THE NEW BIRTH

Expository Outlines on the Gospel of John 6. The New Birth (John 3:1–16)

John 3:1–16

I. THE MAN—vv. 1–2

A. The character—v. 1. Nicodemus, a member of the Pharisees. He was a leader of the Jews. The Pharisees considered themselves as leading teachers and interpreters of the Scriptures.

B. The curiosity—v. 2. (1) Fear—he came to Jesus by night, (2) Faith—he knew Jesus was sent by God.

II. THE MUST—vv. 3–4

A. The command—v. 3. Ye must be born again! Born from above. Christ changes us. He gives us a new heart, mind, life, desires, and words.

B. The confusion—v. 4. Nicodemus could not understand the “spiritual language” which Jesus was using.

III. THE MESSAGE—vv. 5–13

A. The purging—v. 5. “Born of water” means “cleansed by the Spirit.”

B. The plan—v. 6.

1. Spirit—v. 6. Our earthly birth is flesh. The Spiritual birth (new birth) is supernatural, being of God!

2. Surprise—v. 7. Don’t be surprised at Christ’s words, “YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”

3. Story—v. 8. Christ compared the new birth to the wind. You cannot see the wind, but you can feel it. So it is with the new birth. You can’t see it, but you can see the change of life.

C. The problem—vv. 9–10. Nicodemus was puzzled. Jesus was surprised that Nicodemus did not understand these simple teachings.

D. The proof—vv. 11–12.

1. Eternal things—v. 11. Nicodemus didn’t seem to understand.

2. Earthly things—v. 12. If he did not accept the earthly truths, then how could he accept heavenly things?

IV. THE METHOD—vv. 14–16

A. The allegory—vv. 14–15. The comparison of Moses and the serpent upon the pole—Numbers 21:8. Jesus had to be lifted up—John 12:32.

B. The affection—v. 16. The well-known LOVE VERSE OF THE BIBLE.

1. Person—“God.”

2. Practice—“So loved the world.”

3. Proof—“That he gave his only begotten Son.”

4. People—“That whosoever believeth in him.”

5. Promise—“Should not perish.”

6. Peace—“But have everlasting life.”

C. The acceptance—Before a person can be born again, he must accept Christ as his personal Savior—John 1:12; Romans 10:13; Revelation 3:20.

7. FAITH IN CHRIST

6(NKJV)

(NKJV)

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 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.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 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.

16 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.

INTRODUCTION

In a book by neurologist Oliver Sacks, he talks about a man named Virgil. He had been blind since early childhood. When he was 50, Virgil underwent surgery and was given the gift of sight. But as he and Dr. Sacks found out, having the physical capacity for sight is not the same as seeing.

In his book, An Anthropologist on Mars, neurologist Oliver Sacks tells about Virgil, a man who had been blind from early childhood. When he was 50, Virgil underwent surgery and was given the gift of sight. But as he and Dr. Sacks found out, having the physical capacity for sight is not the same as seeing.

Virgil's first experiences with sight was confusing. He was able to make out colors and movements, but arranging them into a coherent picture was more difficult. Over time he learned to identify various objects, but his habits--his behaviors--were still those of a blind man. Dr. Sacks asserts, "One must die as a blind person to be born again as a seeing person. It is the interim, the limbo . . . that is so terrible."

Now we all have experience new beginnings or new normals in life. Such as...

A new relationship, like a husband or a wife

A new job or place of work

A new way of living after a operation or surgery

A new home

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 5282 Whitefield’s Conversion

George Whitefield at the age of 16 became deeply convicted of sin. He tried everything possible to erase his guilt through religious activity. He wrote, “I fasted for 36 hours twice a week. I prayed formal prayers several times a day and almost starved myself to death during Lent, but only felt more miserable. Then by God’s grace I met Charles Wesley who put a book in my hand which showed me from the Scriptures that I must be “born again” or be eternally lost.”

