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Nicodemus saw His
miracles and was believing. Jesus told him that he must be born again.
He must have a spiritual birth. Apparently, Nicodemus left Jesus the
evening with his house still on a foundation of sand. But sometime later
we find Nicodemus defending Jesus against his fellow Pharisees.
Nicodemus said to them (he who came to Him before, being one of them), “Our Law does not judge a man, unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered and said to him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? (NASB) John 7:50-52 His fellow Pharisees rebuked him. The next time we see Nicodemus, he
is helping Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus’ body. It appears that
he was born again and had finally built a new house - one on the rocks.
And after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. He came therefore, and took away His body. And Nicodemus came also, who had first come to Him by night . . . (NASB) John 19:38-39 I believe Nicodemus was born again and some day we will see him in heaven.
I believe he built his house on the solid rock - Jesus Christ.
Conclusion. Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount with a call to believe
and act on His words. How did the people respond? The Holy Spirit says
they were amazed.
The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. (NASB) Matthew 7:28-29 But Jesus called them to do more than be amazed. He was showing them
their foundation was sand. The Sermon on the Mount describes the nature
of a true disciple. He corrected the Pharisees’ false teaching
and warned us that it is not good enough to just be self-sacrificing
or to love and serve God and others. Jesus’ point is that we can
NEVER build this foundation. Jesus always starts here! He, Himself, is
the only sure foundation. We are sinners and we need Jesus’ forgiveness
because we cannot be these things on our own. When we respond to Jesus
our God, He builds our house for us - on the Rock! |
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| Sermon on the Mount | |||||
