The JOY of Agreement

In the 1930’s America had a family argument with herself. The question was; “Should America support the allies in their opposition to Nazi Germany, or not?” Remembering so vividly well the carnage of the “Great War” of 1914-1918, most Americans were highly reluctant to engage in another such adventure. Despite clear warning signs that Nazi Germany could soon conquer all of Europe, and along with Soviet Russia, dominate the entire 1st world for socialism, most Americans were isolationist in their conviction, not wanting America to engage in foreign wars. However, just as with any major issue, there were strong emotions on both ends of the spectrum. Many a young American volunteered to engage the enemies of freedom in England, France, China and other places around the globe years before our nation went to war. Many sacrificed their lives in the cause of liberty. Others, however, supported the Germans openly and aggressively. The national air hero, Charles Lindbergh, was one such man. He spent much time in Germany, even meeting publicly with Hitler. The argument came to an abrupt halt on December 7, 1941 when Japan attacked us at Pearl Harbor. Several days after the “day of infamy,” Germany declared war on the United States. The argument was over and national unity and agreement swept over our great land. America had come to national agreement on the goal of defeating our enemies. Some four years later, that goal was realized.

The blessings of that national unity and agreement are still quite evident today, some 64 years after peace came in August, 1945. Unity, tranquility and agreement are blessings we should all continually seek, especially in the Lord’s church. James Allen said; “The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.” [1] Agreement, tranquility and unity bring much JOY to our hearts. There are a number of reasons.

• It is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell in unity – Psalms 133:1
• We are to have the same mind toward one another – Romans 12:16
• We are to follow after those things that make for peace – Romans 14:19
• Our God is a God of patience and consolation – Romans 15:5-6
• We are to be of the same mind and judgment – I Corinthians 1:10
• We keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace – Ephesians 4:3
• Like-mindedness fulfills the joy of others – Philippians 2:2
• Following the same rule sets an example for others – Philippians 3:16-17
• Agreement teaches us to be compassion, love, empathy and courtesy – I Peter 3:8 [2]

Agreement with God, the Scriptures and each other will render us AGREEABLE and JOYFUL! JOYFUL people make the very best AMBASSADORS! (II Corinthians 5:20)

NOTES:
[1]Via:http://www.worldofquotes.com/topic/tranquility/index.html
[2]Scripture references per: http://www.naves-topical-bible.com/UNITY.html

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Division 101

Think about it. When was the very first denomination founded? Was it in the 2nd century, the 3rd, the 15th? Actually, the very first denomination, the very first false religion was founded in the Garden of Eden! Satan convinced Eve, and then Adam, to found the very first denomination! Satan convinced the two of them to become apostate from the true and living God and found their own religion based on a satanic lie! The lie that their new “religion” was founded upon was the Satan’s statement that “…thou shalt not surely die.” (See Genesis 3) Satan has been in the denominational and false religion mode since that day in the garden!

Today, Satan is more aggressive than ever in the “denomination creation” department. Once each Western nation had its own denomination. Greece, Russia, Syria and Serbia had their own brands of Orthodoxy, Germany had Lutheranism, England had Anglicanism, Scotland had Presbyterianism, etc., etc. With the advent of religious liberty in America, denominations began centering, not on one’s nation, but upon one’s favorite culture or doctrine. We had Irish Catholics, French Catholics, Italian Catholics, Puritans, Quakers, Shakers, Adventists, Mormons, Witnesses, Methodists, Baptists, etc., etc. Now in post-modern and post-Christian America, any man or woman so inclined is starting there own personal religion! The new denominations in American are likely to be called “Such and So Community Church” or “Church of the New Life” or perhaps…to borrow a phrase… “The Church of What’s Happening Now.” Freightingly, each person in America can now have their own “private” religion based on the premise that “if” there is a God, He is a “good” God interested only in making each of us happy, content and wealthy. This “god” will not send any of us to hell as long as we are “comparatively better” than someone else we knew. This “god” grades on a “scale” as long as one is “searching” or is “sincere.” Heaven will be theirs unless they become a serial killer or are a former Nazi concentration camp guard.

