The ABC of Faith

ABC AS EASY AS 1-2-3<= /st1:date>

Scripture:

St. John 3:1-6; 16-18

KJV

1 There was a man of the Phar= isees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by n= ight, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: fo= r no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unt= o him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see = the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, H= ow can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, ver= ily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot e= nter into the kingdom of God. =

6 That which is born of the f= lesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.=

16 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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but t= hat the world through him might be saved.

18 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.

THE MESSAGE BIBLE (BORN FROM ABOVE) <= /o:p>

St. John 3:1-6; 16

1-2= There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus= , a prominent leader among the Jews. Late one night he visited Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it.&qu= ot;

3 Jesus = said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's= not possible to see what I'm pointing to—to God's kingdom."

4 "= How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and g= rown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born-from-above' talk?"

5-6 Jesu= s said, "You= 're not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the 'wind-hovering-over-the-water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it's not possible to en= ter God's kingdom. When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look= at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.

16-= 18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone = can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending = his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the de= ath sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.<= b>

Introduction

“Theme: A-B-C AS EASY AS 1-2-3

What= are the first things we learn in life?

&m= iddot; How to count….

&m= iddot; Know you A,B,C’S<= /span>

&m= iddot; Your Name

&m= iddot; Your Address=

&m= iddot; Your Telephone number

&m= iddot; How to dial 9-1-1 in an “emergency”=

As we continue to grow there are other things we need to know and/or learn…

As “Christians”.. We need to know the A, B, C’S OF THE GOSPEL AND SALVATION

A-B-C

A=3D ACCEP= T

B=3D BELIE= VE

C =3D CONF= ESS

AS EASY AS 1-2-3

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>1&nb= sp; =3D FATHER

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>2&nb= sp; =3D SON

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>3&nb= sp; =3D HOLY GHOST

The Body

In our scripture text today we all know John 3:16

What does John 3:16 say?

But what some of us may miss altogether= are the preceding verses connected to St. John 3:16. Let’s take a closer look at these verses today in their contex= t.

In the scr= ipture read we have Christ's discourse (conversation) with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, concerning the Gospel, in which Jesus privately instructs him regarding the GOSPEL. And a “great mystery” Nicodemus thought, but Jesus made it plan and simple… = A-B-C A= S EASY AS 123!

Christ's Interview with Nicodemus

Nicodemus was a man who belie= ved in Jesus and he was a ruler among the Jews. He was a rich Pharisee. Most of the Pharisees were very proud. They did not believe that either John the Baptis= t or Jesus were teachers sent from God.

Nicodemus was not like the other Pharisees. He heard Jesus teach the people who had come to worship at the Passover. "Surely Jesus is very great," Nicodemus thought.

&= nbsp;

While other Pharisees were finding fault with Jesus, Nicodemus wanted to hear more of his teachings.

One night he went to the place where Jesus st= ayed to talk with him. Nicodemus said, "Master, we know you are a teacher f= rom God. No man could do the miracles you do unless God was with him."

Jesus wanted Nicodemus to know about the kingdom of God. He said, "Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." =

Nicodemus was puzzled. He asked, "How can a man be born after he is grown up? Can he become a tiny baby again?"

&= nbsp;

Jesus did not mean that a man would be born a= gain in body but in heart. He said, "Unless a man is= born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Do not be surprised when I say that you must be born again. The wind blows.= You hear it and you see what it does. Yet you do not see the wind itself. You cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. That is the way it is with those who are born again."

&= nbsp;

Nicodemus thought about Jesus' words. No one could see the Spirit. Yet a person, whose heart was changed, born again, wo= uld act as if he had the Spirit of God in his heart.

&= nbsp;

Finally Jesus said tenderly, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Like many of the parables and teachings of Jesus, the story does not end; it merely stops. We have been told of the Father who gives birth (1), the Son who gives life through death (2) Spirit that blows freely (3). John records his response (3:16-21= ).=

Let’s Look a little closer at this Nic At Nite!&= nbsp;

Christ's Interview with Nicodemus.

We found, in the close= of the foregoing chapter, that few were brought to Christ at Jerusalem; yet here was one, a considerable one.

According to the apostle John, Nicodemus “came to Jesus by night” (John 3:2). “Nic at Night”= and I am not talking about the infamous Nickolonian TV LAND, where you can find, the Cosby Show, Bet the house, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Full House, Geo= rge Lopez, Home Improvement, Rosanne and Kick One Pick One. All these can be found on NICK AT NIGHT! Our attention today is= focused on “The Nic who came to Jesus by Night”. Nicodemus a Pharisee skulking under cover of darkness, embarrassed or ashamed that he, as one of the ruling cla= ss, was curious about Jesus?

Question YOUNG PEOPLE? Have you ever been embarrassed or ashamed that you had to do something in the darkness, in a moment or during= a time that you really didn’t want your Parents to know what you were doing? You really didn’= t want Pastor Simms to know what you are really doing. You really don’t want your teachers or maybe even some of your friends to really know… what= you are doing, have done or are planning to do??

