The Regeneration of Humans

Fall ‘23 Doctrinal Series: Identity

Message Six

John 3:1-17.

ETS: Humans are required to have regenerated spirits to enter the Kingdom of God.

ESS: We need to be born again to enter the Kingdom of God.

OSS: [Evangelistic] {I want the hearers to understand, embrace, and respond to their need to be born again by trusting Jesus for salvation resulting in the regeneration of their spirits.}

PQ:

What components are present in this passage?

UW: Components

Intro.: [AGS]: Imagine for a moment that you were taking a stroll with someone who you look up to (mentor, parent, grandparent, etc.) in a secluded place where the two of you could be alone, unbothered by other people or aspects of life. The two of you walk together, talk about different issues pertaining to life, and you spend intentional, uninterrupted, intimate, quality time together just the two of you. Maybe there are particular issues you are discussing pursuing advice from them; maybe you are troubled on something specific, and you trust their counsel. [TS]: The text records that a man named Nicodemus, an influential person in the Jewish circle, approached Jesus in the night time, and he had a conversation with Jesus. The conversation detailed Jesus declaring that a person must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. [RS]: Obviously, we cannot have a physical stroll with Jesus in the coolness of an evening breeze, but perhaps we can benefit from what is recorded about another person’s encounter with Jesus.

TS: Let us examine together the components of this passage.

The encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus included intimate and personal components. [vv. 1-2]

The encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus included physical and spiritual components. [vv. 3-13]

The encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus included a salvific component. [vv. 14-17]

Conclusion:

[1] Have you been washed by the blood of Jesus, cleansed and renewed by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit?

[2] Do you realize that salvation is in Jesus Christ alone? No one can be good enough to save themselves.

Consulted Resources:

[1] Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 112–113.

[2] Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 2 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 89.

[3] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 255.

[4] Gerald L. Borchert, John 1–11, vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 176.

[5] Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Luke & John, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 199.

[6] Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 54.

[7] Andreas J. Köstenberger, “John,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1669–1670.