That sums up the American view of denominationalism, but what do others think? The Russians, for example, have a completely different view of American denominationalism than we do. Today in Pravda we read the following regarding American denominationalism:

…their (America’s) faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America.[1]

Quite a different perspective. Even more important…what does GOD think of denominationalism? God, in fact, wrote down His perspective on this subject! He left it for us to read in the Holy Bible. Here it is:

• Jesus promised to build but one church – Matthew 16:18
• On the very day His church was established, God added the saved to only one church – Acts 2:47
• Paul denounced four denominations that had cropped up in Corinth – I Corinthians 1:10ff
• Paul called (twice) “accursed” anyone, including an angel from heaven, that taught “another gospel” other than the one he had preached – Galatians 1:6-10

What shall we do, America? Division and discord among God’s people is something that God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19). Why not leave all of our preconceived notions at the door, open our Bibles and accept nothing more and nothing less than “thus saith the Lord?” Let’s believe what the infant church believed, practice what they practiced, live as they lived and become simply “Christians” as they were! Let’s hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Christ (John 6:47), repent of every sin (Luke 13:3), confess the Name of Christ before witnesses (Matthew 10:32), be baptized for the remission and forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), live faithfully from that moment on (I John 1:7) and spread this same gospel (Acts 8:4)![2] God is calling America to restoration! “Let’s roll!”

NOTES:

[1]Stansilav Mishin, “American Capitalism, Gone With a Whimper,” as reprinted in Pravda, May 29, 2009
Via: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0/
[2]For more information on Christ and His church, click on: www.archdale.org/reasoningtogether.shtml

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The Joy of Comforting (Others)

The book of Job teaches us many lessons. One of the most significant lessons is not found until the closing statements in the very last chapter. In Job 42, Job has repented of ever having challenged God as to “why” he suffered. God, in fact, never told Job why. Instead, when Job discovered who God REALLY is, his own questions regarding his circumstances paled in comparison with the glory and majesty of the Almighty. Though Job suffered much, he never gave up on his faith. In fact, God restored Job, not through “things” but through bringing comfort to others! Perhaps the most significant verse in the entire book is Job 42:10:

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.[1]

When Job finally took his eyes off of himself and his own physical distress and focused on the spiritual distress of his three friends…then God restored his good fortune that doubled his first situation! Job achieved JOY through COMFORTING others! So can we!

There is nothing in life more invigorating than comforting another person in their distress. Opportunities to comfort others will be remembered…with joy when they are done and with sorrow when they are not. Mark Twain put it this way:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away
from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.[2]

In the end, though, we must understand that true joy is elusive. Like happiness, it is a byproduct of the acts of one in total disregard of self. Joy cannot be obtained until it is given away. It can only be found when we quit seeking it. Joy is only received when we seek it, not for ourselves, but for others. Like Job, we must cease the focus upon circumstance and turn totally to the gratifying work of comforting others. There is an unlimited supply of people lacking in the much needed comfort of the gospel. C. S. Lewis reflects:

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.[3]

Our Lord put it best;

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.[4]

Let us go and do likewise and we will “find JOY in the morning!”

[1]The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187, USA. All rights reserved. Job 42:10 [Emphasis added – RM]
[2]Via: http://angel-on-my-shoulder.com/comfortq3.html
[3]Via: http://thinkexist.com/quotations/comfort/
[4]The Holy Bible – English Standard Version, op. cit. Luke 4:18-19

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The Joy of Restoration

Two years ago, Italy’s Sienna University conducted a survey regarding the decline of happiness among Americans. Combing through data collected from 1975 – 2004, the researchers discovered that Americans are far less happy today than thirty years ago. Why is that?

