Nicodemus Comes to Christ
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Christ’s work on earth, he could not understand his work in Heaven.
Jesus referred Nicodemus to the prophecies of David and Ezekiel:—
“And I will give them one heart, and I will a new spirit within you;
and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them
an heart of flesh; that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine
ordinances, and do them; and they shall be my people, and I will be
their God.” “And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all
the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from
thence.” “Therefore, I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one
according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves
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from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast
away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed;
and make you a new heart and a new spirit.” “Create in me a clean
heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away
from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto
me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then
will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto
thee.” “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I within
you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will
give you an heart of flesh.”
The learned Nicodemus had read these pointed prophecies with a
clouded mind, but now he began to comprehend their true meaning,
and to understand that even a man as just and honorable as himself must
experience a new birth through Jesus Christ, as the only condition upon
which he could be saved, and secure an entrance into the kingdom
of God. Jesus spoke positively that unless a man is born again he
cannot discern the kingdom which Christ came upon earth to set up.
Rigid precision in obeying the law would entitle no man to enter the
kingdom of Heaven.
There must be a new birth, a new mind through the operation of the
Spirit of God, which purifies the life and ennobles the character. This
connection with God fits man for the glorious kingdom of Heaven. No
human invention can ever find a remedy for the sinning soul. Only by
repentance and humiliation, a submission to the divine requirements,
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can the work of grace be performed. Iniquity is so offensive in the
sight of God, whom the sinner has so long insulted and wronged, that
a repentance commensurate with the character of the sins committed
often produces an agony of spirit hard to bear.