Born of God

The True Light/Son of God

John 1:9–13 KJV 1900

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

I think about the power and human crippling notion of being rejected by “your own”

Kids, parents, siblings.

Mere flesh, only human

Vs 12

John 1–11: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Believers: Testimony Believed

The conjunction de (but) is a small fulcrum that marks a dramatic shift. The world’s hatred of God and rejection of Christ in no way overrules or frustrates God’s plan, for He makes even the wrath of men praise Him

Psalm 76:10 ESV

Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.

John 1–11: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Believers: Testimony Believed

Lambanō (received) could be translated “take hold of,” “obtain,” or “grasp.” To receive Christ involves more than mere intellectual acknowledgment of His claims. The last clause of verse 12 refers to those who received as those who believe in His name.

John 1–11: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Believers: Testimony Believed

His name refers to the totality of Christ’s being, all that He is and does. Thus, it is not possible to separate His deity from His humanity, His being Savior from His being Lord, or His person from His redemptive work. Saving faith accepts Jesus Christ in all that Scripture reveals concerning Him.

We know the Gospel of John was written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ and that by believing upon Him we will have life in His name! That we might be saved.

John 1–11: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Believers: Testimony Believed)

Though people cannot be saved until they receive and believe in Jesus Christ, salvation is nonetheless a sovereign work of God on the dead and blind sinner Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” . John simply states that no one would come to believe in Jesus unless He gave them the right to become children of God. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

So we look back at our text here and we see we must be born

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1

Which were born—a sonship therefore not of mere title and privilege, but of nature, the soul being made conscious of the vital capacities, perceptions, and emotions of a child of God, before unknown.

John 3:3 KJV 1900

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Some translations say Truly, Truly…Means the same thing

Truly truly appears 25 times in the gospel of John “this is new”

Just released, First time ever offered, Limited time offer

Judaism taught Jews were already in the kingdom.

Born Again (Limited Participation) ‘Anothen’ (ah-no-thin) in the Greek can mean born from above.

Same word is translated 5 times as born again and 2 times as born from above in John..

1 Peter 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Born to a NEW Living hope through the resurrection… through hope in the messiah

1 Peter 1:23 ESV

23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

Born of Imperishable seed through God

John 1–11: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Believers: Testimony Believed

Thus they were born again (John 3:3, 7; 1 Pet. 1:3, 23) not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Those three negative statements stress the fact that salvation is not obtainable through any racial or ethnic heritage (blood), personal desire (flesh), or man-made system (man)

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 1

Born, not of natural descent … but of God makes clear that true children of God come into being through faith in Messiah, not physical birth or ethnic descent (8:41–47; cp. 3:16). This opens the way for Gentiles to become God’s children (11:51–52; cp. 10:16).

What does this look like???

Ezekiel 36:25–27 ESV

25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

The most important eschatological image! Here Israel’s heart will be transformed.

5 times I WILL I WILL I WILL I WILL I WILL

New creation… Regeneration

Born Again

We must have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God

Jesus described/compared the Spirit to the wind in John 3:7-8

John 3:7–8 ESV

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.”

While the wind’s origin is invisible, its effects can be observed… it is the same with those born of the Spirit.

Everyone is familiar with books on how to be born again…

How to books.... Steps to take.... Prayers to pray

How come we never see books on “How to Make the Wind Blow”?

Because it is absolutely ridiculous

One commentary

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 3

The laws which govern the motion of the winds are even yet but partially discovered; but the risings, failings, and change in direction many times in a day, of those gentle breezes here referred to, will probably ever be a mystery to us: So of the operation of the Holy Ghost in the new birth.

There is no formula... no cut and dry prayer... if you're here today you are in the right place... cry out to God... Cry out for faith. God is working in everyone's life... the saved and unsaved.