“Shocking Statements from Jesus:

“You must be born again.”

Introduction:

“Shocking Statements from Jesus: “You must be born again.”

Scripture:

John 3:1-8 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

Story:

I want to begin by sharing that my wife and I got married in 1993. I was 19 years old and She was 18 years old. Believe it or not one of the first things that I want it to happen after we had gotten married, was to have a child together.

so we began to try to have kids after the second year of our marriage but she could not get pregnant. Time went on and nothing happen.

We began to pray, to see if it was something medical as well.

Four years pass, and I got to the point where I wasn’t expecting it.

And then my wife had some abdominal pains, so severe that I took her to the emergency room.

In the emergency room, they ask her if she was pregnant, and she said no.

The nurse said that they needed to do several tests and one of those was the pregnancy test

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/happy-pregnant-woman-holding-pregnancy-test-examine-positive-test-young-lady-has-gm1257601987-368617539?phrase=pregnant%20test

It was then after doing the blood test that the nurse came back with a big smile and said you are going to be a daddy

I was hysterical, jumping up and down and shouting I’m going to be a dad.

Our son was born on May 6, 1998

https://photos.app.goo.gl/f6WyPx7VAccJQu3W6

It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. something that changed our lives forever when our son was born and entered into a relationship with us.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/C4TuUG6XzhgEWMr28

Transition:

Now let me bring that back to our teaching today because, in a great way, it happens when we put our faith in Christ.

by that, I mean that when we trust the Lord it is then that we are born again. .... and enter into relationships with him.

this is what the main idea is all about .......

Main Idea Being born again consists of a new life in a relationship with God.

The fact that you are born of the flesh, means that you need to be born of the Spirit. (Born from above)

you are probably here today and you may be asking yourself...

Interrogative:

What does it mean to be born again? and why do I need to be born (again) of the Spirit?

Transition:

that's exactly what we are going to find out According to John 3.

I have 2 points today that I want to share with you.....

if you are taking notes, write this down as point number 1

I. You need to be born again.

Before we dive in....let me give you a background of what's going on in this chapter. we see a man by the name of Nicodemus.

NICODEMUS (Νικόδημος, Nikodēmos). is An influential Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, a legalistic, extremely moral Jew who in pursuit of God, follows hundreds of man-made rules in an effort to be right with God.

Now NICODEMUS hears about Jesus, is now drawn to Jesus’ teaching, and possibly becomes a believer.

John is the only Gospel that mentions Nicodemus. as “a secret disciple whose faith grew slowly”

Nicodemus Visit Jesus at night:

Nicodemus visits Jesus at night (John 3:2) to avoid being seen with him, Some say that the imagery of darkness represents Nicodemus’ unbelief or doubt

John 3:2 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” (Teacher) he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

Jesus reply:

Notice Jesus' reply:

John 3:3 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

-Jesus Dosent go explain how many years He has been a teacher.

-Jesus doesn't go around the bush.

-He doesn't do that at all.

-He goes stray the issue of the heart.

NICODEMUS An influential Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. who knew the law, who pursue God, now......struggles to understand Jesus’ statement that he must be born again to enter the kingdom of God:

This was a shocking statement for Nicodemus. it disarmed him, he had nowhere to go!

Illustration: pre-marital counseling.

for Nicodemus...a man that knew so much now feels dome...

“Nicodemus was limited to physical birth”

Let's park here for a moment..... Jesus tells him....

You need to be born again: begin life- anew in relation to God.

This means that his way of thinking, feeling, and acting, with reference to spiritual things, underwent a fundamental and permanent revolution.

transformation......

That's what it means for us as well. when we are born again we go through a transformation, where our way of thinking, feeling, and acting change progressively.

This is what Jesus is telling Nicodemus… Begin this new life in a relationship with God.

Forget all of your religious practice, and your moral standers.... and be born again.....

But he could not understand it.....

John 3:4 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

V4 Nicodemus could not understand- he lean to what he knew… “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

Nicodemus looks at the subject merely from the physical side. His second time is not the same as the first time he was born.

“he does not understand the difference between a second beginning and a different beginning.”

The Lord calling Nicodemus to a different beginning, The Lord is calling you and I to a different beginning!!!!!

Not the same type of life, we have been leaving, but a different one...

John 3:5-7 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

John is referring to regeneration as a birth from God..... this means that The transformation of a person’s spiritual condition from death to life can only happen through the work of the Holy Spirit.

only God can do this!

So Jesus tells Nicodemus...John 3:5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

In other words, is a necessity!! to be born again in order to be a part of the kingdom of God.

Why????

The things of God’s kingdom are not apparent to the natural vision. A new power of sight is required, which attaches only to the new man. Compare 1 Cor. 2:14.

Kingdom: Royalty, rule, foundational power.

John 3:5-7 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

What He was doing was explaining to Nicodemus his need to be “born from above” or “born again.”

He was not referring to literal water but was referring to the need for spiritual cleansing or renewal.

when you are born again..... write this down as point number two....

2. Be led by the Spirit.

SCRIPTURE:

John 3:8 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

Wind/Spirit same word “pneuma”

blows wherever it wants.

-The Spirit is in control now

Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going...

The holy spirit's work

• The unseen Spirit works through the believer

People who are born of the Spirit and lead by the Spirit:

A. They Choose righteousness over wickedness.

SCRIPTURE: Galatians 5:16 (ESV)

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

SCRIPTURE: Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.