Sunday Gathering - John 3 : 1-21 - Cornelius Tanis - Sermon Only

in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

First question. Before I start,

a question. What is the most

iconic verse

in the Word of God?

Come on. Who?

Yeah?

Yeah, yeah, yeah?

Amen! John 3.16.

Now, we have many nationalities here.

Who knows it in a different language?

Yes, Sarah.

Amen. Did you get that?

More? More people? Yes, yes. Amen.

Many years ago I was in California and they heard where I was from and different languages I spoke

and they asked me to come up and to speak, to do this in different languages.

So I thought I'm going to do that today.

Well, I'm not going to do it, but I'm going to ask if people know it.

So let's first start because today we're going to have John 3.16 in our readings.

So it's a good reading today.

Sarah, will you come up?

It is John 3, 1 to 21.

Shall I hold it?

Jesus teaches Nicodemus.

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus,

who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

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 signs that you are doing if God were not with him.

Jesus replied, Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

How can someone be born when they are old? Nicodemus asked.

Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born.

Jesus answered, Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit.

You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again.

The wind blows wherever it pleases.

You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.

so it is with everyone born of the spirit how can this be nicodemus asked you are israel's teacher

said jesus and you do not understand these things very truly i tell you we speak of what we know

and we testify of what we have seen but still you people do not accept our testimony i have spoken

to you of earthly things and you do not believe how then will you believe if i speak of heavenly

things. No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man.

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

and everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. 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.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through

him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already,

because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict.

light has come into the world

but God loved darkness instead of light

because their deeds were evil

everyone who does evil hates the light

and will not come into the light

for fear that their deeds will be exposed

but whoever lives by the truth

comes into the light

so that it may be plainly seen

that what they have done

has been done in the sight of God

Amen

Thank you

we get a lot of information

in this part of Scripture through Nicodemus.

Nicodemus who had lots of questions to Jesus.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee.

The Pharisees were the people who lived by the law.

They were the ruling class in Jerusalem.

They were the learned.

They knew the Torah and the prophets and the traditions.

Many laws they had added.

they lived by the law, and here Nicodemus had seen Jesus, Jesus who was a rabbi. He had seen

Jesus doing miracles, but he had seen Jesus having authority. The Pharisees were teachers of the law,

but they were different to Jesus. Jesus had an authority they did not have, and he had seen Jesus

operating in Jerusalem during his time he was there for the feasts. At night, he didn't want

to be seen. He came to Jesus to ask those questions. And Jesus immediately, because he says,

you are, obviously, you are a man of God. And Jesus immediately hits him. Now, I call this Nicodemus,

actually this whole passage.

Nicodemus, the carnal mind

versus the spirit. Because the whole

conversation is

really about

the intellect of

Nicodemus

with Jesus who speaks in the spirit.

And they talk

next to one another, above one another

I must say.

They do not get one another.

At least Nicodemus is not getting Jesus.

Next one.

Jesus immediately hits Nicodemus and says this very important, very theological, amazing verse.

I mean, if we didn't have this verse, we would miss something.

And it says, very truly, Jesus says, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

Now, I want to break it down a little bit, this verse.

First of all, that born again is not just an add-on or being born again many times is sort of thought of as an experience you have

or something people have talked about and maybe you could have.

But born again, Jesus very clearly says, you must be born again.

And he repeats it three times.

You must be born again.

Not just that.

He says, he starts with, very truly I tell you.

Now that's English.

This week I have to do my exam for my citizenship for my English.

I'm going to use this word, very truly I tell you.

They think like, where are you from?

Very truly.

Jesus wants to say something here.

He's very serious.

And whatever translation you look at, it's the same thing.

Jesus is serious here.

He wants to express something to us, to all of us.

To Nicodemus, who doesn't get a thing of it, but as well to us.

You must be born again.

Now, first of all, I want to look at that word, see.

How do you see the kingdom of God?

How do you see salvation?

How do you see getting into salvation or get salvation, attain salvation?

To see, he speaks to Nicodemus here.

Nicodemus, who is learned, who knows a lot, who has studied the Word.

He is well informed.

And he said, how do you see?

