Secure in our Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-3

Feeling secure is a state of being that most of us would desire.  We like to know that our safety is secure, along with our health.  We would like a secure job, and to know that our relationships with family and friends is also secure.  However, in this world today very little is secure.  In many places people don’t feel safe in their neighborhoods.  All too frequently jobs aren’t secure.  Our health fails and relationships crumble.  Where can we find the security that we crave?  Our Scripture today gives us a picture of the security we can have if we look in the right place.

This week’s psalm is probably the most favorite one in the Bible, and one of the most familiar passages in all the Bible, as well.  Hundreds of full-length sermons could, and probably have been written on this Scripture, so with limited space and time, I am focusing just on the first 2 ½ verses.

Psalm 23 was written by King David.  For a number of years before he became king, he was fleeing for his life from King Saul.  His life was in danger, and he had to frequently hide out in some very rugged areas.  Later as king, there were some times when he had to flee, such as when his son Absalom attempted a coup.  These times certainly were not the picture of security.  During those years he might have thought back to the days when he watched over his father’s flock of sheep.  When the sheep have a good and caring shepherd, they don’t have to worry about food or safety. When he was a shepherd, he made sure that the sheep were in plentiful fields, and he kept them safe from predatory animals.  Wouldn’t you want someone to watch over and care for you in life?

As we read our selected verses, we see that David looked for a shepherd to care and provide for him throughout his life. Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God, was the Shepherd that David wanted and needed, one who personally guided him.  David knew that he would not be in need of anything because of the shepherding care of the Lord.  Shepherds look after their sheep in every way.

This is a very personal psalm, as the Lord isn’t just “a shepherd”, or even “our shepherd”, but He is “my shepherd” (vs. 1).  This foreshadows the Lord Jesus who calls Himself the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), as He cares for each of His children individually. Jesus tells how a shepherd not only protects the sheep under his care, but will gladly lay down their life for their safety (John 10:12-16).  Just as a shepherd knows his sheep, and the sheep know their shepherd and his voice, so Jesus knows us, His children, and we can know His Voice by studying His Word, the Bible, and through prayer.

When David claimed that with the Lord as his Shepherd, “I shall not want”, that is not a promise of living in luxury, but of having sufficiency for our needs (vs. 1).  When the Shepherd leads, the sheep lack nothing essential for God’s will in their lives.  It does not mean that we get everything that we want, but it means that the Lord can and will provide everything that we need.  Thus, no uncertainty should ever frighten us.

David continued in his psalm by stating that the Good Shepherd will make His sheep to lie down in green pastures (vs. 2).  Sheep only lie down when they are free from fear, and from friction with other sheep.  Also when they are free from pests, and are well-fed.  God gives us rest because He removes what would keep us anxious, hungry, or troubled.  His shepherd’s staff has two purposes.  First it is used as a weapon of protection against predatory animals.  The shepherd goes first, and the sheep safely follow.  Second, the crook in the staff is used to gently guide the wandering sheep back to safety.  Jesus does the same for us.  When we are closely following Him, He keeps us safe from Satan’s attacks, and when we start to go astray, the Holy Spirit will guide us back.

Still waters are places of rest, quietness, and refreshment.  We can find that when we get spiritual nourishment through the Bible, God’s Word.  We won’t find rest in the world’s entertainment, but our Shepherd will give us true soul-rest.

Finally, as this look at the opening verses of Psalm 23 comes to a close, David told us that Yahweh, our Good Shepherd, restores our soul (vs. 3a).  He restores it first and foremost when we come to Him for salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Then He continues to restore it with ongoing spiritual renewal when we are weary, wounded, or prone to wander.  He not only forgives us, but He restores us.

When we are desiring security in our life, we need look no further than to the Lord Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd.  His care is never lacking, providing for us spiritually and physically.  Are you a part of His flock today?  If so, we can lay down in His fields, content from all anxiety or worry.  If not, turn to Jesus and call upon Him as your Savior.  Then you, too, can be one of the sheep in His flock.

