John 3 – Part 1: “Reaching the Religious”

14 And as 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.” John 3:14-15

After a long illness, a woman died and arrived at the Gates of Heaven. While she was waiting for Saint Peter to greet her, she peeked through the Gates. She saw a beautiful banquet table. Sitting all around were her parents and all the other people she had loved and who had died before her. They saw her and began calling greetings to her:

“Hello. How are you? We’ve been waiting for you. Good to see you.” When Saint Peter came by, the woman said to him, “This is such a wonderful place. How do I get in?” “You have to spell a word,” Saint Peter told her. “Which word?” the woman asked. “Love.” The woman correctly spelled “l-o-v-e,” and Saint Peter welcomed her into Heaven.

About two years later, Saint Peter came to the woman and asked her to watch the Gates of Heaven for him that day. While the woman was guarding the Gates of Heaven, her husband arrived “I’m surprised to see you,” the woman said. “How have you been?” “Oh, I’ve been doing pretty well since you died,” her husband told her. “I married the beautiful young nurse who took care of you while you were ill. And then I won the lottery. I sold the little house you and I lived in and bought a big mansion. And my wife and I traveled all around the world. We were on vacation, and I went water skiing today. I fell, the ski hit my head, and here I am. How do I get in?” “You have to spell a word,” the woman told him.

“Which word?” her husband asked. “Czechoslovakia…” [1]

We have all heard jokes about people showing up at the Pearly Gates seeking entrance into heaven. While many of these jokes bring a smile to our faces, behind most of them is the false assumption that we must do something to get into heaven. It is shocking to people to hear that they can’t do anything to earn entrance into God’s heaven. God’s grace goes beyond human comprehension. By our nature, we want to earn God’s favor.

Have you ever talked to someone about the Lord and have him tell you how religious he is? Or did you ever witness to someone and have the person inform you that he felt he had to work his way to heaven by being good? How do you respond to that? Or did you ever present the gospel to someone only to have them say, “I believe all of that,” even though you sensed he didn’t really understand?

How are we to reach a religious person who thinks he is already saved when he is not? Jesus teaches us by example in John 3:1-15. In this passage, Jesus speaks with a person who had a difficult time understanding the truth of free grace salvation. His name was Nicodemus, and as we move through our text, we will discover that Nicodemus was a very religious man who had a hard time realizing the difference between religion and relationship. Let’s listen in on his conversation with Jesus.

The first way to approach a religious person about Christ is to CONFRONT HIM WITH THE TRUTH (3:1-12). 3:1: In John 2:23-25 we saw new believers whom Jesus did not entrust Himself to at first because they were not trustworthy. They were not willing to openly confess their relationship with Jesus like some of the believing Pharisees in John 12:42-43. It is reasonable to conclude that the apostle John is now going to tell us how one of those Pharisees comes to faith in Jesus. [2]

“John skillfully repeats the word man in 2:25 and 3:1. Immediately after the words, ‘He knew what was in man’ (2:25), John says, ‘Now there was a man…’ (3:1). The new believers in 2:23 were like the man who came to Jesus under the cloak of darkness (3:2).

“John the Baptist is the paradigm of the open believer (cf. 3:22-36); Nicodemus is the paradigm of the secret believer (3:1-21). Every time John mentions Nicodemus, he writes that he came to Jesus by night (3:2; 7:50; 19:39). Night is a symbol of darkness and of secrecy. There are hints in 7:45-52 and certainly in 19:38-42 that Nicodemus believed in Jesus, though without openly confessing Him.” [3]

He was “a man of the Pharisees,”a very religious man. Many religious people believe in God. Many believe in angels. Many of them believe Christ was raised from the dead. Like many religious people today, the Pharisees believed the Old Testament, angels, and the resurrection. They were conservatives. They had points to ponder in their head, and a passion in their hearts. They possessed a tremendous zeal for the law. The Pharisees gave their lives to studying and obeying the Law and traditions. Like the Pharisees, many religious people in the world today share our presuppositions – there is a God, the Bible is inspired, Jesus is the Son of God. But they don’t have a relationship with the Lord.

Nicodemus was also a “ruler of the Jews.”He was a member of the Sanhedrin, [4] which “served as Israel’s Parliament/Congress and Supreme Court.” [5] The Sanhedrin was “a ruling body among the Jews consisting of scholarly scribes, elders, and the priestly aristocracy. According to the Mishna (Sanhedrin 1:6), there were seventy-one members in the Sanhedrin. It was empowered to preserve the Torah and served as the final court of appeal in matters of debated interpretation. The Sanhedrin was authorized to excommunicate any persons in violation of Jewish law and to conduct trials of false prophets and rebellious elders. This body retained power in religious and limited civil jurisdiction until the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans (A.D. 70).” [6]

“He would have stressed the careful observance of Israel’s laws and the traditions of the elders. Obedience to these was the way of salvation for Pharisees.” [7]

From a Jewish perspective, Nicodemus had it all. He was wealthy, well-respected, and admired among the Jewish people.

3:2a: This is where Nic at Nite comes from. [8] There has been a lot of speculation as to why Nicodemus came at “night.” Rabbis studied at night. He did this to avoid the crowd or so their conversation would not be interrupted. Perhaps he was afraid to be seen with Jesus by his colleagues, especially in light of Christ’s recent cleansing of the temple. [9] In John’s gospel, darkness opposes light. Perhaps the mention of the fact it was night symbolizes the darkness of sin and shame that shrouded Nicodemus’ heart and soul. [10]

Some of us may be like Nicodemus who tried to medicate his brokenness and shame with religion and did not even realize it. We may see God as a perfectionistic deity that we must appease with our religious performance. And yet, no matter how hard we try, we cannot measure up to His standards which causes us to have more shame. And so, we work harder, trying to please Him. And it is difficult for us to experience Christ’s love and forgiveness for us.

But for whatever reason, Nicodemus comes at night in hopes that this miracle worker can answer some of his spiritual questions. He was a seeker.

3:2b: Nicodemus also has a deep respect and interest in Jesus. His designation of Jesus as “Rabbi” shows great admiration for Christ as a teacher. [11] After all, he is a trained religious ruler and Jesus is only a commoner. Nicodemus even recognizes Jesus’ divine origin. “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.” The miraculous “signs” of Jesus were accomplishing in Nicodemus’ life what John wanted them to do in the readers of his gospel (cf. John 20:30-31). They were persuading this religious man to consider Christ’s origin and identity. [12]

“By the way, the gospels present no one, friend or foe of Jesus, ever doubting that He performed miracles. They were so clearly miraculous that everyone acknowledged Jesus as a miracle worker.” [13]                    

“Since Nicodemus could be faulted for approaching Jesus secretly, one might think that Jesus would censure him before he could even say anything. However, instead He listens and then responds with a clear presentation of the message of life.” [14]

Jesus welcomed this seeker and did not criticize him for coming to Him at “night.” Nor will Jesus be harsh with us when we come to Him in our shame. Christ did not find fault with Nicodemus for his association with a corrupt religious establishment. Christ, being a Friend of sinners (cf. Matt. 9:10-11; 11:19; Luke 7:34; 15:1-2; et al.), welcomed the opportunity to visit with a lost religious leader. [15] In doing so, Jesus provides a great example for us to follow when we share the gospel with the religious leaders of our communities.

