Reading for June 27: John 3:9-10

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these
things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? John 3:9-10

Comments:

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All people in all times have asked the questions at some point in their lives, "What is life about? Is there anything after this life?" It is the quintessential question of existence. And, God has used these questions to call man to Himself. The true answer to these questions leads people to eternity in Heaven.

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People have come up with many possibilities for "what it takes" to get to Heaven. Of course, not everyone believes in Heaven as the final destination of man but everyone believes in something. Different cultures call that "something" different things (e.g.: nirvana, reincarnation, spiritual bliss, even annihilation) but the search for eternity is in every person. God has provided the true answer and Jesus tells Nicodemus that the truth lies in the Scriptures.

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For Nicodemus, the Scripture would have been what we know as the Old Testament. In His love for mankind God used Moses, David and many others to write down His revelation. Man could not reconcile with God so throughout the Bible we are shown that God has reached out to man. Sin is revealed and men are called to repentance. As a teacher, Nicodemus should have known this clearly but, like so many today, he misinterpreted the Scripture. Today, there is also the problem that people do not know the Scripture.

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Mark 12:24 says, to the Sadducees "Jesus said to them, Is not this where you wander out of the way and go wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?"

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The answer to eternity is in Christ and is revealed clearly in the Bible. If you call yourself a new creation in Christ, a Christian, you are required to know what you believe. We also have the instructions on how to live now in that same Bible. I am surprised how often people find it amazing what is in the Bible. Jesus asked, "...you do not know these things?" We must read, study and dig in the Scripture so we know what we believe.

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When people search out the answers to life, they will face their own humanity and the degradation of their own actions. We are a fallen creation with no self help to being right with God. Unless we are born again through the blood of Christ we have no hope now or in the future. We can point people to the answer. Through knowing Scripture and through providing copies of the Bible to others, God will continue to call man to Himself. Get into your Bible and share what you learn with others.

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John