Considering Jesus’ Discussion with Nicodemus…Why This Is the Definitive Passage Concerning Baptism

Friends,

This message is something of a follow-up to my post a couple of months ago concerning "Reconciling the Abijah Accounts"...and it concerns a passage (John 3:1-21) that I have read and studied dozens of times, and yet I keep coming back to it, much like I do the message in chapter 4 concerning the Samaritan woman.  Why?  I have come to believe that there a many nuggets of gold to mine out of these places, and the Holy Spirit continues to bless and help in this matter…and for this, I am grateful.  A study of the Gospel of John reveals that this is a gospel that is not as interested in a chronology of the life of Jesus as much as a theology concerning His belief and activities.  This is why I believe that this story concerning Jesus with Nicodemus is at the front of the book following closely the primarily introductory material, although it is certainly important in and of itself. 

What we have tried to do…particularly those from our fellowship, but not exclusively so…is to rationalize a spiritual concept that is not going to fit into the tidy box that we have tried to fit it in.  This is why I believe that Jesus was really saying more to Nicodemus than he…or anyone else…was going to understand at the time.  I have heard the arguments concerning whether this passage is even concerning baptism and conversion…and whether it was a looking ahead to Christian baptism (or not).  I am now convinced, more than ever, that it is concerning these matters and so much more.

Nonetheless, let us consider what is taking place in this section of John.  There is much concerning this passage that is familiar.  We know that Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin (the rulers of the Jews), comes to Jesus to see him and visit with Him, and he does so at night.  We can surmise that he does this in order to avoid detection by his fellow-Jewish leaders who would immediately become suspect of Him since Jesus was already on their “watch list” of religious leaders who were suspect because of their teachings.  This is also, in part, why I believe this material would likely fall later in a “chronological” gospel, because this story seems to assume that Jesus has already gained a certain number of antagonists.  Another reason for His coming at a late hour would be to avoid the multitudes of people who would otherwise be crowding around Him during the day, making it difficult to impossible to speak with Him.  Nicodemus is apparently not only speaking for himself, but some others who would like to understand more about Jesus…as he says, “’We’” know that you are a teacher who has come from God” (3:2). Most of the Jewish leaders would not make this assertion, certainly…as in other passages…they indicate that Jesus is from Beelzebub, and that He has a demon.  Nicodemus and some others recognize Jesus as a “teacher” or “Rabbi”…one who is learned in the ways of God, as well as the Jewish teachings and culture.  They understand that Jesus has to be from God or else He would not be capable of performing the signs that He has been doing to this point.

In typical fashion, Jesus gives an answer to a question that has not even been raised…or at least has not been raised yet.  As the Sovereign Lord, Jesus had the ability to know the heart of those with whom He was dealing.  He does this a number of times, and here are a couple of examples -- with the Syro-Phoenician woman, Jesus makes leading statements in order to engage her in a conversation concerning salvation…and with the Samaritan woman, He asks a leading question so as to peak her curiosity concerning who He was.  Now, in this case, Jesus makes a statement concerning salvation, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3, NIV).  Apparently Nicodemus is wondering if Jesus really is the One who has the words of life.  Perhaps it is because time is short, or that Jesus understands that Nicodemus needs the line of reasoning He is going to pursue, but He does not mince words here, coming right to the point with Nicodemus.  Many might believe that Jesus has overestimated Nicodemus’ reasoning abilities, as he misunderstands what Jesus is saying here, thinking that Jesus is speaking “literally”…that he would have to born again physically, rather than be born again “spiritually.” 

Why does the story from John 3 concerning Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus inspire us so? Is it the innocence? Is it the one on one meeting with Jesus? Is it that we can relate to this man in so many ways? I have always loved this story because Jesus sets Nicodemus straight. He tells him about Christian baptism -- be born of water and Spirit -- and that settles it, right? Get it right Nicodemus! I guess I have always thought that Nicodemus was somewhat clueless. What is wrong with him? Why doesn't he get it? (And this always has been easy enough to say, since I/we have had the benefit of the 2000 years since the Word became flesh). After all, he should at least understand the "water" aspect of baptism, since he was a teacher of the Jews, he should have been aware of mikvah -- the ritual purification washings which the Jews would undergo. Also, he should have been aware of what was taking place concerning the baptism of John. Still, he thinks that being "born again" is to re-enter the womb and go through the process all over again! But, it is the Spirit...that is also causing him to stumble. There is not a great deal of mention of the Spirit's work in the Old Covenant...enough that Nicodemus should have been familiar with Him, but in this context? No. The Ephesian disciples (Acts 19) would also be "brought up to speed" by Paul in relationship to the connection of the Spirit to baptism. As with the Ephesians, the Spirit is an important part of the equation for Nicodemus to consider (v.8) as it relates to understanding Christian baptism.