Remember in John 2:25 John told us that Jesus “knew what was in man.” Well, here is “a man” (3:1) and Jesus “knew” what was on his mind. So, He says to him: 3:3: Jesus supernaturally knows why Nicodemus is there, so He immediately challenges him with the truth. Pharisees believed they could get to heaven by their good works and/or heredity as children of Abraham. But Jesus emphasized the inability (“cannot”) of Nicodemus to “see the kingdom of God.” The Greek words translated “cannot” [16] (literally is not able) [17] are a “a verbal link” between Nicodemus’s comment and Jesus’ answer – “no one can” versus “he cannot.” (3:2-3). This Greek verb dunatai occurs six times in Christ’s conversation with Nicodemus (3:2-9) and is an indication of the theme of the whole passage. [18] “John, by his careful repetition of this word and the negatives and interrogative particle used with it, is focusing on man’s inability to bring about his own salvation/new birth” [19] regardless of his religious dedication and devotion. Jesus makes it very clear that no amount of religion or piety can remove our shame and get us to heaven.

Like Nicodemus, many people in the world today believe the way to heaven is by living a good life or being born in a “Christian home.” Jesus says that the way to heaven is by being “born again.” [20] What Jesus is talking about here is a supernatural event which God must do in a human being’s life. It can also be translated as born “from above.” The meaning of “born again” incudes both these aspects and could be translated “born again from above.” [21] It is a second (“again”) birth that is spiritual in contrast to a physical birth.

Just as we cannot conceive ourselves and we cannot become ready for physical birth, so we cannot bring about our spiritual birth. It must be done on our behalf by another. [22] And this new birth comes only from heaven “above.” To be born again is to be made new by the Spirit of God. Jesus is telling this respected Jewish scholar, that he cannot “see” God’s kingdom unless he is born again.

Christ’s reference to “the kingdom of God” only occurs twice in the gospel of John (3:3, 5)compared to many references to this term in the Synoptic gospels (Matt. 6:33; 12:28; 19:24; 21:31; 21:43; Mark 1:14-15; 4:11, 26, 30; 9:1, 47; 10:14-15, 23-25; 12:34; 14:25; 15:43; Luke 4:43; 6:20; 7:28; 8:1, 10; 9:2, 11, 27, 62; 10:9, 11; 11:20; 12:31; 13:18, 20, 28-29; 13:29; 16:16; 17:20-21; 18:16-17, 24-25, 29; 19:11; 21:31; 22:16, 18; 23:51; et al.). “This can be explained by the emphasis in John on eternal life as the present possession of all who believe in Jesus. In these verses John reveals the future aspect of regeneration, the kingdom of God which Jesus will inaugurate when He returns.” [23]            

The apostle John informs us in the book of Revelation that “the kingdom of God” is the literal reign of King Jesus on the current earth for one thousand years after He defeats His enemies at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period (Rev. 19:11-20:6).  

“All of the Jews were longing for the kingdom of God, for that day when the Messiah would come, vanquish Israel’s enemies, and bless God’s people. Jesus’s first disciples recognized Him as the ‘Messiah’ and the ‘King of Israel’ (1:41, 49), but Jesus wanted Nicodemus to understand that entering into the kingdom required an individual to be spiritually reborn. As the apostle Paul explains it, all people are dead in their trespasses and sins, and only God can give us spiritual life (Eph. 2:1-5). Nicodemus needed a spiritual rebirth; simply being a religious leader wouldn’t cut it.” [24]

But Nicodemus thinks Jesus is talking about physical birth – 3:4: Christ is speaking on a spiritual level and Nicodemus is hearing on a physical level. How can I be born again? Are there any women here who want to give birth to a 200-pound man? Jesus explains further. 3:5: Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Some think Jesus was referring to water baptism as a sacrament that is necessary for salvation with the phrase “born of water.” [25] This cannot refer to water baptism for the following reasons:

1. THE CONTEXT WILL NOT ALLOW IT: Jesus is trying to take Nicodemus from the physical birth he had in mind to the spiritual birth Christ had in mind. The context favors the view that the water to which Jesus referred was the water of physical birth. Christ explains in the next verse what is meant by the phrase “born of water.” 3:6: “That which is born of the flesh” refers to physical birth. For example, before a baby is born what breaks? The pregnant mother’s water breaks, right? The amniotic fluid that the baby floats in during pregnancy is expelled during delivery. So being “born of water” refers to physical birth which is linked [26] to “that which is born of the Spirit” or spiritual birth. Physical birth or ancestry are not sufficient for obtaining eternal life. [27] One must also be “born of the Spirit.”

Some teach that because God loves everyone, all people will go to heaven. But this is contrary to what Jesus is saying. Christ makes it clear that you must have two births to “enter the kingdom of God”: physical birth (“born of water”) and spiritual birth (“born of the Spirit”). Everyone reading this chapter has been “born of water.” All of us have been born physically. But have we been born spiritually? 

2. DROP DOWN TO 3:16 and observe what is the one condition for being “born of the Spirit” or receiving eternal life: Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (3:16). To “have everlasting life” or be to “born again,” one must “believe in Him.” Jesus is not asking us if we have been baptized with water because He does not say, “Whoever is baptized with water should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus is asking us, “Do you believe in Him?” because He said, “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The way to be born again is to believe in Christ alone for His gift of everlasting life.

3. THE BIBLE DOES NOT CONTRADICT ITSELF. The apostle John makes it clear that the only condition for eternal life or a forever relationship with Jesus (John 17:3) is belief in Christ alone. Ninety-nine times John uses the word “believe” in His gospel (cf. John 1:7, 12, 50: 2:11, 22-23; 3:12, 15-16, 18, 36; 4:21, 39, 41-42, 48, 50, 53; 5:24, 38, 44, 46-47; 6:29-30, 35-36, 40, 47, 64, 69; 7:5, 31, 38, 48; 8:24, 30-31, 45-46; 9:18, 35-36, 38; 10:25-26, 37-38, 40, 45; 11:15, 25-27, 40, 42, 45, 48, 12:11, 36-39, 42, 44, 46-47, 13:19; 14:1, 10-12, 29; 16:9, 27, 30-31; 17;8, 20-21, 35; 20:8, 25, 29-31). The clear must always interpret the unclear.

