Born Again

For the next 30 minutes we are going to talking about the phrase,Born Again. What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase born again?

In religious circles the idea of being born again carries with it the idea of being spiritually born anew.

Its the idea that our first birth gave us physical life and when one is born again, this new birth gives us spiritual life or eternal life.

In the text that we are going to camp out in today Jesus in fact says that those who are born again will receive eternal life becasue God so loved the world… John 3:16

Another thing that comes to mind when many people hear the term born again is the idea of being baptised and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This is because Jesus says in our text that one must be born of water and the spirit.

Well, in Acts 2 Peter and the rest of the apostles are sharing with a large crowd of people for the very first time how they can be saved from their sins and receive eternal life.

And the reason why many people immediately think about baptism when they hear the phrase born again is because its here in Acts two that we have both the water and the spirit mentioned. Acts 2:36-38

Acts 2:36–38 ESV

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized 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.

Peter says if you want to recieve eternal life than you must repent of your sins and be baptised that’s the water and once you are baptised you will receive the Spirit.

Although being born again has everything to do with receiving eternal life, today I want us to reexamine the the text where this phrase born again is found andI want us to look at it with fresh eyes and see what we can learn.

Let’s read the passage together. John 3:1-16 where this phrase born again first appears in scripture

John 3:1–16 ESV

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.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 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. 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.” 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? 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. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

OK so in this encounter who are the two individuals having a a conversation. Ya Jesus and Nicodemus.

Jesus encounters one of the most important men in Israel & Jerusalem becasue he was a part of the Sanhedrin.

Nic says to Jesus I have seen what you have done.... Therefore I know that you must be from God becasue nobody could do the things that you are doing unless God is with him.

Jesus then kinda turns the table on him by responding to Nic in this way...

Amen, Amen, This is true. What you have said is true but let me tell you what is even more true than what you have stated.

What is it that is so true? Jesus says Nic I know that you think that you know, that you know what I’m doing becasue you have seen some things.

But in reality you haven't seen anything yet. Jesus says unless one is born again they cannot see the Kingdom of God.

in other words Jesus tells Nic unless you are born again you cannot see or begin to understand what God is doing in the world unless you are born again.

4-5 nic began this discussion by saying that I couldn’t do what I’m doing unless God is with me but I'm saying to you that you can’t even see what God is doing unless you are born again becasue you can’t enter or be a part of the Kingdom of God.

You can’t enter a kingdom that you can’t see and you cant see a kingdom unless you are born again