Do I have real faith?

Being religious is not the same as having real faith.
Being emotional is not the same as having real faith.
Being moral is not the same as having real faith.

The idea of false faith is a big theme in John’s Gospel. And immediately before our passage today, the reader has been challenged with these words at the very end of chapter 2:

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

In other words, they believed in him—but Jesus didn’t believe in their belief.

He saw their hearts. He saw what we often can’t see in ourselves: Jesus saw their false faith.

A kind of faith that looks right on the outside, but has no roots. It won’t last. It won’t save. It’s not real.

So what about you? You’re in church today, but what about that question: Do you have real faith?

In today’s story, as Jesus meets Nicodemus, he’ll teach us how to answer that question in three parts:

1) False faith is based on what we see, not Jesus
2) You—and everyone you love—need real faith
3) Real faith is created by the testimony about Jesus

Jesus’ first point: 1) False faith is based on what we see, not Jesus

Please look at vv. 1-2:

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Immediately after warning us about false faith based on signs, John introduces Nicodemus: A man who claims to believe in Jesus because of his signs.

We’re told Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night… …which in John’s Gospel symbolises a lack of understanding.

He is one of the Pharisees… a group that back in chapter 1 had been questioning John the Baptist and not understanding his message about Jesus.

And he is a ruler… …someone with status in the world’s eyes, …and a vested stake in the status quo.

Nicodemus is looking at what he can see in this world… …and on that basis has something that looks like faith in Jesus on the surface, but in reality is a false faith, a bogus belief.

Now, in any church there are temptations to false faith… …either because we still have a seed of true faith, but have fallen into false patterns of thinking… …or, like Nicodemus, the entire foundation of our faith is wrong.

False faith evaluates church based on whether it’s a place I can have status… or whether I can have recognition… or an important position.

False faith evaluates church based on what I get can get out of it in this life.

False faith approaches Jesus and the church the same way as Nicodemus—at night—on my terms, at minimal cost to me, with maximum safety net for myself, and minimum ways it could interfere with the things I really, truly value.

Why did Nicodemus not come to Jesus during the day? Because, that would put the things he really valued at risk.

What do you really value, that you daren’t put at risk for Jesus?

Where are the limits, the lines, that you draw… …to try and create a type of faith that won’t encroach on what you think is really, truly, important?

Just like Nicodemus’ faith was based on “signs”—outward displays of Jesus’ power—we today can trust in what looks like God’s outward blessing: …improved health: physical or mental… …financial security… …social, relational status…

And while it’s great to enjoy these things, God does not promise them to us; and so they aren’t a foundation for faith.

If we place false faith in these things,

Nicodemus serves as a warning that we will find ourselves more and more failing to understand what God is actually saying, what Jesus actually promises. v. 10:

Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

And so Jesus helps Nicodemus by clearly describing what he needs, that’s point 2:

2) You—and everyone you love—need real faith

Please look at v. 3:

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot  see the kingdom of God.”

This being born again is something that needs to happen to you from the outside. And vv. 4-6:

Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Nicodemus fails to understand Jesus because his false faith is rooted in this world.

So, Jesus says he, and everyone else, need the Spirit to give us new life, through water …which is clearly a reference to baptism.

Acts 2:38:

Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This is one reason we are not Presbyterian. “New life” or “regeneration” does not come before faith. The new life of the Spirit IS faith, Galatians 2:20:

the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God

That’s why Jesus says here the Spirit gives this new life through the water of baptism.

Because in Baptism God’s Word is united to water. Ephesians 5:26, Jesus:

cleansed [the church] by the washing of water with the word

Later in John, chapter 6 verses 63-64, Jesus equates “life” with “belief in his Word” when he says:

The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.

So, Nicodemus’ confusion comes from only being able to hear the words “born again” to be about physical birth. Rather than about faith given by the Spirit through the Word.

And so, Jesus goes on to explain in vv. 7-8:

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Jesus is saying this: “Nicodemus, you want to control things. You’re a ruler, a Pharisee, a teacher, a man of means. You control pretty much every visible in your life… …but you can’t control faith and the Spirit. The wind blows where it wills: Faith is God’s work, not yours. You can’t see where the wind starts or finishes… …you can’t see how faith starts or grows.

But, take comfort in this: you can see its effects. Wherever the Word is preached, there the Spirit will work, and you can see its effects: profession of the Gospel, patience in suffering, love for other Christians.