The God Who Sees the Heart

I Samuel 16:1-13

When I was a child I used to enjoy watching beauty contests on TV, such as the Miss America contest and the Miss Universe contest.  I loved to see those beautiful young women, especially in their evening gowns.  However, as I grew older, I came to see that not all beautiful people, men or women, are beautiful on the inside, where it counts.  One can be the most beautiful woman in the world, or as handsome as a movie star, but have the nastiest personality around.  They can sometimes be mean and hurtful people, abusive to their family, whereas someone who is homely and not much to look at, can sometimes have the nicest personality, and be the best friend or spouse one could want.  In our Scripture for today we will look at the problem of judging by outward appearances.

Earlier in the book of I Samuel, we read about how the nation of Israel wanted a king so that they could be like other nations.  Saul, who was tall and handsome, was chosen.  However, despite his being extremely good looking, his character was lacking, and he was disobedient to the Lord.  The prophet Samuel, who had spent many years trying to mentor King Saul, and encouraging him to be obedient and follow the Lord, was grieving that God had now rejected him as king (vs. 1).  Instead, God sent Samuel to anoint someone whom He had chosen.  The people had chosen before, someone who looked good on the throne, but was a loser.  This time God would make the decision.

The Lord sent Samuel to the town of Bethlehem where the family of Jesse lived.  It was from his family, one of his numerous sons, that the next king would come from.  The prophet was afraid to go through with this task, as Saul had grown to be a very jealous and suspicious king, and would likely kill Samuel if he knew what he was up to (vs. 2-3).  The Lord told him to answer, if asked, that he was there to offer a sacrifice.  God never asks His servants to act foolishly.  He provides wisdom for obedience.

Samuel’s arrival caused fear (vs. 4-5).  He was God’s prophet, and his presence often meant judgment.  A holy life and faithful ministry can create a weighty reputation.  Samuel’s integrity was known by the people.  When he arrived at Jesse’s house, he told Jesse to gather all of his sons together for the sacrifice.  Jesse gathered all but his youngest son, David, leaving him behind in the fields with the sheep.

When the oldest son, Eliab, was presented Samuel thought that this one was surely the man that God would pick, as he was a very handsome young man.  However, God warned Samuel to not judge on outward appearances.  That was what had been the problem with Saul.  God said that He had refused Eliab, as rather than looking at outward appearances, He looks at a person’s heart (vs. 7).  When we go to judge or critique a  person we must not judge externals, like wealth, popularity, looks, or position.  Eliab did not have a loving or charitable heart, as we see later when David was sent to bring provisions to his brother in the army camp.  Eliab acted nastily to David for no reason (I Samuel 17:28).

God checks our heart and our motives.  Wrong motives will not please Him.  We can fool men, who look at the outward demonstrations.  God knows the truth of what’s in our heart.  Our heart attitude should be to please God, not ourselves, and to give Him pleasure.  He is pleased when our motives and hearts are selfless instead of selfish.  God’s choices are based on His perfect knowledge, not human criteria.  Outward qualifications, such as appearance, charisma, or stature, are not what He values.  God sees the heart, our character, humility, faith, and obedience.  We need to learn to evaluate others by spiritual character, not worldly metrics.

When Samuel got to the end of the line and knew that God hadn’t chosen any of them, he questioned Jesse whether these were all of his sons, as he had asked for (vs 8-11).  Why had Jesse neglected to bring David to the sacrifice and feast?  We don’t really know why his father slighted him.  However the one that Jesse didn’t even consider was the one God had chosen.  The one that the family had forgotten, God declared was His chosen, the one Samuel was to anoint (vs. 12).  God’s calling is sovereign and unmistakable.

Samuel anointed David in the presence of his father and brothers, and the Holy Spirit came upon him from that day forward (vs. 13).  David’s anointing foreshadowed Jesus Christ, the ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah.  When God calls us, He equips us.  His Spirit empowers His servants for their appointed work.

God chooses whom He wills, and it is often contrary to human expectations.  Where we value how pretty or handsome someone is, or their witty comments, their bank account, or university degrees, God values humility, faith, obedience, and integrity.  We should be like that, as well, looking for someone with a heart that pleases God, someone who is faithful to His Word, the Bible.  God often works through unexpected people.

