How can these things be? Now,
Nicodemus is confused. What the Lord had just said to
him did not make sense. How can a man be born again?
How can he be born from above? How can he be born of water and
the Spirit? This just is not registering
with me. It just doesn't make sense. How
can these things be? I do not understand. And I do
not believe he was being a smart aleck when he asked this question.
I do not believe he was being insincere or disrespectful to
the Lord. He's asking this question. You
say I must be born again. You say I must be born from above.
How? How can these things be? How
can these things happen? I need an explanation. I need
proof. I need verification of this.
Am I supposed to believe it just because you said it? How can
these things be? Give me an explanation. Now,
in verse 10. The Lord answers. Jesus answered
and said unto him. Are you a master of Israel and
you don't know these things? You mean to tell me that you're
a teacher in Israel and you do not know what I'm speaking of? You see, the Lord was not teaching
something new. He was not teaching something
that had not already been taught. In the Old Testament, you see,
if something's new, it's no good. If it's new, it's not true. If
it's true, it's always been true. And he's saying this is what
the Old Testament has always taught. Ezekiel chapter 36, verse
26, God said, a new heart will I give you and a new spirit will
I put within you. Nicodemus, you claim to be a
teacher and you don't even know the basics. You can't learn to
spell until you first learn your ABCs. You can't learn to read
until you first learn to spell. You can't learn calculus if you
can't add and subtract. He's saying to Nicodemus, you
don't even know the basics and you claim to be a master in Israel. Now, this is interesting, the
way our Lord answers his question, how can these things be? I need
an explanation. And the Lord says in verse 11,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Now, here's his answer. Verily,
verily, Truly, truly, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know. And we're giving testimony to
that which we have seen. The Lord does not give Nicodemus
an explanation as to how these things can be. He simply says,
truly, truly, I say to you, I'm speaking what I know, and I'm
bearing testimony to what I have seen. Now, when I say that God
is, you know I don't need to prove it. It is a self-evident fact. I feel no need to prove it. As a matter of fact, I can't
prove it. I can't prove to you that God
is. But I know he is. And if you say, I don't believe
that, you know, that doesn't shake me up a bit. I still know
that he is. We speak what we know. We testify
to what we have seen when I say the Bible is the word of God. This book that we're looking
at is the inspired, inerrant, Word of God, all scripture is
given by inspiration of God. That's what the Bible claims
for itself. It's the word of God. You know, I can't prove
that to you. I cannot prove it. A lot of people tried to prove
it. It can't be proven. But I know it is. And I'm giving
testimony, I'm not just talking about something I've been indoctrinated
in, I'm giving testimony. This book is the Word of God. Do you know there are presuppositions
that cannot be proven that must be believed? I don't know how else to say
that. There are presuppositions that I can't prove to you. I
can't prove to you God is, I can't prove to you by a demonstration
that you can see that God is, or I can't prove to you that
the Bible is the word of God, but I feel no need to. There
are certain presuppositions that must be believed. If you say, I will not believe
until I have proof, OK, then you won't believe. It's that
simple. And if you don't believe, you'll
be in hell. It's that simple. Now, that's
a solemn statement, but it's so. I can't prove these things. Somebody says, but I can't believe
like that. I know you can't. I know you can't and you won't
unless God gives you the faith. I realize that. You and I are
in the hands of a sovereign God and you and I cannot even believe. Unless he's pleased to give us
that faith. Do you find any safety there
in being in the hands of the sovereign God? I tell you what,
I don't want to be anywhere else. Nicodemus says, how can these
things be? And the Lord replies, we are
speaking what we know. Not what we think, but what we
know, and we're giving testimony to what we have seen where Eyewitnesses,
and if I'm truly preaching the gospel, if I am, I'm speaking
as an eyewitness. I'm not giving secondhand information. I'm speaking what I know, and
I'm bearing testimony. That word testimony is where
we get the word martyr from. That means what I'm preaching,
what I'm saying, I'm willing to die for. That's what that
means. I'm willing to die for this. We're giving testimony to what
we have seen. Now, if a witness is called to
the stand and he says, somebody told me that this took place,
what do we do? Sit him down. He's no witness. A witness is somebody who has
seen something. I think it's interesting in false
religion, they train people to be witnesses. If you've got to
train somebody to be a witness, there's a real problem there,
isn't there? I mean, if you're a witness, you've seen something.
