You Must Be Born Again

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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.”

Opening Prayer

Introduction [Deal w/1st Reply]

We have been told that many people witnessed the signs that Jesus was doing during the Passover in Jerusalem.

We’ve also been told that their faith was superficial.

And, because of that we are told...

John 2:24–25 (ESV)

24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Jesus knows the heart of all men and He knows what is their motive...

What is their aim...

Why they’re doing what they are doing.

John now tells us of a particular man...

A specific man who witnessed the signs that Jesus was doing...

John 3:1 (ESV)

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

You’ll remember that the scene in the Temple after Jesus’ cleansed it was not a confrontation with the people...

But, with the religious leaders...

Labeled by John often in his gospel as “the Jews.”

Now, there is a man of this group of religious leaders...

A ruler of the Jews that has taken interest in Jesus.

The Scene

For Nicodemus to come, especially after the Temple Cleansing...

It was a compromising step for this member of the Sanhedrin.

For Nicodemus to come, it would seem that he had heavy convictions that Jesus was more than a Zealot.

In the eyes of the world...

Jesus was a mere Galilean, untrained in the Religious Schools.

So for Nicodemus to visit Jesus and then to offer up the credential of Rabbi, was quite remarkable for this educated ruler of the Jews.

So, all of this can help explain why Nicodemus came at night.

Jesus typically used circumstances to teach his audience.

A high wind night would have had less people standing on the street.

This would have lessened the chances of someone seeing him go to Jesus.

If Jesus was staying in what is known as an Aliyyah...

—>Which was a room built on the roof...

He would have been accessible by an outside set of stairs.

So no one in the house would even have to know that Nicodemus visited with Jesus.

Except for those in his company already, like the disciples.

Once Nicodemus is in the company of Jesus...

Nicodemus & Jesus Collide

At first glance it doesn’t seem like Nicodemus’ opening statement and Jesus’ reply equates much of a collision...

But, Jesus, rightly, sets things straight from the go...

Nicodemus’ response, I believe, shows that he is truly wanting to know more.

He’s not like the other religious leaders who don’t seem to have the time of day for Jesus.

Listen again to what Nicodemus says...

John 3:2 (ESV)

2 ...“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.”

And, now listen to Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus...

John 3:3 (ESV)

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [from above] he cannot see [perceive/know] the kingdom of God.”

This reply by Jesus seems to have nothing to do with what Nicodemus just said.

But, in reality it is exactly what needs to be said.

Nicodemus says, “We know you are a teacher come from God because of the signs.”

And implied in this statement, especially by Nicodemus’ coming to Jesus, is this question, “But are you more?”

With the statement that Nicodemus makes...

And, the implied question behind it...

Much like the request of a sign in the Temple...

Nicodemus is setting himself up to be the evaluator of whatever evidence Jesus may put forward.

Nicodemus wants to set up the criteria by which to assess who Jesus is.

Jesus immediately rejects any priority Nicodemus may think he has in this conversation.

Jesus, then, and in jaw dropping fashion...

Flips it around and brings into question Nicodemus’ qualifications for sorting out heavenly things.

As we see from what Jesus says in...

John 3:10 (ESV)

10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

Nicodemus claims he can see something of who Jesus is in the miracles.

Jesus insists that no-one can see/perceive the saving reign of God at all...

Including the display of miraculous signs...

Unless they are born again.

Jesus gets straight to the heart and says...

“No matter what I say to you, it will fall on deaf, hardened ears unless you are born from above first.”

Let’s think about it...

How often do we live, behave, speak, react in our life...

As if we are the ultimate judge of heavenly and earthly things?

How often do we complain against God (silently) as if what is happening in our life is somehow out of God’s control and ordaining?

How often do we go to the Lord as if we are credentialed in knowing what is best for us in this life and the next?

How often do we evaluate God with a list of criteria that we’ve come up with...

Rather than falling at His feet asking for understanding and grace to glorify Him through the circumstances?

Back to the passage...

Modern & Jewish Religious Thought

Our modern, cultural, American thinking

If one even espouses a God and heaven is that most people go to heaven.

Unless you’re really bad. Really stand out like a serial killer or a Hitler like person God will let you in.

Most people will get to heaven because they are basically good, they just may need some motivation...

Or to be put on a proper path.

This thinking is not only cultural, but has even invaded the church in America so that most people think that mankind is basically good.

And, that salvation is merely a psychological decision that one must be argued (positive) into believing...

And regularly persuaded into staying.

The thought behind such thinking is...

Sin is a just a spot of mud on our outer garments...

So, one must merely clean themself up...

Or reform one self.

Rather than the biblical teaching...

That sin is a filth generated from within one self.

And, one must be changed from the inside out.

