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THE MUSTS OF SOULS
“Marvel not that I said
unto thee, ye must be born again” (John 3:7)
Could there be
any greater contrasts than that which is offered in chapters 3 and 4 of the
Gospel of John? Nicodemus was a well-educated man; he was a moral man and a
ruler of the Jews. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish governing and
religious body of the Jews under the Romans. He had power, position, reputation,
and probably wealth. On the other hand the woman in chapter 4 had been married
five times and the man with whom she was living at the time was not her husband.
Yet, Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again and the Samaritan
woman at the well that she needed to drink of the water which he would give,
that she needed to be saved also. In John 3 and 4 there are 5 “musts” which
speak of the musts of the soul and the need of the sinner. Jesus reminds us that
all people need a savior, no matter what they think about themselves or who they
might be.
I. THE MUST OF THE SINNER (3:7)
Why do people need a Savior? Why do
they need to be born again? There are two reasons.
A. Because of the sinfulness of men
The Bible tells us that all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). The writer of
Ecclesiastes writes “There is not a just man upon the earth that doeth good
and sinneth not.”
B. Because of the holiness of God
The Bible tells us that a holy God
cannot at all acquit the guilty (Exod. 34:7). He who is absolutely pure cannot
at all look upon sin or ignore the penalty that it demands. The wages of sin
is death (Rom. 6:23). Sin separates between God and man (Isa. 59:2).
How then can sinful man be born again
and be accepted by a holy God? Jesus said “Verily, verily I say unto you except
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of
God”(John 3:5). To be born of water does not speak of baptism, but of the Word
of God. John 15:2 says “Now are you clean through the word which I have spoken
unto you.” James 1:18 says “Of his own will begot He us with the word of truth.”
Paul writes in Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing
of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God and in particular the
gospel of Christ to convict the sinner of his sin, of the righteousness of the
Lord Jesus Christ and of the judgment to come for those who know not Christ. The
sinner under the power of the Holy Spirit believes that Jesus died for his sins
and that his only hope of forgiveness and heaven is found in Jesus’ blood and
righteousness. He is quickened and made spiritually alive. He is born again by
God’s grace.
II. THE MUST OF THE SAVIOR (3:14-16)
The measure of love is always its
willingness to give; its capacity to sacrifice. If we would measure the love of
God we must measure it by Calvary. Paul said “He spared not his own Son, but
delivered Him up for us all.” Was ever so great a gift given to sinners? In
giving Christ, God gave us all things in Him. Do we need forgiveness? God’s
forgiveness is in Him. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Do we need peace
with God? “Christ made peace through the blood of his cross.” Do we need
cleansing? “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” Do we need
justification? Assurance of salvation? Power to overcome an evil habit and
strong temptation? Fellowship with God? Equipping for service?
Joy, comfort and hope? All these we
have in Christ. Poor sinners find in Jesus all they need for salvation,
sanctification, and glorification. But all these blessings are not apart from
the cross. Jesus said “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish but have eternal life”(3:14-15). If we were going to be saved,
if our sins were going to be put away Christ must die as our substitute. He must
die the innocent in the place of the guilty, the innocent on behalf of the
guilty. The sin penalty must be paid and we could not pay it ourselves. We can
say that payment was:
A. Provided by the love of God (3:16)
B. Purchased by the Son of God (3:14-16)
III. THE MUST OF SELF (V.27-30)
A. The Power of God (v.27)
“A man can receive nothing except it
be given him from heaven,” Man apart from God cannot accomplish anything that
endures. Man by God’s help can accomplish many things for God’s glory.
B. The Preeminence of Christ (v. 30)
“He must increase, but I must
decrease” Literally, this verse says He must be continually increasing and I
must be continually decreasing. There is no place for self in the Lord’s work.
All things should be done for His glory. In all things He is to have the
preeminence.
John the Baptist recognized this for he continually said “I am not the
Christ.” He said he was not worthy to unloosen his shoe latchet. John the
Baptist said Jesus came from above and he is above all (3:31). He is the one
the Father loveth and has given all things into his hand (3:35). Therefore,
everything we do should honor the one whom the Father and the Spirit honor.
IV. THE MUST OF SOULS (4:4)
“He must needs go through Samaria”
Jesus had a compassion for lost
souls. There were some of his sheep in Samaria and He must go there and find
them. May we like our Lord have a compassion for souls.
A. Compassion for a fallen woman 4:4-19
Here was a woman who had been married
five times and was now living with someone who was not her husband. Jesus
offered her the living water of salvation. Sometimes, we shy away from those
whose reputations are tarnished; those whose sins are more prominent. Jesus
said those who are well do not need a physician. Whether they are “up and out”
or “down and out” they still need to be born again; they still need a savior.
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us as white as snow. No charge can be
lodged against us and condemnation will ever come to us if we believe the
gospel of how that Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised again
the third day. Such is the nature of pure grace.