And if I've got to be trained, that means I really haven't seen
anything. I've got to be trained to lie, is what it means. If I have
seen something, I am bearing witness to it. We're giving testimony
to what we've seen and most assuredly believe. Now, what our Lord is
saying to Nicodemus is You're asking me how these things can
be? Well, they are because I said they are. You know, we naturally have a
hard time with that, don't we? What if I said something and I said,
believe it? And you say, well, give me some
proof. Because I said it. You'd get mad at me, wouldn't
you? Matter of fact, I'm not trying to throw stuff at you.
Get him out of here. We don't want to hear this guy. It's true,
you think it's true just because you said it? That's not enough
of a reason. But it's different if he says it's true. Give me some proof. I said it
was. That's the only thing that's
needed, if he said it. That makes it true. Nicodemus,
here's your problem. You don't receive our testimony.
Look in our text, verse 11. Barely, barely, I say unto you,
we speak what we do know and we testify to that which we have
seen and you receive not our witness. There's the problem. You receive not our witness.
Nicodemus, here's your problem. You don't receive our testimony.
And that's why you don't know these things. There is no knowledge,
no true saving knowledge without first receiving the word. First, believe God. And then
you'll understand. And you won't understand until
you first believe. We read in Hebrews 11, verse
three, by faith, we understand that the world were framed by
the word of God so that the things which are seen were not made
of things which do appear. How do we understand? Well, because
it's been proven to us and because we've figured it out. No, by
faith. We understand by faith we receive
these things. You will not understand if you
do not believe. He says in verse 12, if I have
told you earthly things and you believe not, how should you believe
if I tell you of heavenly things? Now, the Lord has given Nicodemus,
we saw this a couple of weeks ago, some very simple illustrations
regarding the new birth. He said you must be born from
above. Now anybody who knows anything
about birth knows you didn't have anything to do with it.
It's a miracle of God. You don't decide to be born again.
You don't, of your own free will, decide I'm going to become born.
No, it's a miracle of God. It's an act of God. It's a work
of God. It's what he does. Anybody can
see that. He talks about the new birth
coming and he uses the wind to illustrate it. The wind blows
where it wills. You hear the sound there and you can't tell
from where it's coming or where it's going. Even so, is everyone
born of the spirit? It's a sovereign work of God.
He gives this life to he gives this spiritual life to whoever
he's pleased to give it to. Now, you can understand those. Illustrations, he said, your
problem is you don't receive them. And you're regarding the
truth regarding the gospel. The problem is not understanding,
having the ability to grasp what's being said. The problem is a
failure to receive it. Let me give you an example. The Bible teaches that God chose
who would be saved. Now, that's not hard to understand.
God chose who would be saved before time began. He passed
by the rest. The Bible teaches that. It's not hard to understand. Now receiving it is another thing. The Bible teaches that Jesus
Christ died for the elect and accomplished their salvation.
That's not hard to understand. Everybody he died for, their
sins are paid for. He put them away. That's not
hard to understand. The problem comes with receiving
it. That's where people get stuck.
It's not hard to understand. The Bible teaches that God's
grace is invincible. It actually saves. It's irresistible.
By grace, you are saved. That's not hard to understand.
You know what I mean by that? The problem is receiving it.
Now, he says, here's your problem, Nicodemus. You're saying you
want these proofs and so on. But in reality, you're not receiving
what I'm saying. If I've told you these earthly
things and you believe not, these simple illustrations, how in
the world do you think you're going to believe what I tell
you of heavenly things? Verse 13. And no man hath ascended
up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son
of man which is in heaven. No man has ascended up to heaven
to get their questions answered. How can these things be? Well,
I'm going to go up to heaven and find out. He said, no, that has not
happened. But he says, I've come down from heaven to declare the
truth. And I am such that even while I'm speaking to you, I'm
in heaven." Isn't that a remarkable passage? Even the Son of Man,
he doesn't say, was used to be in heaven. But he says, while
I'm standing here on earth talking to you, I'm in heaven. He's God the Son. And I've come
down to make known the truth. I'm the God man. I'm the Son
of God. How can these things be? Our
Lord says, because I said they are. I want to ask you a question.
Do you have any problem with that? If he said these things
are. I know we're not talking about
because Todd said they are. I mean, I understand you have
a problem with that. That would be revolting. But
this is Todd speaking. This is the God man, Jesus Christ,
the Lord. He said these things are because I said they are. Faith, in its very essence, is
believing what God has said. That's where we've got to begin. Faith. If I'm ever going to have
faith, here's what it is. I'm believing what God has said. Can you believe God? Can His
Word be trusted? Turn to Romans chapter 4 for
a moment. Verse 1. What shall we say then that Abraham,
our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if
Abraham were justified by words, he'd have something to glory
in, but not before God. For what saith the Scripture?