…while the average American paycheck had risen over the past 30 years, its happiness-boosting benefits were more than offset by a drop in the quality of relationships over the period.
"The main cause is a decline in the so-called social capital -- increased loneliness, increased perception of others as untrustworthy and unfair," said Stefano Bartolini, one of the authors of the study.
"Social contacts have worsened, people have less and less relationships among neighbors, relatives and friends.(1)

We must agree, that on some level, these findings are correct. As Christians, though, we must ask the question, “Is there a deeper and more significant cause of unhappiness among Americans?” What changes in our lives would actually cause us to REJOICE in our circumstances? Our brother Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives us the answer! In his concluding thoughts in II Corinthians 13, he tells us to “Finally, brothers, rejoice.” Rejoice in what, Paul?
1. “Aim for restoration”
2. “Comfort one another”
3. “Agree with one another”
4. “Live in peace” (2)

Over the next several weeks we will examine Paul’s prescription for a life of rejoicing. Today, we examine Paul’s request that we “aim for restoration.” Paul, among other things, was history’s very first restoration leader! Wait a minute Russ! Didn’t the Restoration Movement take place in the 18th and 19th century led by Stone, Campbell, Scott and others? Yes, these men did initiate “A” restoration, but they were far from the first! Paul, called for the “restoration of the ancient order” as early as ca. 49 a.d. in Galatians 1! Listen to his clarion call to “restore the gospel:”

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to another gospel – not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.(3)

Not long afterwards, Paul issued a similar appeal to restoration and unity to the Corinthian brethren in I Corinthians 1 when he taught against the dangers of denominationalism. In our quest for joy and happiness, we must begin by restoring the first principles of God’s will in our lives. We cannot dilute the gospel in anyway lest “we drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1) We must remain dedicated to the fact that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” (Romans 10:17) that everyone who would come to God must repent of every sin, (Acts 2:38) that everyone who would come to God must confess before witnesses the Name of Christ (Acts 8:37) and that everyone who would come to God must be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1ff).

Those who would relegate “restoration” to some kind of singular historical event in the 18th and 19th century are in error. Those who would say that, instead of being simply Christians, we are just part of the “Stone-Campbell Movement” are in error. Those who would say that the early American Christians were just dupes and robots of John Locke and other Enlightenment philosophers are in error. Paul enjoins us all (EVERY Christian in EVERY age) to continual “restoration” as our “aim.” By doing so, we have much cause to rejoice! Every individual Christian and every Christian generation must engage in it’s own “restoration movement.” Let us all rejoice as we “aim for restoration” and share that good news with a lost and dying generation that are seeking true and lasting happiness. Thank you, bro. Paul.

NOTES:

(1)Deepa Babington, “Americans Less Happy Today than 30 Years Ago – Study,” Reuters, Friday, June 15, 2007
(2)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187, USA All rights reserved, II Corinthians 3:11
(3)Ibid., Galatians 1:6-7
(4)For more information on the history of the Lord’s church through the ages, these two sources are quite valuable:
Mattox, F. W., The Eternal Kingdom – A History of the church of Christ, (Gospel Light Publishing Company, Delight, AK, 1961)
Powell, J. M., The Cause We Plead – A Story of the Restoration Movement, (21st Century Christian Publishing Co., Nashville, TN, 1987)

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Our First Family Reunion!

Remember those family reunions of summers gone by? Remember meeting your long lost aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces…not to mention those relatives “several times removed?” I always wondered who removed them and why? (I digress!) Keeping up with family members we rarely see can be challenging! What is NOT challenging is the fun, fellowship and love that we experience when we “all get together.” I remember the summer of 1977 when Nancy and I, married just 8 months, went to the Turnbull family reunion in Tacoma, WA. For the first time I understood the meaning of the word “slew,” as in, “a slew of relatives!” I also enjoyed for the first time fresh caught salmon cooked on a barbecue grill. What a feast! It was great! I’m sure you have had similar experiences. In many ways our families define who we are. More importantly, our spiritual family defines who we are, not only for now, but for all eternity!

We are, as Christians, all part of Abraham’s family as noted in Galatians 3:29: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.” Pretty impressive! We can trace our family tree back some 4,000 years! The family of Abraham is the greatest family ever! What a blessing to be part of THAT family! When the family of Abraham, in the 3rd generation, had but 70 people…they had a reunion! What a reunion it was!