It is likely that the wind was blowing the evening that Jesus and Nicodemus were having their conversation...it may have been an easy segue for Jesus to talk about the Spirit. It is interesting to note that the word "wind," (pneuma in the original language), is the same word used for "the Spirit," as well as "breath." In fact wind or breath are symbols of the Spirit of God elsewhere (Job 33:4, John 20:22, Acts 2:2). Like the wind, the Spirit is invisible, but powerful -- He is subtle at times, and at other times, mighty in His work. We can't fully explain or predict how the Spirit is going to work in the life of a believer...but we know that he does, be it like a breeze, or like a storm. This is precisely why so many people resist Him. Many Christians want their "faith" and "religion" to be nice and comfortable. Yet, as we see with Nicodemus, even, this is not always going to be the case. Striving to live by faith is challenging...it requires allowing God "to tip over our religious box" so that His Spirit can really begin working in our lives. Nicodemus had to know that this was going to take place, as He came to Jesus by night, so as not to upset the Sanhedrin apple cart.

The key to the whole discussion is found in v.10. Nicodemus came at night, but he is still in the dark. He has difficulty understanding "new birth" even after Jesus has fully explained it to him -- "are you the teacher of Israel, and you do not understand these things?" He should know the truths from the OT Scriptures, but this "teacher" knows only the facts. One of the great struggles for Nicodemus is that he, being one of the religious leaders, would not submit to the authority of Jesus (3:11). I believe that this is why Jesus says what he does to him here. After all, why wouldn't Nicodemus think just like the other "religious Jews" -- "Rabbi we know that you have come from God...because no one could do the signs you do unless he was from God" (v.2). Always looking for signs were the Jews. So, perhaps, it is not so much that Nicodemus is "innocent" here, as much as he is "ignorant," which is a significant difference.

I am convinced that Nicodemus did not have an easier time seeing Jesus and grasping what the Lord was sharing with him, in part, because he could not let go. He would or could not let go of his human reasoning, his presuppositions of things that he had already been taught. In this case, he was not going to understand what Jesus was saying until he let go of what he had already known and accept Jesus at face value -- by faith. How many others did Jesus have contact with where the same general situation was evident...the Samaritan woman(?), the rich, young ruler(?), the man born blind(?), the centurion(?). And what about us? How many of us in our own day and time have to let go of what we have been taught by good, well-meaning people in order to see Jesus by faith? How many of us are willing to ask the Nicodemus questions or some similar and be taught by and about the Spirit of God? We have to be willing to lay it all on the table, as Jesus challenges Nicodemus -- all of our reasoning, presuppositions. This isn't easy...in fact, it is often painful, difficult. Jesus was as straightforward with Nicodemus as anyone in the Word. The facts were indeed all laid out on the table for him. Did He come to understand? Read John 7:50-53, 19:38-40 and consider.
 
All of the above said, I completely agree with the fact that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). I also agree with the fact that "baptism" is not the "end of the process" or a "check mark," so to speak. When I was younger, I tended to agree that baptism was the target...that it was the end of the process. I now understand that it is somewhere in the process, but that it also is "a critical portion" of this process. This is not to say that it is an "idol" or a "work" as some have said, but that it is a necessary part of the process of faith in coming to Christ. So, my struggle has not been that baptism is the end or the beginning of the process, but that somehow baptism is "subservient to faith".  Baptism is important...I teach it 100% of the time…but somehow the "essential aspect" of baptism, which I believe is also born out in the Scriptures seems "to get lost" somewhat. I believe that much of this is a matter of perspective. I believe that what Peter says in 1 Peter 3:21 is true, however...that there is a certain aspect of baptism that does indeed save us (otherwise Peter would not speak concerning it in this way). He would have said, as does the note in the Ryrie Study Bible, "baptism does not really save you...it is only an appeal." Peter says that "you are saved by or in your appeal through baptism." It is a connection with the grace of God in order for us to be able to experience a clear conscience; but, it is indeed in "the baptism itself" that salvation is able to come and bring us a clear conscience. It is also because of passages such as Romans 6:3-4, Acts 2:38-39, Mark 16:15 and also 1 John 5:6-8 that speak to the subject. It is through baptism that we come into contact with the blood of Jesus that cleanses our sins. We cannot have a relationship with salvation through the blood of Jesus unless our sins have been cleansed -- it is impossible! Sin is what separates us from God. How can we have a saving relationship with Jesus through faith unless there has been cleansing of sin? (This is what the message to the Hebrews is all about, in many respects). 

