João 3
John Piper · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 3
Piper adds "Seeing signs and wonders, and being amazed at them, and giving the miracle worker credit for them that he is from God, saves nobody. This is one of the great dangers of signs and wonders: You don’t need a new heart to be amazed at them. The old, fallen human nature is all that’s needed to be amazed at signs and wonders. And the old, fallen human nature is willing to say that the miracle worker is from God. The devil himself knows that Jesus is the Son of God and works miracles (Mark 1:24+)." (What Happens in the New Birth - Part 1) Unless God is with him - Nicodemus recognizes the signs as supernatural signs. However Nicodemus' theology is not completely accurate for supernatural signs do not always guarantee God is with the one producing the signs . For example, Scripture tells us that deceivers and false prophets can perform signs (the Antichrist will perform signs in 2 Th 2:9, his false prophet will perform signs in Rev 13:13–14+). Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing (Doing is in the imperfect tense over and over. Jesus did His first sign in Cana, but now He was doing many signs in Jerusalem. Already Jesus had become the center of all eyes in Jerusalem at this first visit in His ministry.) (Jn 2:23+) Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that (PURPOSE OF THE SIGNS) you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (THE MESSIAH), the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (Jn 20:30-31+) Can (1410)(dunamai) in the present tense conveys Nicodemus' belief that Jesus had the inherent (supernatural) ability to continually accomplish supernatural signs. And remember from other Gospels Jesus derived His dunamis from the indwelling Spirit, Luke recording for example "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power (dunamis) of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district." (Lk 4:14+). Although Luke is describing the impact of Jesus' ministry in the "power of the Spirit" which occurred in Jesus' second year of ministry, clearly this same "power of the Spirit" had allowed Him to perform signs which had spread the news about Him throughout Jerusalem. NOTE: The derivative word dunamis (from dunamai) refers to intrinsic power or inherent ability, the power or ability to carry out some function, the potential for functioning in some way, the power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature. The word group (dunamai, dunamis, dunatos, etc) gives us our English word dynamic, (synonyms = energetic, functioning, live, operative, working) which describes that which is marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change. That which is dynamic is characterized by energy or forces that produce motion, as opposed to that which is static. Signs (4592)(semeion akin to semaino = to give a sign; sema = a sign) is a distinguishing mark or symbol that carries a special meaning or like a simple sign points to something else. Semeion is used of God's miraculous works (contrary to usual course of nature) which point to spiritual truth. Semeion describes a miracle whose purpose is that of attesting the claims of the one performing the miracle to be true. Stated another way, in the NT a sign speaks of a token which has behind it a particular message to be conveyed. In other words, in John's Gospel (where semeion is most concentrated) the apostle recorded certain miracles not for the wonder (cf "wonders") they produced, but because of the message they taught (Jn 20:31+). The purpose of a sign is to direct attention away from its unusual nature to the meaning and the significance of what it points to, in this case, to Jesus as divine and thus speaks of outward compelling proof of His divine authority. In John a sign points to deeper spiritual significance in connection with the event (Jn 2:11, 18+). Related Resource: Table of Seven Signs performed by Jesus in John's Gospel Unless God is with him - This is a conditional statement of the third class which speaks of it as a probability but not a definite fact. It was enough "probability" to attract this ruler of the Jews! Peter states it as a fact that God was with Jesus in his "summary" of Jesus' 3 year ministry declaring "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38+). So what Nicodemus only alluded to, Peter knew as truth. And to reiterate, that truth is that Jesus performed these signs in the power of the Holy Spirit. THOUGHT - While believers today should not seek or expect to perform signs like Jesus, we can live a supernatural life like Him (1 Cor 11:1+, 1 Jn 2:6+, 1 Pe 2:21+) that should cause interested and curious unbelievers (like Nicodemus) to recognize that we could not live the way we live, respond the way we respond (to trials and afflictions), speak the way we speak, etc, unless God the Spirit was with us, in fact even IN us! Hallelujah! May our Father in Heaven grant that we each live up to our Spirit filled "supernatural potential" in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation that others might be drawn to come speak with us about Jesus. (Php 2:15+, 1 Pe 3:15+ cf Mt 5:16+) Amen! NECESSITY OF A SEARCHING HEART - Nicodemus was searching, and he believed that Jesus had some answers. A learned teacher himself, he came to Jesus to be taught. No matter how intelligent and well-educated we are, we must come to Jesus with an open mind and heart so he can teach us the truth about God. A searching heart is marked by several characteristics: Humility in seeking and admitting personal need. Perseverance