Pinocchio's Problem

August 15, 2021                       NOTES NOT EDITED
Pinocchio’s Problem
John 3:1-16

SIS:  Being born is not enough to be alive.

Pinocchio is a wonderful children’s story.  It is hard to find a child anywhere T.V.s are sold who hasn’t heard about the beloved puppet crafted with great care by Geppetto.  The story could be used as a lesson on what it means to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved.  Pinocchio was wonderfully crafted by Geppetto.  But, Pinocchio was not alive.  As wonderful as he was, he was not a “real boy.”  Geppetto longed for Pinocchio to be a real boy.  Now think of man.  Man was wonderfully crafted in the Garden of Eden by Almighty God.  The human body is a miraculous work of art.  But, Adam was not a “real man”– he was not really alive – until God breathed His Spirit into him and Adam became a “living soul” – or as Pinocchio would say, “A real boy.”

Men, women, or children who have never received the gift of eternal life from God through Jesus Christ are like Pinocchio when he was first crafted by Geppetto.  He was a wonderful work of art – but he was not alive Likewise, when a child is born into this world they are a wonderful work of creation – “fearfully and wonderfully made.”  But, we are all born with one serious flaw – theologians call it, “original sin.”  The sin of Adam infects every child born.  After a child reaches the “age of accountability” (5, 6, 7—we don’t know for sure), the penalty for Adam’s sin must be paid—eternal death.  The only way to remove that penalty is to accept what Jesus did on the cross when He died for the sin of man, and be “born-again.”  Being born once is not enough to be truly alive, eternally alive.  You “must be born-again.”  

Nicodemus was Pharisee, a very devout and religious Jew.  In fact, he was an “expert in religion.”  Jesus, also a devout Jew, looked Nicodemus straight in the eye and said, “Being religious is not enough—you must be born-again?”

Another way of saying this is: “Even good people can and do go to hell.”  Religion is like being born once – salvation requires being born twice. 

This encounter Nicodemus had with Jesus raises three important questions about what it means to be born-again.

1.  The First Quesiton is “Why be born-again?”

Look at verse 7.  Jesus says very directly,
“You MUST be born-again.”

Why be born-again?  Because there is absolutely no other way to get into the Kingdom of Heaven!

The Greek construction of this phrase makes it clear that being born–again is absolutely necessary to gaining eternal life.  One N.T. scholar preserves this meaning in his translation: “it behooveth you to be born again” (Young).  I understand “behoove.”  It comes from an old West Virginia world that means: “I suggest strongly you get moving in this direction.”  I remember my Mom saying, “It behooves you to get over here right now!”   I know that there was no other option than to comply with the command.  That’s what Jesus meant when he said, “you MUST be born-again.”  It is not an option if you want eternal life.

The word, “again” actually means, “from above.” It is a God Thing!
God sets the requirements for salvation—not man.

Being “Born-again” describes the spiritual transformation that takes place when a person is saved.  Something radical happens when a baby is born.  The process of birth leaves no doubt that the world has been changed forever.  Spiritual birth is such a radical transformation that if there is any doubt as to whether you are saved – you probably aren’t and should talk to someone right away.  Spiritual birth is even more radical and transforming than when a baby bursts forth from the womb of a mother.  

When we are born once we have a relationship with the world around us.  We have a relationship with our environment that we can experience through the five senses (assuming we do not have a medical condition like blindness, etc.)  We can experience things beyond what our five senses tell us.  We can experience love for example.  We can establish important relationships with others. When we are born into this world we not only have a relationship to the physical world through our senses, or the social world through our emotions, we can experience the world through our mind.  We can achieve great things through our intellect.  Being born once allows us to have a tremendous relationship with our world.  But, this is not enough.  Even with all we can experience by being born into this world, we can never experience “salvation.”  We can never through our physical, emotional, or intellectual faculties experience the “real meaning of life.”  Without a relationship with God through Christ, we only experience a very small fraction of reality – as spectacular as that reality may seem, it is still only a small part of the whole.  

Imagine the situation like this.  Being born once is like growing up in a wonderful castle.  There is much to explore in the varied rooms of the castle.  The castle grounds are immaculately groomed and there are many wonderful places to experience.  But, you never leave the castle.  There is no T.V. or contact with the outside world at all.  All you know is the castle.  As marvelous as it is, it is still a very small part of the whole.  A person may indeed be quite happy and content in the castle.  They food is plentiful and the experiences quite pleasant But, your experience would be so small—so limited.

That’s how Nicodemus was.  He was a deeply devout and religious man.  He was quite a learned man.  He was a Pharisee.  He spent his days in religious study and devotion.  The religious devotion of a Pharisee was unmatched by anyone then or sense in regard to religion.  Nicodemus was not only a Pharisee, but he was also a member of the elite ruling council of the Jews called the Sanhedrin.  From all external appearances it would appear that if anyone know what it meant to have “salvation,” Nicodemus was surely such a person.  Yet, this is what Jesus said to this good, devoutly religious person: “You MUST be born-again.”

