Notes - 23rd April 06

Bible Passages:
John 3: 1-21

What are your memories of family life? All of us will have very different and mixed memories. We are moving into a consideration of Rick Warren's contention, that the second great purpose that God has for our life, is that we become part of God's family.
Whilst we do not have any say over the human family situation that we are physically born into on earth, the Bible teaches that we can make a choice to become a member of God's spiritual family for all eternity, with all other believers as our brothers and sisters.
God treasures relationships. His very nature is relational, and he identifies himself in family terms: Father, Son and Spirit. The Trinity is God's relationship to himself. It is not surprising therefore, that God is concerned to have a quality relationship with us, and for us to have that with other believers.
Relationship, not religion, is God's priority for us.

(Read John 3: 1-2). What clues are there in these verses that Nicodemus was a very religious man? What indicated that there was a searching for something more? In what sense had his religiosity failed him? Why does religiosity in itself not bring a person to experience God's salvation and life? What were the probable reasons that moved Nicodemus to visit Jesus at night?
Do you think Nicodemus saw a spiritual reality in Jesus that he lacked in himself? How hard is this to admit to oneself? How much do you think that Nicodemus was wanting a relationship with God, not just formal, legalistic religion? Religion only points to God. We need to meet with God personally.

(Read John 3: 3-8) What was Jesus solution to Nicodemus' spiritual problem? He had to be born again, in other words, receive spiritual life within him. Every human being is created by God, but not everyone is a child of God. The only way to get into God's family is by being born again into it. You became part of the human family by your first birth, but you become a member of God's family by your second birth, this comes about by only one way: faith in Jesus (John 1: 12), this is how we receive spiritual life within us.

(Read John 3: 9-17) Jesus' offer of eternal life is based on belief in him, not on human self-effort. But belief in what he did on the Cross for us in particular. Look at Numbers 21: 8-9. How can we compare the solution God gave to the sinful Israelites, to the solution God gave for our sins?

(Read John 3: 18-21) What in these verses suggests the universal offer of the gospel? But what also suggests that every individual has to make a personal response to the offer of the gospel? Do you think Nicodemus made a response that night? Did he ultimately respond? The evidence would suggest that he did: e.g. he it was who alone spoke out for Jesus among the Pharisees (John 7: 51), and he it was who went to Pilate to claim the body of Jesus (John 19: 39) 'Born again', is not simply describing a state of spiritual salvation. It's also implying entering a new network of relations with God and with other believers. 'The moment you were spiritually born into God' s family, you were given some astounding birthday gifts: the family name, the family likeness, family privileges, family intimate access, and the family inheritance!' Share what you think these privileges are for the child of God.

The Bible says: 'Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn't ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.' Let that amazing truth sink in! Being part of God's family is the greatest privilege you will ever receive, but it also brings the greatest responsibility, to love not only our brother Jesus, but also our brothers and sisters in the church. (Read 1 John 4: 20-21). How can I start treating other believers like I would Jesus, and like members of my own family?

'His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ' (Eph 1: 5a NLT)