3:7-8: Being “born of the Spirit” (3:7) is like “the wind” (3:8a). We “hear” it, but we cannot see it. We cannot control it; all we can do is see its effects (3:8b). The same is true of everyone who is born of the Spirit” (3:8c). God’s Spirit invisibly does its work inside the human heart when we believe in Jesus. We cannot see it happening. All we see are the results. [28]

Nicodemus is still confused. 3:9: When Nicodemus asks, “How can these things be?” he seems to be asking, “How does this spiritual transformation take place?” Christ confronts this teacher of Israel’s ignorance of the Old Testament Scripture. 3:10: When Jesus asks, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?” He is saying, “Nicodemus, you are one of the main teachers of the nation of Israel. You have given your life to the study of the Scriptures, and yet you are ignorant of this very basic spiritual truth of being born of water and the Spirit? You don’t know what it means to be born from above?” Jesus’ use of the phrase “born of water and the Spirit” should have sparked Nicodemus’ remembrance of a familiar Old Testament passage which spoke of “water” and “the Spirit” involved in giving a “new heart” to someone making it possible for them to enter God’s future kingdom (“dwell in the land”) on earth: [29] 24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.” (Ezek. 36:24-28; cf. I Sam. 10:6, 9; Isa. 44:3; Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 11:19; Joel 2:28-29). The reference to sprinkling “clean water” on them most likely refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit which John the Baptist referred to earlier(John1:33; cf. Tit. 3:5).

3:11: When Jesus says, “We know,” He was deliberately repeating Nicodemus’s first words to Him in verse two to express a mild rebuke of him and his Jewish colleagues. [30] Jesus states that His teaching about new birth can be relied upon because it is based upon the “witness” of both Him and His Father in heaven as evidenced by His use of plural pronouns in this verse (“We speak… We know and testify… We have seen… Our witness”). Christ is claiming to speak the truth about new birth as an Eyewitness with His Father in heaven, but Nicodemus and his people (“you” is plural and may refer specifically to Nicodemus and his religious colleagues) do not “receive” Their “witness.”

“The real struggle for Nicodemus and the people he represented was their refusal to affirm the truth of eyewitness testimony. In the ancient world, there was no stronger evidence than the corroborating testimony of multiple witnesses.” [31]

Jesus goes on to say, “I should not be shocked…” 3:12: Jesus is asking Nicodemus and his people (“you” is plural) how they will “believe” the “heavenly things” (3:12b) He is about to tell them (i.e., Jesus’ descent from heaven, His being lifted up on the Cross, and the response of believing in Him for eternal life for the new birth by the Spirt to occur – 3:13-15), [32] when they do not “believe” the “earthly things” He just spoke about concerning new birth as a condition for entering God’s kingdom on earth (3:3-8)? In other words, it should come as no surprise, Nicodemus, that your sinful mind does not grasp this spiritual truth. Only the one born from above can understand God’s truth.

Christ’s conversation with Nicodemus teaches us that the first thing we need to do when sharing the gospel with the religious person is CONFRONT HIM OR HER WITH THE TRUTH OF THEIR NEED FOR THE NEW BIRTH.

“Arthur Pink pointed out that Jesus skillfully responded to Nicodemus’ statements by using many of the same words. Thus, Jesus met Nicodemus on his own ground, and ‘made his own language the channel of approach to his heart.’ This approach provides a good example for personal evangelists.” [33]

Nicodemus’ StatementsJesus’ Responses
“We know that” (3:2)“We speak what We know” (3:11)
“You are a teacher come from” (3:2)“Are you the teacher?” (3:10)
“Unless God is with him.” (3:2)“Unless one is born again” (3:3)
“How can a man be born” (3:4)“Unless one is born” (3:5)
“Can he enter” (3:4)“He cannot enter” (3:5)
“How can” (3:9)“How will” (3:12)
“These things be” (3:9)“These things” (3:10)

From Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus, we learn the following:

BEING BORN AGAIN IS NOT ABOUT HUMAN EFFORTS. If anyone “deserved” eternal life, Nicodemus had all of the right qualifications. He seems worthy of eternal life. But this conversation reminds us that salvation is not about human effort or merit.

POSITION DOES NOT GET YOU TO HEAVEN. Nicodemus was a man of the Pharisees, one of the seventy-one who comprised the Sanhedrin – the Jewish Supreme Court. He was a part of the religious elite. He had a distinguished religious position. But a certain position does not get you to heaven. Being a pastor, a priest, an imam, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the board at a non-profit organization does not save you. Being born again is not about human efforts. It is not about positions.

POPULARITY DOES NOT GET YOU TO HEAVEN. The name “Nicodemus” [34]  means “a conqueror or victor of the people.” [35] Nicodemus was well liked or popular. Here was a man who won the approval of the people. He was well known and respected in the community. He was popular. He was recognized as a spiritual leader. Mothers pointed to Nicodemus and told their children, “There is a good man. You grow up to be like Nicodemus.” He was extremely popular. But popularity does not save you. Being recognized as a “Christian” person or as a spiritual leader does not save you. Being born again is not about popularity.

PRESTIGE DOES NOT GET YOU TO HEAVEN. Jesus identified Nicodemus as “the teacher of Israel”(3:10).  He was the one to whom people turned for spiritual answers. He was recognized as the spiritual adviser, the religious guru, the one who spent his life studying the Scriptures, but he did not possess eternal life. He knew the Scriptures, but he did not know the Author of the Bible or the Giver of eternal life. Nicodemus was “the” man when it came to religious matters, but he was not saved. He was not born from above because prestige does not save you.

PIETY DOES NOT GET YOU TO HEAVEN. Nicodemus possessed great religious knowledge. As a member of the Pharisees, he knew and lived what was considered right and wrong. Nicodemus’ first words to Jesus were “we know”(3:2), and they expressed a certain level of spiritual knowledge. Yet the reality is that Nicodemus did not “know” of the gift of eternal life nor the Giver of that gift (cf. John 4:10). He was ignorant of spiritual truth. He was religious to the core. The Pharisees went to drastic measures to make sure they obeyed the letter of the law. They fasted and prayed and studied the Scriptures. They lived spiritually disciplined lives, but they were lost. He was religious and lost. Do you know why? Piety does not save.

You can be very God-fearing, devoted to religious doctrine and practices, shun evil and embrace what is good, attend a place of worship often, meditate and pray daily, convert, and teach others your religion, voluntarily serve in your religion, and practice other spiritual disciplines and yet still be lost. You can do all the things that pious people do and be without Christ. Piety does not save. I have heard so many people say, “I live a good life. I try to do what is right. I pray daily. I go to a place of worship often, etc.,” but pious living, good living does not get you to heaven. Why?

The Bible tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Regardless of how good we are, we have stilled sinned. We may have sinned one time or a hundred, but we have still sinned! And sin demands a penalty. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23a). A just God cannot overlook sin any more than a just judge can overlook a violation of the law. When God looks at the good things we think, say, and do, He sees that they are all stained with sin; they are like “filthy rags” (Isa. 64:4). No matter how good you are, you are facing eternal separation from God in a place called hell or the lake of fire (Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 20:15).    

