The Story of Nicodemus Bible Study: John 3:1-21 He was uber religious, a teacher of the law. And he was convinced that Jesus was sent from God. But Nicodemus was having trouble separating what he’d believed all his life from what Jesus was teaching. Frankly, it’s the trouble we all have with Jesus: separating what we’ve always believed from what He says. Jesus doesn’t mince words. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (v. 3). It was startling. Nicodemus had always believed that you got into the kingdom by being Jewish and keeping the law. Jesus says, “No, the only way you can get into My kingdom is by getting ‘birthed’ in.” No one enters the kingdom of God by being born into a certain group, being religious, or performing morally for the Lord. We enter physical life through human birth, and the kingdom through spiritual rebirth. Period. It’s no easier for us than it was for Nicodemus. Grace is counterintuitive, thus confusing. The only answer to spiritual death is spiritual life—not performance. Dead people can neither improve nor perform. That was Jesus’ point. God’s grace is undeserved, unexpected, and illogical. No one has ever earned it. Not once. Yet, it’s offered freely by God. That’s why it’s so amazing. REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. If your tradition, history, or religion tells you one thing but Jesus tells you something else, you have found yourself in Nicodemus’s predicament. Which will you choose to believe, and why? 2. Jesus told Nicodemus that simply being religious wasn’t enough for eternal life. How does spiritual rebirth differ from being religious? Why do you think Jesus said being born into a brand-new life was a requirement for entering His new kingdom? 3. Logic and religion seem to insist that we do something to earn eternal life with God. Why do you think we so strongly resist the idea of grace? And why do you think God insists upon grace rather than our performance as the way for us to gain heaven? Copyright 2014 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. intouch.org. In Touch grants permission to print for personal use only. SHARE ON PRINTPRINT Add a comment
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 13:13:41 +0000