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- How old was Jesus when He began to teach the Jews?
-He was 30 years old.
- What was the Good News of God that Jesus taught?
-The Good News of God is that even though our sin must be punished by death, God was sending the Savior to save us.
- Who was the Savior whom God was sending to save the people?
-Jesus.
- What did Jesus mean when he said, “The time is come, and the kingdom of God is near.”
-Jesus meant that the time has come for the Savior, and that the kingdom of God will soon defeat the kingdom of Satan.
- What is the only way a person can please God?
-By believing in the Word of God.
- Why did Jesus call men to be with Him?
-Because Jesus wanted to teach them so that they would be able to teach other people about God.
- Who were the teachers of the law?
-They were the Pharisees.
- How was the teaching of Jesus different from the teaching of the Pharisees?
-Because Jesus was God, Jesus knew God the Father.
-The Pharisees did not know God the Father.
-Because Jesus was God, Jesus knew the Word of God.
-The Pharisees did not know the Word of God.
-Because Jesus was God, Jesus believed the Word of God.
-The Pharisees did not believe the Word of God.
- In the beginning, who were the demons before they became demons?
-In the beginning, the demons were good angels that God created until they followed Satan and became evil.
- Do the demons know that Jesus is God?
-Yes.
- Why are the demons afraid of Jesus?
-Because the demons know that Jesus is able to throw them into the Lake of Eternal Fire at any time.
- How is sin like leprosy?
-Just as the man was not able to heal himself from leprosy, so all people are not able to heal themselves from sin.
-Just as no other man was able to heal the man from leprosy, so no other man is able to heal us from sin.
-Just as only Jesus was able to heal the man from leprosy, so only Jesus is able to heal us from sin.
-One night a man named Nicodemus came to visit Jesus.
Let’s read John 3:1-2
1-Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2-He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
-Most of the Pharisees hated Jesus.
-Most of the Pharisees said that Jesus’ power came from Satan.
-Nicodemus was different.
-Nicodemus did not hate Jesus.
-Nicodemus wanted to talk with Jesus and ask Jesus many questions.
-What did Nicodemus say to Jesus?
-Nicodemus said that he knew that God sent Jesus.
-How did Nicodemus know that God sent Jesus?
-Because Jesus was doing many miracles which only God was able to do.
-What did Jesus reply to Nicodemus?
Let’s read John 3:3
3-In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
-Jesus said that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
-What did Jesus mean?
-Jesus meant that all people are born under the kingdom of Satan, and that they must be born again.
-How are all people born under the kingdom of Satan?
-When Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God, they were separated from the kingdom of God.
-When Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God, they came under the kingdom of Satan.
-Adam and Eve’s children, Cain and Abel, were born under the kingdom of Satan.
-Because Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God, all people were born under the kingdom of Satan.
-Jesus meant that all people are born under the kingdom of Satan, and that they must be born again.
-What did Nicodemus reply?
Let’s read John 3:4
4-“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
-Nicodemus did not understand Jesus.
-Nicodemus did not know how a person can be born again.
-Nicodemus thought that Jesus was talking about a second birth of the flesh.
-Was Jesus talking about a second birth of the flesh?
-No.
-What did Jesus reply?
Let’s read John 3:5
5-Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”
-Jesus said that we must be born again of water and Spirit.
-First, Jesus said that we must be born of water.
-What did Jesus mean “born of water”?
-Does “born of water” mean “be baptized”?
-No.
-Did Jesus mean that we must be baptized to be born again?
-No.
-Can baptism save us?
-No.
-What did Jesus mean “born of water”?
-What does water do to dirt?
-It cleanses it.
-Just as water cleanses dirt, so all people must also be cleansed of sin.
-What did Jesus mean “born of water”?
-To be born of water means that we must repent of our sins so that God will cleanse us of our sins.
-Secondly, Jesus said that we must be born of Spirit.
-What did Jesus mean “born of Spirit”?
-When Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God, their spirit died to God.
-When Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God, their spirit which was able to know, love, and obey God died to God.
-Because our spirit is dead to God, God must give a new life to our spirit.
-What did Jesus mean “born of Spirit”?
-To be born of Spirit means that God the Holy Spirit must give a new life to our spirit.
-To be born of water means that we must repent of our sins so that God will cleanse us of our sins.
-To be born of Spirit means that God the Holy Spirit must give new life to our spirit.
-Jesus told Nicodemus not to be surprised that he must be born again.
Let’s read John 3:7
7-Jesus said, “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”
-Why should Nicodemus not be surprised that he must be born again?
-Here is what Jesus said:
Let’s read John 3:6
6-Jesus said, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
-What did Jesus mean, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit?
-Jesus meant that the flesh can only give birth to the flesh.
-Jesus also meant that God the Holy Spirit is the only One who can give birth to the spirit of man.
-According to God, there are only two peoples in the world.
-They are not white people and black people.
-They are not rich people and poor people.
-They are not young people and old people.
-They are not men and women.
-According to God, who are the only two peoples in the world?
-Those who have been born only once, and those who have been born again.
-In whose family are the people who have been born only once?
-They are in Satan’s family.
-In whose family are the people who have been born again?
-They are in God’s family.
-What else did Jesus say to Nicodemus?
Let’s read John 3:14-15
14-Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15-that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
-Do you remember the story of Moses and the brass snake in the desert?
-Because the Israelites sinned and disobeyed God, God sent poisonous snakes to bite them.
-After many Israelites died, the Israelites who were still alive repented.
-Then, God told Moses to make a brass snake, and to hang it on a pole.
-God said that if the Israelites looked at the brass snake, God would heal them.
-Were the Israelites able to save themselves from death?
-No.
-Who was the only One who was able to save the Israelites from death?
-God alone.
-How were Jesus and the brass snake which God commanded Moses to make in the desert similar?
-Here is what Jesus said:
-Just like the brass snake was hung up on a pole, so Jesus also would be hung up.
-Just like the Israelites were saved when they looked at the brass snake, so Jesus also would save those who believe in Him.
-What else did Jesus say to Nicodemus?
Let’s read John 3:16
16-Jesus said, “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.”
-Because God loves all people, He sent Jesus the Savior.
-If we believe in Jesus, we will not die, but have eternal life with God.
-What else did Jesus say to Nicodemus?
Let’s read John 3:17
17-Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
-Why did God send Jesus into this world?
-Did God send Jesus to condemn us?
-No.
-Did God send Jesus to destroy us?
-No.
-Why did God send Jesus into this world?
-God sent Jesus to save us from the power of sin, death, and Satan.
-What else did Jesus say to Nicodemus?
Let’s read John 3:18
18-Jesus said, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
-Will those who believe in Jesus be condemned by God?
-No.
-Are those who do not believe in Jesus already condemned by God?
-Yes.
-Why are those who do not believe in Jesus already condemned by God?
-Because they do not believe that Jesus is God the Savior.
-What else did Jesus say to Nicodemus?
Let’s read John 3:19-20
19-Jesus said, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
20-Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”
-Jesus said that He is the Light who has come into the world.
-Jesus said that evil people do not want the Light.
-Jesus said that evil people want to remain in darkness.
-Why do evil people want to remain in darkness?
-Because they love their sin.
-Why do people not want to listen to the Word of God?
-Because they love their sin.
-Do you want to remain in darkness, or do you want to listen to the Word of God?