There’s another reason why piety will not get us to heaven. No amount of piety or goodness is as good as God. He is the standard. God is not asking you to be as good as Billy Graham, The Buddha, Confucius, Dalai Lama, Pope Francis, Mahatma Gandhi, or even Mother Teresa. He is asking you to be as good as He is. The Greek verb for “to sin” [36] means “to miss the mark.” [37] God Himself is the mark and even the best of men have missed it. You may never have been in jail or even received a traffic ticket, but at best, you are only the highest of all who have missed God’s standard. Even the preacher and the pope do not measure up to Him.

A young boy once came home from school with a most pathetic report card. It appeared the only thing he majored in were football and girls! His father looked at him and asked for a simple explanation of his low marks. The boy’s hopeful response was, “Well, at least I was the highest of all who failed.” That is where you and I stand before God. He is the standard. No matter how good and pious we are, compared to Him, we are at best only the highest of all who have failed. Frustrated? I would think so. In terms of any goodness you have that could get you to heaven, you stand before God naked and hopeless! No amount of good works or human effort will remove our shame and get us to heaven.

So being born again is not about human efforts. It is not about position, popularity, prestige, or piety. Then what is it about? This leads to the second principle. After we have confronted the religious person with the truth, we then CONFRONT HIM WITH GRACE (3:13-15).

3:13: Jesus could speak authoritatively about “heavenly things” (3:12) because heaven is His home. “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” [38] No human teacher had ever “ascended into heaven” and returned to teach about heavenly things before Christ. Jesus was referring to being personally present in heaven since, obviously, many prophets had received visions of heaven (e.g., Isa. 6; cf. 2 Cor. 12:2-4; Rev. 1:10-20). [39] However, the “Son of Man . . . descended from heaven” so He could teach about heavenly things. The apostle John is contrasting no human prior to Christ who could have ascended bodily into heaven with the God-Man Who really did descend from heaven.    

Christ claims to be the Messianic “Son of Man” (Dan. 7:13-14) Who had not only come down “from heaven” to reveal God to humankind on the earth (3:13a; 1:18, 51) but at the same time lives “in heaven” (3:13b). How can Jesus descend from heaven to earth and at the same time “is in heaven”? This is possible because as God, Jesus is omnipresent. [40] Throughout his gospel, the apostle John insists on Jesus’ heavenly origin (cf. 3:2, 31-35; 6:32-33, 38, 46, 50-51, 58; 8:42; 9:33; 13:3; 16:27, 30; 18:36-37; et al.). This is one way in which he brings out his point that Jesus is the Christ (John 20:31). Here His heavenly origin marks Jesus off from the rest of humanity as the Messiah-God. [41]

The main point of John 3:13 is substantiating the heavenly origin of Jesus Christ, not the eternal destination of believers. Other Scriptures deal with the eternal destination of believers (John 14:2-3; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-23; Rev. 4:1-4; 20:4-6; 21-22).  Believers did not ascend to heaven until Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection (Ephes. 4:8-10; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-23; Rev. 4:1-4; 19:7-9, 14).

Prior to Christ’s death on the cross, Old Testament believers could not go to the third heaven where God lives (2 Cor. 12:1-4; cf.  John 14:1-3; Acts 7:55-59; Ephes. 4:8-10; Rev. 4:1-5; et al.) because Jesus’ blood had not removed all their sins yet. The Old Testament sacrifices had only covered their sins, not removed their sins (cf. Heb. 10:1-4; cf. 9:11-15). Only the blood of the Lamb of God could take away their sins forever (John 1:29; Ephes. 1:7; 2:13-18; Col. 2:13-14; Heb. 9:11-15; 10:10-22). After Christ’s death and resurrection, when a believer in Jesus dies, his spirit and soul go to the third heaven to be with Jesus while his physical body sleeps in the grave (cf. John 11:11-13; I Thess. 4:14, 16). Following Jesus’ death and resurrection, all believers who died prior to Christ’s crucifixion were released from Abraham’s Bosom and taken up to the third heaven where Christ currently lives (2 Cor. 12:1-4; cf. John 14:1-3; Acts 7:55-59; Ephes. 4:8-10).       

Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus in 3:13 that no one had ascended to God and returned to earth to teach heavenly things before Him. Instead, God had come down to humanity on the earth in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus knows best how to get to heaven because He lived there. No one knows better how to get to your home than you. To find out how to get to heaven ask the One who lives there, Jesus Christ. What does He say?

3:14: When Jesus says, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,” He is referring to Numbers 21 when the people of Israel were on the way to the Promised Land after God brought them out of Egypt. They were complaining against God and were dissatisfied with the manna He sent them. To discipline them, God sent poisonous snakes among the people, resulting in many physical deaths (Num. 21:4-6). Moses then asked God to remove the snakes. God told Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten when he looks at it, shall live” (Num. 21:8).

In a similar fashion, all of mankind has been struck down by sin. Sin has sunk its fangs in our spiritual souls, and the venom has made its way to our hearts and we are dying in our sins. But God saw our hopelessness and “lifted up” His Son (“the Son of Man”) on the cross to die for all our sins. To be born again and receive eternal life, Nicodemus needed simply to “look and live”as did the Israelites in Numbers 21:8. Christ Jesus explained their “look” as simply believing in Him.

3:15: To Nicodemus, the admonition to look and live would have been both personal and effective. Having fasted, prayed, faithfully attended the synagogue, observed the feasts, and honored the Sabbaths, he was tempted to look at what he had done to give him a right standing with God. Instead, now he discovered he must look to Christ alone for eternal life. Jesus told this prominent religious leader, Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (3:15b).

Being born again is all about a personal relationship (John 17:3) between a holy God and a sinful people. How can this be? How is it possible for a holy God to have a relationship with a sinful people? Because GOD “came down” to earth (3:13). And why did He come down? That He might be “lifted up” on the cross to die for all our sins (3:14), “that whoever” looks up or “believes in Him, should not perish but have eternal life” (3:15). Faith alone in Christ alone gets a religious person (or any person) to heaven.

Have you been born again? Is there anything keeping you from believing or trusting in Christ alone to get you to heaven? Four hindrances almost prevented Nicodemus from coming to Christ. These are four obstacles that can prevent any religious person from coming to Christ:

1. PRIDE. A religious man was told he must be born again. Religious people don’t like to be told this because they want to look to what they have done, not what someone else has done to get them to heaven. When I tell a religious man all he must do to get to heaven is believe in Jesus, he says, “But I’ve lived a good life.”    

2. TRADITION. We often hear a religious person say, “What will my family and friends think” if I go against what we have been taught and trust Christ for eternal life?”  Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, a teacher, a religious leader. He couldn’t trust in this miracle-worker. His colleagues would reject him.

3. IGNORANCE. “No one ever told me this before.” Many religious people have not been told that all they must do is look to Christ alone in faith to get them to heaven.

4. MISUNDERSTANDING. Many religious people have said, “Don’t you think I’ll get to heaven if I believe in Christ plus my good life?” The only condition for eternal life is belief or trust in Christ (period), not plus something else.

