GOD SAVES Posted 11.18.08
Computers, coupons, piggy banks, and even baseball pitchers claim to have this ability, but none compare to our precious Jesus. Not even close. Of all the verbs associated with God’s Name, this one must be held closest to our hearts.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost…He will save His people from their sins” (Luke 19:10, Matthew 1:21). Jesus saves us. What does that mean exactly?
The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3 answers many of the questions regarding God’s desire to save.
How does God save us?
1. God Saves Us by Coming to Us
JN 3:1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He 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."
The most wonderful time of the year is the celebration of Christmas. Though many have tried to erase the original reason for the season, Jesus remains the foundation of this glorious holiday. Though Nicodemus was not focusing on Jesus’ birth in this passage, his words, “You are a teacher who has come from God” (emphasis mine), remind us of the power of Christmas. Jesus came from God. He came to us. He left heaven and entrusted Himself to a woman’s womb and life as an infant just to save us all.
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come!” And He is still here today. Are you enjoying His presence?
2. God Saves Us by Telling Us the Truth
JN 3:3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
JN 3:4"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!"
JN 3:5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' 8The 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."
JN 3:9"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
JN 3:10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
Three times Jesus repeats the phrase, “I tell you the truth.” When you listen to His voice and allow Him to direct your life, He will always speak the truth. In this passage the truths He shares are the path to salvation.
Truth #1: The Kingdom of God Can Be Seen
People spend their whole lives trying to discover the truth about eternity and life after death. God has no desire to hide it from us. We simply must apply His vision. How do we do that?
Truth #2: To See the Kingdom of God, We Must Be Born Again
Jesus also referred to it as being born of the Spirit. Just as each one of us came into the world through physical birth (water), we can only enter God’s spiritual dimension through a spiritual birth. Our spiritual eyes must be opened by Him and Him alone.
Truth #3: The Spiritual Life is a Life of Faith
Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Life with Jesus is about getting to know Him better, and that requires developing a relationship with a God who is invisible. He does, however, provide many glimpses of His work in and through our lives, and He fully anticipates our awareness of His presence, His love, His grace, and His mercy.
Life is what you make it. Will you choose to focus on the here and now which is completely temporal and fickle, or will you choose to fill your life with the things of God and experience the wonder of knowing Him personally?
Truth #4: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are Completely Trustworthy
There are very few people in this world we can trust, and even the ones we can trust have a limited life span. God, who reveals Himself through the three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20) and has proven Himself faithful time after time after time.
In whom or what have you placed your trust?
3. God Saves Us by Jesus’ Death on the Cross
JN 3:13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
The “lifting up” is a direct reference to Christ’s crucifixion. While I contend that Christmas was the most miraculous event in history – God coming to earth as a baby to become a man and walk among us – the weekend of Jesus’ death and resurrection was the most powerful. We could not enjoy a relationship with God as we do today without the shed blood of Jesus. He is the only way to the Father.
Who does God want to save?
JN 3:15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
JN 3:16"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.
He wants to save Everyone, the World, Whoever! No prejudices, no limits, no prerequisites. Anyone is eligible.
Why? Because He SO LOVES everyone! It’s all there in that one famous verse (John 3:16). God’s love for every single person is what led Him to come here, live among us, and give Himself for us.
How? Just believe in Him. “Whoever believes in Him…” is not a hard task, but it does require a deliberate choice. We believe broadcasters and journalists, politicians and teachers, parents and children. What is keeping us from believing that Jesus is who He said He is and receiving His provision to save us?
Why do so many remain lost and without hope?
JN 3:17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever 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. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
They hear condemnation instead of salvation.
They refuse to believe Jesus is enough.
They love the darkness because their deeds are evil.
They hate the light, won’t come into the light, and won’t allow their lives to be cleansed.
Have you received the hope and life that are available in Jesus?
How can we help others understand God’s desire to save them?
JN 3:21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Live by the truth.
Come into the light.
Show God in everything you do.
Who can you share Jesus with today?
GOD SAVES
Read the following chapters. How do they teach you more about how, why, and who God saves?
Psalm 7
Psalm 34
Daniel 6
1 Peter 3
Matthew 1
Luke 6
Luke 9
Luke 19
John 12