Truth over tradition – “Now there was a man of the Pharisees …”

• John 3:1
• The Pharisees were a conservative reaction to the encroaching Greek culture. The group likely started about 150 B.C. They were thought of as protectors of Judaism and had significant popular support.
• Acts 5:34-40
• Matthew 12:1-14 – The Pharisees clung to their perspective on the Law of Moses, not the Law of Moses itself. They had put guardrails around the law and were defending the guardrails instead of the Law itself.
• Matthew 15:1-9 – We must be careful about “teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.” God to the Bible and teach only that!

We don’t just need small changes

“You must be born again.”

• John 3:2-5
• Romans 6:3-4
• I Peter 1:22-25
• John 3:19
• Matthew 23:33

Dare to seek the truth

“this man came to Jesus by night”

• John 3:2 – This simple admission was much more than most Jews would admit.
• John 3:14-15
• John 9:22; 12:42
• John 7:40-44, 32, 45-52 – Nicodemus tries to gently stand up for Jesus.
• John 19:38-42 – Nicodemus comes to help bury Jesus’ body.
• Acts 17:11 – The Bible commends those who think for themselves.