2021.10.31 - God’s Greatest Miracle

God’s Greatest Miracle Text: John 3:1-15 Opening Statement: The Gospel of John is arranged around seven miracles that John calls signs of Christ's glory. The encounter with Nicodemus is not listed as one of the miracles because as far as we can tell he does not accept Christ's offer of eternal life in the context of chapter three, but the majestic promise to be born again qualifies as God’s greatest miracle. It is great because of the magnitude of the gift and the fact that this miracle is still being performed today for those who receive Christ's offer of eternal life. I) Inquiring Minds Need to Know (John 3:1-2) Nicodemus had everything the world had to offer. But he was lost. He was unsaved. He possessed a sin-sick soul that needed God's amazing grace to deliver him from sin. A) Nicodemus the Seeker Twice, the Gospel of John tells us that he came to Jesus at night (3:2; 19:39). Why the nocturnal visit? There are several possibilities: 1. Fear. 2. Caution. 3. Accessibility. B) We the Seeker The Bible says that God has set eternity in our hearts (Ecc. 3:11). The world and the experiences it offers testify of God's glory, but the world can never satisfy the deepest desires of the soul. So, if you are an inquiring soul today wondering about a relationship with the Heavenly Father, don’t put it off, come to God who is longing to have a relationship with you through Jesus His son. II) Intriguing Mystery Revealed (John 3:3-8) A) Heavenly Journey We're often so eager to understand what it means to be "born again" that we miss what Jesus is saying about the Kingdom. Jesus tells us two things about the Kingdom: 1. The Kingdom is spiritually discerned 2. The Kingdom is spiritually entered Therefore, Jesus responds to the inquiry of Nicodemus with an intriguing mystery of being born again. B) Heavenly Birth There are two parts to this heavenly birth. 1) God’s Part The concept of being born again reveals the spiritual principle of Unseen Reality. Jesus proclaims that a man needs to be born twice-once