John 3:1-17

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 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. 3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again [Gr. anew or from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mothers
Friday, August 19, 2011

Nicodemus

womb and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the esh is esh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Friday, August 19, 2011

John 3:1-17
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said to him, Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as
Friday, August 19, 2011

Who Was He?

Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

educated & talented wealthy Sanhedrin member

highest Jewish religious, political, and legal council in Jerusalem

honest seeker/much to lose

shrank from seeking Him openly (DA 168) too humiliating (DA 168)

Friday, August 19, 2011

Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God
Nicodemus security in Gods favor disturbed: 1. good works inadequate 2. mere acknowledgement of
truth insufcient 3. Israelite birth ! Salvation

That Which Is Born of the Flesh is Flesh That Which Is Born of the Spirit is Spirit
by nature the heart is evil (DA
172)

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? (Job 14:4) The carnal mind is enmity against God (Rom 8:7)

!unaware (blind) of

condition !Is Nicodemus condition relevant to conservative Adventists?

Friday, August 19, 2011

true

This implies that the mind-set of the pre-conversion individual is hostile to God, & therefore not in a savable condition

The fountain of the heart must be puried before the streams can become pure (DA 172).

Friday, August 19, 2011

That which is born of the esh is esh; & that which is born of the Spirit is spirit
Scriptures testimony regarding mans nature: 1. Rom 7:18-20
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my esh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. . . Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts . . . All these evil things proceed from within and dele the man

Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

3. James 1:14-15

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then, desire, when it is conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death

What is Jesus saying regarding the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart?
1. it is unexplainable 2. impressions work unconsciously 3. received through meditation, Scripture, sermons, etc. 4. wooing impressions of Spirit leads to culmination & heart surrender 5. transformation of life into image of Christ

2. Mark 7:21-23

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

The Work of the Spirit

The Christian life is not a modication or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit (DA 172).
Friday, August 19, 2011

The Epiphany of Nicodemus

He saw that the most rigid obedience to the mere letter of the law as applied to the outward life could entitle no man to enter the kingdom of heaven. . . in the presence of Christ he felt that his heart was unclean, and his life unholy (DA 174).

Friday, August 19, 2011

Epiphany of Nicodemus
Speaking of legalism in relation to the sacricial services:
Many of the Israelites regarded the sacricial service as having in itself virtue to set them free from sin. God desired to teach them that it had no more value than that serpent of brass. It was to lead their minds to the Savior. Whether for the healing of their wounds or the pardon of their sins, they could do nothing for themselves but show their faith in the Gift of God.
DA 175
Friday, August 19, 2011

"Some who come to God by repentance and confession, and even believe that their sins are forgiven, still fail of claiming, as they should, the promises of God. They do not see that Jesus is an ever-present Savior; and they are not ready to commit the keeping of their souls to Him, relying upon Him to perfect the work of grace begun in their hearts. . . While they THINK they are committing themselves to God, there is a great deal of self-dependence. There are conscientious souls that trust partly to God, and partly to themselves. They do not look to God, to be kept by His power, but depend upon watchfulness against temptation, and the performance of certain duties for acceptance with Him. There are no victories in this kind of faith. Such persons toil to no purpose. . . their souls are in continual bondage, and they nd no rest until their burdens are laid at the feet of Jesus. There is need of constant watchfulness, and of earnest, loving devotion; but these will come naturally when the soul is kept by the power of God through faith. We can do nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, to commend ourselves to divine favor. We must not trust at all to ourselves nor to our good works. . . but when as erring, sinful beings we come to Christ, we may nd rest in His love. . . There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there is an abiding, peaceful trust. Every burden is light; for the yoke which Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight, and sacrice a pleasure.
(1SM 353-354)
Friday, August 19, 2011

What Is Faith?
Like Nicodemus, we must be willing to enter into life in the same way as the chief of sinners. . . but faith is not our Saviour. It earns nothing. It is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ, and appropriate His merits, the remedy for sin. And we cannot even repent without the aid of the Spirit of God.
DA 175

Interesting Quote

Nicodemus related to John the story of that interview, and by his pen it was recorded for the instruction of millions.

DA 177

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011