A Divine Appointment

John 4:5-26, 39-42

When she woke up that morning, little did the woman know that events that day would change her life forever.  Most women would go to the well in town first thing in the morning to get water for the day.  She didn’t go then, though, as she was a social outcast.  She would always wait until noon when no one else would be there.  Fortunately that day she did go at noon, and not a little bit earlier or a little bit later, as she would encounter Someone there who would change her life forever.  Our Scripture today tells of this event.

As our Scripture opens, Jesus and His disciples had been in Galilee, and were now headed south to Jerusalem.  Frequently, on such a trip, most Jews would take the longer route crossing west of the Jordan River rather than going through Samaria, as they hated the Samaritans.  However, Jesus took His group right through Samaria, and this day even stopped in a village where He instructed His disciples to get some lunch while He rested at a well (vs. 5-8).  While resting, Jesus met this woman who had come to the well thinking no one would be there, and she could avoid people.  This was no accident, though.  It was a divine appointment for her with the Savior.

This woman was shocked on several levels.  As mentioned earlier, Jews rarely came through Samaria, so she was surprised to see a Jewish man there.  Then He spoke to her when He asked for a drink (vs. 7-9).  In that era men did not typically speak to women alone in public.  And as we shall see, this woman was publicly shunned for her immoral lifestyle.  However, Jesus did not pay attention to these, as He saw a lost soul in need of salvation.

Jesus then shifted the conversation from His physical thirst to her spiritual need (vs. 10-14).  She needed the living water which could only be found in Him.  This is not literal water, nor a mere religious experience.  This is eternal life which Jesus alone can give (John 7:37-39).  The earthly water from the well is temporary, and must be drawn repeatedly.  Earthly water only satisfies the body.  However, the living water for our spiritual need is eternal, it springs up, continually available to all who come to Jesus, and it satisfies the soul.  Only Jesus can satisfy the deepest thirst of the human heart.  Religion, relationships, and rituals cannot.

Next, Jesus addressed the condition of this woman’s heart (vs. 15-18) .  He told her to call her husband, which she replied she didn’t have.  Jesus then revealed her past and present immorality.  He didn’t do this to shame or condemn her, but to bring her to conviction, and to show that salvation requires dealing with sin.  How infrequently do we ever hear from the pulpit about sin or immorality.  However, in order to have salvation we need to recognize our sins, take responsibility, and turn to Jesus as the only remedy.  Grace does not ignore sin.  It heals it.

This woman must have felt worthless, abandoned, and unloved after being divorced by five husbands, and now involved in a sinful relationship.  Jesus knew her pain, heartache, and shame.  She had dipped her bucket repeatedly into the well of human love to get the acceptance that she hoped would make her whole.  But each experience left her thirsty.  Standing before Jesus she was a broken soul and social outcast. He offered her forgiveness and love.

The woman attempted to deflect the conversation off of herself and on to a religious debate as to who was right, the Jews or the Samaritans (vs. 19-24).  Jesus responded that worship is not tied to a location, but true worship is in spirit and truth.  It is in spirit in that it is from the heart, not mere ritual, and is in truth, according to God’s revelation, not human invention.  Worship is not about style, place, or emotion.  It is about a heart aligned with God and grounded in the Bible.  God is not confined to a body in the way human beings are (vs. 24).  He is not bound to time or space.  He cannot be confined by physical boundaries.  God’s love has no restrictions, and His mercy is without end.

Jesus then plainly and clearly revealed to this woman that He is the promised Messiah (vs. 25-26).  He revealed Himself first, not to a Pharisee or a religious ruler, but to a broken, sinful Samaritan woman.  This woman then becomes a most unlikely evangelist, as she returns to the village where she had been shunned and a social outcast.  She told them about Jesus and how He saved her soul (vs. 39-42).  Her simple witness led many to faith in Jesus.