Because of the sin of the brothers of Joseph, the family had experienced decades of hurt, heartache and misery. Finally, when Judah and his brothers repented of the wrongs they had done to their brother by selling him into slavery and then lying about it to their father Jacob, the family was reunited down in Egypt! Joseph and Pharaoh treated our family to the very best Egypt had to offer…up to and including the entire land of Goshen! Three important lessons were experienced by God’s family (our family!) on that occasion, that repentance and obedience lead to God’s blessing, that thanksgiving is the key to God’s blessing and that we have all been given a ministry of blessing for others. Let's examine further:

1) REPENTANCE & OBEDIENCE LEAD TO GOD'S BLESSING - In Genesis 46 we learn that when Judah and his brothers repented of their sins against Joseph and Jacob, the blessings of God that had been dammed up for decades came gushing forth like water pouring through a broken dike! God took the family from famine to plenty, from the desert to Goshen and from guilt to forgiveness!

2) THANKSGIVING IS THE KEY TO GOD'S BLESSING - In Genesis 47:29-31 we find that the broken hearted Jacob, now at the end of his days, was finally able to worship God with a thankful heart. For years he had grieved his losses and his faith was blinded by circumstances. Now, after the repentance of his sons he could clearly see God’s will in his life and worshiped God upon learning that Joseph would grant his fondest wish…to be buried with the family in Canaan. He died 17 years later a thankful man.

3) GOD GIVES US ALL A MINISTRY OF BLESSING TO OTHERS - Finally, the family learns that their odyssey winds up being a blessing to them, to Pharaoh, to Egypt, to the entire known world at that time…and to all nations for all time! (Genesis 47:7-12) By preserving Jacob’s family through the faithfulness of Joseph, God sponsored this most wonderful family reunion! Through the suffering of the family of God, the family was preserved through the famine, the Egyptian nation was preserved through the famine and other nations were preserved through the famine. Most importantly, Judah was preserved for Jesus Christ to come into the world! In a most fascinating and wonderful way, God was thinking of you and I…way back then in our very first family reunion! You may ask, "Just what is my ministry of blessing today?" Jesus clearly tells us what it is in Matthew 28:1-20 - "All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (ASV) The greatest thing about our "family reunion" is that we can invite any and everyone! Won't you join us at our next "reunion" next Lord's Day at the church of Christ? We will be looking for you!

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When Was the Philippian Jailer Saved...And How?

A Roman jail was not a place anyone wanted to go. They were places where people went in…and never returned more often than not. You may recall the jail scenes in the movie Ben Hur for example. Not only were they dark, unsanitary and cruel, one was considered guilty until proven otherwise, most likely by the use of outside money and influence of a benevolent third party. To add insult to injury, the inhabitants of these jails were many times brutally beaten within an inch of their lives before they were thrown into prison. After a prisoners deposit into one of these pits, their only sustenance had to come from outside. All food, clothing and other life sustaining items had to come from the outside from family or friends.

All this describes the plight of Paul and Silas as they found themselves inside the Roman prison in Philippi. They were thrown into the jail after the locals rioted at the proclamation of the gospel. Denominational missionary W. P. Nicholson once said that “…when a mission was begun it was not long before they had either a riot or revival.” Such was the scene at Philippi upon the arrival of these two brave souls. After establishing the church of Christ in that city along the riverside with Lydia and her companions, Paul and Silas had “went to prayer” (Acts 16:9) and met a slave girl possessed “with a spirit of divination” who was aggressively used by her masters for “much profit by fortune telling.” This slave girl followed Paul and Silas “many days” proclaiming aloud that “these men are servants of the most high God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” Finally, Paul being “greatly annoyed”, cast the evil spirit out of her by the power of God. When her masters saw that their source of income was gone they stirred the locals to riot. (Acts 16:18-22) Such rioting caused the magistrates to come to the scene where “they tore off their (Paul and Silas) clothes and commanded that they be beat with rods.” Roman “justice” not only presumed guilt before innocence, it also instituted punishment before trial! Afterwards, Paul and Silas had their feet locked in stocks in the most secure area of the prison. Under normal circumstances, their lives would have been very short one way or the other. God, however, had other ideas!

As we all know from those wonderful summer VBS days of days gone by, Paul and Silas were praising God with prayers and hymns about midnight with the other prisoners as an attentive audience. Never, we suppose, had Roman prisoners heard such a response to an arrest, beating and imprisonment! While this was taking place, a great earthquake shook the place to the point that “all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” What happened next was even more amazing!

