You Must Be Born Again (Part 1)

A Baptist and a Methodist are standing at the side of the road holding a sign that says "Turn around. The end is nigh." A young man passing by in a car leans out to shout at them, "Go Home You Religious Freaks" and races away. Moments later they hear a yell and a loud splash.

The Baptist turns to the Methodist and says "I told you, we should have just said 'Warning. Bridge collapsed.'"

Historical/Cultural Context -

The Gospel of John was written between 90 AD and 100 AD. Scholars also believe that John wrote the three Epistles and the book of Revelation around the same time-frame as he wrote this Gospel. The Gospel of John was written after Matthew, Mark, & Luke had been written and circulated. John has been dubbed by most scholars as “The Spiritual Gospel.”

Biblical Text -

John 2:23–3:21 NKJV

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. 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 and said to him, “Most assuredly, 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, “Most assuredly, 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 the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - If You Aren’t Born Again, Then You Aren’t Part Of God’s Church You’re Just Playing Church.

Life Point-

Exegetical -

John 2:23–3:8 NLT

Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart. There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 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.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 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.”

Homiletical -

Here Jesus has just cleansed the temple and then we have this strange little portion of scripture that says that while He was in Jerusalem during the passover celebration that He did miracles amongst the people, just like He always did. But it says that many believed in Him, but He didn’t trust the crowd of people.

What does this mean?

Well to put it succinctly, These people believed in the miracles of Jesus because they saw them happen with their own eyes and they wanted to see more and be around more miracles, but Jesus knew that they didn’t truly want to be with Him, they sought the signs and miracles.

This happens today. I can’t tell you the number of people who go from church to church looking for miracles. The seek God’s hand and His power, but not Him. Are these kinds of people truly Christians? I would say no, not at all.

How can I be so sure? Because Jesus warned us of these kind of people:

Matthew 7:21–23 NLT

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

There are many people today who live in open blatant sin against God and then want to call on Him for His goodness and His miracles. You see if you love someone you don’t do things against them that you know is going to compromise your relationship with them. The same applies to God.

With these kind of people he wasted no time on them, because he couldn’t trust them.

However, one person came to Jesus sincerely. His name was Nicodemus, and he came to Jesus at night. You might call him Nick-at-night.

Nicodemus, being who he was, had two hats that he wore.

1) He was a Pharisee

As a Pharisee he believed in miracles and the resurrection. The Pharisees weren’t the only school of thought in Jewish religion at the time. A smaller school of thought believed there was no resurrection and when you died, you died. They didn’t believe in life-after-death. They were called the Sadducees. Now you can remember that about them because they were sad-you-see.

2) He was a ruler of the Jews.

He was an important man. He was a ruler and teacher of the Jews. He wore his fine robes and prayer shaw when he was in public. If you were walking down the sidewalk and he was walking down the sidewalk you got out of his way so he didn’t have to step off the sidewalk. That is the kind of power that he wielded at the time.

So this man comes to Jesus at night.

Over the years many have called him a coward because he came at night, maybe because he didn’t want to be seen. But I don’t think that is the case at all.

This was passover time and during this time there were ceremonies and duties to be attended to during the day. So after the day is done he comes to see Jesus.

Now Jesus during the day was busy as well, He would have been teaching and performing miracles during the day and probably had a very large crowd around him.

I believe the night worked better for both their schedules that’s all. Don’t read to much into the time aspect of the encounter.

Let’s look at verse 2

John 3:2–3 NLT

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

Look at Nicodemus’ words. He starts with the term Rabbi which is a term of respect and it means teacher.

Notice Jesus’ miracles were not in question here. The miracles were believed to be evidence of His authority to teach the people.

So what does Jesus respond with? He slams him with the ultimate truth. He reveals His entire purpose for coming to earth within the next few minutes.

Jesus tells him you cannot even see God’s kingdom unless you are born again.

The scriptures make absolutely no sense to someone who is not born again. Who is not a true Christian. When we read the scripture in our fleshly nature we will always make the wrong interpretation and application.

Why?

Because we don’t have the new nature and the Holy Spirit illuminating the scriptures to us.

1 John 2:27 NLT

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

Without the Spirit of God you cannot even see God’s purposes in the scriptures much less apply them correctly to your life.

John 3:4–7 NLT

“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

Nicodemus is having trouble understanding Jesus words. This great teacher of the Jews can’t understand it.

Why?

Because He is not born again of the Spirit of God.

So jesus clarifies that He must be born of the Spirit of God.

John 3:7–8 NLT

So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 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.”

You cannot physically see the new birth, but you can see the evidence of the new birth just like you can see the evidence of the wind when it blows.

So what evidence is there to see that you are truly in the faith and not just kidding yourself?

Galatians 5:22–26 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Do you have to tell a banana tree to produce bananas? Do you have to tell an orange tree to produce oranges?

No!

Why not?

Because it is their nature to produce those things.

Just like a true Christian it is in their nature to produce the fruit of the Spirit. Notice it says fruit not fruits. This fruit has some characteristics to it and just like oranges it grows in the believers life and becomes more pronounced as the time goes on.

This fruit of the Spirit as it grows in your life will push down the sinful fruit, also known as the sin nature. You don’t have to work on the fruit as it grows naturally the closer to God you get through His word and prayer.

The aspects of this fruit in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

So How does one become born again?

John 3:5 NLT

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

First unless one is born again you can’t see the kingdom of God. Now Jesus also says if you are not born again you cannot enter the kingdom of God either. Meaning that the born again experience that is provided by grace and trusting in the Gospel is the only way to see and enter the Kingdom of God.

But how is this accomplished?

Jesus says you must be born of Water and The Spirit

This term here water has been misunderstood by many people. It is not talking about physical baptism or about being physically born.

The Word of God is often referred to as water.

Why? What does water do? It washed away dirt, sweat, and grime. It is a cleansing agent. We use water to wash many things. Cars, dishes, and even our bodies.

This is what God’s Word does for our minds and spirits. For example:

Ephesians 5:26 NLT

to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

Titus 3:5 NLT

he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

John 7:37–39 NLT

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

But it isn’t just reading and intellectually believing the scriptures as we said earlier you cannot truly understand scripture unless you have the Holy Spirit inside of you, teaching you. You must be born again by the word and the Spirit of God which is given to all believers to lead us and guide us into paths of righteous living and understanding.

Where are you on your journey with God? Are you born again by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. If not then just remember...

Life Principle– If You Aren’t Born Again, Then You Aren’t Part Of God’s Church You’re Just Playing Church.

Call to Action – altar call….