Do you feel like this woman, that if others knew all the secrets hidden in your soul, they would cast you away like they did her?  Do you sometimes feel that this would include even God?  Well, God knows your past, everything about you, just as He did this woman, and He still loves you.  He sees your deepest needs, and will meet them with His love, forgiveness, and grace.  Like this woman, no one is beyond the reach of God’s saving power.  Turn to Jesus today, partake of His living water, and find forgiveness, love, and salvation.

No Longer an Enemy

Romans 5:1-11

Is there someone in your life that you have a difficult time with?  Perhaps both you and that person count each other as enemies.  It’s not easy to make peace with someone who’s your enemy, and sometimes it helps to have someone else help out by being a go-between.  They step in and try to smooth the way.  Sometimes that helps, but sometimes it doesn’t.  In our Scripture today from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, we read about how Jesus brought peace between ourselves and God.  He brought not only peace, but so many more blessings that we do not deserve.

As we look into and study this passage of Scripture, we find that because believers are justified by faith in Jesus alone, they now enjoy peace with God.  They also have access to grace, a hope of glory, joy and peace in trials, assurance of God’s love, deliverance from His wrath, and reconciliation through Christ’s death and resurrection.  Previously, in chapters 3 and 4 of Romans, Paul spoke of the doctrine of justification.  Now he speaks about the results of justification and what it means for the believer's present and future.

As we begin in verse 1, the word “therefore” is there for a reason - to connect what he is now saying with what he taught before, that justification is by faith alone, without works.  Those who put their trust and faith in Jesus are now declared righteous on the basis of His death on the cross.  That act of His sacrifice has brought us peace with God.  The enmity between mankind and God has been removed, and the war is over.

Our justification through Jesus now brings us access with God (vs. 2).  If I had something to tell the President, King, or Prime Minister, I can’t just walk into his office, and it’s not at all likely I would ever be able to make an appointment to, either.  However, if I knew a good friend of theirs, they might be able to get me access to the President or King.  Jesus Christ is that Mediator, and when we have a saving relationship with Him, He gives us access to God.  We now stand in grace, not in condemnation.

Paul continues by describing the chain of spiritual growth that Christians can experience in their lives (vs 3-4).  He tells us that Christians can glory or rejoice in the trials they go through.  We can rejoice, not because trials are pleasant, but because of how God can use them if we allow Him to.  The tribulation we go through can bring perseverance or endurance.  That will strengthen and mold our character, which in turn, helps to grow our hope, all if we allow God to work that in and through us, rather than getting angry and bitter. Trials do not have to weaken our hope, they can strengthen it by proving God’s faithfulness.

A Christian’s hope is not wishful thinking (vs. 5).  It’s not like I hope that it won’t snow anymore this winter.  It is the confident expectation of future good based on God’s promises.  It is anchored in God’s love for us.  Our hope and assurance in God’s promises is not rooted in our performance of good works, but in the Holy Spirit’s witness of His love.

As you look over people that you know, are there any that you would literally die for?  Perhaps your spouse or your children, but it’s not likely that you would actually give up your life for someone.  Certainly not that enemy that we talked about at the beginning of this study!  However, that is exactly what God did (vs. 6-8).  Jesus didn’t die just for the good and morally worthy people, for as we learn in Scripture, there aren’t any.  We are all ungodly, morally corrupt and opposed to God.  And yet Jesus died for us.  Humans would rarely do anything for the unworthy, but God’s love is demonstrated, it is proved and displayed at the cross.  We were and are sinners, yet Jesus died for us!

That is not all of the good news!  Since God justified us when we were sinners, how much more will He save us now that we are His children? (vs. 9).  The wrath that we are saved from is the future judgment that the unsaved will ultimately face at the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).  Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior will not have to face the wrath of God then.  Justification guarantees final salvation.

Jesus’ death on the cross reconciled us to God.  It removed all hostility between God and man, and now His resurrection life guarantees our ongoing salvation (vs. 10-11).  The living Christ keeps us saved just as surely as the dying Christ saved us, and brings us peace, hope, and joy.