Then there is this confounding aspect concerning the Holy Spirit that we see in the Acts and John passages that is ignored by some, but that makes all of the difference in understanding this message...and baptism itself. The Spirit is evidence that we are children of God according to Paul in Romans 8 and Ephesians 1:13-14. We receive the Holy Spirit at baptism as evidenced in the above passages and it is Him who is the cleansing agent concerning our sins (see also 1 John 1:7) among other things that the Spirit does for us (which is not the point of discussion now). So, my concern is that somehow baptism is more than simply "subservient" to faith, but that it "walks hand and hand with faith through obedience." I believe that they all must go together. Baptism may not be the "target," but it is also not simply subservient to faith in the process; it has to be somewhere in between (particularly concerning the Holy Spirit's portion in the process) for all of the above reasons.  I will say, given my fellowship's historic propensity to need book, chapter, verse to explain everything about faith and practice, that it has made baptism...a spiritual subject...difficult to comprehend because we have tried to understand it primarily from a "legal" perspective.  This will not work. If the Holy Spirit is involved in it...then it is a spiritual event...and no longer something that we can pigeon hole as "this is exactly how it has to be." I respect that there are certain elements involved in it, and a number of Scriptures that indicate what these are...but, at the end of the day, the most important "element" is what the Holy Spirit is doing through the blood of Jesus in the life of believer...however that is to be for each individual.

In concluding, I have heard great preachers share some significant messages over the years…one sermon by Landon Saunders at ACU some years ago comes to mind. I knew in my spirit that what he was saying was right about Christianity and the church, but it did not square with where I was positioned at the time, theologically.  I believe that this passage in John 3 goes a long way in order to address those concerns and "ponderings" that I have experienced.  And now, I will allow you to ponder them, as well.   

Blessings, Don

New Beginnings with Heavenly Leanings

Friends,

The story is told -- At the beginning of a new year, a high school principal decided to post his teachers’ new year’s resolutions on the bulletin board. As the teachers gathered around the bulletin board, a great commotion started. One of the teachers was complaining. "Why weren’t my resolutions posted?" She was throwing such a temper tantrum that the principal hurried to his office to see if he had overlooked her resolutions. Sure enough, he had mislaid them on his desk. As he read her resolutions he was astounded. This teacher’s first resolution was “not to let little things upset her in the New Year.” Or how about this one…a son called his parents to wish them a happy new year and when his Dad answered the phone, He asked his dad,” well Dad, what’s your new year’s resolution? His dad replied, "To make your mother as happy as I can all year," When his mom got on the phone he asked her the same question. His mom replied my resolution is "To see that your dad keeps his New Year’s resolution." Or some of you may have given up on resolutions taking the same attitude as the characters in the cartoon Calvin and Hobbes: The cartoon character Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes once said, “God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I’m so far behind I’ll never die.”  This might be the case with you…just keeping up with what you have may be enough.  But, even if this is the case, it is important not to forget that we have responsibilities to focus in on eternal matters of the spirit and soul…to keep our commitments that the Lord wants and expects us to keep.  We need to consider keeping first things first as we enter into the New Year. If we do, we will be blessed beyond the season.

Philippi was a Roman colony on foreign soil.  In a like way, the church is a “colony of heaven on earth.” Paul has been the athlete in his letter to the Philippians…now, he is the alien (3:17-21).  We are all aliens…citizens of another world, living on earth.  This should help our perspective as it relates to the lives we live.  Paul continues to deal with the difficulties presented by the Judaizers, or culturally Jewish Christians.  He uses some strong language to describe them, calling them “the enemies of the cross of Christ.”  These people are not spiritually-minded, but earthly-minded…holding to rituals and beliefs that God had given to Israel, but fulfilled in Christ.  Following regulations under the guidance of flesh, rather than submitting to the Spirit, is their calling card and it shows their allegiance. Jesus has already broken down the wall separating Jews and Gentiles (2:14-16)…now the Judaizers are trying to rebuild it.  Unfortunately, this is a problem that still exists today.  Some choose to build walls and regulations where the Lord never intended, rather than build the unity of the Spirit.  It is bad enough that such ones go astray…worse, still, that they lead others astray.  It is no wonder that Paul weeps over them.

