How many times in life have you thought you were right about a situation only to find out you were wrong? It may have been a test you took knowing you had studied tirelessly, yet when your paper was returned you found out you had completely misunderstood the question. Instead of the 100 you expected your grade was a 70. You had understood 70% but that was not enough to pass. That is the way some people are when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We meet one such man in John 3:1. His name is Nicodemus. He was a ruler of the Jews, one of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, and a man of great importance in the Jewish faith. The Jews were God’s chosen people in the Old Testament. Their ancestors were Abraham, Moses, and David to name a few. Their heritage was all about God. The Jews were very religious and so was Nicodemus. He was not an atheist, yet he had it all wrong about Jesus.
John 3:1 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:”
He comes to Jesus one night asking questions about who Jesus is. He admits that the only way Jesus could do the miracles he does is if God is with Him. Jesus answered him with words that didn’t make sense to Him. He says a man must be born again to see the kingdom of God. As a Jew following the religious rituals this was something he had never heard. It didn’t make sense and he questioned how a grown man can enter into his mother’s womb again. It seems reasonable that he would ask this question. As a Jew, they lived by the law. Everything about their religion was tangible things you could do to be right with God.
John 3:2-5 “The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou does, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Jesus continues to explain but Nicodemus still does not understand. Jesus then asks him, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” Nicodemus was no different than many people today. Many religious people are familiar with God’s word. but not enough to understand it. They are misinformed about what it takes to get to Heaven. Because of man’s pride, many feel that their good works are enough to gain entrance to Heaven. This feeds their own pride because it places value on what they did, not what God did. They have been misinformed about how to obtain eternal life.
John 3:6-7 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
While Nicodemus did not understand at this time he must have kept seeking because we find two other accounts of him in scripture where he was with Jesus. In John 7:50 he was defending Jesus against unjust accusations and in John 19:30 he was there to take care of Jesus’ body after the crucifixion.
John 7:50-51 “Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?”
John 19:39 “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.”
Our world is full of those who have listened to the wrong voice and have the wrong ideas about how to go to Heaven. Some sit in fundamental churches today and go through the motions thinking they are okay. They have heard the gospel truth, and said a prayer, but never surrendered their life to Christ. They have a mental idea, but not a life of obedience to Jesus. Their lives are lived as good people but not godly people. Some have said a prayer and experienced the new birth but are no longer serving or seeking after God. As time goes on, they have no desire for God and are in danger of committing apostasy. These make shipwreck of their faith as Paul speaks about in I Timothy 1:19.
I Timothy 1:19 “Holding faith, and a good conscience, which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:”
Then there are those who are in false religions and have no idea about the truth of the gospel. They follow a set of rules and have a false idea about who Jesus is. Some say He is “a” Son of God, but they do not believe He is the only Son of God. Then there are those who believe He is who He says He is, but they believe His sacrifice is not enough. They think they must work for their salvation. All of these are false doctrines, and many are part of them and are living a life of deception.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
They think they understand because they have believed some man. They have not sought to study the Bible or they would soon realize the truth. God will reveal Himself to those who seek Him and are hungry for the truth. Are you one of those who think you understand but have not studied to find out if you have been told the truth?
