John 3 — Pastor's Corner — Providence Presbyterian Church

Read: John 3

John 3 is perhaps one of the most known chapters in the gospel of John. It is here that a religious leader comes to inquire of the Savior. In an odd turn of events, Jesus redirects the discussion to that which is most needful: the necessity of being born again. On two occasions in the dialogue, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he cannot see or understand matters related to the Kingdom of God unless he is "born again" (3:3, 7). Literally, the phrase is "born from above." The idea is that fallen people, lost in their sin and dead to sin, cannot and will not see the Kingdom of God unless the Spirit of God gives them "birth" (new life). The means of this new birth are contained within the sovereign will and action of God the Holy Spirit. Although Nicodemus, as a law teacher, should know and understand these things, he is confused by the expression, although Jesus goes to great lengths to explain it.

bible readingWilliam HillSeptember 22, 2023John 3

The Morning Devotional: WCF 28.6-7

The Morning Devotional for September 15, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 28.6-7

VI. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered;a yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in his appointed time.b

devotional, confessions, Westminster ConfessionWilliam HillSeptember 15, 2023sacraments, baptism, John 3, Romans 6

The Morning Devotional: WCF 28.1

The Morning Devotional for September 8, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 28.1

I. Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ,a not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church,b but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace,c of his ingrafting into Christ,d of regeneration,e of remission of sins,f and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life:g which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his Church until the end of the world.h

The Morning Devotional: WCF 14.1

The Morning Devotional for May 1, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 14.1

I. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls,a is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,b and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word;c by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.d

The Morning Devotional: WCF 11.2

The Morning Devotional for April 5, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 11.2

II. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;a yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.b

The Morning Devotional: WCF 10.3

The Morning Devotional for March 30, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 10.3

III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit,a who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth.b So also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.c

The Morning Devotional: WCF 9.3

The Morning Devotional for March 24, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 9.3

III. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation;a so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good,b and dead in sin,c is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.d

The Morning Devotional: WCF 8.3

The Morning Devotional for March 14, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 8.3

III. The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure;a having in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,b in whom it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell;c to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth,d he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a mediator and surety.e Which office he took not unto himself, but was thereunto called by his Father,f who put all power and judgment into his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.g

The Pastor’s Corner

The blog of Pastor William F. Hill, Jr.