Abraham believed God. Now, do you remember when God
said to Abraham, Abraham didn't have any kids, Sarah was 90 years
old, it's not very likely that she's going to be with child,
is it? As a matter of fact, she's already
gone through the process of menopause. It was impossible for her to
have a child. And God said to Abraham, he said,
look at the stars. Look at the stars, you can't
even count them. See if you can count the sand,
which is by the seashore, it can't be done. Now, that's how
your seed is going to be. Now, God said that to Abraham.
Now, could Abraham explain how that's going to take place? Could
he give an explanation as to how God could do this? Of course
not. But God said it. That's something. Abraham believed
God. And it was canon to him for righteousness.
Stay there in Romans chapter 4, look at verse 17. As it is written. Now, here's where We hear what
God says. It's written. That's it. It's not just what some fella
says. It's written. This is what God says. Now, can
I prove to you that it's written means God said, no, I can't prove
it, but I know it's so. I believe it. It's written. I've made thee a father of many
nations. And he said, I've made thee a father of many nations
before it took place. He didn't say, I will make you
a father of many nations. He said, I have made you a father
of many nations. You know, God's will is so supreme.
then it's past tense before it ever takes place. When he wills
it, it's happened. I've made thee the father of
many nations. Before him whom ye believed,
even God who quickened the dead and caused those things which
be not, as though they were. Isn't that amazing? You don't
have any kids, but I said you're going to have them, so you've
already had them. Even though they're not, they already are. who against
hope, all human hope, he believed in hope that he might become
the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so
shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith,
he considered not his own body, now dead, when he was about a
hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb.
He didn't even think about that because God said you're going
to have these children. He staggered not at the promise of God through
unbelief, but was strong in faith. giving glory to God and being
fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able also
to perform. Can you look at me and tell that
I'm perfect at God's eyes? No. I still am, though. Perfect in God's sight through
the righteousness of Christ. Perfect. God said, I am. I believe God. I believe what he said, I can't
prove it to you, but I believe what he has said. I repeat, how could these things
be? Because he said they are. God's word can be trusted now
back to our text in John, chapter three, I want you to notice this.
Verse 11. The Lord is speaking to Nicodemus,
verily, verily, truly, truly, I say unto thee. I speak what I do know, that's
not what he says, is it? He says, verily, verily, I say
unto thee, We speak what we do know. And we give testimony to
what we have actually seen. Now, why does he use the word
we? We speak what we know and we
are giving testimony to what we've seen. Why does he use the
word we? Was he referring to all three persons of the Blessed
Trinity? No, it does say in Genesis 1, let us make man in our own
image. That's. The Trinity of God speaking,
let us make man, is he talking about, well, with all three persons
of the Blessed Trinity are giving reference to this, well, that
certainly included. But when he says we speak that which we
do know and we give testimony to what we've actually seen,
he is actually speaking the same way that John chapter four, turn
over to verse twenty two, John chapter four. Verse 21, Jesus saith unto her,
Woman, believe me, the hour cometh when you should neither in this
mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father. You worship
you know not what. We know what we worship, for
salvation is of the Jews. Now he's speaking of every believer.
We know what we worship. He's not just talking about a
select few. Everybody who worships God, we
know who he is. We know what we worship. Salvation
is of the Jews. So when our Lord says we're giving
testimony to what we know. We speak what we know. He's speaking
as the representative, really, of every believer. We speak what
we do know. And we're bearing testimony to
that which we have actually seen. Now, a true witness, he tells
what he's seen. He speaks of that which he actually
knows. It's not second-hand information.
He really knows what he's bearing witness to, and that's why he
speaks with confidence. If you don't believe, he's not
intimidated by that because he's talking about what he's seen.
Well, I don't believe it. Well, I've seen it, so that's okay. I mean, if you
don't believe, free country, you know, but I know what I've seen.
I know what I believe. It's been revealed to me. This
is the way a true witness speaks. Now, how do you know? That's
what I've titled this message. How do you know? Well, let me tell
you how I know in my preaching, in what I'm
bearing witness to. How do you know? I know because
God said it. That's enough. I know because
God said it. Secondly, I know because He revealed
it to me. You remember when the Lord asked
His disciples, whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? They
replied, well, they put you in some pretty high court. Some
say you're John the Baptist. Others, Jeremiah or one of the
prophets. They say some good things about you. He said, but
whom say ye that I am? And Peter answered, Thou art
the Christ, the Son of the living God. And our Lord said, Blessed
art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed
it to thee. But my father, which is in heaven. How do you know he revealed this
to me? I know because he said in his
word, I'm not talking about some kind of private revelation that
he revealed to me, he didn't reveal to anybody else. No, this
is we begin with his word. What say the scripture? God said
it. Someone says God said it, I believe
it, that settles it. No, God said it, that settles it, whether
you and I believe it or not. I believe because He revealed
it to me. Here's the third reason I know
what I believe is so. Because I've experienced it.