And so Jesus wants Nicodemus, and us, to have this assurance:

3) Real faith is created by the testimony about Jesus

Jesus directly challenges Nicodemus’ earthly way of thinking, vv. 9-12:

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Jesus is referring to himself and John the Baptist… …whose testimony, so far in John, the Pharisees have not accepted.

And the reason Nicodemus doesn’t understand, is because — despite being a teacher of the Bible — he still has not received God’s Word with faith.

And so Jesus opens up the Old Testament scriptures …to show Nicodemus the Gospel, vv. 13-15:

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

In the book of Numbers, God’s people have sinned and as a consequence are being attacked by snakes.

And so God, through Moses his prophet, gives them a promise, that everyone who looks up from the their troubles to a bronze snake that Moses holds high, will be saved from the snake bites.

This is a genius Old Testament story for Jesus to talk about with Nicodemus, because it goes to the heart of Nicodemus’ problem.

His eyes are fixed on the ground, on this world, on things he can see.

Whereas God’s free and universal salvation will come to him, only if he lifts his eyes away from this world, and looks to God’s promise about his Messiah that he cannot see.

Jesus has been lifted up for the sins of the whole world. That was John the Baptist’s testimony that Nicodemus and the other Pharisees have already rejected.

John chapter 1 verse 29:

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Stop looking down at the world’s problems and successes, says Jesus… look up at me and what I’ve done!

This is how real faith is created… …as people are presented with this testimony about Jesus, this positive message, this good news, this unwavering fact: You are forgiven. Your sins are taken away. Eternal life has been won for you.

Jesus wants this to comfort us, because the “signs” we see in life are not always positive.

You may feel dry. You may battle doubt. You may be experiencing things that don’t feel like God’s blessing.

But, these “signs” were always false bases for faith anyway.

The simple fact is: The Son of Man has been lifted up for you. Simply look at him, not at this world.

And the Spirit gives everyone the faith to do that as Jesus is held up in front of them by his Word.

If you are looking to Jesus today—even weakly— then that is the Spirit’s work in you. And so you have eternal life, which as Jesus prays in John 17, is fellowship with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.

You are not under condemnation.
You have nothing to prove in front of God.

If you’re worried, look to Jesus lifted up.
When tempted, look to Jesus lifted up.
When you feel like a fraud, look to Jesus lifted up.

And remember what Jesus said: You don’t know where the wind comes from or where it goes—but you can hear it. You can see its effects. Keep looking to Jesus today—there’s your assurance.

But also know and trust that the Spirit’s work in you will not just stay there. He overflows.

Nicodemus—who begins the Gospel in the dark—by chapter 19 is publicly honouring Jesus’ body in the daylight.

His faith bore fruit. So if you feel weak, hidden, unsure: take courage. God is not done with you.

Real faith may begin small, like a mustard seed. But where the Spirit has planted it—it will grow.

But, Jesus’ words in v. 15 are also a promise:

whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

That “whoever” includes:
your children,
your friends,
your co-workers;
the most religious person you know,
the most rebellious person you know.
That friend who is very interested.
That friend who seems completely not to care.
That guy you know who is always very aggressive.

The Spirit blows where HE wills… …and so keep talking about Jesus this week.

You don’t know where the Spirit comes from or is going. You don’t know what he’s started, or who will be with someone when the Spirit finishes.

But, because the Spirit is given through the Word… —as Jesus says here, we’re born by water and the Spirit— you can be confident that if you keep talking about Jesus, then the Spirit will be working faith in someone somewhere.

Wherever the means of grace are… …there is the Spirit, giving people faith, …drawing people to Jesus who was lifted up for their sins.

Your brother, your sister, your parents, your children, Your co-workers, your neighbours, your friends, your enemies… …if you talk about the Gospel of Jesus, know for sure—it is absolutely certain— that the Spirit is working in ways you can’t see. Keep going. Be patient. Don’t give up.

So: Do I have real faith?

1) False faith is based on what we see, not Jesus

All of us are tempted to look at “signs”… …to lower our eyes …to glance at this world.

But, 2) You—and everyone you love—need real faith

This is the new life that the Spirit brings… …he works that new life, that faith, in us through the Word. And the normal way that comes to us is through Baptism.

So, be confident that… 3) Real faith is created by the testimony about Jesus

If your faith is weak: look to Him raised up for you. And keep talking about Jesus, sharing that good news, this week.

Because you can be confident that where the Word is, there is the Spirit, and as Jesus says:

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.