John 3:8

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Why do you guys think that Nicodemus could not understand the words of Jesus?

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Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus and is answering his questions. Jesus is speaking of heavenly things but even though Nicodemus had studied the law back and forth he could not comprehend Jesus because he was of the flesh.

This points out to us that we are unable to comprehend the ways of God. Jesus came down to show us the way.

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What is the way that Jesus speaks about? How can one be saved?

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John 3:21 says that the only way we can be saved is through God. Jesus is our only way to salvation. Unlike the books of the law, however, Jesus is not sent to condemn us. He is sent to save us through Him.

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Why do you think that John includes the story of John the Baptist right after Nicodemus?

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John 3:33 says that whoever believes set his seal to this. A seal is still used today. Today we use our signatures or our fingerprints to sign a document with our name. This cannot be changed once signed.

In those times it was the same. A seal was a sign of authority that verified the identity of the signer.

Romans 8:26-39 repeats this same idea in chapter 3. Paul reexplains that Jesus died so that we might be saved. But he also points out the power of the Holy Spirit here.

John 3:3-8

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What is Jesus trying to reveal to Nicodemus here?

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We have all been chosen by Christ, but we also need to make the choice to stop loving the darkness. We need to look to Christ and desire the light. That change comes through the Holy Spirit to those who are accepting of the sacrifice of Christ.’

Christ’s love and grace on the cross cannot transform you until you see that love and grace in reflection to the depth of your immorality and offensive sin. Thomas Watson put it this way, “Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.”

This is why you return to your sin, this is why you feel incapable of leading a transformative life according to Christ. You have not yet acknowledged the weight and disgustingness that is your sin.

The cross is God’s response to every evil act or thought of man. A man dying from his sin looks at the cross and only sees folly (1 Cor 1:18) but God in His sovereign knowing already works out every decision you make to do good. So what does that mean?

In His sovereign knowledge and power God already created a bridge to cross the cavern of sin. He has already taken into account every bad thought, deed, action, reaction you will possibly every have. And His answer is Christ.