Without this transformation of the soul – even a person as good, devout, and religious as Nicodemus will miss heaven.  Look at vs 3

“No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born-again.”

Did Nicodemus understand the gravity of what Jesus said, Notice in verse 4 how Nicodemus reacts:  “How can a man be born-again when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 

Nicodemus reacts in horror, bewilderment, and confusion. Nicodemus said, “Such a thing is impossible.  How can a person enter into his mother’s womb and be born a second time?” The reaction of Nicodemus leads us to the second question we must answer in order to understand “real salvation.” 

That question is

2.  What does it mean to be “born-again”? 

Being born–again is a mystery.

In the case of Pinocchio, the beautiful Blue Fairy made him come alive with the touch of her wand.  In the case of someone who becomes a Christian, the process is even more wonderful and mysterious.  It is something only the Spirit of God can do.  The Apostle Paul said (1Tim. 3:16):

“Beyond all question, the mystery of Godliness is great.”

The word, “mystery” does NOT refer to something that is impossible to understand, only something that is impossible to understand without God.

What does it mean to be “born-again?”  This is indeed an important question.  It is a question that has troubled the intellects of great men throughout history.  Many people reject Christianity because they reject the miraculous.  Theologians like Rudolph Bultmann have tried to scrub away the miraculous elements of the gospel so “men of intellect” could accept it.  

The gospel of salvation without the miraculous is like a ice-cream cone without ice cream

Salvation IS a mystery.  There is no getting around it.  New birth

happens in a completely different dimension than the three-dimensional world we live in.  New birth is spiritual, miraculous, cloaked in mystery. Even a learned man like Nicodemus was clueless about the New Birth. The Bible says in verse 7 that Nicodemus was “surprised” (NLT, amazed, do not marvel).

This word was commonly used by Rabbis (Jesus was a Rabbi remember) to indicate that a student was being “thick-headed.”   

The word, “surprised” referred to a lack of insight or inability to think deeply on a matter. It indicates a rebellious, childish attitude.

Nicodemus could not appreciate the wonder and mystery of new birth because he was only thinking with his mind and not his heart.  This is a common problem all humans face.  If we can’t see it, hear it, taste it, smell it, touch it or analyze it in a test-tube we disregard it. Nicodemus is the example of how mankind buries his intellectual head in the sand of science without taking into account the God of nature.  Spiritual birth – being born-again – happens in a different dimension, a different level of existence.

There is one level of existence we call the natural, “flesh”.  There is another we call the supernatural, “spirit.”  In order to be “really alive” we must operate in both dimensions.    Look at verse 6.  Jesus said,

6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

There is a “natural life” we gain through being born into this world.  There are indeed several levels of natural life.  The lowest is ① vegetable life, like the fungus or the potato.  Certainly, you would agree you are more than a fungus or potato!  There is another level of life we call ② animal life.  This stretches everywhere from a single-celled amoeba to the great creatures that sail the skies and swim the sea.  Biology would even put man in this category.  But, certainly you know that man is much more than an amoeba or a monkey – regardless of how we may act sometimes.   There is another level of life, it is ③ human life.  It is a life that spawns space pioneers and poets.  It is a life that can think, feel, and accomplish.  It is life that is only found on this tiny speck of cosmic dust we call earth.   Certainly, human life is a marvel.  But, human life is “natural life” as I said before.  Human life is like being a Pinocchio tethered to the strings of materialism and manipulated by circumstance.  There is a higher order of life than that which is “born of flesh.”   Jesus goes on to say in verse 6: “That which is born of Spirit, is spirit.” 

Real life is ④ spiritual life.  This begins when you are “born again.” Spiritual life is cloaked in mystery.  Eternal life is not subject to study in the laboratory.  Eternal life cannot be dissected and studied like a frog on a lab table.  There is mystery in salvation that we can never fully understand this side of heaven – and perhaps not even in heaven itself. 

Nicodemus was right to be shocked by the mystery of “being born again” because he was trying to analyze new birth like a scientist  analyzes a soil sample.  Nicodemus wanted to know God with his mind and ignore Him with his heart.  He wanted a “fleshy religion” instead of a spiritual relationship.  Real life at its deepest level is a great mystery.  We have to get beyond the gravy to the real meat and potatoes below.

A grandpa asked his little grandson, “Jimmy, why don’t you ever eat your gravy?”  Jimmy replied, “Because you never know what’s underneath.”  Some people avoid the mysteries of the spirit like Jimmy avoided the gravy because we don’t always know what will happen in the spirit realm.  Jesus said, “Spirit gives birth to spirit. This is a mystery we must embrace if we want to see heaven.

When we come to God, we must come to Him in faith, “like a little child.”   Salvation does not begin in the intellect, but in the will.  This is so important let me say it again:

“Salvation does not begin in the intellect, it is born in the will.” It is not a matter of “can I believe it,” but a matter of “will I believe it?” 

If you wait until someone can answer all your philosophical and theological questions before you surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, you will die in your sins and be asking questions for eternity!