I think we underestimate Satan’s strategy. Satan is a deceiver. You won’t recognize him by his dress or conduct. He might even wear the suit of a preacher. He will probably encourage you to be as much like God as possible without being related to God. Satan is on the side of religion; he’s not opposed to it, as long as religion leaves out a Christ-alone salvation. That way, he can deceive people into an eternal hell.

Nicodemus reminds us that THE BEST OF PEOPLE ARE NOT SO GOOD THEY CAN EARN THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN. God takes us to heaven based on His Son’s performance, not ours. He offers eternal life only based on His grace – favor we do not deserve. Grace with anything added to it ceases to be grace (Rom. 11:6). If we trust in anything in addition to Christ for salvation, then we have fallen victim to Satan’s deception. Christ and Christ alone saves us from the penalty of sin forever (Acts 16:31).

When presenting the gospel to the religious, confront them with the truth of their need for a Savior – they are sinners who deserve eternal separation from God. Then share God’s grace with them – that Christ died in their place and rose again so they can have eternal life simply by believing in Christ for it.

Do you have religion without Christ? Why not turn from religion to a relationship with Jesus? Jesus invites you to believe in Him for eternal life. The word “believe” (pisteuō) means to be “persuaded something is true and therefore worthy of one’s trust.” [42]

Several years ago, a friend of mine visited the Houston Astrodome. Suspended three hundred feet above the playing field was a twenty-seven-thousand-pound gondola. That gondola was held in place by five cables which were each 5/8 of an inch thick. When a newscaster sat in that gondola, he was trusting the cables to hold him. Everything he has done and everything he is means nothing. He must depend on them to hold him.

Christ paid for our sins by dying on the cross. God now comes to you and asks you to believe or depend on Christ alone to get you to heaven. It doesn’t matter if you are a child who is nine or an adult who is ninety. It matters not if you are a morally good person or if you have spent more time inside a jail than outside, you must believe or trust in Christ alone to save you. Perhaps you can identify with Nicodemus – you have always believed the way to heaven was by living a good life or by believing in Christ plus something else. But now you understand you were mistaken, and you want to trust Christ alone to give you eternal life and a future home in His heaven. Christ’s promise is  “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (3:15). Do you believe Him?

The moment you do, you have eternal life (John 3:15) and a future home in Jesus’ heaven (John 14:2-3; Rev. 21-22). Your sin and shame are forever removed (John 3:15; Rom. 10:11; Heb. 10:1-18; cf. Isa. 54:4)! If today is the day you believed in Jesus for eternal life, then today is your spiritual birthday! According to God’s Word, you were born into His forever family (John 1:12)! You now have two birthdays!

Some Christians have been told that they are not truly saved if they do not remember the exact date of their spiritual birthday when they believed in Jesus for His gift of eternal life. They wonder, “Could that mean I’m not saved?” Perhaps a church leader or worker told them, “If you don’t know the date you were saved, you are not saved.” Let me ask you, did Jesus say, “whoever believes in Him and knows the date they were saved should not perish but have everlasting life?” No. The real question is, “Whom am I trusting right now to give me eternal life?” Our salvation is established by Whom we place our trust in for eternal life, not when we trusted Him.

Whenever you have doubts about your salvation, look to the unchanging promises of the Lord Jesus. Christ guarantees, “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (3:15). The moment you believe this promise, you can be just as certain of living in His presence in heaven as those who are already there.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for confronting me with the truth of my need to be born of Your Spirit to enter Your heaven. I now realize that I have sinned against You in so many ways. I did not want to admit it before because I thought I was good enough to get to heaven on my own. My human efforts, my position, my popularity, my prestige, and my piety, do not change the fact that I am a sinner who needs a Savior. Lord Jesus, I believe You died for me and rose from the dead. I am now trusting You alone, Jesus (not my human efforts, position, popularity, prestige or piety), to give me everlasting life and a future home in heaven. Thank You, Jesus, for the everlasting life I now have and the future home I will have in heaven. I want to thank You by living for You now. Please use me to share this good news with those who have religion but are perishing without You. In Your mighty name I pray, Lord Jesus. Amen.”

FOOTNOTES:

[1] http://theromantic.com/humor/heaven.htm.

[2] Wilkin, The Grace New Testament Commentary, Kindle Edition, pg. 185.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pg. 89.

[5] Swindoll, Insights on John, pg. 67.

[6] Laney, Moody Gospel John Commentary, pg. 76.

[7] Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pg. 89.

[8] Robert N. Wilkin, Confident in Christ: Living by Faith Really Works (Irving: Grace Evangelical Society, 1999), pg. 17.

[9] Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary, pg. 2206.

[10] Laney, Moody Gospel John Commentary, pg. 76.

[11] Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pg. 89.

[12] Laney, Moody Gospel John Commentary, pg. 76.

[13] Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pg. 91.

[14] Wilkin, The Grace New Testament Commentary, Kindle Edition, pg. 185.

[15] Laney, Moody Gospel John Commentary, pg. 76.

[16] oudeis … dunatai

[17] Wilkin, The Grace New Testament Commentary, Kindle Edition, pg. 185.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Ibid.

[20] gennēthē anōthen

[21] Laney, Moody Gospel John Commentary, pg. 77.

[22] Swindoll, Insights on John, pg. 68.

[23] Wilkin, The Grace New Testament Commentary, Kindle Edition, pg. 185.

[24] Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary, pg. 2207.

[25] Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pg. 95 cites R. E. Brown, The Gospel According to John: Introduction, Translation and Notes, Anchor Bible series. 2 vols. (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1966-71)2:139-141.

[26] The construction of the phrase being “born of water and the Spirit” (gennēthē ex hydatos kai Pneumatos) in the Greek text indicates that the preposition “of” (ex) governs both water and Spirit. This means that Jesus was clarifying regeneration by using two terms that both describe the new birth. He was not saying that two separate things have to be present for regeneration to take place. It has but one Source (Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pg. 94).

[27] Ibid.

[28] Ibid.

[29] Swindoll, Insights on John, pg. 70.

[30] Wilkin, The Grace New Testament Commentary, Kindle Edition, pg. 186.

[31] Swindoll, Insights on John, pg. 71.

[32] Wilkin, The Grace New Testament Commentary, Kindle Edition, pg. 186.

[33] Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pg. 101 cites Arthur W. Pink,  Exposition of the Gospel of John (Swengel, PA.: I. C. Herendeen, 1945; 3 Vols. in 1 reprint ed., Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1973), Vol 1, pg. 123.

[34] Nikodēmos

[35] Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pg. 89.

[36] hamartanō

[37] Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, pg. 49.

[38] The last phrase “Who is in heaven” (ho ōn en tō ouranou) is omitted by older Greek manuscripts but is included here because the vast majority of existing Greek manuscripts contain this phrase.  

[39] Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pp. 101-102.

[40] Wilkin, The Grace New Testament Commentary, Kindle Edition, pg. 186.

[41] Constable., Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pg. 102 cites Morris, The Gospel According to John pg. 197.

[42] Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, pp. 818-819.

