The Experience of the New Birth

John 3:1-3 EBC 12/02/07

Nicodemus approached Jesus and Jesus wasted little time in telling him about the Gospel. Jesus stated some very important facts about the Gospel.

Look at who Nicodemus was. He was a Pharisee - John Butler- The Pharisees were a religious party which "arose in the time of the Maccabees, and were called 'separatists'. They were called by many Conservatives in regards to the Sadducees. The Pharisees were so externalized that they became known as a Salvation by works organization. They were bitterly opposed to Christ.

I. The Nature of the Birth

A. A distinctive birth-

1. Matt. 1:23- this birth involves the incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

a. The opposition of this birth came from Herod and comes today from those who reject the supposition of a virgin birth. How unnatural can we get. The opposition also comes from Satan and from those who oppose the salvation of souls.

2. There never had been a birth like this and there never would be another.

a. There was also joy in this birth. The Angels proclaimed the joy in Luke 2:10,11-

B. A dynamic birth- this isn’t some small thing that has little impact on anyone.

1. This birth brings about a dynamic impact on a person and a dynamic change on a person.

2. Being born again is the greatest life changing thing that could happen to a person.

3. Charles Ryle- Being 'born again' means that complete change of heart and character which is produced in a man by the Holy Ghost, when he repents, believes on Christ, and becomes a true Christian”

4. John Butler- There are new tastes, new appetites, new desires, new values, new priorities, new hopes, and new attitudes involved in a new birth. And the most important change is the change in destination. The new birth changes one's eternal destiny from hell to heaven. No change is more dynamic.

II. The Need of the Birth

A. The need is universal (John 3:3)

1. Mark 16:15- All classes of people need the gospel. No nation was excluded from the need of the gospel.

a. John Butler- We can understand why a non-religious person would need to be born again, but here we are told that even a highly religious person needs to be born again. So religious and non-religious, rich and poor, respectable and non-respectable people all need to be saved. The need of soul salvation is for all classes of people, none are exempted from this need.

B. The need is urgent-