in overcoming obstacles that may keep us from finding and following Christ. Insight in recognizing that the gospel message relates to our lives. Willingness to submit to the lordship of Christ. Obedience in going beyond mental assent to active dependence on God’s promises and guidance. (LAC) QUESTIONS/ANSWERS - It is quite common to find people treating spiritual questions as if asking them was a perfectly valid pursuit, even if they had no real hope of getting an answer. That kind of treadmill leads to despair. If we are not serious about answers, questions—even hard questions—are a waste of time. We don’t know exactly what questions Nicodemus planned to ask Jesus, but we do know he went to the right source. If all we want to do is ask questions, any ear will do. But if we are hungry for answers, God will be our source. He has provided his Word, his presence, and the freedom of prayer to place any question before him. Others who have brought their questions and quests to God can also provide valuable help to us. Jesus wants to be more than just an item of discussion. He has answers for the heart and soul. (LAC) ILLUSTRATION - There is an old story about two courtiers of a certain king who wearied their monarch with their incessant arguments as to whether or not a person had to be born a gentleman, or whether he could become a gentleman by training, discipline, and ingrained habit. The king finally dismissed them from court and ordered them to go out into the world and seek conclusive proof for their claims. A year to the date they would each present their proofs and he would settle the argument once and for all. The year passed. The courtier who said that one could become a gentleman had traveled far. He was in a distant land and still had not found his proof. But one day, sitting gloomily in a wayside inn, he sat up with astonishment. He had ordered a cup of chocolate, and to his amazement he saw that it was being brought to him by the innkeeper's cat. But this was no ordinary cat. This cat had been trained to stand up on its hind legs. It had been dressed in a tiny uniform and it had learned to balance a tray in its forepaws. The courtier watched spellbound as the creature, contrary to nature, walked slowly toward him balancing the tray with his cup of chocolate. He saw the implications at once. If a cat could be trained to do a thing like that, why couldn't a man be drilled into becoming a gentleman? It proved his point. He paid a vast sum and secured the astonishing feline and headed for home. News of the cat leaked out and the courtier's rival was plunged in despair. He, too, had traveled far but was returning home empty-handed. He was sure he had lost. But then, just a day or two before the scheduled appearance in court, he saw something in a shop window that brought a smile to his lips. He made a purchase but kept it well hidden from view. On the day of the trial the first courtier presented the cat to the king as proof that a person could be so trained that he could overcome all natural handicaps and become that most accomplished of civilized persons, a gentleman. As the king sat on his throne, the remarkable cat, attired in miniature court dress, walked carefully on its hind legs, made its way slowly down a red carpet, carrying a tray of chocolate to the king. The court broke into applause. Everyone looked with admiration at the cat and with pity at the other courtier, the one who said one must be born a gentleman. But the man was ready. With a bow to the king he opened the box in which he had his proof. The courtier released half a dozen white mice and instantly the cat forgot its training and education, its discipline and ingrained habit. Its natural instinct surfaced and, in a flash, off it went after the scampering mice. The discussion was settled once and for all. The cat returned purring loudly several hours later, its courtly attire rather disheveled. In Nicodemus we see what culture, religious education, and moral training can do. But man in sin is still man in sin, a prey to the fallen instincts of sin which, given the appropriate time, place, circumstance, and opportunity, will override the veneer with which religion, culture, education, and moral conscience overlay the old, fallen adamic nature. (Phillips Borrow Exploring John) Warren
João 3
Piper - “What happens in the new birth is not getting new religion but getting new life.” (See John Piper's summary of John's evidences that one has truly experienced the new birth) Thomas Adams said: “Repentance is a change of the mind, and regeneration is a change of the man....The Creation of the world is a shadow of the regeneration of a Christian.… Adam was created after the image of God, and placed in Paradise; so the new man is confirmed to the image of Christ, and shall be reposed in the paradise of everlasting glory." Merrill Tenney writes that "Birth is our mode of entrance into the world and brings with it the potential equipment for adjustment to the world. To be born again, or “born from above,” means a transformation of a person so that he is able to enter another world and adapt to its conditions." (Borrow The Expositor's Bible Commentary) To be highborn is nice, but to be newborn is necessary! Bill Ascol on new birth - A supernatural work of the Holy Spirit of God which is performed in the life of a sinner whereby the sinner is given a new heart, being brought from spiritual death to spiritual life, and is made able and willing to repent of his sin before God and trust alone in Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Saviour. Gary Brady - Bishop J. C.
