Full of Grace and Truth: Healing Confusion

Imagine you had an opportunity to spend an evening with Jesus. What would you talk with him about? Would you ask him some questions?  What would they be?

I know some of the questions I would ask. I would ask him how it’s possible to have no beginning and no end. I would ask him what he thinks about how we’ve divided ourselves into all the different denominations and sects that exist within Christianity. I would also ask him about all the different opinions concerning baptism, communion, speaking in tongues, the nature of God, and salvation.

I bet I’m not alone with some of those questions. There are surely others who have wondered similar things. In fact, I know there are because I’ve talked with others who are asking the exact same things.

After 2,000 years of Christianity, why would so many believers have those questions? Shouldn’t we know the answers by now? What has happened to cause so much confusion among Christians?

We’re certainly not the first people to suffer from spiritual confusion. There were others before us, and perhaps we can learn some things from them that would help us.

Let’s go back 2,000 years ago and meet a man named Nicodemus who was suffering from his own confusion. Fortunately for him, he had his own personal encounter one evening with Jesus. Nicodemus asked some good questions, but Jesus’ answers blow us away even to this day. So let’s go back in time and be a witness to their conversation.

“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him (John 3:1-2).’”

Now the first thing that jumps out is the fact that Nicodemus was a Pharisee. The Pharisees were no fans of Jesus. Yet here he is seeking Jesus out for some answers to questions he has on his mind. It might explain why this encounter is happening at night.

The second thing to note is that Nicodemus didn’t ask a question, at least not yet. Perhaps there’s an implied question there, such as, “Are you really from God? I mean, you are doing some really spectacular things, but how can I be sure?” The speculation could be endless, so let’s just see what comes next.

“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (John 3:3).’”

Jesus had a way of knowing what was on the hearts of people, so his response is very enlightening. Notice how he didn’t directly respond to anything Nicodemus said about him. Instead, he went right to heart of what was really on Nicodemus’ heart. It would seem that what Nicodemus really wanted from this man who had “come from God” was how one could enter the kingdom of God. Like many today, Nicodemus was apparently confused about salvation.

The conversation continued with Nicodemus’ first question. “‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born (John 3:4)!’” In case you had any doubts regarding what he was confused about, I think his follow-up question put those doubts to rest. It was abundantly clear that he had no idea what Jesus meant by being “born again.”

It’s at a moment like this that Jesus really shines. He knows that Nicodemus has no idea what he means, but that doesn’t stop Jesus from sharing the truth with grace. “Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit (John 3:5-8).’”

Unfortunately, Jesus’ explanation didn’t sink in with Nicodemus immediately. “‘How can this be?’ Nicodemus asked (John 3:9).” Obviously, he was still very confused.

Jesus continued to extend him grace and teach him truth. “‘You are Israel’s teacher,’ said Jesus, ‘and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him (John 3:10-15).’”

At this point, Nicodemus was probably blown away by what he was hearing from this carpenter from Nazareth. I know I would have been. He probably had even more questions, but he apparently chose to just listen. We should be glad he did, because if what Jesus had to say up to this point was amazing, what he said next was absolutely earth shattering. Perhaps we could say it was heavenly!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned,but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God (John 3:16-21).”

I’m betting that Nicodemus’ confusion was cleared up after this conversation with Jesus. In very unmistakable terms, Jesus states the condition for salvation and entrance into the kingdom of God – believe in him and you will have eternal life! That’s the wonderful news of God’s grace brought to the world by and through Jesus Christ.

Sadly, much of the world continues in spiritual confusion. As Jesus said, people love the darkness and refuse to come to the light, even though the darkness ultimately brings nothing but misery, emptiness, and loss. But just as Satan did with Adam and Eve, they have been deceived and therefore are not living by the truth. That’s why they need Jesus. In him is life and truth.

But let’s not make the mistake of thinking that only unbelievers are living in spiritual confusion. Christians can too. The abundance of denominations and their different doctrines is all the evidence we need of that. For example, some say that in addition to faith, you also need to be baptized in water to be saved, while others say that it’s not necessary. Some say you need to take communion every week, while others say that it should be saved for special occasions. Some say that tithing and weekly church attendance is a requirement, while others hold a different opinion on both. And we haven’t even touched on the differences between Christians on matters of worship styles, Bible translations, carpet colors, etc.

Have you ever suffered from spiritual confusion? With all the different teachings out there, who wouldn’t. Let the one who is full of grace and truth clear up the confusion for you. Pick an evening and spend it with Jesus. Be open and honest and let Jesus do most of the talking. Remember that he’s full of grace and truth. Let both sink deep into your heart and your confusion will begin melting away.