Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - John 3:1-3
Nicodemus came to Jesus as one of those superficial believers mentioned in John 2:23–25. But the Lord refused to accept Nicodemus’s profession, which was based on the signs he had witnessed (v. 2).
Jesus went straight to the real issue—the transformation of Nicodemus’s heart by the new birth, which is the act of God by which He imparts eternal life to those who are “dead in . . . trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). Jesus answered his unasked question, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
By the “kingdom of God,” Jesus is speaking specifically of the kingdom of salvation, the spiritual realm where those who have been born again by divine power through faith now live under the rule of God mediated through His Son. Nicodemus, like his fellow Jews, eagerly anticipated that glorious realm. But they believed that being descendants of Abraham, observing the law, and performing external religious rituals would gain them entrance into that kingdom. As Jesus made clear, no matter how religiously active someone might be, no one can enter the kingdom without experiencing the personal regeneration of the new birth.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
The Ruler Is Cast Out
John 12:27-32 (NASB)
Jesus Foretells His Death
27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. 31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
Dr. Stanley writes:
When Christ was hanging on the cross, Satan was celebrating. He thought he'd won a strategic battle against God. But instead, the Enemy was defeated decisively.
However, we don't always feel as if Satan has been conquered. That's because we still struggle against the principalities and powers in this world. You see, the Enemy was not annihilated at the cross—that will happen later (Rev. 20:2, 10). For now, he continues to reign over those who are without Christ. Yet his power over believers was broken at Calvary. As Christians, we are not of this world, but rather, we're part of God's kingdom (John 17:16). Therefore, the Lord has sole control of our destiny.
But remember that Satan is a deceiver. He wants people to believe he reigns supreme on earth—and to be disheartened when they look around at the havoc he wreaks. Indeed, Jesus does call him "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31). But don't miss the rest of the verse, which says the ruler "will be cast out."
The Devil cannot makes believers sin. He can tempt and taunt but is powerless to force disobedience (Rom. 6:14). Moreover, Satan cannot condemn Christ's followers (Rom. 8:1). He'll incite guilt in your heart if you let him, but that doesn't change the fact that you are a saved, beloved, and heaven-bound child of God.
When Jesus was here, Satan gave it his best shot to destroy God's plan and power on earth. He failed miserably. The Enemy was defeated when the Lord humbly paid the price for mankind's sin debt—past, present, and future—and rose in triumph over death. Believers share in the victory.
Jesus Foretells His Death
27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. 31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
Dr. Stanley writes:
When Christ was hanging on the cross, Satan was celebrating. He thought he'd won a strategic battle against God. But instead, the Enemy was defeated decisively.
However, we don't always feel as if Satan has been conquered. That's because we still struggle against the principalities and powers in this world. You see, the Enemy was not annihilated at the cross—that will happen later (Rev. 20:2, 10). For now, he continues to reign over those who are without Christ. Yet his power over believers was broken at Calvary. As Christians, we are not of this world, but rather, we're part of God's kingdom (John 17:16). Therefore, the Lord has sole control of our destiny.
But remember that Satan is a deceiver. He wants people to believe he reigns supreme on earth—and to be disheartened when they look around at the havoc he wreaks. Indeed, Jesus does call him "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31). But don't miss the rest of the verse, which says the ruler "will be cast out."
The Devil cannot makes believers sin. He can tempt and taunt but is powerless to force disobedience (Rom. 6:14). Moreover, Satan cannot condemn Christ's followers (Rom. 8:1). He'll incite guilt in your heart if you let him, but that doesn't change the fact that you are a saved, beloved, and heaven-bound child of God.
When Jesus was here, Satan gave it his best shot to destroy God's plan and power on earth. He failed miserably. The Enemy was defeated when the Lord humbly paid the price for mankind's sin debt—past, present, and future—and rose in triumph over death. Believers share in the victory.
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