Now Nicodemus walked with the law.

He obeyed the law.

And through the law, he thought that he would attain his salvation.

Now, Jesus says here, no one can see the kingdom unless they are born again.

Now, the kingdom, the kingdom, what kingdom is he talking about?

Now, I have been thinking and sort of going into that kingdom.

There's a lot to say about kingdom.

You could have just a study on the kingdom.

but very clearly is Daniel in the dream of Nebuchadnezzar

who brings the kingdom

and it is helpful in this situation

now that story was about the king who had a dream

do you remember it?

the king who had a dream

he had a dream of a statue

and the statue consisted out of different metals

the top was gold

the second part was silver

bronze, iron, a mixture of iron and clay, and clay at the bottom.

And those different metals, they were different kingdoms.

It was a big statue.

But then from the mountain, the top, was a rock coming down.

And it says, a rock not cut out by human hands.

So it was a rock God himself prepared,

was cut out, coming down, down the hill.

And as it came down the mountain, it became bigger and bigger,

and it smashed that statue.

It destroyed that statue.

And it says not a speck of dust of that statue was left behind.

That rock was the kingdom of God.

And it says that rock would take over, would grow into a mountain and take over the earth.

That is the kingdom of God.

Now, with that picture, you understand sort of where we're going.

The kingdom of God.

You cannot see the kingdom of God unless you are born again.

The kingdom, the kingdom.

The kingdom of England?

The kingdom of England will pass away.

All those kingdoms Daniel was talking about, they've all passed away.

The kingdom of Babylon, the Babylonians, the Persians, and the Romans, the Greek, the Romans, all passed away.

And here we are today in the kingdom of England.

He talks about you cannot see that kingdom, Nicodemus, unless you're born again.

You need to be born in a kingdom.

If I was born in England, like my wife, I would have been English.

but i'm not so i have to work hard to get my english citizenship i'm working on it and then

it's still like do you get it do you don't get it well you are born in it if i was born here

i would have been british sadly i wasn't to be in that kingdom of god which will be there for

eternity forever you must be born in it and that's why you cannot become a christian by just

learn something of the scriptures or repeat a verse or you must be born again now we're going

in there we're going in there second one second slide of course Nicodemus doesn't understand that

he has many questions how can this be how is this possible he has questions and it's it's really good

to see because we have many questions we are exactly like how can this be we have questions

so therefore to follow nicodemus on his trail of of asking those questions is good for us

now jesus is trying to explain it uh and and he's trying to bring that spiritual

to to to teach him to show him the spiritual and john 6 63 says the spirit gives life the flesh

counts for nothing, and that's exactly it. The flesh counts for nothing, because they're like

those kingdoms of the world. They all pass away. They all perish. We, we perish. With those kingdoms,

we perish too, but the Spirit gives life. We must go on that road of the Spirit. We must find the road

towards the Spirit.

To be born again

is how we enter the

kingdom of God.

Next one.

Then Jesus says,

he's even more confused,

Nicodemus.

And then Jesus says,

you are a teacher?

You're a teacher of the Lord?

You, this is what you do?

You teach the people?

Now Paul says,

can't remember where,

to be a teacher,

be careful

because you're going to be judged

even more

because you're teaching people stuff.

You're responsible for it.

Very, very true.

So he says, you are a teacher.

You have lots of knowledge.

Because that's what they did, the Pharisees.

They gained lots of knowledge.

And they had knowledge about what?

They had knowledge about Abraham, about Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, the prophets.

They had knowledge about people.

But what did those people have in common?

those people had relationship with God.

They had a relationship.

Abraham walked with God, was called by God.

Moses was called in the burning bush,

and he was daily before God in the desert when he set up the tabernacle.

The prophets, they were in contact with God.

Those people, the Pharisees were learning about,

they were studying,

those people had relationship.

The Pharisees, on the

contrary, did not have that

relationship. They were

studying stuff

about God. And many people

are like that. They know about God

but do not know

God. And that

is why we have to be

born again.

You can know about God

like the Pharisees

and have your works like the Pharisees.

The Pharisees lived by the law.

They were law-abiding and thought through all their programs they would be saved.

