The First Step to Spirituality: The New Birth

The First Step to Spirituality: The New Birth  Jn. 3:1-8

What is spirituality?  The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines it as: The state of being spiritual in the higher use of the word.  It is purely a religious term and signifies the state of a soul vitalized by the Divine Spirit and made alive to God.

How does this happen?  Are you spiritual?  Is it necessary for you to be a spiritual person?  Is this a requirement for a person to go to Heaven?

John thought it was so necessary that he devoted part of his gospel to it.  We must remember that John wrote, “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

Most people would say our passage today is about salvation and they would be correct to a degree.  With so many things Jesus did, why did John choose to write about this exchange with Nicodemus?  If it were only about salvation Jn. 3.16 would cover it.  No, this is about much more.  It is about the first step to spirituality.

Read passage.

What are the steps taught in this passage that will start us on our journey to spirituality?

  I.  We must take the step of submission to Jesus’ authority.         Vs 1,2

   A.  Nicodemus – Pharisee and Sanhedrin

    1.  Wanted to talk to Jesus as one Rabbi to another

    2.  Unable to do so because he was not on same spiritual         level as Jesus.

   B.  Our first step to spirituality is to accept the fact that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.”

    1.  There can be no fellowship with Him except through a personal relationship with Him.

 II.  We must take the step of being “born again”.  Vs. 3-5;7-8

   A.  The word of “again” has the meaning of both anew and from above.

   B.  Two requirements

    1.  Physical birth.

    2.  Spiritual birth.

   C.  Brought about through he renewal of the H.S.

    1.  Pneuma means both wind and spirit.

    2.  Valley of dry bones.  Ezekiel 37:1–14.

   D.  This step is essential for entering the Kingdom of God.

    1.  Jn. 1.11-13

III.  The first two steps led to spirituality.  Vs. 6

   A.  There must be a physical birth and a spiritual rebirth.

   B.  Characteristics of spiritual nature.

    1.  Partakers of the divine nature.  2 Pet. 1.4 “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature”

    2.  He has an appetite for the things of God.  I Pet. 2.2-3

    3.  He has no desire to go back to the foul things of the world that once appealed to him.  2 Peter 2.20-22

    4.  He feeds on the God’s Word and grows into spiritual maturity.  Heb 5.11-14

    5.  We know we have a future.  1 Pet 1.3