The predominant Jewish religious thought

In Jesus’ day asserted that all Jews would be admitted into the kingdom apart from those guilty of deliberate apostasy or extraordinary wickedness.

But here, Jesus was telling Nicodemus...

A respected member, not only of Israel, but of the Sanhedrin...

That he cannot enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

The reality of all of Israel getting into the Kingdom is true...

But, how a Jew is truly defined is what was vastly misunderstood...

Not nationally

Not ethnically

As the NT clearly teaches that not all of Israel is truly of Israel.

Romans 9:6 (ESV)

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,

It’s not a failed promise by God if not all people of the physical lineage of Abraham are not citizens of the Kingdom of God.

The reality is that no one would be a citizen of the Kingdom of God...

If God did not intervene and make some alive.

And, not only that but no one wants to be in the Kingdom of God unless the Spirit of God causes them to be born again, from above.

What is the qualifying characteristic of a child of God?

Romans 2:28–29 (ESV)

28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

The qualifying characteristic of a member of the New Covenant is circumcision of heart.

Which is the gift of God.

This has everything to do with this conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus.

What makes a Jew a true Jew is by their being circumcised in the heart...

Which is not done by the Law, but by the Spirit of God.

So, who is it that belongs to the Kingdom of God?

Jesus says those who are born again.

A Kingdom for the Nations.

A New Covenant to bless the Nations.

Galatians 3:28–29 (ESV)

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

The true Son of Abraham is the Seed.

Christ is the true Israel.

Christ is the true Seed.

Christ is the true Promised Son.

Christ is the true Promised King.

And, those in covenant with Christ are heirs according to the promise.

The Kingdom of God and the New Covenant are the same.

If you are in the New Covenant you are a Citizen of the Kingdom of God.

This is why Paul could say...

Colossians 1:13 (ESV)

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Listen to what John has already told us compared to what Jesus is saying to nicodemus.

John 1:12–13 (ESV)

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:3 (ESV)

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [from above] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

I believe a common error when thinking of the necessity of regeneration in order to have justifying faith...

Is a lack of understanding of the depravity of the human heart...

Or to put it differently...

The Totality of the Bondage to Sin

Our fallen nature tempts us to think humanistically.

We want to believe that we are at the center of the universe.

We are basically good.

We, in our current state and condition, are basically okay.

The Bible on the other hand corrects that fallen view and shows that God is at the center of all things.

We are fallen and corrupt from the inside out.

We need to become a new creation.

After Paul teaches us that our entire fallen existence is spent in suppressing the truth of God through:

Immorality

Morality

Legalism

Self-righteousness

False Religions such as:

Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, JW, and the many other structured religions of the world.

But, also including:

Atheism, Agnosticism, and the like.

Anything outside of the true Christian faith is a false system with it’s goal: the suppression of the truth of God.

Paul additionally declares a universal judgment upon all of humanity, both Jew and Non-Jew alike.

Romans 3:9–18 (ESV)

9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”

14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

This is not the picture of someone that just needs to reform.

This is not the picture of someone that can choose righteousness.

This is not the picture of someone that can see the need for salvation.

This is not the picture of someone that understands their need to put their faith in Christ.

This is a picture of mankind in bondage to sin...

Spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins.

This is the picture of someone that needs to be born again.

They desperately need to be made alive.

Born from above.

Made alive to God by the power of God.

John 3:3 (ESV)

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Jesus’ Point [skip to end if needed]

It was not that man must see/understand the Kingdom and then be born again...

It was that a man must be born again in order to see the Kingdom.

One must be born again from above in order to see/perceive/understand biblical, spiritual realities.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

This is the same as Jesus saying one cannot see/perceive/understand spiritual things.

The natural man does not understand spiritual things because the natural man is spiritually dead.

Ephesians 2:1–6 (ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

For someone to go from a state of suppressing the truth of God as their daily practice...

Which is the Bible’s universal judgment upon mankind ever since the Fall.

To now understanding spiritual truths, delighting in them...

And, desiring them to surface in their life, they must be born again.

Lets’ think about it...

In some form or fashion...

In many, if not all, aspects of our life...

We are struggling to let God be God.

We are struggling to rest in His true character.

We are struggling to trust His providential care.

We are struggling to let go of our self-deceived, humanistic view of self...

That we know better.

That we should define God.

Maybe we should:

spend more time at the feet of the Lord.

spend more time praying over the Scriptures.

pray that God would change our hearts so that we will submit to the God of Scripture.

Maybe we should:

ask God to help us readily and daily acknowledge that He is God.

to acknowledge that He defines who He is, not our sinful desires or presuppositions.

The remainder of sin in us should cause us:

To sorrow in self.

To hope in Jesus.

To joyfully submit to God.

To proclaim His universal Kingship.

Let us come and worship and cry out at the feet of Jesus.

Closing Prayer