The Gospel Project: The Son Brings Eternal Life

Intro Option 1: Remade

Watch video of Shaw breaking backboards

Remade hydraulic system

Jesus remakes us

Main Point: Jesus brings new birth, eternal life, and salvation.

Essential Doctrine: Regeneration

Regeneration is the miraculous transformation, or new birth, that takes place within an individual through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit when that person trusts in Jesus (see John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5)

Is is the work of God within a person’s life that causes him or her to be born again, a work that human effort is unable to produce.

We can be born again through Jesus

John 3:1–8 (ESV)

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.”

Pharisees = rule followers

Nicodemus: Sanhedrin (ruling body)

Similar to US Senators

Obsessed in answering: “What must I do to be saved?”

Ask: Can a person do enough good deeds to be saved? Why or why not?

No

Doesn’t amount to holiness

Jesus changes the subject

The rule follower couldn’t follow the rule (how could he?)

Ask: Who is responsible for our new birth: Us or God? Explain.

Physical family: not our works

God’s family: not our works

Main Point: Jesus brings new birth, eternal life, and salvation.

We can be born again through Jesus

We can receive eternal life through Jesus

John 3:9–16 ESV

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 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. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus defined eternal life

Alive in every way

Purpose: Knowing and glorifying God

Death = enemy

Made to live forever

Ask: How can we grow in our relationship with God?

Life = knowing God

Death = separation from Him

“Perish” (Passive, to be destroyed)

Without God = purposeless perishing

Ask: Jesus said those who believe in Him will not perish. What does that mean?

Purpose: eternal life

Main Point: Jesus brings new birth, eternal life, and salvation.

We can be born again through Jesus

We can receive eternal life through Jesus

We can escape condemnation through Jesus

John 3:17–21 ESV

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

“Condemn” = criminal sentence

Jesus came to give us what we don’t deserve

Not neutral; lost

“The Savior of the world” (4:42; 1 John 4:14)

Ask: In sending Jesus, God showed that He doesn’t want to give sinners what we deserve. What does this tell us about God’s character?

Completely loving & just

Freedom of choice (whosoever)

God’s justice

Ask: What does Jesus’s death on the cross for sin tell us about God’s attitude toward sin?

He takes it seriously

Christ Connection:

Jesus taught that new birth, not religious activity, is how a person enters the kingdom of God and receives eternal life. New birth is given from the Father through faith in the Son as a work of the Spirit. Because of God’s love, we are no longer condemned by our sin, but we have been given eternal life in Christ.

Head: How does the coming of Jesus change the way we think about God?

Nicodemus was personally invited into eternal life

Heart: How should God’s love for us change our understanding of our value?

Value = price willing to pay

Helps us live our call

Hands: If we’re born again solely by trusting in Jesus, how then should we live for Him each day?

Born again = stop trying to be good enough

Daily pattern of trusting Him for strength to serve

PRAY