The jailer, whose name is still unknown, was awakened. He saw that the doors of the prison were thrown open and he assumed the worst…the prisoners were all gone and he would be held responsible by Rome. Though the text does not tell us his motivation, he took out his sword and was about to kill himself. Seeing this about to take place, Paul “called out with a loud voice…”Do yourself no harm for we are all here!” At this point we come to one of the great question and answer interchanges in Scripture. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” -- “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Wanting very much to “pound a round peg into a square hold,” much of the religious world today strives to point to this passage as a “salvation” passage that supports the Calvinist presupposition that salvation comes only from “faith alone through Christ alone.”

This passage teaches just the opposite! The jailer was NOT saved at this point! Let’s look at the facts: 1) The jailer had no knowledge of who Paul and Silas even were at the point of his question. Just minutes before they were just another couple of prisoners and he was comfortably asleep in the comfort of his bed. 2) The jailer had no idea who Jesus Christ was as he had never yet heard the gospel! 3) The jailer was stopped in the midst of a suicide attempt and was interested SOLELY in the preservation of his life, family and livelihood. His question regarding salvation, therefore, had to do…not with eternal salvation…but physical and career salvation. It is impossible, therefore, that the jailer was saved at this point for we know from Romans 10:17 that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” No one has ever been saved prior to hearing the gospel, not then and not now.

Since the jailer was not saved at the point of this interchange, when was he saved? Let’s examine the continuing chain of events. 1) Paul and Silas, AFTER the exchange “spoke the Word of the Lord (the gospel) to him and all who were in his house.” (Acts 9:32) 2) The gospel was preached and believed for “in the same hour of the night he washed their stripes.” (Acts 9:33) 3) “Immediately (upon hearing the gospel) he and all his family were baptized.” (Acts 9:33)

The Philippian jailer was saved the same way everyone was or ever will be saved…by hearing, belief, repentance, confession and baptism. He and all his family were saved at the point of their baptism into Christ and not a moment before. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

NOTES:
1) All quotations are from the New King James Version (KJV)
2) The W. P. Nicholson quote is from: http://www.evanwiggs.com/revival/portrait/nicholso.html

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Response, Opportunity & Obedience in John 3:1-21

The restoration plea has always called us back to the Scriptures as they were first written. From the day our brother Paul penned I Corinthians 1:10fl until this very moment constitutes what we refer to as the Restoration Movement. God continually, through His Word, hearkens us back to what He said in the first place; clear, singular and plain truth. God “says what He means and means what He says!” When we presume to add to or take away from the Word we are found to be liars (Proverbs 30:6). Unfortunately, many continue to distort the very words of God.

A certain passage, perhaps more than any other, continues to be assaulted by those who would have God’s Word conform to their preconceived notions. That passage is John 3:16. Most recently it has been misapplied by a famous denominational author in a book entitled; 3:16. Since the time of Martin Luther and John Calvin, most Protestants have claimed that baptism is a “work of man” and therefore not necessary for salvation. (The Bible clearly identifies baptism as a work…a work of God as noted in Colossians 2:12). Based upon this false premise (that baptism is a work of man), the author of 3:16 replaces the “…should be saved” conditional language of the original Greek with the subjectively arrived at “shall be saved” contractual language of circular interpretation. Under this kind of devilish eisigesis, the universal opportunity of salvation upon responsive obedience morphs into the “assumed” universal “guarantee” of salvation for the non-responsive and non-obedient “believer” regarding the absolute necessity of baptism. (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:1fl; et. al.) Few changes to God’s Word have rendered more damage over the years to the truth of the gospel.

A contextual look at John 3 will reveal that Jesus exegesis of Numbers 21:4-9 in John 3:14 is not only critical to the understanding of the entire John 3 passage, it is core, central and foundational to that understanding. Jesus teaches in John 3 that God’s Salvation requires a RESPONSE to an OPPORTUNITY through OBEDIENCE.

Though Satan twists the passage to teach a “faith only” pseudo-salvation, Jesus clearly teaches that “faith alone” will do as much to save one spiritually as “staying in the tent” saved the Israelites physically!

