Embracing the Fullness of Life in Christ

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of John. This narrative is not just a historical account but a profound illustration of the essence of Christianity, which is the reception of Christ's fullness and grace. The central question posed is whether we, as believers, are truly receiving this fullness or merely living on past experiences and decisions. Christianity is not merely a set of beliefs or theological constructs; it is a vibrant, dynamic life that flows from being connected to Christ, the source of all life.

Nicodemus represents a type of person who is religious, intellectual, and sincere in his pursuit of truth, yet he is missing the essence of what it means to be truly alive in Christ. Despite his religious stature and knowledge, Nicodemus approaches Jesus with a sense of need and curiosity, recognizing that Jesus possesses something he lacks. This humility and recognition of need are crucial for anyone seeking a deeper relationship with God.

The narrative challenges us to examine our own spiritual lives. Are we content with where we are, or do we have a deep hunger and thirst for more of God? The story of Nicodemus teaches us that we must act on our spiritual longings and seek Jesus earnestly. It is not enough to feel a need; we must pursue the source of life with determination and humility.

Jesus' response to Nicodemus is direct and challenging, emphasizing the necessity of being born again. This new birth is not a mere addition to our existing life but a complete transformation, a new beginning that only God can bring about. It requires us to relinquish control and submit entirely to Christ, recognizing our helplessness and need for His saving grace.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Essence of Christianity: Christianity is not just a belief system but a life that involves receiving the fullness of Christ. It is about being connected to the source of life and allowing His grace to permeate our entire being. This fullness is not a one-time experience but a continuous journey of receiving grace upon grace. [02:31]

2. The Danger of Complacency: Many believers live on past experiences and decisions, missing the dynamic life that Christ offers. We must continually ask ourselves if we are receiving more of His fullness or if we are content with where we are spiritually. A true Christian life is marked by a constant hunger and thirst for more of God. [21:29]

3. The Importance of Humility and Recognition of Need: Nicodemus, despite his religious knowledge, recognized his need for something more. This humility and awareness of need are essential for spiritual growth. We must be willing to seek Jesus and acknowledge that He has what we lack. [23:04]

4. Acting on Spiritual Longings: It is not enough to feel a spiritual need; we must act on it. Nicodemus sought Jesus at night, driven by a desire to understand and receive what Jesus had to offer. We must pursue Christ with determination, not allowing our spiritual longings to fade away without action. [26:38]

5. The Necessity of Being Born Again: Jesus emphasized to Nicodemus the need to be born again, highlighting that spiritual transformation is not about adding to our existing life but starting anew. This new birth requires us to surrender control and acknowledge our helplessness, allowing God to bring about a complete transformation. [37:58]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Nicodemus
- [01:10] - The Essence of Christianity
- [02:31] - Receiving Christ's Fullness
- [03:27] - The Church's True Function
- [05:06] - Childlike Faith
- [06:13] - Lessons from John the Baptist
- [07:50] - The Question of Life
- [09:07] - Nicodemus' Unique Case
- [10:39] - Characteristics of Nicodemus
- [13:39] - The Need for Spiritual Hunger
- [17:24] - Recognizing Our Need
- [23:04] - Humility and Seeking Jesus
- [26:38] - Acting on Spiritual Longings
- [37:58] - The Necessity of Being Born Again
- [48:00] - Closing Hymn and Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 3:1-21 (The encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus)
- John 1:16 (For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.)
- Matthew 18:3 (And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”)

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Observation Questions:

1. What characteristics of Nicodemus are highlighted in the sermon, and how do they reflect his spiritual state? [10:39]

2. How does Jesus' response to Nicodemus challenge his understanding of spiritual life? [37:58]

3. What does the sermon suggest is the essence of Christianity, and how is it different from merely holding religious beliefs? [01:52]

4. How does the sermon describe the danger of complacency in a believer's life? [19:12]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why is Nicodemus' approach to Jesus significant, and what does it reveal about his spiritual hunger and humility? [23:04]

2. How does the concept of being "born again" redefine Nicodemus' understanding of spiritual transformation? [37:58]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers might be living on past experiences rather than seeking the fullness of Christ? [02:48]

