Book of John 3

 Book of John 3

You Must Be Born Again

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

John the Baptist Exalts Christ

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Love is Action

 Love requires action 

Hello. Welcome, today. What would you think, or what would come to mind, if you walked in here and I got on stage and said "I love you."? Some of you would think of a Televangelist. You know, those TV preachers that constantly tell you "I love you." with their hand out. Some of you may even think about "Brother Love." Some of you get that reference. Some think it is just something preachers have to say. You know, God is love and all that.

Why is it so hard for some to accept the authenticity of a preacher, or a stranger to them, saying "I love you."? Because it has been their experience that those kinds of people SAY "I love you." is not authentic. They say it, but what do they actually do?

It is true by the way. I do love you. Why? Because Jesus gave us the 11th Commandment.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34

This is what we will be discussing coming up here at TAG.

1- God so loved us.

2- We are to love one another.

3- We are to love our enemies.

Well? What does this actually mean? "Just as I have loved you?" Let's start at the beginning.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."John 1:1-3

A little later we read this.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

God, who is the Word, who became flesh? Jesus, who is God, did what for us? That's right. He came to die for us. Why? Because He loves us.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." John 3:16-18

Did we deserve this? Did we earn this? Was there any reason whatsoever that we received this other than the fact God loves us so?

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die, but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8

God created all things that ever was, is, or ever will be. He gave us authority over it all. There was no sin. No sickness. No suffering. We, in turn, gave our authority away to satan and brought forth sin, suffering, and death into the world.

"Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." James 1:15

The end result of sin is death. Therefore, the only way we can escape death is that someone worthy had to die for us. The only one that is worthy is God Himself.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Jesus said,

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34

How did Jesus love us? He died for us. He could have wiped us out. He could have just started over. Even though He told Noah He would never flood the earth again, does not mean He could not change His mind. He is GOD!

No. He loved us. He loved us so much that He became like one of us. He allowed His own creation to torture and kill Him. He did something out of His love for us. What should we do for those we claim to love? ANYTHING! EVERYTHING! We should go so far as to lay down our very lives if need be. Why? That is true love.

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned, for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come." Romans 5:12-14

The only way that sin could be conquered was to have an ultimate and final sacrifice. Through one man, Adam came sin, suffering, and death. One man, had to be a man, a perfect man, a God-man, salvation was brought into the world, and grace through faith in that one man. Jesus.

"But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. The judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."

He was the only one who could even possibly stand a chance of living a sin-free life. He was born of a virgin and not through sin or the deeds of the flesh. He was righteousness in all unrighteousness. He was the spotless lamb. All for one reason and one alone. To be the final sacrifice.

"For this reason, the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." John 10:17-18

Remember, Jesus IS God. The alpha and the omega. The begging and the end. The creator of all that is. No one could take His life if He did not allow it. Look what He told Peter when they came to arrest Him. Knowing what was about to happen. Knowing full well He was about to die, He said this.

"Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" Matthew 26:53-54

It was because of His love that He allowed everything that happened to Him to happen. Keep this in mind, He even prayed for the forgiveness of those that did all these horrible things as He was taking His last breath.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34

This is the love He loved for us. He tells us that we should love as He loved us. Starting with loving one another. More on that next time. 

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature.

If you want to tell me, comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Supernatural is Real, Jesus

Jesus is supernatural,

Well? This one seems pretty easy to understand. Even if you are not well versed in the Word, you most likely heard that Jesus was born of a virgin, supernatural. He turned water into wine, supernatural. Healed the sick and raised the dead, supernatural. Walked on water, and calmed the storm, supernatural. Feed five thousand with a small fish and a few loaves of bread, supernatural. Was killed and on the third day, raised from the dead, without a doubt, supernatural. 

Even if you do not really understand the slightest bit about Jesus, just some of these highlights point out without a doubt, the supernatural nature of Jesus Himself. So we are not going to hit all the talking points in reference to the works Jesus did. Rather, we are going to discuss who Jesus is. 

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning God. In the beginning, His Spirit. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1

In the beginning, was God, His Spirit, and the Word. The Word was a real person. 

"He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-5

Then look at this. John 1:14

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Who became flesh and came to earth and dwelt among us? Jesus. Who is Jesus? The living Word of God. In the beginning was God, His Spirit, and the Word, who later becomes flesh, aka, Jesus. 

Now let's look at what Jesus Himself tells us in John 10:27-30

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”"

Read that last part again. "I and the Father are one."Then talking to us about after He leaves the earth? Turn to John 14 starting at verse 18

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

Wait. Stop. What did He say? "I will come to you." I. Continue on...

"Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." 

Stop. He said "I in you." Now, remember He is promising the Holy Spirit here. He said He would not leave us comfortless but would send the Holy Spirit. Yet? He said, "I will come to you." " I in you." Continue.

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Who? Jesus. "I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

"Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Again, read this carefully. "and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

So Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, who walked on water in the beginning. Who else walked on water? Yup. Then Jesus tells us HE would come to us. Then He tells us the Father will love us and "WE will come to him and make our home with him." I know many of you have heard of the trinity. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three yet one. 

We see Jesus depicted in this way in Hebrews 1:3

"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," 

Jesus is, without a doubt, the very definition of supernatural.  He is the Living Word. The Living Water, the Bread from Heaven, The Door, The Good Shepard, He is the Way, Truth, and Life. He is all God and all man.

Did you ever really think about that? The God of the Universe, who created all that is, was, or ever will be, became a simple and humble man. He allowed, make no mistake about that, He allowed us, His creation, to torture, and put Him to death. He raised from the dead on the third day, and it is HE, who comes and dwells in you when you believe in Him. No wonder the Word declares, 

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

Not sure a truer statement was ever spoken. Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of John, Chapter 3

 Chapter 3

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,  that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).

Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.