João 3
Piper adds that "In the new birth, the Holy Spirit unites us to Christ in a living union. Christ is life. Christ is the vine where life flows. We are the branches. " (John 15:1–11). Born of the Spirit then is another way to describe regeneration which S Lewis Johnson defines this way "What is regeneration? What is new birth? Well to put it simply we could say that regeneration is the divine act of instantaneously communicating spiritual life to men." (Born of Water and Spirit) Born (1080) see preceding note on gennao. All uses by John - Jn. 1:13; Jn. 3:3; Jn. 3:4; Jn. 3:5; Jn. 3:6; Jn. 3:7; Jn. 3:8; Jn. 8:41; Jn. 9:2; Jn. 9:19; Jn. 9:20; Jn. 9:32; Jn. 9:34; Jn. 16:21; Jn. 18:37; 1 Jn. 2:29; 1 Jn. 3:9; 1 Jn. 4:7; 1 Jn. 5:1; 1 Jn. 5:4; 1 Jn. 5:18 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. | -Crosby ILLUSTRATION - A minister was seeking to reach the heart of a dying doctor. The minister had spoken to him about conversion, forgiveness, redemption-all the themes at the heart of the Christian gospel. Nothing seemed to reach the dying man. Then he spoke to him of regeneration, of the need for being reborn, and that brought enlightenment. Over many years the doctor had attended countless births. "A new birth!" he exclaimed, "Why, that's what I need. A baby has no past-only a future. That's what I need." And so do we all. John 3:7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again." NET John 3:7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must all be born from above.' GNT John 3:7 μὴ θαυμάσῃς ὅτι εἶπόν σοι, Δεῖ ὑμᾶς γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν. NLT John 3:7 So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.' KJV John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. ESV John 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' NIV John 3:7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' ASV John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. CSB John 3:7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. NKJ John 3:7 "Do not marvel that I said to you,`You must be born again.' NRS John 3:7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' YLT John 3:7 'Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee, It behoveth you to be born from above; NAB John 3:7 Do not be amazed that I told you, 'You must be born from above.' NJB John 3:7 Do not be surprised when I say: You must be born from above. GWN John 3:7 Don't be surprised when I tell you that all of you must be born from above. BBE John 3:7 Do not be surprised that I say to you, It is necessary for you to have a second birth. Do not be amazed. Jn 3:12. Jn 5:28. 6:61-63. 1 Jn 3:13. You must. Jn 3:3. Jn 4:24. Job 14:4. 15:14. Mt 13:33-35. Ac 4:12. Ro 3:9-19. 8:5, 7. Ro 9:22-25. Ro 12:1, 2. 1 Co 2:14. Ep 4:22-24. Col 1:12. He 12:14. 1 Pe 1:14-16, 22. Rev 21:27. be born. Ac 13:33. Ga 6:15. 1 Pe 2:2. again. or, from above. Jn 3:3 Jn 1:12, 13. Ezek 36:27. Ezek 37:14. Mt 19:28. 2 Co 5:17. 1 Pe 1:3, 23. John 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AN ABSOLUTE MUST A UNIVERSAL NEED The new birth is so important, so foundational, that He repeats this truth again (cf John 3:3). Jesus does not describe an optional way of life, a "might" but a "must." In English the verb must means that which is required as a necessary requirement. And in this passage He changes the pronoun "you" from singular to plural thus describing the absolute need of every person ever born. " The plural ‘you’ sets Jesus over against not just Nicodemus, but the entire human race." (Carson Borrow The Gospel according to John) Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again - Nicodemus had been been taught and likely had taught that salvation was a result of one's own meritorious efforts and thus he would have been in a state of shock and awe at Jesus' teaching on his need for a new spiritual birth. And this need for spiritual rebirth was not just for Nicodemus, as Jesus uses you in the plural which indicates that new birth is the need of all mankind, all fallen humanity. The verb must is a strong term which speaks of the absolute necessity of the new birth. Must means the new birth is not optional but obligatory, even imperative. It was the primary prerequisite for entrance into the Kingdom. Jesus uses the same verb in John 3:14 in His illustration of His crucifixion declaring "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so MUST the Son of Man be lifted up." (cf "must" in Jn 12:34) And so for Nicodemus this was an absolute must. He must realize that in order to see or enter God’s kingdom, He must be made alive in the spirit by the Spirit (Jn 3:8, Ro 8:11+). People must not stumble at or reject the importance of Jesus’ unsettling words, for just as we were not in control of our first birth, we are not in control of our second birth. It is given as a gift by a direct act of God! This truth is disconcerting to many. Nevertheless, Jesus says new birth is not the must of moral duty, but the must of divine necessity. They must be born from above. The necessity is absolute and is universally binding. Even godly, righteous, scholarly Nicodemus must be born again, and so must we dear reader! Have you been born again? J C