4. How does the sermon interpret the role of humility and recognition of need in spiritual growth? [23:39]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Are there areas where you feel complacent? How can you cultivate a deeper hunger for God in those areas? [19:12]

2. Consider a time when you recognized a need for spiritual growth. How did you respond, and what steps can you take now to pursue that growth with determination? [26:38]

3. How can you practice humility in your daily life to better recognize your spiritual needs and seek Jesus earnestly? [23:39]

4. What does being "born again" mean to you personally, and how can you embrace this concept of complete transformation in your life? [37:58]

5. Identify a past spiritual experience that you often rely on. How can you move beyond that experience to seek a continuous journey of receiving grace upon grace? [02:48]

6. Think of a specific area in your life where you need to relinquish control and submit to Christ. What practical steps can you take to surrender that area to Him? [40:36]

7. How can you actively seek the fullness of Christ in your daily routine, and what changes might you need to make to prioritize this pursuit? [04:13]

Devotional

Day 1: Receiving Christ's Fullness
Christianity is not merely a belief system but a life that involves receiving the fullness of Christ. This fullness is a continuous journey of grace, not a one-time experience. It requires believers to remain connected to Christ, the source of all life, allowing His grace to permeate their entire being. The encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus illustrates this essence of Christianity, where Nicodemus, despite his religious knowledge, recognizes his need for something more. This recognition is the first step towards receiving Christ's fullness, which is available to all who seek it earnestly. [02:31]

Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV): "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel you are not experiencing the fullness of Christ? How can you actively seek His grace in those areas today?


Day 2: The Danger of Complacency
Many believers live on past experiences and decisions, missing the dynamic life that Christ offers. The story of Nicodemus challenges us to examine our spiritual lives and question whether we are content with where we are or if we have a deep hunger and thirst for more of God. A true Christian life is marked by a constant desire for more of God, not settling for past spiritual achievements. This requires a proactive approach to faith, continually seeking to grow and deepen one's relationship with Christ. [21:29]

Hebrews 6:1 (ESV): "Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God."

Reflection: Identify one area of your spiritual life where you have become complacent. What steps can you take this week to reignite your passion and hunger for God?


Day 3: The Importance of Humility and Recognition of Need
Nicodemus, despite his religious stature and knowledge, approached Jesus with humility and a recognition of his need for something more. This humility and awareness of need are essential for spiritual growth. It is a reminder that no matter how much we know or how long we have been believers, there is always more to learn and experience in our relationship with God. We must be willing to seek Jesus and acknowledge that He has what we lack, opening ourselves to His transformative power. [23:04]

James 4:6 (ESV): "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you relied on your own understanding rather than seeking God's guidance. How can you practice humility and recognize your need for God in similar situations in the future?


Day 4: Acting on Spiritual Longings
It is not enough to feel a spiritual need; we must act on it. Nicodemus sought Jesus at night, driven by a desire to understand and receive what Jesus had to offer. This narrative encourages believers to pursue Christ with determination, not allowing their spiritual longings to fade away without action. Acting on these longings requires intentionality and a willingness to step out of one's comfort zone to seek a deeper relationship with God. [26:38]

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV): "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

Reflection: What is one spiritual longing you have been ignoring or putting off? What practical steps can you take today to pursue this longing and seek a deeper relationship with Christ?


Day 5: The Necessity of Being Born Again
Jesus emphasized to Nicodemus the need to be born again, highlighting that spiritual transformation is not about adding to our existing life but starting anew. This new birth requires us to surrender control and acknowledge our helplessness, allowing God to bring about a complete transformation. It is a call to relinquish our old ways and embrace the new life that Christ offers, trusting in His power to renew and transform us from the inside out. [37:58]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you are resistant to change. What would it look like to surrender this area to God and allow Him to bring about a new beginning?