If today you are having a hard time finding things to thank the Lord for, and finding it hard to rejoice in Him, just reread today’s Scripture.  We each were once enemies of God, with all that that entails, but for those who have called upon Jesus, we now have peace with Him.  We have been justified and assured of our salvation.  He loved one each of us to die for us, and who can we say would ever do that for someone who hated them?  And then Jesus also has saved us from any and all of God’s wrath!  All of this good news in just a small handful of verses today!

Come, Worship, and Listen

Psalm 95

Many of us have had someone tell us that they have both good news and bad news to tell us.  Sometimes they will ask us which we want to hear first, the good news or the bad news.  Our psalm for today contains both some good news in the form of praise to the Lord, and then some bad news in the form of a warning to us from the Lord.  Let’s take a look at what God’s Word says to us today.

Psalm 95 can be divided into two very distinct parts.  The first part, verses 1-7a are a joyful and reverent call to worship the Lord.  The second part, verses 7b-11 is a solemn warning from the Lord for us to not harden our hearts against Him.

As we begin our look at the psalm, we are called to come and worship the Lord God, singing with joy, thanksgiving, and praise to Him (vs. 1-2), for He is the Rock of our salvation.  Yahweh is not an actual rock, of course, but He is like a rock.  A large rock is secure, and not likely to move, and similarly God is an unshakeable foundation for us.  One can find shelter from a storm behind a large rock, and also safety from attack.  God is our source of strength, refuge, and shelter in times of trouble.  He is constant, dependable, and will never fail.

We are called to actively direct our worship to the Lord, not to ourselves or to our emotions.  Joyful worship should not be irreverent, nor entertainment-driven, but instead be God-centered.  We are called to shout joyfully to the Lord.  This should not be done chaotically, but instead when we come into the Lord’s presence we should prepare our hearts to bring sincere and genuine praise rooted in truth.  Worship should not be casual.  It is holy and should be done with a reverent heart.

As we continue, we see that we should worship the Lord because of who He is (vs. 3-5).   He is great, far greater and above any of the false, so-called pagan gods.  He is the Creator of all, from the depths of the sea to the highest of mountains on dry land.  Yahweh is sovereign.  Everything belongs to Him for He created it all, and He rules over all.  God’s creation should stir our hearts with awe to praise and trust Him.

The next couple of verses call upon us to reverently submit to the Lord (vs. 6-7a).  Worship involves humility, which here is shown by bowing and kneeling before Yahweh.  This is a physical act, but it is more importantly a reverent heart attitude before Him.  True worship is not merely emotional expression.  It is submission to God’s authority.  We should bow our will, not just our knees.

Throughout Scripture God is frequently referred to as our Shepherd, and here in Psalm 95 we see one such reference (vs. 7a).  He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep.  This is covenant language, as He cares, guides, protects, and disciplines us, just as a shepherd does his sheep.  This is imagery that foreshadows the Lord Jesus, who is our Good Shepherd (John 10:11-16).

Now we come to the solemn warning from God to not harden our hearts against Him (vs. 7b-11).  This sudden shift is intentional, as worship without obedience is hypocrisy.  The rebellion, the trial in the wilderness that is referenced here, is the event that took place at Meribah and Massah in Exodus 17:1-7, where the people complained against God because of lack of water, where they had no faith in God or His goodness.  The Israelites tested God there, and refused to believe His promises.  God was grieved with that generation, and because of their unbelief, they were kept from entering into His “rest”, into the Promised Land.

This warning applies to us believers today, as we read in Hebrews 3:7 - 4:11.  Hardening of one’s heart is a progressive spiritual danger.  It doesn’t usually happen overnight, but happens gradually as we lose our spirit of thankfulness, trust, and faith in God.  The Lord takes unbelief seriously, even among His children.

An important word in our Scripture is the word “today”.  We need to respond to God’s Word today, not someday.  Don’t put off turning to the Lord for another day, because that day may never come.  We are never guaranteed tomorrow.  We must also make a concerted effort to guard against complaining, being spiritually apathetic, and delaying our obedience to the Lord.  Don’t harden your heart.  Instead, keep a soft heart, for a soft heart is a worshiping heart.

Is The Lord Among Us Or Not?