Revelation 19 – Part 6

“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.” Revelation 19:19

After the beast or Man of Sin rules over the earth the last three and a half years of the Tribulation period (Revelation 13:5), the King of kings and Lord of lords will bring his reign to an abrupt end when He returns to earth 1 (19:17-21; cf. Daniel 11:45b; 2 Thessalonians 2:8) with His heavenly armies consisting of faithful church age believers (Revelation 19:7-8; cf. 2:10, 17, 25-27; 3:5, 10-11; 17:14) and God’s angels (cf. Matthew 16:27; 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

Following the description of Jesus Christ and those who will follow Him back to earth at His Second Coming (19:11-16), the apostle John writes, 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, ‘Come and gather together for the great supper of God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, both small and great.” (Revelation 19:17-18). With the beast and the armies of the world gathered at Armageddon (19:19; cf. 16:14-16) and with Jesus Christ and His armies assembled in the sky (19:11-16), John sees “an angel standing in the sun” to command the attention of the world. But instead of calling out to people on the earth, this angel “cried with a loud voice… to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven” or the sky between Christ and His armies, and the beast and his armies.

The angel invites these scavenger birds to “the great supper of God” in anticipation of the vast slaughter of Jesus’ enemies at the battle of Armageddon (19:19-21; 14:18-20; 16:13-16). Jesus predicted this when He said, 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” (Matthew 24:27-28). The Greek word translated “eagles” (aetoi) means “vultures” in this context. 2

“The great supper of God” is not the same as “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (19:7-9). The marriage supper of the Lamb will be a time of great rejoicing and celebration for Jesus and His bride, the church (19:7-9; cf. 3:14, 20; 21:2, 9; 22:17; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-32) and will take place following “the great supper of God.” This marriage celebration will last one thousand years on the earth during the Millennial Kingdom following the battle of Armageddon (20:1-6; cf. Isaiah 25:6-9; 35:1-10; 55:12). 3

“The great supper of God,” however, will be a time of great sorrow and judgment. At this supper, instead of eating the food, people will be the food. Five times John uses the word “flesh” (sarkas) when describing this supper (19:18) to emphasize the immense slaughter of humanity when Jesus Christ defeats His enemies at the Battle of Armageddon. Those of “all” classes and statuses – “kings… captains… free and slave… small and great” – will die instantly along with their “horses” from the sharp sword proceeding from King Jesus’ mouth (19:18; cf. 19:15).

Swindoll writes that “one commentator notes that the angel’s pronouncement ‘is gruesome and powerful, guaranteeing before the battle has been joined that the end result is certain. The angel commands all the birds… [using] ironically the same verb in 16:15, 16 for the false trinity “gathering together” the nations for the final battle. At the same time as the evil forces gather for Armageddon, the carrion birds are called to gather for the aftermath of the inevitable slaughter.’” 4

Most interpreters take the term “horses” figuratively instead of literally. But I prefer to take these “horses” literally. It is quite possible that modern modes of transportation and modern weapons technology had been destroyed by the many divine judgments and/or nuclear wars throughout the Tribulation so that at the end of the Tribulation the primary mode of transportation was on horseback and weapons included chariots, swords, spears, bows and arrows. This preserves a literal understanding of Bible prophecies which predicted such things for end time battles (Revelation 19:18; cf. 9:7-19; 18:13; Ezekiel 38:1-39:29; Zechariah 12:1-14; et al.).

Faithful believers in Jesus who have not died or been martyred during the Tribulation (cf. 12:13-17; Matthew 24:13) will enter the Millennial Kingdom with mortal bodies and repopulate the earth (cf. Genesis 9:1; Isaiah 65:17-23). 5

Some Bible interpreters believe all nonbelievers will die when King Jesus returns to earth. But Vancendak disagrees: “But in light of the information given by the Lord regarding the Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25:31-46, it is obvious that there are some unbelievers (who have apparently survived by hiding in elaborate and costly underground bunkers or even caves) that will be brought before Christ for judgment (cf. Matthew 25:32) after He takes His throne. They will be sent, not to Hades, but to the lake of fire: ‘Depart from Me… into the everlasting fire” (Matthew 25:41). Of course, they will appear at the Great White Throne. The text simply means that they will have the same fate for the next one thousand years as the Beast and the False Prophet (cf. 19:20). The ‘holding tank’ of this corrupt bunch will be the lake of fire. Though one cannot be dogmatic on this, it seems likely that infants and children still alive after Armageddon who have not reached the age of accountability will enter Christ’s kingdom and eventually repopulate the earth. Some will grow up and believe in Christ and others will not. This accounts for the huge army Satan gathers at the end of the thousand years to war against Christ (see 20:7-9).” 6

As the birds of prey gathered, John saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.” (Revelation 19:19). King Jesus will not return to earth to bring unpredictable judgment against unsuspecting innocent parties. The “beast” or Man of Sin and his allies have deliberately waged “war against” King Jesus “and against His army” (cf. Psalm 2:1-3), and Christ will strike down these wicked foes. 7

Next John records the results of this final battle: “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” (Revelation 19:20). We are not told how or by whom “the beast” and “the false prophet” were “captured.” John simply focuses on the accomplishment of this feat. Their time in power is over because Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1; I John 5:20), not the beast who claimed to be God (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:4). 8

The false prophet had “deceived” people on earth to receive “the mark of the beast” and worship “his image” during the last half of the Tribulation period (19:20; cf. 13:11-18).No doubt he appeared to the world to be a very spiritual spokesman with amazing supernatural powers (“worked signs by which he deceived”). Those who were deceived by him will not only face God’s temporal judgment when King Jesus kills them in battle, but they will also face God’s eternal judgment in the lake of fire (cf. 14:9-11). 9

So heinous and wicked was their blasphemy against God that the “beast” and “false prophet” will be the first human beings to be “cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” This verse is clear that there is no annihilation in store for those who reject Jesus Christ. Some have wrongly taught that because God is love, nonbelievers are punished in hell for a time before simply ceasing to exist. It is clear from 19:20 and other verses 10 (cf. Matthew 25:41, 46; Mark 9:43-48; Jude 1:7; Revelation 14:10-11; 20:10, 15; 21:7-8) however, that their punishment is without end.  

Those who have rejected Christ and died throughout history up to this point are in torments in hades (Luke 16:23). The lake of fire is a different place prepared for the devil and his fallen angels (Matthew 25:41). 11 After the thousand-year reign of King Jesus, the beast and false prophet will be permanently joined by the devil and all nonbelievers in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).

John tells us, “And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” (Revelation 19:21). Following the beast’s and false prophet’s capture and placement in the lake of fire, “the rest” of the beast’s allies who remained on the battlefield “were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.”

