Christ's Message Was on His Kingdom, It's What He Preached
Jesus never deviated from His message. When Nicodemus sought out Jesus by night to question Him privately, he was not really looking for a person; he was looking for a kingdom. He had recognized the power of God at work in the life and activities of Jesus the Christ, and it stirred his curiosity. He realized that Jesus had tapped into a dimension of spiritual reality that he had never experienced. Here is the conversation that Nicodemus had with King Jesus:
Constitutional Scripture: John 3:1-7 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
Focus Point: Keep in mind, in effect, Nicodemus was saying, "I see the Kingdom of God at work in You. Now how can I get it?" Jesus responded by informing Nicodemus how to enter the Kingdom: by being born again. Now in verse 3 Jesus states: "No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again," (the Greek word for "see" is eido which means to see in the sense of knowing, perceiving or understanding). Keep in mind, that Jesus states explicitly in verse 5 that without being born again of the Spirit "no one can enter the Kingdom of God".
Please note: Jesus only mentioned being born again once throughout His time on earth as it is recorded.
Focus Point: Jesus spoke of being born again in response to Nicodemus' inquiry. There is no Constitutional (or Biblical) evidence, that Jesus ever made the "born again" message the focus of His message to the crowds who were constantly following and crowding Him everywhere He went. The heart of Christ's message was not about being born again. He preached about the Kingdom of God. Jesus rarely spoke about the cross or so many other issues that have filled the place in our sermons. When are we going to learn how to follow, and seriously get a clue? He did teach on these things with His own followers and others who came seeking more knowledge.
Please note: His message was quite different when He was dealing with the Scribes and Pharisees who challenged Him. But with the common people, Jesus preached the Kingdom of God.
Let's focus on the concept of the Kingdom....
Constitutional Scripture: John 3:1-7 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
Focus Point: Keep in mind, in effect, Nicodemus was saying, "I see the Kingdom of God at work in You. Now how can I get it?" Jesus responded by informing Nicodemus how to enter the Kingdom: by being born again. Now in verse 3 Jesus states: "No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again," (the Greek word for "see" is eido which means to see in the sense of knowing, perceiving or understanding). Keep in mind, that Jesus states explicitly in verse 5 that without being born again of the Spirit "no one can enter the Kingdom of God".
Please note: Jesus only mentioned being born again once throughout His time on earth as it is recorded.
Focus Point: Jesus spoke of being born again in response to Nicodemus' inquiry. There is no Constitutional (or Biblical) evidence, that Jesus ever made the "born again" message the focus of His message to the crowds who were constantly following and crowding Him everywhere He went. The heart of Christ's message was not about being born again. He preached about the Kingdom of God. Jesus rarely spoke about the cross or so many other issues that have filled the place in our sermons. When are we going to learn how to follow, and seriously get a clue? He did teach on these things with His own followers and others who came seeking more knowledge.
Please note: His message was quite different when He was dealing with the Scribes and Pharisees who challenged Him. But with the common people, Jesus preached the Kingdom of God.
Let's focus on the concept of the Kingdom....
But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and ALL these things shall be added to you.
~~~ Matthew 6:33
and ALL these things shall be added to you.
~~~ Matthew 6:33
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you