When a lost sinner becomes a Christian, this person becomes a citizen of heaven, and his or her name is written in the Book of Life (see 4:3). This person begins eternal, heavenly living at that point.  Paul’s point, in relationship to conversion is -- we may have to live in this world, but we should not be citizens of it.  It is necessary to continually remove the yoke of the world’s pleasures and priorities that seek to bind us.  The good news is that we who are believers can be and need to be exemplary citizens…any person can choose to be a “spiritual citizen” – it is a choice.  Citizens of heaven understand spiritual matters; they are governed by heaven’s laws.  And the greatest spiritual matter that governs us is love…we are more concerned about others than ourselves, more interested in giving than getting.  The heavenly citizen glories in the cross (Galatians 6:14), not in self and experiences a new vision – looking ahead for the Savior. He or she is willing to share the Good News.  When Joseph was revealed to his brothers, he chose not to dwell on his brothers’ past, but to see matters from God’s point of view – He looked ahead at God’s plan for them.  The fact that Jesus is returning is a powerful motive for living a dedicated life of service…today.

Christians who are looking ahead, Paul says, will receive a glorified body, like Christ’s (1 John 3:1ff). This will happen in a moment (1 Corinthians 15:42ff)…and at that moment, everything in this world will be completely worthless to us, which relatively speaking, is how it ought to be today.  But, we say – I like my things. This is fine…there is nothing necessarily wrong with this…just don’t hold on to them too tightly.  When Jesus comes again, He will “subdue all things unto Himself” (3:21b) or “arrange in ranks” or “bring everything under His control” may be a better way to interpret it.  Citizens of heaven allow Jesus to arrange matters in their lives according to the proper priority, living for things that truly matter…with eternity’s values in view.  Even though matters increasingly crowd our priorities and choices, being a citizen of heaven should be the most prized possession we have!  Let’s remember this as we enter into 2015. 

Steve Ely offers this -- During a practice session for the Green Bay Packers, things were not going well for Vince Lombardi’s team. Lombardi singled out one big guard for his failure to "put out." It was a hot, muggy day when the coach called his guard aside and leveled his awesome vocal guns on him, as only Lombardi could. "Son, you are a lousy football player. You’re not blocking…you’re not tackling…you’re not putting out. As a matter of fact, it’s all over for you today, go take a shower." The big guard dropped his head and walked into the dressing room. Forty- five minutes later, when Lombardi walked in, he saw the big guard sitting in front of his locker still wearing his uniform. His head was bowed and he was sobbing quietly.  Vince Lombardi, ever the changeable but always the compassionate warrior, did something of an about face that was also typical of him. He walked over to his football player and put his arms around his shoulder. "Son," he said, "I told you the truth. You are a lousy football player. You’re not blocking…you’re not tackling…you’re not putting out. However, in all fairness to you, I should have finished the story. Inside of you, son, there is a great football player, and I’m going to stick by your side until the great football player inside of you has a chance to come out and assert himself." With these words, Jerry Kramer straightened up and felt a great deal better. As a matter of fact, he felt so much better he went on to become one of the all-time greats in football and was recently voted the all-time guard in the first 50 years of professional football.

This entire message is about perspective.  We need to consider our perspective as it relates to how we live.  Christians allow the Lord to set their priorities.  We should not be looking to set our own priorities and then say…okay, Lord, give it your rubber stamp of approval.  When we are living for Christ, everything changes.  We may all be busy, but is it the Lord that is guiding us in our busyness?  Or is He left behind, because we are not following His priority for our lives.  This is what we mean when we say, Jesus is Lord.  He is Master, Ruler over everything.  When we dedicate our lives to Christ, this is what we claim.  I am no longer Master.  My attention is on Him.  If I am heavenly living on earth, this affects everything.  When we are living as citizens of heaven, we should dedicate a certain amount of time every day to be with the Lord, in study and prayer.  We should come to worship focused on him, having prepared ourselves for it.  Our prayers should be in tune with the prayer leaders.  We also sing from our hearts, and not just our mouths.  We should be intently focused on the Lord’s Supper.  The first checks we write each month should be to the Lord.  We should not only hear the sermon, but live it out in our lives.  When we live as citizens of heaven, it changes…not only our perspective, but our priorities, as well.  Be a winner at the most important thing that matters in this life…living as a heavenly citizen on this earth.