“Then suddenly it will be all over. In fact, there will be no war at all, in the sense that we think of war. There will be just a word spoken from Him who sits astride the great white horse. Once He spoke a word to a fig tree, and it withered away. Once He spoke a word to howling winds and heaving waves, and the storm clouds vanished, and the waves fell still. Once He spoke to a legion of demons bursting at the seams of a poor man’s soul, and instantly they fled. Now He speaks a word, and the war is over. The blasphemous, loud-mouthed Beast is stricken where he stands. The false prophet, the miracle-working windbag from the pit is punctured and still… Another word, and the panic-stricken armies reel and stagger and fall down dead. Field marshals and generals, admirals and air commanders, soldiers and sailors, rank and file, one and all – they fall. And the vultures descend and cover the scene.” 12

So many people will be killed “that all the birds” will have plenty to eat. Imagine how foolish the beast and his global armies will look as they point their weapons at the all-powerful Creator God, Jesus Christ, Who spoke the entire universe into existence (Genesis 1; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2)!!! Although foolish, it is like humanity to overestimate “their abilities, forever proud of their technology, yet never coming to terms with their own weakness before the all-powerful, all-knowing Lord of the universe.“ 13

May none of us make the same mistake as these people. Revelation 19 teaches us that there are two suppers in the future: the marriage supper of the Lamb which will involve great joy and celebration or the great supper of God which will involve great destruction and judgment. If you want to make a reservation for the marriage supper of the Lamb, you must meet two conditions:

1: You must have childlike faith in Christ alone to enter His coming kingdom. Why? Because all of us need a Savior because all of us have sinned against God (Romans 3:9-23) and deserve to be separated from Him forever in a terrible place of suffering and torment called the lake of fire or hell (Romans 6:23; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:15). But God loves us so much He gave His only perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place for all our sins and rise from the dead (I Corinthians 15:3-6; John 19:30). Jesus Christ is alive today and He invites us to have childlike faith in Him alone to enter His coming Kingdom. Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Mark 10:15).

If you are ready to trust Jesus alone for entrance into His future kingdom on earth, you can tell Him through prayer. But remember, praying a prayer does not get you into Jesus’ kingdom. Only believing or trusting in Jesus alone for everlasting life will gain you entrance into His kingdom on earth (John 3:5-6, 14-16). This prayer is a way of telling Jesus you are now trusting in Him alone.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself from my sins. I believe You died in my place for all my sins on the cross and rose from the dead at Your first coming. And I believe You are coming back to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords in the future. I am now trusting You, Jesus, alone (not my good life, my religion, or my prayers) to give me everlasting life now and a future home in Your coming kingdom. Thank You Jesus for the everlasting life I now have and the home I will have in Your future kingdom on earth. In Your mighty name I pray, Lord Jesus. Amen.

When you believed in Jesus, He gave you everlasting life which can never be lost or taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Jesus guarantees you will enter His kingdom on earth when He returns with His church (Mark 1:15; 10:15; John 3:5-6, 16). He wants to use you now to tell others this good news of His coming kingdom so they also may trust in Him alone to be saved and enter His future kingdom on earth.

The second condition for participating in the marriage supper of the Lamb is 2. we must live faithfully for Jesus after believing in Him for eternal life.While all believers are called or invited to prepare for the wedding supper with Jesus to share in rewards and the glory of Christ’s kingdom, only those believers who prepared by being obedient to Jesus until the end of life on earth will be able to participate (Revelation 2:25-27; 3:5; 19:7-9; cf. Matthew 8:11-12; 22:1-14). All believers will enter and live with Christ in His eternal kingdom through faith in Him alone (Matthew 18:3; John 3:5; 16), but only faithful believers will be able to enjoy ruling with Him there (Luke 19:11-27; Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:25-27; 3:21).

If you found this to be helpful, please share this with those you want to see attend the marriage supper of the Lamb in Jesus’ future kingdom on earth. Thank you and may the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless you!

ENDNOTES:

1. Bob Vacendak; Robert Wilkin; J. Bond; Gary Derickson; Brad Doskocil; Zane Hodges; Dwight Hunt; Shawn Leach; The Grace New Testament Commentary: Revised Edition (Grace Evangelical Society, Kindle Edition, 2019), pg. 1576.

2. Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature: Third Edition (BDAG) revised and edited by Frederick William Danker (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000 Kindle Edition), pg. 22.

3. Vacendak, pg. 1572; Tom Constable, Notes on Revelation, 2017 Edition, pg. 207 cites J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. 5 (Pasadena, CA: Thru The Bible Radio; and Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1983), pg. 1048; Tony Evans, CSB Bibles by Holman, The Tony Evans Study Commentary (B & H Publishing Group, Kindle Edition 2019), pg. 2414.

4. Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on Revelation (Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary Book 15, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2014 Kindle Edition), pg. 346 cites Grant R. Osborne, Revelation, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, ed. Moises Silva (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002), pg. 687.

5. Constable, pg. 213.

6. Vacendak, pp. 1576-1577.

7. Evans, pg. 2416.

8. Vacendak, pg. 1577.

9. Ibid., pp. 1577-1578.

10. Evans, pg. 2416.

11. John F. Walvoord, The Bible Knowledge Commentary Epistles and Prophecy, Editors John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck (David C. Cook, 2018 Kindle Edition), location 6303.

12. Swindoll, pp. 346-347 cites John Phillips, Exploring Revelation, rev. ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1987), pg. 236.

13. Swindoll, pg. 347.

How Can I Overcome Loneliness? (Video) Real Solutions to Real Problems – Part 4

This is the fourth video in a series entitled, “Real Solutions to Real Problems.” In this presentation you will learn from the Bible several transforming principles for overcoming loneliness.

All Scriptures are from the New King James Version Bible unless otherwise noted. Digital images are used with permission from FreeBibleimages.org, Goodsalt.com, Good News Productions International and College Press Publishing, John Paul Stanley / YoPlace.com, Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org or they are creative common licenses.

How can I overcome loneliness? Part 2

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.” 2 Timothy 4:17a

We are looking at different causes and cures for loneliness in 2 Timothy 4 where the apostle Paul is writing to a young pastor named Timothy. Paul was near the end of his life, and he was having to deal with loneliness. The first cause of loneliness we learned was the transitions of life (2 Timothy 4:6-8). The cure for this was to utilize our time wisely (2 Timothy 4:13).

The second cause for loneliness is SEPARATION FROM LOVED ONES (2 Timothy 4:9-12, 21). When we are separated from our friends or from our family (because of career, COVID, military deployment, health, or any reason) – that can cause loneliness.

Paul says to Timothy, Be diligent to come to me quickly.” (2 Timothy 4:9). Then Paul mentions his best friends, but none of them are with him except Luke: 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica — Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.” (2 Timothy 4:10-12). Paul is in a foreign country in a prison, and he is saying, “I miss these people.” These were his best friends, his previous traveling companions. Paul was a “people person,” andhe loved to be among people. But now at the end of his life he experiences the loneliness of separation because his friends are in other countries.

Today you can contact people in other parts of the world using various electronic devices, but Paul did not have access to those devices. It took a long time to reach someone. Three times in this chapter Paul asks Timothy to come to him (2 Timothy 4:9, 13, 21). Why is he saying this? Because he may not be around much longer, and he really wants to see his dear friends.

