We Know…Knowledge Doesn’t Save

John 3:1-2
(1) Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. (2) 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.”

Nicodemus was a Pharisee. Pharisees were a socio-religious and political group that championed the interests of Israelites. They believed that extreme piety will win God’s favor and consequently liberate Israel from Romans and other captors. Pharisees were in competition for followers with other similar groups but with different ideologies. The other groups were Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots.

It is believed that John the Baptist was counted among Essenes. Mark 3:18 tells us that Jesus had a disciple known as Simon the Zealot. Philippians 3:5 tells us that Apostle Paul was once a Pharisee. Jesus had followers from all four groups except Sadducees. We do not know of any disciple of Jesus who was formerly a Sadducee.

Nicodemus a leading Pharisee just like Apostle Paul and he eventually became a disciple of Jesus and even assisted in the burial of Jesus, John 19:38-39. Nicodemus was not just an ordinary small ranking Pharisee. Nicodemus was a member of the ruling council of the Jewish community. Therefore he was an insider among those who hated Jesus. He knew internal workings, secrets, schemes, and plans. He knew the thinking of the Jewish leaders concerning Jesus.

Therefore, when the Bible today tells us that Nicodemus told Jesus that “we know you are a teacher who has come from God,” he was not speaking from ignorance or conjecture, or assumption. Nicodemus was giving the correct position of the Pharisees and Jewish leaders. Nicodemus speaks for himself and others. Nicodemus tells Jesus that among us, we do not doubt your divinity in private and in our deep convictions, even though publicly they act differently.

The Jewish leaders who later on betrayed Jesus and had Him tortured and killed were people who knew that Jesus was divine and a Messiah. The Pharisees who dogged the ministry of Jesus with endless attempts to bring Him down were actually people who knew that He was divine. Their knowledge did not translate into action. We know…knowledge doesn’t save!

It is possible to know the right thing and fail to do that which you know. It is possible to know the right health practices but still carry on doing harmful things. It is possible to know the best financial principles that will change our lives but we still act carelessly and live in need. Knowledge is not enough if we do not translate it into action. We know…knowledge doesn’t save!

The masses Jesus fed, healed, and raised their dead are the masses who shouted that He should be crucified. What didn’t they know about Jesus? Judas a disciple who was close to Jesus for three and a half years betrayed Jesus and committed suicide. What didn’t Judas know about Jesus? We know…knowledge doesn’t save!

A study of Theology and passing exams with the best grades does not bring anyone close to eternal life. Armed with the best knowledge we can still live a life contrary to God’s will. There must be a deliberateness of each one’s side to put these things into practice. If what we know can translate into our lifestyle we would be better off. Knowledge in itself may leave us worse off than when we began. We know…knowledge doesn’t save!

John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

When Nicodemus tells us that we know, he is referring to a conclusion arrived at after discussion and reasoning things out. When Jesus prays that we may know God, Jesus is praying about us having an experience with God. A close and deep experience. Tasting and concluding for ourselves that the LORD is good, Psalm 34:8. Knowing from a discussion of facts and knowing from experience are two different conclusions.

How many people knew about the dangers of unprotected illicit sex, yet they continued sinning, and many contracted diseases that killed them. They knew but the knowledge didn’t save them. How many know that the knowledge they have doesn’t help them? We can accumulate knowledge and still get lost eternally. The Holy Spirit must help us translate knowledge to a life that pleases God. We know…knowledge doesn’t save!

May God help us to go beyond knowing and now have a saving experience with God, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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