Nicodemus and John 3:16

Baptism obviously is important. When Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came by night to talk to Jesus, the first thing Jesus said to him was, 

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3

Nicodemus did not understand that Jesus was speaking about BAPTISM.

"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?" - John 3:4 

Jesus clarified that He was NOT talking about a PHYSICAL birth from our mother – He was talking about a SPIRITUAL birth being born again by WATER BAPTISM and SPIRIT BAPTISM. 

"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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." - John 3:5-6 

Jesus next spoke to Nicodemus of His crucifixion - that He must be “lifted up.”  

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:" - John 3:14 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16 

JESUS IS STILL SPEAKING TO NICODEMUS!

Next, Jesus spoke about the importance of His NAME – “JESUS” – to be saved. 

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:18 

What does Jesus do next?

Jesus BAPTIZED.

"After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized." - John 3:22 

Yes, WATER BAPTISM in the NAME OF JESUS is not only important, it is NECESSARY for our SALVATION.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

Sons of God and Lights in the World

When I am baptized in the name of Jesus and filled with His Spirit I become a son of God – that I may shine as a light in the world.

Our Heavenly Father, Creator of the universe, revealed Himself in human flesh and blood to reconcile the world back to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). He came in His name of Salvation – “Jesus.” He was not recognized by His creation. His own covenant people, the Jews, as a whole did not receive Him. BUT those that do, He gives us power to BECOME His sons – to those that believe on His name, Jesus.

We, as sons of God, are not born sons of God at our natural birth, as Christ was. We must be born AGAIN of water and of the Spirit to BECOME a son of God. (John 3:5). Christ is the only one that was born at His natural birth as the Son of God – thus, the only begotten Son of God. (Luke 1:31, Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:20).

"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." - John 1:10-14 KJV 

We are born a son of God when we are born again, born of water and of the Spirit. We are born of water by water baptism in the name of Jesus. We are born of the Spirit by the baptism of the Holy Ghost, speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gives us utterance. (John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Acts 2:4). 

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" - Philippians 2:15 KJV

[Philippians 2:12-15, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Galatians 4:3-7, Romans 8:13-23, 29-30, Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 12:1-11, 22-23, 1 John 3:1-3]

The Power of the Holy Ghost

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8 KJV 

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." - John 16:13 KJV 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:26 KJV 

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." - Romans 14:17 KJV 

"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." - Romans 5:5 KJV 

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." - Romans 8:11 KJV 

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." - 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 KJV

From: Exploring God's Word Bible Study

Church! Let us exalt the name of Jesus TOGETHER!!

One of the disciples of Jesus said to Him, 

"Lord, teach us to pray..."

Jesus taught them to pray TOGETHER:

(CAPS,my emphasis)

"After this manner therefore pray ye: OUR Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give US this day OUR daily bread. And forgive US OUR debts, as WE forgive OUR debtors. And lead US not into temptation, but deliver US from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." - Matthew 6:9-13 

We as the church though many members, are ONE TOGETHER. 

"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." - Romans 12:5 

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." - 1 Corinthians 12:27 

"And he is the head of the body, the church..." - Colossians 1:18a 

As the early church did, we come together - To worship the Lord with singing, thanksgiving, and praise, to hear the preaching of the Word, to fellowship and to encourage one another. And so much the more, as we see the day of the return of Jesus approaching!

TOGETHER -

Church! Let us exalt His name Jesus together!

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-35 

"...that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;" - Philippians 1:27 

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:17 

"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 

The World

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." - 1 John 2:15 

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." - 1 John 2:16 

[Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving (lust) for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.]

What hope do we have if we turn from the temptations of the world?

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:17 

How can we resist our sinful habits and desires and please God? 

We can receive the gift from God of His Spirit to overcome temptation and become a witness of His transforming power. Being renewed in His Spirit daily gives us victory."

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8 

When we choose to please God with our whole heart turning our back on sin and being baptized in His name Jesus, God promises to give us the gift of His Spirit - the Holy Ghost. 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 

This is how we are born of God, doing His will with the power of His Spirit, overcoming the world in victory.

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." - 1 John 5:4 

Fiery Darts

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." - 1 Peter 4:12-13 KJV

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:11-12 KJV

Our battle is not with people; it is with rits that are influencing them.

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." - Ephesians 6:16 KJV

Build up your shield of faith by praying in the Holy Ghost. (Praying in tongues).

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost," - Jude 1:20 KJV

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" - Ephesians 6:18 KJV

Paul forgave people.

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." - 2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Galatians 6:9 KJV

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV

A New Life in Jesus!

When we obey the gospel - we repent, are baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost - The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17

[Photo from Exploring God's Word Bible study]