Whom do you need to call or visit? Whom do you need to write a letter of appreciation to? You need to do it now while there is still time. Help relieve someone’s loneliness of separation by reaching out to them.

The second way to deal with loneliness is to RECOGNIZE GOD’S PRESENCE (2 Timothy 4:17a). Even though most of Paul’s friends were far away from him, the Lord was not. Although his companions abandoned him when he gave his first defense before the imperial court (2 Timothy 4:16b), 1 the Lord did not. Paul writes, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.” (2 Timothy 4:17a). While Paul stood before his accusers and prosecutors, “the Lord stood with” him. God gave Paul the strength he needed to fight the good fight and finish the race and keep the faith even though others had forsaken him. God’s presence gave him all the support he needed.

While it does help to have others supporting us, it is also true that people cannot always be there for us twenty-four hours a day. Where is God when we are lonely? He is right next to us to give us all the support we need. God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). There is no place where God is not. He is everywhere at every time, and we can constantly talk to Him. Prayer is a great tool to use during lonely times. Occasionally, when we are feeling lonely, our instinct is to turn inward and revel in self-pity. Like the apostle Paul, we can learn that loneliness is a signal that it is time for us to get better acquainted with our precious Savior Who replaces our loneliness with His loving presence.

Prayer: Precious Lord Jesus, all of us go through times of loneliness and self-pity. During the coronavirus pandemic, we have experienced prolonged periods of separation from loved ones. Like the apostle Paul, some of us have also been abandoned by friends when we needed their support the most. As best we know how, we want to thank You, Lord, for these times when we feel lonely because they can remind us to get better acquainted with You. By Your grace, help us learn to talk to You when we feel all alone or abandoned. Because You are our Refuge, we can safely share our most intimate thoughts and feelings with You, knowing You still love and accept us. You understand what it feels like to be alone or abandoned. Your presence can give all the support we need when we find ourselves struggling with loneliness. When we are weak, Your presence makes us strong. In Your ever-present name we pray, Lord Jesus. Amen.

ENDNOTES:

1. Robert W. Wilkin; J. B. Bond; Gary Derickson; Brad Doskocil; Zane Hodges; Dwight Hunt; Shawn Leach. The Grace New Testament Commentary: Revised Edition (Grace Evangelical Society, Kindle Edition, 2019), pg. 1216.

How can we face challenges with courage? Part 4

“Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” John 16:32

During the global pandemic, many people are feeling alone and abandoned. Due to COVID restrictions, we are not able to connect as easily with one another. Worse yet, some of us may feel abandoned by God during this difficult time.

We are learning from the Lord Jesus how we can face challenges with courage. We have discovered that we can face challenges with courage when we…

– Resolve to go directly to the Father in prayer (John 16:25-26).

– Receive the Father’s special love for us (John 16:27).

– Recognize that Jesus is in control (John 16:28-30).

Today Jesus teaches us that we can face challenges with courage when we REST IN THE FATHER WHO WILL NEVER ABANDON US (John 16:31-32). We see that the disciples’ understanding and belief were still immature. After they affirmed their belief that Jesus “came forth from God” (John 16:30), Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe?’ ” (John 16:31). Jesus’ question expects a negative response. Christ was questioning what they would do in the near future when they would face difficulties and danger? “Will you believe in Me then?” Jesus asks. Christ knew them better than they knew themselves.

Jesus then explains, “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” (John 16:32). Christ knew their faith would be tested before the night was over. When Jesus was arrested these men would “be scattered” and stricken with fear (cf. Matthew 26:56), going in every direction, much like the people in Madrid, Spain, when the bulls are released and scatter throngs of people. When Jesus needed His disciples the most, they abandoned Him after confirming their faith in Him.

What Jesus is saying to these men is, “ ‘You don’t believe as strongly as you think you do. Now, while all is quiet and safe, this is easy for you to say. But very soon you’re going to forget your fragile faith and run for your lives.’

“Have you ever made a vow to God during a church service only to back away from it later—perhaps as quickly as when you left the church parking lot? It’s easy to boast about our faith; it’s harder to live it, as Peter would soon discover (18:15-18, 25-27). This is one of the reasons why God causes us to experience challenges. Through them, we come to see how brittle our faith is and how mighty our Savior is, and thus our faith is made a little stronger.” 1

Although the disciples would abandon Him, Christ assures them, “yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” Jesus may have felt lonely at that time, but He knew He was not alone.

A young woman’s brief note spoke volumes. “I am a handicapped person in a wheelchair,” she wrote. “I am very lonely even though I know I’m never alone. God is always there. I don’t have a lot of people I can talk to.”

Loneliness has been termed the most desolate word in the English language. It is no respecter of age, race, economic status, or intelligence. Albert Einstein said, “It is strange to be known so universally, and yet to be so lonely.”

God made us for intimacy and companionship with others. Even before sin entered the world, God declared that it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). That is why many people often feel so empty inside. 

Christ most likely felt lonely when the disciples abandoned Him at the time of His arrest, but His Father’s presence more than compensated for this, however. Christ said, “Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” We can lessen our feelings of loneliness by reaching out to others. But even more important, we must reach out to the Lord who will never abandon us.

Yes, people may stop loving us and even abandon us, but God will never stop loving us (Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 8:38-39) and He will never forsake us (cf. Hebrews 13:5). Christ probably felt disappointed with His disciples for not supporting Him. But we are no different than the disciples. We also fail the Lord. But God never fails us. Psalm 118:8-9 say, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” Why is it better to trust in the Lord than to trust in people? Because He is always there for us. I cannot be with you twenty-four hours a day nor can you be with me every hour of every day. Only God can be there for us all the time. 

Evangelist D. L. Moody loved to tell the story of a preacher he knew in Scotland who would go once a week to a children’s hospital to try to comfort sick little ones. On one trip, he met a boy of six who was facing the amputation of his leg. The preacher asked if the boy had anyone to stay with him as he waited for the surgery. The boy explained that his father was dead, and his mother was too ill to leave their home. Feeling sorry for him, the preacher talked about how caring and loving the hospital staff were, trying to find some way to offer him comfort. Then the little boy said, “Jesus will be with me.”  2

We never have to face challenges alone because God is always with us. There may be days when we do not “feel” His presence as we would like, but there will never be days when He is not there. Rest in the arms of His presence and He will give you the courage to face whatever challenges come your way.

Prayer: Father God, during these challenging times I am realizing that my feelings often lie to me. They tell me I am all alone and unloved. But Your Word tells me that You are always with me and that You will always love me even when others abandon me or stop loving me. Your grace toward me is truly amazing. Even when I abandon You or fail to love You back, You do not leave me nor stop loving me. Your constant presence in my life gives me the courage to face difficult situations. Thank You for being such a gracious and loving Father. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.  

ENDNOTE:

1. Tony Evans, CSB Bibles by Holman. The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (B&H Publishing Group, Kindle Edition, 2019), pg. 1812.

2. https://www.dailyintheword.org/rooted/finding-courage-in-god’s-presence.