Jesus said in verse 8 that Spiritual life is like the “wind.”  You can’t see it, but you know it is there because it changes and affects things all around you.

Salvation, being born-again, is a supernatural event that is cloaked in the mystery and majesty of God.  Surrender to God’s control in life is the only way to find security for your soul and satisfaction for your mind.

3.  Now, consider a third question: How does this miracle of salvation happen?

Salvation is a very simple process that, though the process is shrouded in mystery, the result is attained in a very simple, ordinary way.   Jesus said the method God uses for salvation involves simple addition:   Water + Spirit.  Look at verse 5:

5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Now, it is fairly clear what the “Spirit” refers to.

It is the very Spirit of God.  It is the same “Spirit, or breath” that God blew into the nostrils of a pile of clay named, Adam, and Adam became a “living soul.”  It is that same idea by which Pinocchio receives the force of life and became a “real boy.”  There is no salvation without the Spirit.  There is no “real life” without the Sprit.  This is the mysterious part of the process.  The Spirit as Jesus said, “Is like the wind.”  We can see the effects or results of the wind, but we cannot see the wind.  There is something mysterious about seeing a leaf flying on the invisible tail of the wind, being carried along seemingly by nothing.  And yet, that nothing is really something.  The same is true of the Spirit.  We may not understand the process fully, but we know that the Spirit is something, not nothing—like wind is something, not nothing.  To be born-again carries us into the dimension of the supernatural, or the Spirit.  A realm where what seems like “nothing” is more “Something” than anything we can see, taste, touch, smell, or hear.  

But, what is this “water” involved in the process of salvation?

Some suggest it means ①“baptism.”  Some churches teach that you must be “baptized in water to be saved.”  The Bible does not teach this.  The Bible teaches that you are not a proper candidate for water baptism until AFTER you have been saved.  The water here is NOT baptism.

I’ve read where some suggest that the “water” here refers to ②“natural birth.”  The real beginning of the birth process comes when we say that a woman’s “water has broken,” referring to the breaking of the amniotic sack surrounding the baby.  I have no real disagreement with saying a person must first be born before he or she can be born-AGAIN.  But, this is merely stating the obvious.

The “water” here refers to the ③Word of God.  Titus 3:5 says,

5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 

Washing is a process. Water is the what we wash with or in.  “To wash” was a “preliminary event” in preparation for something else in the Jewish religion (and many other religions). Washing was an important part of the Jewish ritual.  Before one entered into religious activities, they washed with water.  Washing in water was a preparatory event, like we wash our hands to prepare for eating.

But, you can’t wash a soul in literal water!  So,how is a soul prepared for the experience of receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, or being born-again.   What is a soul washed in?   1Peter 1:23 clearly tells us that the “word of God” is instrumental in preparing us for salvation.  

23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Paul also says in Romans 10:17 that:

17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Hearing the Word of God preached—like I am doing now—or hearing the gospel from a personal friend, or even from a leaflet or tract, is essential preparation to being born-again.  

The “water” is The Word!  When combined with the activity of the Spirit of God it brings salvation.  The simple, ordinary method God uses to bring people to a saving knowledge of Himself is the preaching of the Word combined with the power of the Spirit.

You—here in our auditorium or by some other medium—have heard the Word preached.  It has washed over you to prepare you to receive the Spirit of God into your life so you can be born-again. 

Are you ready to surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ and become his disciple.  Do you want to be more than a wonderfully carved puppet tethered to the strings of the material world?  All you have to do is surrender your life to Jesus Christ and let his Spirit fill your inmost being.  Now, what about those of us who have been born-again already? 

There is an application for us in this text also. Are we being carried about on the Wings of God’s Spirit Are you letting God’s Spirit fill the sail of your faith to blow you to where God wants you to be? 

“You MUST be born-again.”  There is no other way to get to heaven.

Being born once is not enough, you must be “born–again to be really alive.

PERSONAL APPLICATION (John 3:1-16)

 1.  What first comes to mind when you think of Pinocchio?

 2.  Read John 1:1.  What is significant about John beginning his gospel about Jesus with “In the beginning” rather than with the birth of Jesus?  See if John 20:30-31 give you a clue?  Matthew 16:13-16 might help, too.

 3.  List at least three facts about Jesus from John 1:1-5.

4.  Read John 3:12.  What does this say about “how” a person becomes saved?  How would you explain this to a non-believer?

 5.  Read John 3:13.  What problem, or way of thinking, keeps many (most) people from believing in God?  Can something be “real” but not directly experienced through our five senses?  Explain.

 6.  Read John 3:1. Nicodemus was a Pharisee—expert in the Jewish religion.  Yet, he did not understand the most basic concept of faith, being born-again.  What does this tell you about “being religious, even devoutly religious?”

 7.  Read John 3:7-9.  Do Christian believe based upon “blind faith,” or are there reasonable explanations for spiritual truths?  Explain.

 8.  Read John 3:16.  List five aspects of God’s love from this verse.