Quotes


Christianity is primarily life and it is the receiving of his fulness and as we forget that we miss the greatness and the glory and the splendor of it all our danger knowledge even as Christian people is to be reducing this life eternal life to something which is merely a point of view more a teaching or a of theology anything else we must never do of it the essence is only say that it has a life and that it means receiving of his fullness. [00:01:43]

Are you living in a past experience what on a past decision all are you in this position that you know that you are linked to the heavier that life from the great head is coming down you and permeating the whole of your being this I say is Christianity and it's only as the church is manifesting this life from this fullness that she really functions as the church and cancer told in the world. [00:02:58]

The world outside in its ignorance and darkness and death recognizes one thing only and that is life but it recognizes life that's the whole story of the book of the Acts and the whole of the New Testament so I say again that the great question that all of us should be concerned about is this one question do I know that I have received of usefulness am I still and visit my greatest desire my highest ambition to receive more and more of him. [00:03:35]

The first thing obviously is legumes of any religious men the very religious myth in addition to that he was a very able man he was a master he was a teacher in Isabel he was a man who was a whole life work and occupation was to be a religious and to study the scriptures and to teach and to instruct others it's very important that we should remember all this about it. [00:11:05]

There is nothing better about Nicodemus than this this is the greatest thing about this men that coming into contact with our Lord he's aware recognizes and acknowledges this need this lack of something this lung for the greater fullness and the receiving of a greater fulness from God there is no hope I say in the Christian life unless we're aware of death there is nothing that is more important than any one of us this morning than just this have we a hunger and a thirst after righteousness. [00:20:45]

Nicodemus acts on what he feels why do I emphasize that well I emphasize that because I know from personal experience and I know that you're all exactly the same that one of our greatest dangers of this that something influences us and affects we are suddenly distr perhaps in a meeting of him reading a book or in some event that happens and we are made to feel something of this longing of which I've been speaking something disturbance we feel we can't go on like this we see that there's something better and higher and we are anxious to get this something higher than better but nothing ever comes of it why well because we don't do anything about it. [00:26:36]

He doesn't allow the feeling to pass he doesn't say well very interesting but of course they're sort of thing comes and did God he knew teacher well I've seen many new teachers before nothing's come of them you'll find all that put in detail that around that was the kind of way in which these people argue but Nicodemus is aware that there's something here that he's never seen before and he said I can't I must I'm bound to find out about this so he decides that whatever the risks whatever the cost he found an interview with this new teacher that has suddenly appeared he's so concerned about it that he acts upon his feeling. [00:28:39]

The absolute necessity of application and of action and of following our impulses following our feelings listening to these deep convictions that come to us and not giving ourselves rest nor peace until we have discovered the secret now I could illustrate this to you endlessly in the lives of God's Saints throughout the centuries that's been the thing that's characterized them they have not just sat down and a loud thing to go they've got up they said I must I cannot rest I will there's a determination well you see it's thought in the New Testament ask and it shall be given unto you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you. [00:28:49]

He knows all about us I say that's in a sense of terrifying thing but in the other sense it's the most comforting thing in the world because in your needs and as you are this morning when you go to him you can be certain he knows exactly watching me we think we know we don't Nicodemus thought he knew but he didn't he was wrong with all his Excellency's he's wrong he doesn't know himself none of us knows ourselves we are ever ready to balance the good with the bend the hope of balance sheets we are always ready to rationalize our sins we think we know what we want. [00:34:49]

He'll put his finger immediately on the essence of your trouble he doesn't need any help any aid he doesn't need any assistance and this I say is to me a most comforting and encouraging thought you can cut through all that we've put up and directed around ourselves he'll expose the ill there it is staring us in the face he do that he always got it he did it here with Nicodemus at once he cuts through the conversation brings him to the point and of course we have got of emphasised this he did so in this occasion in a rather sharp manner almost a brusque manner. [00:35:56]

Here's a great principle we've got to submit utterly and absolutely to him if you don't do so voluntarily you make you do it he will insist upon it he's always in charge you cannot go to him with any kind of reservations because he knows every he knows all about you and he will always make it plain he'll bring you to face the one big obstacle in your case that stands between you and receiving of his fulness and grace upon grace. [00:39:18]

The man who eventually receives of their fulness is the man who knows that he's completely helpless and absolutely hopeless there is no more subtle point I sometimes think in the hull of the spiritual life in this particular matter then just that you may feel the need of help but you've got to feel helpless you've got to feel completely hopeless as long as you feel you only need further help you're still standing on your own feet aren't you you're still in charge of yourself you say alright I've arrived here he's one step further I've got to go from here to there now that's the fatal thing in the whole of this metal. [00:45:12]

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Transcript
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