You know, you don't really believe anything you haven't experienced. If you haven't experienced it,
you don't really believe it. Like, I believe the Bible's the
Word of God, not simply because I've been indoctrinated in that.
I've experienced this is God's Word. I know it. I know that
salvation is by grace, not only because the Bible teaches it,
not only because it's revealed to me, but that's the way God
saved me. I know as sure as I'm talking to you, the only reason
I'm saved is because of grace. I know that. I've experienced
it. When I talk about being sinful, I know I'm a sinner because I've
experienced it. Not as much as probably I should
know, but I've experienced it. I mean, yes, God said it. I believe
because he said it. That's enough of a reason to
believe it. And I believe it because it's been revealed to
me and I believe because I've experienced it. You believe what
you have actually experienced. How do you know by experience? So I'm I'm going to attempt to. Well, I'm not going to attempt
it, I'm going to do it. I'm going to say exactly what the Lord
said. I speak what I do know. I'm giving testimony to what
I personally have seen. And when I say I'm giving testimony
to it, I'm saying I believe this so thoroughly that I'm willing
to die for it. We speak what we know and we
give testimony to what we've seen. For instance, I've already
made the statement. I'll make it again. I know that
the Bible is the Word of God. I know it. Peter said, knowing this first,
that no scriptures of any private interpretation. The prophecy
came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. I know the Bible is the
Word of God. And when somebody says, well,
I really don't believe that, you know, it doesn't shake me up.
If someone that's real intelligent, a whole lot more intelligent
to me, tells me, well, I can prove to you it's not. I can
find all kinds of inconsistencies in it. You know, it doesn't shake
me up. I know it's the word of God. It claims to be. God says it is. All scripture
is given by inspiration of God. It's been revealed to me. I believe
the Bible is the word of God. I've experienced it. I've tasted
it. This is God's I know, and so does the Lord,
and so does every other believer. I know that Jesus Christ is God. He said, I and my Father are
one. I know that Jesus Christ is God.
I know it because He said it. I know it because it's been revealed
to me and I know it because I've experienced it. You remember
what Thomas, the doubting disciple, said after the Lord showed him
his hands and his feet? You remember how he bowed before
him and he said, My Lord and my God. Do you know I say that
with just as much conviction as he did? He's my Lord. He's my God. I know it by experience.
I know that Jesus is the Christ. When I'm speaking of Jesus being
the Christ, I know He is. Now, what does this mean, He's
the Christ? It's not just His last name. It means He's God's
anointed. He's God's anointed prophet.
He's God's anointed priest. He's God's anointed king. He
is the Word of God. He's God's prophet. I know His
intercession as the priest is affectionate. God hears Him.
I'm saved for His sake. I know He's God's king. I know
He rules and reigns in all ways. I know that. Well, how do you
know? Well, He said He was. That's enough for me. been revealed
to me, and I have experienced it. We believe, said Peter, and
are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Now,
I am sure of that. You ask me about anything else
I'm sure about, I might hedge. But I'm sure of this. He is the
Son of God. He is God's Christ. He is God's
anointed prophet, priest, and king. I know that, and I'm sure
And you know, I know why he was sent. He was announced at his
birth, that's why I call his name Jesus, for he shall save
his people from their sins. And John said in 1 John 3, 5,
we know, we know that he was manifested to take away our sins. And in him is no sins. We know
that, don't we? We know it. I know why he came. You know, Paul said in Romans
7, I know that in me that is in my flesh
dwelleth no good thing. Do you know that? Well, I do. And the reason I
know is because he said it. And so if I see some good thing,
I know it's not real because he said there's no good thing
in me. He said that. I know it because He revealed
it to me. That's the reason I know it. And I know it by experience. I know that in me that is in
my flesh dwells no good thing. Do you know that? We know that salvation by law
is impossible. We know it. We speak of what
we know. Now what do I mean salvation
by law? What does the Bible mean by salvation by law? By the works
of the law, there should no flesh be justified in his sight, for
by the law is the knowledge of sin. What's that mean? That means
that if salvation, if standing before God when you're accepted,
is in any way dependent upon you, you won't be saved. That's what that means. If any
part of my salvation is contingent upon me doing something in order
for it to work, then I will not be saved. Now, I know that so. Let me read this scripture, Romans
3, 19 and 20. Now we know, Paul says, we know
that what things soever the law sayeth, it says to them that
are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all
the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds
of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. For
by the law is the knowledge of sin. Do you know that? Well,
he said, that's the way it is, so yeah, I know it. And you know,
that's been revealed to me. And I've experienced that. I've
experienced it. There's no way I can be saved
by what I did. I know his blood redeemed. Turn
with me to 1 Peter chapter 1 for a moment. Now, the language is very important
here. Well, the language is always
important in Scripture. God says it exactly as it should be said.