And they would judge other people on it.

And that's why Jesus called them hypocrites.

Because it's not about your works, but it is about your heart.

Your heart needs to have relationship with God.

It's vertical, vertical.

We must have relationship with God.

Jesus is teaching Nicodemus here, and we are going on that journey with him, and he's trying

to show Nicodemus the spirit you need. You need your heart. It says, for with your heart, Romans

10, 10, with your heart you believe. Then Jesus is starting to show, actually, a most precious verse,

13 and 14 uh romans uh john 3 13 14 jesus shows how to believe and i love that verse

jesus says like in the desert when the people of israel complained to god to moses

when we complain when we complain remember the people of israel complained against god and moses

and God was upset and he sent snakes in venomous snakes and many people got killed I lived in

Mozambique we had all the venomous snakes you can think of you took care because snakes are dangerous

I'm not afraid of them but they can bite so you better take a little bit of respect to those

snakes snakes had come in snakes had killed many people and then they cried out to to Moses and

said, Moses, intercede for us. Moses, go to God. And God spoke to them and said, make a snake of

bronze and put it on a pole and put it up high and let people look at that snake. And while they're

watching, looking, that bronze snake, they will be healed. Just that simple. Just that simple.

I want to make that clear, the difference between works. Salvation by works does not exist.

Salvation by works does not exist. He says, look at that copper bronze snake, and they will be

healed. You just need to look at it. Look at it, Moses said. Now I can imagine many people think

like, give me a cream. Give me some medicines. What is this for nonsense? What is this for

nonsense? I need to do something. You know, give me some medicine. Moses says, look at that. Just

look at it. Simple. Look at it and you will be healed. And then Jesus says, likewise. Now listen

to me. Likewise, the Son of God will be lifted up. The Son of God will be lifted up. The cross

of Jesus was lifted up. And he says, likewise, Jesus is teaching us faith here. He said,

likewise, look at that cross and you will be saved. Because just simply looking at that cross,

no works no works no works simply looking at that cross and you will be saved it is phenomenal

it is the grace of god i love it it's the grace of god nothing else it's the grace of god that's

grace you don't do anything you don't do anything you just look at that cross can we do the next

God made him

who had no sin

to be sin

so you might become the righteousness of God

2 Corinthians 5 verse 21

God made him who had no sin

Jesus Christ

he sent his son Jesus Christ

we're going there to our verse

Jesus Christ had no sin

became sin

so you

might become the righteousness of God

next verse

then the old has gone and the new has come next verse there we go for god so loved this world that

he gave his only one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal

life and why is this verse so iconic because it got everything in it in this verse it speaks about

God your creator who loves you each one of you if you have a doubt that God loves you

look at that verse it speaks about you this is you God loves the world he loves you people so

much that he gave love gives God gave his only son that whoever believes do you remember believes

what Jesus said just look at that cross just look at the cross he doesn't say go through dirt go

through dust go on your knees beat yourself do this no he said just look at that cross

and you shall not perish all the kingdoms of the world will perish all the earth of the kingdoms

will perish with us with it we too will perish he says you stand condemned already you are condemned

but when you look at that cross you shall not perish but have eternal life you will be born

again. It's so beautiful.

It's so amazing.

I love it.

Amen? That is

the gospel. I'm already too

late. The

exchange has taken place

when we look at that cross. The

exchange has taken place

when we look at that cross.

My sin,

my all from my

past, present and future,

my sin on that cross,

Jesus has taken it

me to be free

I'm free

I'm free

that's what Jesus has done

for us, he gave

himself to us

and then when you've done that

you're born again

then when I was born again

a peace came upon me

beyond all understanding

a love came over me like

liquid gold

the joy, when I come to church

sometimes. I don't feel like going to church.

But just the idea

we're going to worship, that brings me here

because I just love to praise

the Lord. It gives me joy

to praise the Lord.

It gives you joy.

And then persecution comes as well.

When I got born again, I told

my friends what happened. I was so excited.

And they're like, nice

for you. But no, it's not

for us. It's not for me.

