Saturday, August 20, 2016

Heavenly or Earthly Things?

John 3:9-12   
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Nicodemus could not grasp hat he had to be born again, changed unseen by God, because everything for him had been the outward works attempting to appease God and earn His favor to enter heaven.  Even though he taught the Old Testament, he missed the core of it - that man is born in sin and cannot work his way out of it.  Only a new heart and God's Spirit can make us new.  So Jesus told him these things in earthly terms because he did not have opened eyes to see further. So God alone now opens eyes to the gospel for change in us.

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