Exodus 17:1-7

Oh, how quickly we humans are to forget things!  I am not referring to anyone who might have some type of dementia.  That would be a legitimate excuse to forget some things that occurred just a few weeks earlier.  However, when folks with otherwise no memory problems conveniently forget some fantastic events and blessings in their lives, even becoming ill-tempered and ornery when similar situations arise, that is a problem.  Today’s Old Testament Scripture recounts just such an occurrence.  Let’s see what we can learn from God’s Word.

As our Scripture begins, the people of Israel had arrived at a place called Rephidim.  God had done a lot in their lives in the last few weeks.  First, He parted the waters of the Red Sea for them to cross and escape from Pharaoh’s army (Exodus 14:10-31).  Then a few days later He turned the bitter waters at Marah sweet so they could drink (Exodus 15:22-25).  Then, a few days after that, God miraculously provided manna and quail for the people to eat (Exodus 16:11-15).  God was visibly, miraculously, and consistently providing for the people, yet in our Scripture today, just another few days later in Exodus 17, the people had forgotten and were full of unbelief, and were testing God.

In chapter 17, the Israelites were in the deserts of Rephidim and they were running low on water and were thirsty (vs. 1).  As they traveled towards the Promised Land, God had been leading them by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.  It was no accident that they had arrived there, a place with no water, as it was the Lord who had led them there.  God often leads His people into situations where their faith must be exercised.  A Christian can be in the center of God’s will and still face hardships.  Obedience to the Lord does not always exempt us from facing trials.

When the people found no water there, rather than remembering all of the times God had previously provided for them, instead they were angry with Moses (vs. 2).  They quarreled against him, angrily complaining and striving with him.  They blamed Moses for this situation, demanding water, and not trusting God.  The people even went so far as to accuse Moses of bringing them to this place to kill them! (vs. 3).  They had so conveniently forgotten when God sent the plagues in Egypt, how not one of those fell on them, along with the deliverance at the Red Sea, and the manna they were still receiving.  How often when we face a dilemma in our path do we likewise forget all that the Lord has previously done for us, and start complaining, whining, and become filled with fear and worry?

So what did Moses do when the people started ganging up on him?  He did what the Israelites should have done at the beginning.  He turned to the Lord in prayer (vs. 4).  Moses cried out to Him, as the crowd was beyond angry and he rightly feared for his life.  The Lord then told him to go before the crowd, along with some of the elders, and to bring his rod.  He was to stand before a large rock and to strike that rock with his rod, and water would come forth (vs. 5-6).  God told Moses that He would be standing there with him before that rock.

This is a typology of the Lord Jesus, the Smitten Rock.  The Apostle Paul explicitly identified the rock as Jesus (I Corinthians 10:4).  The rock is Jesus Christ, the rod is the judgment of God.  Moses striking the rock is a picture of God pouring His wrath against sin upon Jesus while on the cross.  The water that came forth from the rock is a picture of the life-giving Holy Spirit and salvation that comes from Christ.  All spiritual life flows from the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Israel’s sin is summarized in one question “Is the Lord among us or not?” (vs. 7).  This was not a request for reassurance.  Instead it was a rebellious accusation.  They denied God’s presence despite overwhelming evidence.  They wanted proof of His presence on their terms, which is the opposite of faith.

Moses believed the Lord’s Word, obeyed Him, and struck the rock, and the water poured forth.  However, Israel would not consistently follow Moses’ example of faith (Hebrews 4:2).  Our life can be like an arid desert.  God, though, can quench our spiritual thirst.  When by faith we believe the promises of God’s Word, we can experience rivers of living water and grace for our daily needs.

Looking back over this Scripture, we can learn several things.  One, ending up at Rephidim was not a mistake.  Sometimes God will lead His people into trials.  Another lesson is that forgetfulness fuels unbelief.  We need to rehearse God’s faithfulness and remember His past mercies.  Complaining is a form of unbelief.  Grumbling is not a small sin.  It is a lack of faith in God’s love and His character. However, God’s grace will exceed our failures.  Israel deserved God’s judgment, but instead, He gave water. His grace triumphed.

