Never Get Tired of the Gospel

The word "gospel" simply means "good news." 

Who doesn't want to hear some good news? 

Whether you believe it or not, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the best news that ever existed and we have the privilege of sharing it with others so that they may respond to the call of God to salvation.

This morning one of the pastors at my church began a sermon series titled Gospel Conversations with Jesus and today he touched on the story of Nicodemus found in John 3.

We see in verse 2 that Nicodemus was drawn to Jesus as he mentions his notice of the miracles Jesus was doing. If you are a Christian, are people being drawn to the presence of Christ in you?

Verse 3 shows us that it is possible for someone to be religious and moral but still be spiritually dead because the only way to become alive spiritually is to be born again as Jesus says.

It is fitting that Nicodemus asks questions in verse 4 much like the ones I would have thought to ask. What is Jesus talking about? Born again? How is that even possible?

When we look at verses 5-6 we see that Jesus is talking about a spiritual transformation that is only possible with the power of the Holy Spirit. The flesh alone is weak and will always be weak and thus we cannot save ourselves and hope to enter the kingdom of God relying on our own strength (Ezekiel 36-25-27). 

In verse 8 Jesus tells us that those who are born of the Spirit are recognizably changed. As we do not understand the wind but know it exists, so it is with those who are born again spiritually. We know something is different about them but we do not understand it fully.

Jesus then refers back to the story of Moses in verses 14-15 where the Israelites were to look upon a bronze serpent if they were to survive fiery snake bites which God punished them with because of their sin (Numbers 21:4-9). He tells Nicodemus that as the snake image was lifted up for the people to look upon and be saved, so also must He be lifted up for the same purpose. That we might look upon Jesus and believe and be saved from the wrath of God that we deserve because of our sin.

Verses 19-21 explain the judgment of God for those who would not believe. The fact is that those who recognize their spiritual need will gladly come to the light for the glory of God and thus do what is true. It is only by the power of God that we would be humbled enough to see our wickedness and then choose to repent and believe in the Gospel.

So here is the challenge laid before us who are saved. We are called to go and boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ because there is no hope for those who believe in a different gospel. Paul says in Galatians 1:8-10 of those who would try to convince others that there is another way to be saved from hell (good works or infant baptism for example) that they be accursed for they are seeking the approval of man which will ultimately lead them to destruction for they do not fear the Lord.

Jesus is the only way to receive spiritual life! Come my Christian brothers and sisters, let us tell the world of the hope we have and may we never get tired of hearing and sharing the Gospel. May our hearts be filled with awe and thanksgiving to our Lord Jesus :).