B. Comfort from a faithful Savior
Notice how the Savior brought her to
a knowledge of himself.
1. He cultivated her interest
(4:7,10)
He asked her to give him a drink
and then offered her a drink of everlasting water. He was alert to use the
ordinary conversation and turn it toward spiritual things.
2. He confronted her sinfulness
(4:16-18)
We do not do people a favor by
playing down sin. Jesus went right to the heart of her problem by telling
her to go call her husband. Sin must be
acknowledged before salvation can
be offered.
3. He confirmed his messiahship
4:26)
We must tell people of Jesus and
his work of redemption if they are to be saved. She came to see Jesus as (1)
prophet (4:19) (2) the Christ (4:25; 28-29) and as (3)Savior (4:42). More
souls were saved through the witness of this woman and the witness of our
Savior to those who came to hear him because of her testimony.
C. Condition of the fields (4:35-38)
We need a great love for the souls of men like our Savior had when He was
here. The soul is precious and of the
greatest value. Jesus said “What shall it profit a man if gain the whole world
and yet lose his own soul?”. Even if a person is extremely successful in the
eyes of the world; he or she may have position, power, prominence, prosperity,
and many other things the world considers success, but if he or she knows not
the Lord Jesus Christ their life has been tragic and misguided. The condition
of the soul is the most important thing in this life. No wonder there is joy
in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10). Daniel wrote “He that
winneth souls is wise.” Jesus calls us to get our eyes off ourselves and our
circumstances and look on the needs of others.
D. The call of the Savior (4:35)
“Say not ye, There are yet four
months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes,
and look on the fields; for they are already white unto harvest.”
1. Lift up your eyes
2. Look on the fields
Have you heard the call of the
Savior to get your eyes off yourself and to start thinking about the souls
of sinners? What will matter about your life when it is over? Paul speaking
of those Thessalonian believers who were saved through his preaching and
witness said “For what is our hope, or joy or crown of rejoicing? Are not
even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” Will you
have any that the Lord has saved through your witness? Will you like Paul
have a Crown of Rejoicing? Here the call of the Savior to His harvest.
E. The Commission of the Savior(
4:36-38)
1. I sent you to sow (v. 37)
We are to sow the Word of God. We
are to sow the truth of God. We are to always be preaching Christ. We are to
be always preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ, the gospel of grace.
Paul said “Woe is me if I preach not the gospel.”
2. I sent you to reap (v. 37-38)
The Psalmist wrote “They that sow
in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious
seed shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with
him.”
Again, Isaiah tells us “So shall my
word be that goeth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, it
shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing
whereto I sent it.” The Lord is still saving sinners and still using His
word. Preach the Word! Preach the gospel! You are commissioned to reap!
V. THE MUST OF MY
SOUL (v. 22-24)
“We know what we
worship… But the hour cometh and now is when true worshippers shall worship the
Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is
a spirit and they that worship him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
(v.24)
A. Worship is the activity of a
redeemed people
Israel had no song until they had
left Egypt, but when they crossed the Red Sea they had a Song of praise and
worship. They praised God because he was glorious in holiness, great in power,
and of great compassion and mercy. They praised Him because He had delivered
them from bondage.
We too like the children of Israel
have been delivered from the bondage of sin and have been redeemed from the
guilt and penalty of sin, clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and made a new
creature in Christ. We are now children of the King.
B. Worship is the activity of a
Spirit-led people.
“As many as are led by the Spirit
they are the Sons of God.” Spirit led worship will result in the Son of God
being magnified and glorified. We will grow in the truth. Our love for Him
will grow. Our knowledge of Him will increase. Our obedience to Him will be
manifested.
C. Worship is the activity of a
growing people
While public worship is not necessary
for salvation, worship in spirit and in truth is the foundation of spiritual
prosperity. The Psalmist exhorts us to keep the heart because it is out of the
heart that flow the issues of life.
The neglect of public worship when we
are physically able to attend reflects an ungrateful and careless heart and
will do damage to every aspect of our spiritual life. Worship is sought by our
Lord and He is worthy of our worship. We will not grow much apart from
worship. It is a matter of obedience and love. (see Heb. 10:25-30; Isa.
58:13-14).
In conclusion, let us take heed to the
“musts of the soul”. We must be born again. Only through faith in Christ’s
death, burial, and resurrection for our sins can we be saved. His death was
absolutely necessary for our salvation. The Christian life is not about us, but
about Him. He must have the first place. Just as we have been saved by God’s
grace, we must have a deep desire that others come to Christ. It is our calling
and it honors our Savior. Finally, we must be sure to keep our souls. We are not
talking about losing our salvation, but our fellowship and spiritual growth. We
must use the means God has provided for our stability and growth. Worship, Bible
reading, meditation on the Word, prayer, and obedience are all needed to keep
our spiritual health.
Larry Windham
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