There is Only One Way to Heaven

John 3:1-17

Today’s Scripture passage from this week’s Lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer contains one of the most well-known verses, and familiar passages of the Bible.  In this Scripture we read of the necessity of the new birth, the nature of saving faith, and the heart of God in sending His Son for our salvation.

As we begin, we read that a man named Nicodemus came to see Jesus one evening (vs. 1-2).  Nicodemus was a devout Pharisee who meticulously followed the Old Testament Law and religious rituals.  He was also a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish religious and legal court, which held some power under Roman occupation.  Nicodemus had heard Jesus preach and teach on several occasions, seen some of the miracles, and was interested in learning more, but because his peers within the Pharisees and Sanhedrin, he was afraid to do this publicly, so he came to Jesus at night.

Jesus welcomed Nicodemus and the two conversed.  However, Jesus made it clear right from the start that religious knowledge, moral living, and even respect for Himself was not the same as salvation.  People today, as well as back then, often think they are the same.  They believe that if they go to church, have a passing knowledge of the Bible or other religious writings, live a good moral life, and even hold Jesus in the highest regard, that this will get them to heaven.  As Jesus clearly states in our Scripture today, that is not the case!

Jesus doesn’t waste any time discussing nonessentials.  He comes right to the point immediately, and tells Nicodemus that he must be born again.  He needs salvation if he wants to see the Kingdom of God, to go to heaven (vs. 3).  Nicodemus misunderstood Jesus, thinking that He was somehow talking about physical birth, and how that could be at all possible (vs. 4).  Jesus was not talking about physical birth, but spiritual birth, one produced by the Holy Spirit (vs. 5-6).  He clearly stated that this is necessary for every person, regardless of their religious background.  It was necessary then, and it is necessary today.  People are not born again, or saved, because of who or what they are.  It doesn’t matter what religion one’s parents are, or how devoutly they practice any religious rituals.  One must be born again to get to heaven (vs. 7).

Being “born of water and the Spirit” (vs. 5), is not baptismal regeneration.  One is not born again because they have been baptized.  Any number of heinous criminals and dictators were baptized as babies, and they most probably were not saved.  Water refers to the cleansing work of the Word of God, as we read in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Ephesians 5:26.  The Spirit refers to the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.  Being born again, or saved, is a supernatural act of God, not achieved by human effort.  When we are born again, we become children of the living God, and rightful heirs to every good thing that He has to offer.

Despite being a religious leader and teacher, Nicodemus still did not understand, and Jesus gently rebuked him (vs. 9-10).  The Old Testament had already promised a new heart and Spirit in those verses from Ezekiel mentioned above, but Nicodemus had missed the meaning of God’s promise.  Jesus then shifted from the new birth to the basis of salvation - that of His own person and work (vs. 13-15).  The Lord used as a reference the picture of when God sent fiery serpents as judgment on the Israelites, and the cure was to look at the image of a serpent Moses put on a pole (Numbers 21:4-9).  Israel was dying from these serpent bites, and God provided only one remedy - to look at the lifted-up serpent.  Those who looked lived.  This was an example of what Jesus would accomplish when He died on the cross.  The people couldn’t use whatever cure they wanted to make up.  They had to use God’s cure.  It is the same with salvation.  We can’t decide what sounds good by today’s modern standards.  We are only saved by God’s way.  Salvation is by faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone.

Next comes one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, verses 16 and 17.  This is not a vague sentiment, but a purposeful, sacrificial love towards undeserving sinners.  God gave, not merely sent, His only begotten Son to die for sinners.  And no matter who you are, if you believe and put your faith in Jesus, you will receive eternal life.  The Gospel is rooted in God’s love, accomplished through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, and received by faith.

The Bible, and Jesus Himself, say that He is the only way of salvation (I John 5:11-12; John 14:6).  If you want to get to heaven, Jesus is the only One who can take you there.  We can trust God, because He has given us exactly what we need most - salvation.  He did not do this because He owed us anything, or because of any inherent good within us.  God saved us for one reason, and that is because of His all-surpassing love.