Verse 18. Peter is speaking to every believer,
and he says, for as much as you know, 1 Peter 1, 18, for as much
as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things,
the silver and gold from your vain conversation received by
tradition from your fathers, but you were redeemed with the
precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot. Now, here's the thing I want to call to your attention. You
know you weren't redeemed by corruptible things. You know
you were redeemed, not you will be redeemed, if, but you know
you were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. Now, you know
this. If Jesus Christ died for you,
you're redeemed. Your sins put away. It's gone. It's not you will be redeemed
if you do something to make it work. No, you know you were redeemed
when he said it is finished. It's finished. You're redeemed. You know that regarding the blood
of Christ, you know, he couldn't possibly shed his blood for you
and you wind up in hell anyway. You know, his precious blood
redeems. We know that salvation is by
grace. We know that. I think of what
Paul said to the Corinthians, you know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ. You know. I know salvation, we're
talking about salvation by grace, talking about saving grace, talking
about electing grace, talking about redeeming grace. Talking
about justifying grace. Talking about life-giving grace.
Talking about preserving grace. Talking about glorifying grace.
You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know grace
saves, don't you? I don't have to convince you
of it. You know it. You know it because God said
it. You know it because it's been revealed to you. And you
know it because you've experienced this yourself. You know salvation
is of the Lord, don't you? We're speaking, Nicodemus, what
we do know. And we're bearing testimony to
what we have seen. You know, we know that whatever
we have, he gave it to us freely. Listen to this scripture, First
Corinthians, Chapter two, verse 12. Now we've received not the
spirit of the world, but the spirit, which is of God, that
we might know. The things freely given to us.
Of God. I know that what I have, He gave
me and He didn't have to find a reason in me to give it to
me. I know that. Justification, He justified us
freely by His grace. The faith I have, I know He gave
it to me. I know I wouldn't have it if He didn't give it to me.
The love I have for Him, I love the Lord Jesus Christ. I adore
Him. He's my Lord and my God. I love
Him. I love Him. And I know the love
that I have in him, he gave to me. I know it didn't come from
me. I'm just sure of that. Repentance, personal, whatever
it is, I know he freely gave it to me. That word freely means
without a cause. I know that. You know that too, don't you?
You know it. Listen to this scripture, Romans
chapter 8, verse 28. It's a scripture we're all familiar
with. And we know, we know that all
things Work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are called according to His purpose. We know that. They may
not know it, but we do. We do. We know. All things work
together for good. We believe that. He's revealed
it. Paul said in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, we know. I love thinking
about this. We know that if our earthly house
of this tabernacle were dissolved, if we die, we have a building
of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We know that. We actually know
the future. I'm going to be in glory. I've got a building not made
with hands. We know he's coming back. Paul said, For you yourselves
know perfectly that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in
the night. You know that. Well, how do you
know? Well, because he said he was. That's enough of a reason. And we know that when he does
return, we'll be like him. And every believer can say this.
We know, John said in 1 John 3, we know that when He shall
appear, we'll be like Him, perfectly conformed to His image, for we
shall see Him as He is. Now, that's the promise. We know
that. We know that. And if somebody calls this into
question here, it doesn't intimidate me. I'm not shaken up. I don't believe that. I just
don't. Well, OK. OK. But I do. Because I know. And when our
Lord says to Nicodemus, Nicodemus, how can these things be? How
do you expect me to believe this? I need an explanation. I need
some understanding. I can't believe until you prove
something to me. The Lord says, Nicodemus, we
speak that which we do know. And we give testimony to what
we've actually seen. And he's speaking of every believer
we do know. Do you believe the testimony? Do you believe the witness? Now,
I'm talking to you right now. I'm either a liar or I'm telling
you the truth. Can you say we speak that which
we do know? And we're giving testimony to
what we have seen. Am I, are you, a we? I am and I know that many of
you are too. Let's pray.