives a new name but a new nature. 2 Peter 1:4. He turns the wolf into a lamb; he makes the heart humble and gracious; he works such a change as if another soul dwelt in the same body.” God has adopted us from slavery: it is a mercy to redeem a slave, but it is more to adopt him.” (Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity).

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2012 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.