Do you know that

phrase? It's not for me.

you know, and slowly you sort of like, you have nothing in common anymore, and sort of like, you

lose your friends, you get a persecution, they make fun of you, you know, you are now a happy

clappy, you are now, you know, but anyway, so that thing, persecution comes in, but you know what,

as well, God's convicted me, all sorts of things happened, but he brought some conviction,

Persuasion, people who I've really felt I should ask forgiveness or should speak to

were my parents, because I had been very rude to my parents.

I had many fights with my parents, and I felt like I had to apologize.

I had to ask forgiveness.

Difficult.

And I wrote them a letter.

A friend of mine said, why don't you write a letter?

now you don't you don't need to do it face to face and you will meet them anyway so then it will

be brought up so i wrote them a letter and it just brought such a peace and such a love in

our relationship and when i met my parents they have been so supportive and the rest of my life

and all our ministry they were our biggest supporters and you know what they told me they

have been praying for me to be saved. And there I realized the correlation between prayer and being

saved. That when you pray and pray for your loved ones and pray again, God answers prayer. Like God

heard Moses, he hears you. When you pray, he hears you. And it might not be immediately, but God hears

you that correlation between prayer that set me up for intercession and when i went to africa

and we were with many children we had the children home for 21 years what brought the first thing what

really hit me was those kids have no one to pray for them those kids who have been dedicated to

their ancestral spirits those kids who have come from darkness jesus speaks about the light in the

darkness they have been in darkness all their lives all their their ancestors those people

those kids you know who stands in the gap for them and i really felt like building a prayer

house and praying for them that's what i did we had lots of difficulties and i prayed for them

did it go well no it didn't go well i fasted i fasted fasting just humbling myself praying for

those kids then we had many problems and god said take those take three kids those three difficult

kids. Bring them in the prayer house. Make them fast and pray. Ask them if they want to fast and

pray or leave your household. They fasted with me. About the 13th day, the power of the Holy Spirit

came into the house of prayer. Those kids were saved. They were born again. And after that, so

many people wanted to pray and fast. And our whole ministry changed because of that. Because of simple

prayer and fasting and that's can we do the next one that's the gospel this painting this is a

painting i painted just after i got born again it's a cross i painted lots of crosses because i

was blown away with the cross the cross but this cross has a gate in it you see it has a gate in it

because the cross is the gateway to your life.

The cross is your new life.

You're not going to stand at the cross for the rest of your life.

You're not standing here for the rest of holding on to the cross.

No, the cross is the beginning to your new life.

From the cross you go.

The old is gone.

The new has come.

The plan and purpose starts at the cross.

Now, 40 years on, I look back and see what God has done.

You have a testimony.

God has done so many things.

You have a testimony.

That's what I want to ask you.

If you feel burning in your heart, you feel like, I need Jesus.

I'm not born again.

If you feel like, I've never experienced that.

I've never given my life.

I want you to come forward.

While the worship is going, I want you to come forward.

We'll pray for you.

And secondly, I feel like people who have loved ones who are not saved,

and they feel like, I want to pray and stand in agreement.

I want to pray and stand in agreement for those loved ones.

Come forward.

We pray with you for your loved ones to be saved.

It is your prayer.

It is the beginning of their salvation.

I've seen God move and work, experienced it myself.

I got saved because my parents prayed for me.

Probably you the same.

Many people have those experiences.

So therefore, we want to stand with you in agreement.

If you have people, loved ones, you want to bring to the Lord,

to be saved, come forward.

Jesus says, no one comes to Jesus except the drawn by the Father.

John 6, 44.

God draws.

The Father draws people in.

He draws them in by the Holy Spirit.

When we pray, like Moses prayed, stood in the gap for the people of Israel,

God hears.

When we pray together, we stand in agreement, God will hear our prayers.

So I want to ask the worship team to come.

We are here to pray with you.

Let me just finish prayer with a prayer.

Father we thank you

for this moment in time

as you see

our hearts

as you know each one of us

as your

heart is for each

person in this room

each person watching

online to be saved

Lord you gave

your son Jesus Christ

for us

that when we believe

we would be saved

and Lord I pray

today will be a new day

for each one of us

in Jesus name I pray