Jesus’ Teachings on Faith and Being His Disciple

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”... “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, 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. -John 3:3, 5-8

Hello Ridge Church! We are beginning a new devotional series highlighting Jesus’ teaching on what it is to have faith, and what is required of those who follow Him as disciples (which is to be his devoted student and follower.) We are beginning by going chronologically through the Gospel according to John. You may be wondering, “Wait, chapter 3? If we are going through this chronologically, what happened to chapters 1 & 2?” And that’s an excellent question! The first two chapters of John are just as important as any other chapters of the book, so we are in no way ignoring them. It’s simply that, in John’s gospel account, Jesus doesn’t begin teaching on faith and discipleship until chapter 3. So, for this devotional, we might jump a chapter or two at times, and that’s only because Jesus doesn’t touch on these two subjects in those chapters. 

And so, here we are in chapter 3 of John’s Gospel account, and we find Jesus speaking with one of the Jewish religious leaders, Nicodemus. Nicodemus knows Jesus is sent from God, and he believes He might even be the One, the Messiah (God’s chosen King of the Jews.) But, he’s a bit perplexed about how exactly Jesus is going about establishing his rule, and also about some of the things Jesus is teaching. 

As a religious leader who strictly followed the 613 laws of God’s covenant with Israel (plus many, many extra laws added overtime by other Rabbi’s), Nicodemus was likely abounding in self control and discipline. He was a righteous public figure who had a strict idea of what it meant to follow God. In modern terms, he was a holy roller, that guy who everyone thinks has it together. Jesus knew this. Jesus knew that Nicodemus was a regimented and structured man. He knew what Nicodemus was expecting his King to look like, act like, and sound like, and, well, Jesus didn’t quite fit the bill. Have you ever tried to give someone advice who thinks they’ve got it all figured out? It ain’t easy. 

But Jesus knows that religious practice isn’t worth a thing on its own. When Nicodemus, this regimented, scholarly, righteous man comes to Jesus, Jesus doesn’t sit and debate theological details. No, Jesus gets right to the heart of the matter that Nicodemus needs to understand- faith from a genuine heart. 

You see, what we need before anything else involving religious practice and worship, is to begin with a genuine act of surrender to the Lord. Without a genuine heart of faith, without the Holy Spirit in one’s life, there is no point in religious practice. God doesn’t delight in our going through the motions. He does not want us to have full brains and empty hearts. He wants, as He has always wanted, for His creation to come to Him with a genuine heart of surrender, trust, and love. No amount of obedience or sacrifice to laws and rules means a thing unless we are doing so from a genuine heart of love for God. 

The great news is that Jesus sends to all of God’s children the Holy Spirit, to live and work in us, and through us. In us to help us in this life to conquer sin and become who we are meant to be, but could never be on our own; which is without sin, and with God. And also, through us, to spread the good news of Jesus’ life, sacrifice, and resurrection, and to help anyone and everyone we can in tangible ways to know God’s love for them. But it all starts at the simple act of surrender and trust; to be born again in Spirit (filled with the Holy Spirit), and with water (baptism, yes, but also to experience the physical, emotional, and mental realities of genuine faith and life with the Spirit.) 

Remember that this promise is for everyone. We don’t know who God is working on, or where they’re at in their readiness to surrender their life to Jesus. Remember that we know the wind blows, but we don’t know where it comes from, nor where it’s going. So it is with the Spirit. He’s at work all around us, beckoning you to join Him, to follow Him to those whom he knows will benefit from an encounter with you, because of the work He is doing in and through you. 

So, before you continue with your day, make sure you’ve come to God with an open heart. Ask Him to search you, to teach you, and to guide you. Be open to God’s work in and through you today. 

Maybe you relate to Nicodemus. If so, this is for you. If you feel you have been going through the motions, doing the “church” thing, being involved in religion, but you are still trying to hold control of your life, I want to encourage you to heed the words of Jesus. He is inviting all people to be born of the Spirit, and that means you. You can trust God with the control of your life. If you want to truly know Him, all you need to do is surrender to Him. Tell Him you want what He wants for your life. Voice that you trust him, that you know your need of him, no matter how experienced in the “church life” you are, and that you don’t want to continue on your own anymore. Ask Jesus to be with you, and He surely will be.

Until next time beloved,
Pastor Andrew