Well, Nic he came at night, he did this thing in the darkness where he would not be seen of his peers or anyone else because he was a leader.

Some have suggested that it was just co= oler at night. Others have said that evening was a better time to ask Jesus questions because it was quieter and there were fewer distractions.

We really don’t know the reason Nicodemus went to Jesus at night, but John seemed determined to make a poin= t of that specific fact.

Every time he mentioned Nicodemus, he identified him by saying something like: “You know who I’m talk= ing about—the guy who came to Jesus by night” (see John 7:50; 19:39= ).

Nicodemus, no doubt, was quite moral and lived according to Mosaic Law. People probably thought he was a pretty good person.

Yet none of that mattered. He was liter= ally in the DARK about who Jesus really was, and he wanted to know the truth. So= he was drawn from the darkness into the presence of “the light of the world” (John 8:12). I’ve stopped by Monumental today to let you know that WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN THE DARK ABOUT WHO JESUS IS!

Jesus calls us “out of THE darkne= ss” (1 Peter 2:9) and promises that wh= oever believes in Him will not stay in the dark (John 12:46).

Young People… The fundamental foundation of the Gospel is <= /span>A-B-C AS EASY AS 1-2-3

We MUST ACCEPT THE WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE ON CALVARY’S RUGGED CROSS! ACCEPT HIM AS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOUR= 230; AND

Admit that yo= u're a sinner in need of God.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and= the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" Romans 3:10

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23

THAT IS THE A=3D ACCEPT

We MUST = BELIEVE <= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

Believe that = Jesus died and rose again for your sins.

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

"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and t= hy house." Acts 16:= 31

THAT IS B=3D BELIEVE

&nb= sp;

We MUST CONFESS

Confess Jesus= as Lord of your life.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgi= ve our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:= 9

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in t= hine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."&nb= sp; Romans 10:9

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, e= ven to them that believe on his name:" John 1:12

"For whosoever shall call upon the nam= e of the Lord shall be saved." =

= Romans 10:13

THAT IS THE C =3D CONFESS<= /span>

DON’T BE IN THE DARK ABOUT WHO JESUS IS. KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, THAT = YOU KNOW, THAT YOU KNOW!

AND DON’T LET ANYONE TRY TO TELL YOU = ANY DIFFERENT AND DON’T ALLOW ANYONE TO PERSUADE YOU.

JESUS IS THE WAY… (I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LI= FE, NO MAN CAN COME TO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY ME!&n= bsp; A-B-C AS EASY AS 1-2-3=

The Closing & Altar Call<= /p>
Don’t be a “Nic who comes at Night”,   The call = has gone out today for all of us to Know Jesus and ACCEPT what He has done. Jes= us paid a debt He did not owe, we owe a debt we can not pay.. JESUS PAID IT AL= L.. ACCEPT HIM, BELIEVE not only when you are around the “church folks= 221; and the Pastor and youth leader.. but BELIEVE that Jesus SO LOVE YOU! THAT = HE GAVE HIS LIFE. (HE DIDN’T HAVE TO GIVE HIS LIFE HE COULD HAVE CALLED ANGELS TO COME AND DELIVER HIM, JESUS FREELY GAVE HIS OWN LIFE. SO BELIEVE ON JESUS.

And CONFESS with yo= ur mouth... believe in your heart... aworthy of all acceptance..."   And thou shall be SAVED!

(Cha= llenge the household of Faith to practice the ABC’S OF THE GOSPEL.

WE M= UST TOTALLY DEPEND OF THE LORD IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES. SEEK THE LORD IN ALL THINGS. LEAN NOT ON OUR OWN UNDERSTANING A= LL IN ALL OUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT OUR PATH. THAT IS WHAT NIC DID AT NIGHT.. HE WANTED TO KNOW THEREFORE HE WENT TO THE “SOURCE”

KNOW= WHO YOUR SOURCE IS..

DON&= #8217;T HANG OUT THERE ON YOUR OWN

THIN= GS GET DIFFICULT AND THERE ARE MANY CHOICES AND DECISION THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE.

-&nb= sp;      THIS IS A NEW GENERATION

-&nb= sp;      YOUTH DEAL WITH ISSUES AND THINGS WE DID NOT HAVE TO DEALWITH

-&nb= sp;      KNOW THAT JESUS IS THE WAY IN ALL THINGS

-      = (ADLIB GIVE INSTRUCTIONS)

make

The ABC's of Salvation

Accept

Believe

Commit

= Confess to God that you are a sinner. Repent and turn away from your sin.

Romans 3:23 - "= ; For all h= ave sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 6:23 - "= ; For the w= ages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

= Trust that Jesus is God's Son and that God sent Jesus to save people from the= ir sins.

John 3:16 - "For= God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever beli= eves in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Give your life to Jesus. Ask H= im to be your Savior and Lord.

Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be sa= ved. For it is with your heart that= you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess a= nd are saved.