Non-response and non-obedience to God’s opportunity of salvation will leave one dead in their sins now, just as it did in the wilderness. Here is an exegetical outline highlighting Jesus’ teachings on this critical subject in John 3 in order as they are made:

1. John 3:3 – Jesus tells Nicodemus that “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
2. John 3:5 – Jesus tells Nicodemus that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
A. When Christ had died on the cross a soldier pierced His side and “out flowed both blood and water.” – John 19:34
B. Christ came “by both blood and water.” – I John 5:6
C. Jesus shed his blood in his death.
D. We are baptized “into his death” (Romans 6:3)
E. There is “no remission (of sins) without the shedding of blood. “ – Hebrews 9:22
F. The Blood of Christ renders many gifts:
1) Propitiation – Romans 3:25
2) Justification – Romans 5:9
3) Salvation – Romans 5:9
4) Redemption – Ephesians 1:7 & Colossians 1:4
5) Forgiveness – Ephesians 1:7 & Colossians 1:4
6) Peace – Colossians 1:20
7) Reconciliation – Colossians 1:20
8) Remission – Hebrews 9:22
9) Sanctification – Hebrews 13:12
10) Cleansing – I John 1:7
G. The blood of Christ renders “remission (of sins).” – Hebrews 9:2
H. Baptism is for “the remission of sins.” – Acts 2:38
I. The Gift of the Holy Spirit is given ONLY in baptism – Acts 2:38
J. “Three” bear witness in the earth.” – I John 5:8
1) The Spirit
2) The Water
3) The Blood
a. These 3 are found together ONLY in Baptism and no where else!
K. NOTE on John 3:5 – The well know evangelical preacher John MacArthur et al assert that this passage could not possibly refer to water baptism for the church had not yet been established and Nicodemus could have had no knowledge of things to come. “IF” such were the case, then the entire gospel section of the New Testament applies ONLY to the Old Testament dispensation! In truth, the gospels contain the WILL of Chirst, His New Testament if you please. This WILL was read on the day of Pentecost and required both repentance and baptism for ALL persons of understanding there present. John 3:5 DOES refer to baptism for the remission of sins, regardless whether Nicodemus understood it or not and is the time, place and portal of salvation under the current Will of Christ.

