John 3:8-15
The Lord Jesus used the wind as an illustration of the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in bringing sinners to new birth (regeneration).
We can hear the wind, but we cannot see it nor handle it.
Just as the wind blows where it wishes, the Holy Spirit works as He sovereignly pleases.
Nicodemus could not understand this though he was a great teacher in Israel.
The Bible declares, “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him”. A man may be very religious or he may have a great intellect, but unless he is born again, he is in spiritual darkness.
Nicodemus twice asked, “How?” He did not understand the Old Testament prophecies which speak of the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation. He did not believe because he lacked understanding.
The new birth is vital for salvation. So is the death of Christ for sinners — “Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up”.
Jesus reminded Nicodemus of the time when Israel rebelled against Moses and against God in the wilderness. The Lord punished them by sending poisonous serpents among the people. Many died from the venom of these snakes. Others confessed their sin and begged Moses to pray for them. God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and lift it up on a pole in the camp of Israel. All those who had been bitten were told to look at the serpent and those who did so were saved from death.
Our sin is like deadly poison which will bring death and destruction to us. The Lord Jesus came down from heaven and was lifted up on the cross in order to save us.
There can be no salvation without the new birth and without the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ for sinners!
Are we trusting in Jesus alone to save us from our sins?
The Lord Jesus used the wind as an illustration of the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in bringing sinners to new birth (regeneration).
We can hear the wind, but we cannot see it nor handle it.
Just as the wind blows where it wishes, the Holy Spirit works as He sovereignly pleases.
Nicodemus could not understand this though he was a great teacher in Israel.
The Bible declares, “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him”. A man may be very religious or he may have a great intellect, but unless he is born again, he is in spiritual darkness.
Nicodemus twice asked, “How?” He did not understand the Old Testament prophecies which speak of the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation. He did not believe because he lacked understanding.
The new birth is vital for salvation. So is the death of Christ for sinners — “Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up”.
Jesus reminded Nicodemus of the time when Israel rebelled against Moses and against God in the wilderness. The Lord punished them by sending poisonous serpents among the people. Many died from the venom of these snakes. Others confessed their sin and begged Moses to pray for them. God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and lift it up on a pole in the camp of Israel. All those who had been bitten were told to look at the serpent and those who did so were saved from death.
Our sin is like deadly poison which will bring death and destruction to us. The Lord Jesus came down from heaven and was lifted up on the cross in order to save us.
There can be no salvation without the new birth and without the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ for sinners!
Are we trusting in Jesus alone to save us from our sins?
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