May 4 , 2008

There were sincere God-seekers in Jesus' day in a religious system called Pharisees .

Nicodemus represents sincere God-seekers in churches which follow the traditions of men effecting the Gospel. Jesus said to religious leaders who attacked him, You nullify the Word of God for the sake of your tradition that you have handed down. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' Mt 15:6-9

Nicodemus wanted more than mere religion; He wanted reality. He became a seeker .

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council called the Sanhedrin .

Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again .

You cannot enter you're your earthly life without physical birth,

and you cannot enter the kingdom of God without a spiritual birth.

The kingdom of God today is personal, not national or ethnic or institutional,

and its entrance requirements include faith and a spiritual birth.

You cannot be in the kingdom of God if you are your own savior .

"Ruach," or the "Spirit-wind" of God, is omnipresent in the world,

so that anyone could be born of the Spirit.

Verse 15 says, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The word translated "believe" is not merely mental knowledge. It is not "wishful thinking." Rather, it means "to accept trustfully; to place one's confidence in; to wholeheartedly accept ." This dynamic of believing is the heart of true saving faith in Christ.

Our love for God will often require us to act for God in spite of our fears .

Have you come to true faith? Are you born again – born of the Spirit?

He is an equal opportunity Savior.

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