3. John 3:9-13 – When Nicodemus asks the question (“How can these things be?”) Jesus replies with ALL the authority of the Godhead.
A. As “The” teacher of Israel, Jesus asserts that Nicodemus should have already been aware of Messianic prophesies in the Old Testament in the form of a rhetorical question.
B. “WE speak of what WE know, and bear witness to what WE have seen…” – If Nicodemus ever listened to anyone or anything…this is that time!
1) Jesus speaks with the authority of the triune Godhead.
C. Jesus speaks on His own singular authority as well as the “son of man.”
1) No one ever (except Jesus Christ) EVER did, or ever will, ascend and descend to and from heaven as He did.
D. These verses contain perhaps the most powerful introduction to any
statement in the entire Scripture! What follows next is the key verse
in the entire passage and essential to understanding the passage in
it’s proper context. In fact, ANY exposition of John 3 not hinging upon
John 3:14-15 will miss the message of salvation!
4. John 3:14 – “And as Moses…” are the three most important words in the entire passage. Jesus sets up a metaphoric parallel between the uplifted serpent and the soon to be uplifted Christ. In other words the physical salvation of physical Israel in the wilderness is a type, a shadow, of spiritual salvation of spiritual Israel. Salvation in the wilderness required a physical response to God’s free offer of salvation just as God’s free offer of spiritual salvation requires a physical response today. Jesus tells Nicodemus in the very strongest of terms (a direct message from the Triune God by way of the Son of Man) that Nicodemus (and us by extension) cannot understand what Christ says next in 3:16-17 until Nicodemus (and us by extension) grasps what Christ says in 3:14-15.
A. The word “as” is from the original kathos which, according to Strong’s means: “…according to which thing, that is, precisely as, in proportion as: - according to that, (inasmuch) as.”
1) By using kathos, Jesus makes clear the fact that we understand, comprehend and partake in our spiritual salvation “as” the Israelites in the wilderness understood, comprehended and partook in their physical salvation.
5. John 3:15 – Jesus here uses very specific language when discussing the opportunity for and response to the free gift of salvation just alluded to by the serpent / cross parallel.
A. “Whomsoever / Whoever” – The opportunity of salvation is universal and is offered to every person.
B. “Should / May” – The response, however, is conditional. Some will respond and be saved, others will not and be lost…JUST AS with the Israelites and the brazen serpent. All were offered salvation in the wilderness, not all took advantage of the free gift of life. The same parallel reigns true today, ALL are offered salvation…some respond to it, some reject it. The language is clearly conditional when these words are chosen. Mere belief without response is not sufficient as it was not sufficient in the wilderness…those who stayed in their tents perished. “Just as….”
6. John 3:16 – The world’s most beloved verse…for all the wrong reasons.
A. God DOES love the world enough to send His only begotten Son that…
1) “Whosoever / Whoever” – The opportunity for salvation is universal and open for all.
2) “Should / May” – The response Jesus referred to in vs. 14 and 15 requires responsive action “just as” the Israelites in the desert had to physically respond to God’s free gift of life…
a. They had to move out of their tents far enough to actually look upon the brazen serpent to complete their obedience and be saved from physical death.
b. In like manner, (“And as Moses..”) we must contact the saving blood of Christ in the waters of baptism (water and spirit of vs. 5) where “the Spirit and water and the blood bear witness in the earth” for “life is in the blood.” (Leviticus 17:11) Jesus Christ shed his blood in his death, into which we are baptized, for “without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)
c. Jesus’ language here to Nicodemus is not contractual in a quid quo pro kind of way with God, it is conditional upon a proper physical response…just as in the desert.
7. John 3:17 – “…in order that the world through Him might be saved.”
A. Again, the language of salvation used by Jesus to Nicodemus is conditional.
8. John 3:18 – “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned…”
A. As the Israelites “belief” in the desert required a response, so does the belief Jesus is relaying (the new birth) to Nicodemus, and by extension, you and I.
1) Belief and obedience are synonymous
a. “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” – John 3:36 (ASV)
A) Believeth – pisteuo – “…to entrust, commit…”
B) Obeyeth – apeitheo – “…to disbelieve, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving…”
1. Belief and obedience are synonymous as are faith and works (James 2:14-26)
a) Repentance cannot be achieved and validated without baptism (Acts 2:38)
b) Forgiveness of sins cannot be achieved without both repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38)
c) The Gift of the Holy Spirit cannot be received without both repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38)
9. John 3:19 – Judgment is that Light has come into the world and the people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.
A. Evil deeds = darkness
10. John 3:20 – Evil deeds mean two things:
A. Evil deeds = a hater of the light
B. Evil deeds = will not take one to the light
C. Why?
1) So evil deeds will not be exposed by the light
11. John 3:21 – True deeds mean one thing
A. True deeds take one to the light
B. Why?
1) So that it will be clearly seen that “his works have been carried out in God.”
12. Conclusion of John 3:19-21:
A. Belief…true belief that is both intellectual and responsive…is required of Nicodemus, and by extension, you and I.
B. Evil deeds condemn
C. True deeds save.

The conclusion of the entire passage is that God’s free gift of salvation, just as it was with Moses and the children of Israel in the wilderness, requires a RESPONSE to the message. The message of salvation is an OPPORTUNITY that can be accepted or rejected. The proper RESPONSE to the OPPORTUNITY is OBEDIENCE. OBEDIENCE requires that a person must be “born again of both the water and the spirit.” Jesus came by both “blood and water.” We access the saving blood of Christ in the waters of baptism. OBEDIENCE to both repentance and baptism is a “true deed” that takes us to the light. One cannot be saved without OBEDIENCE to the commands of Christ which includes baptism. Repentance and baptism is a “true deed” that RESPONDS to the OPPORTUNITY of salvation in complete OBEDIENCE. Thank God for the inquiry of Nicodemus!

Russ McCullough
8 April 2009 – Charlotte, NC

For a FREE Bible Study: e-mail: rmcculls6@bellsouth.net