Blessings, Don

Reconciling the Abijah Accounts

Friends,

I am going in a different direction from the norm here, but hopefully it will be a blessing to you.  Something struck me while I was reading 2 Chronicles.  It was an insight that provides an illustration for something that I have come to understand for a while now concerning interpretation…and it is interesting that I would find something of an Old Testament illustration to help provide insight for a New Testament principle.  This is certainly not the first time this has happened.  As I have stated in other places, if I had a dollar for all of the poor exegesis and illustrations using Noah and gopher wood, as well as Uzzah and the ark, to try to justify new covenant authority, I would be further ahead in my retirement account.  That said, the following illustration is actually in context, and concerns two distinct, but related passages. 

What we see in 2 Chronicles 13 is that Abijah becomes king of Judah, following his father, Rehoboam.  In the Chronicles account, Abijah appears to be a man of God who leads the armies of the Lord to victory over the armies of North Israel.  There are twenty-two verses displaying the heroics of what took place under Abijah’s reign.  But, something occurred to me while reading this…there are only four kings of Israel and Judah in the divided kingdom that were considered “good kings” (and all were from Judah, by the way).  They were Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah.  Abijah is not on the list.  This is because we need to go to the Kings’ account concerning Abijah to get the other side of the coin.  The account in 1 Kings 15 is about a third as long as the account in 2 Chronicles.  It is here that we see that he “committed all the sins of his fathers.” There is very little information about Abijah and the war with Israel here…it is pretty succinct, and the basis of the message is – Abijah was a bad guy like his father (and most of those who came after him).

So, the question that comes into focus is – how does one reconcile these two accounts?  Many people would have to deduce that one of the stories is correct, while the other one must be in error, because there could only be one possible explanation that is correct.  Yet, I believe that this is the beauty of both accounts -- they can both be reconciled. Both stories concerning Abijah are true…it is simply that the Chronicler has a different focal point than does the author of 1 Kings.  (It is similar, in some respects, as to what we see with the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Each is accurate, but from the unique perspective of the author…even as to whether there were one or two angels at the open tomb).

One of the difficulties that came as the result of being raised in a church culture and exposed to a model of interpretation where an “either/or” deduction reigned was that it would often pin us into the corner and we would have to take a stand that only one thought could be correct.  And therefore, by the rules of deduction that were in place, the other position, by necessity, would have to be wrong.  So, it could only be gopher wood, and therefore, it could only be Matzos used for the Lord’s Supper (for example). The Chronicler offers a perspective concerning Abijah that is unique in that he is not really as interested in what Abijah is doing, as he is in what God is doing in the situation concerning the war with the kings in the divided kingdom.  It may be true that Judah was “seeking the will of the Lord” in relationship to their battle with Israel, but it would not necessarily mean that Abijah was “a righteous and holy leader for God’s people.”  Abijah himself is not as important in the Chronicles account as much as God is and what He is doing through Abijah in the situation.  It is not the first time that God would have used people with some significant struggles, who would even be at odds with Him…Jacob and Jonah are two others that come to mind.  Besides, if God did not respond to sinful people who sought Him and trusted in Him, we would all be in trouble.  So, Judah has a moment in the sun, where they seek the Lord and He responds by delivering them from a force that was twice their size…once again, a story that is repeated in the Scriptures. It is about what God can and will do with and for His people.

So, what does this mean as it relates to the new covenant?  There are accounts where it seems that there might be discrepancies.  I will offer two thoughts briefly that can be expanded at a later time.  How often a person participates in the Lord’s Supper, for example – was it daily (Acts 2), or was it once per week on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).  The text in 1 Corinthians 11:17ff offers some insight, but it is not definitive as to which is should be.  It is easy to get pushed into an “either/or” scenario, when “both/and” may be quite acceptable, as well as accurate.  Paul spends the better part of the last section of Romans (particularly chapter 14) explaining how these matters can be so…that there can be a church that has members where some are vegetarians and others eat meat, (or where some meet at the building on Sunday evenings and others meet in homes) -- and it all works.  Even more challenging – are the believers in Acts 2 in the same spiritual situation as those in Acts 8 and Acts 10?  It is apparent that all are in good standing with the Lord and the church at that time…but what of today?  Many believers would say – those Christians are not acceptable…I cannot fellowship with them.  Yet, it is hard to see how we could or would not accept what those in the first century church did accept.  Furthermore, how can we “critique beyond a doubt” using “deductive methods” an event that is altogether spiritual and led by the Holy Spirit?  It is not any different today than it was then.  It is important to consider that there is more than one proper perspective that could be available and acceptable to the Lord and His body as it relates to the above matters, as well as many others…some things to study, ponder and consider.

Blessings, Don