The Three “R’s” - John 3:1-15
The 3 Rs in school. Helps us to remember. Many preachers like to use the same alliterative method in their preaching to help folks remember their sermons. I have found that it does not really work like that. If you want folks to remember something, it has to be short and really memorable, (like “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!”) or you need to repeat it so often that at least the preacher can remember it. Usually, what people remember is how you made them feel, not what you said. The proof is not in specific words, but in what is printed in your heart! What you experience. Selwyn Hughes: l knowing the Psalm (23] is one thing – hearsay – but knowing the Shepherd is quite another – heart-say.
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Let’s look at the three Rs in this passage: Selwyn Hughes: “make no mistake about it – the image of God that you carry in your heart is the one that you will relate to in a moment of crisis.”
Repentance
Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38
David Pawson: “Do you realize if you are ever going to start on the road to the kingdom of heaven you have got to repent of your good deeds as well as your bad deeds, if you’ve been putting your trust in them?”
Rebirth
Titus 3:5 NIV
Revelation
Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. Matt. 16
The picture of the snake Numbers 21:4-9 and Jesus quotes this now.
The discussion with Nicodemus
Troubled by what he sees and knows and is honest enough to seek out answers despite the perceived opposition, he takes a risk to seek out Jesus.
As a teacher in Israel, he knows the laws that govern and how they are interpreted. Do good deeds, do the religious things and then you will be acceptable in God’s sight. But he obviously doesn’t know about the assurance of salvation, and the actions of Jesus, disturb him, even though he can see how those deeds were contrary to what they believed. But it was going to affect his as well as their income, lifestyle, teaching, and their way of life that they had become accustomed to. Was it worth it? Is what Jesus brings worth the price of every one else’s wrath? Isn’t what we do, perhaps with some alterations here or there enough? Why this dramatic confrontation and change? Aren’t we all the children of Abraham? Are we not on the right path? We are doing what we are supposed to do with the offering, sacrifices and the religious zeal for the Words of the law and prophets? We memorize it, we teach our children, we do our best to be kind and good people. Okay we mess up sometimes, but we all do it, but at least we belong to the right family!
Jesus cuts right through all his questions and his dilemmas and comes straight to the point: “You must be born again.”
This means, Jesus is saying you are not in the right family at all. Being a descendent of Abraham does not make you righteous. Keeping the laws to the best of your ability does not make you righteous. Your basic problem is: You have the wrong nature. Your good deeds are like filthy rags to God. He is not pleased with you because you try harder to please him. There is only one thing you can do with your nature, and that is it must die. If you want live, you must be born again.
Nicodemus: What do you mean? What are you talking about? How can you be a teacher in Israel and not know this? Abraham lived by faith in God! Jacob lived by faith in God. Joseph lived by faith in God. Moses lived by faith in God! All of them lived in faith before the law came! They understood their nature was the nature of sin, death, darkness and evil. It is not about religious activities; it is a matter of a transformed heart. A birth where God Almighty is your father.
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, as a matter of fact, if you are not born again of the spirit of God you cannot even see the kingdom. Worshipping God is not about religious activities, it is something we do in Spirit and in truth! The breakthrough comes when God enters you like the wind and directs you in your faith and your life.
Wow. Jesus must have loved him a lot to confront him so directly.
Now the matter of being born of water and the Spirit: Some think it means the passage of water when you are born the first time. Birth of the Spirit comes when you believe in Jesus.
Most say it can be a dual understanding. You see John has just spent time with John the Baptist and following this encounter Jesus and the disciples go baptizing as well.
The focus really is on what happens in Baptism:
The First R is Repentance. Repenting from bad deeds and good deeds as well if they are what you are depending on for God’s pleasure and acceptance. The focus on repentance is critical for a spiritual life. It is the forerunner of moving into God’s Kingdom. Learning to be humble and repent before God. Being able to see when we do wrong to others and apologize to them. Letting the Holy Spirit show us just how frail we are and how vital and eternal the Kingdom of God is. It shows us that it is not about us, it is all about him!
The second R is Rebirth: That is when the Holy Spirit enters our lives to take up residence within us. We become Children of God. Our nature changes from sinner to sons and daughters of the Most High God! Make a confession: I am a child of God because I believe Jesus, I trust Jesus, and I will follow Jesus.
The third R is Revelation: The snakes on a pole did not save the people, it was their obedience in Number 29.
Nicodemus remembered his discussion with Jesus when he came to take him down from the cross with Joseph of Arimathea.