Finally, by the work of the Holy Spirit in his heart, Whitefield came to understand Jesus’ words in John 3. He believed and was gloriously saved. After he became a preacher, he spoke at least a thousand times on the subject, “Ye must be born again.” He fervently desired that all who heard him might experience the transforming power of God’s grace.

Now there was a man by the name of Nicomdemus.......

I. THE MAN NICODEMUS—v. 1–2

2 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.”

A.The character—

v. 1. Nicodemus, was a member of the Pharisees. He was a leader of the Jews. The Pharisees considered themselves as leading teachers and interpreters of the Scriptures. Now he was a zealous man. Who had a lot in common with many Christians of today.

Nicodemus was a tither

attended worship every week and served in the church

He was also going to hell!

I think about the one that has grown up in the church. The people who had parents drag them to church. Mom and Dad served on the church board and all the committees. They were the greeters and the ushers. They taught Sunday school and cleaned the church.

Their children never made a profession of faith that Jesus is Lord, and if they did, it was only because they wanted to make mom and dad proud or felt pressured to. They never really changed and had their life radically transformed.

It reminds me of....2 Timothy 3:5

“They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.”

It happens to the best of them. George Whitefield. A famous evangelist from the 18th century started a revival in the 18th century. In a little less than thirty-four years of ministry, it is estimated that Whitefield preached eighteen thousand sermons and was heard by as many as ten million people. He led thousands to Christ!

Not many know this but, George Whitefield at the age of 16 became deeply convicted of sin. He tried everything possible to erase his guilt through religious activity. He wrote, “I fasted for 36 hours twice a week. I prayed formal prayers several times a day and almost starved myself to death during Lent, but only felt more miserable. Then by God’s grace I met Charles Wesley who put a book in my hand which showed me from the Scriptures that I must be “born again” or be eternally lost.”

Finally, by the work of the Holy Spirit in his heart, Whitefield came to understand Jesus’ words in . He BELIEVED and was gloriously saved. After he became a preacher, he spoke at least a thousand times on the subject, “Ye must be born again.” He fervently desired that all who heard him might experience the transforming power of God’s grace.

He was a lot like Nicodemus......

Nicodemus was a tither, attended worship every week, and served in the church. He was also going to hell.

B.The curiosity of Nicodemus—v. 2.

(1) Fear—he came to Jesus by night, (Afraid that others might see him. After all, religion is simply peer pressure from dead people).

(2) Faith—he knew Jesus was sent by God.

II. THE MUST TO BE BORN AGAIN—v. 3–4

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 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?

A. The command—v. 3. Ye must be born again! Born from above. Christ changes us. He gives us a new heart, mind, life, desires, and words. The old has gone and the new has came. He takes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. He will put His spirit in us!

B. The confusion—v. 4. Nicodemus could not understand the “spiritual language” which Jesus was using.

III. THE MESSAGE OF THE REBIRTH—v. 5–13

A. The purging—v. 5. “Born of water” means “cleansed by the Spirit.”

B. The plan—v. 6.

1. Spirit—v. 6. Our earthly birth is flesh. The Spiritual birth (new birth) is supernatural, being of God!

2. Surprise—v. 7. Don’t be surprised at Christ’s words, “YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”

3. Story—v. 8. Christ compared the new birth to the wind. You cannot see the wind, but you can feel it. So it is with the new birth. You can’t see it, but you can see the change of life.

C. The problem—vv. 9–10. Nicodemus was puzzled. Jesus was surprised that Nicodemus did not understand these simple teachings.

D. The proof—vv. 11–12.

1. Eternal things—v. 11. Nicodemus didn’t seem to understand.

2. Earthly things—v. 12. If he did not accept the earthly truths, then how could he accept heavenly things?

IV. THE METHOD—vv. 14–16

A. The allegory—vv. 14–15. The comparison of Moses and the serpent upon the pole—. Jesus had to be lifted up—.

B. The affection—v. 16. The well-known LOVE VERSE OF THE BIBLE.

1. Person—“God.”

2. Practice—“So loved the world.”

3. Proof—“That he gave his only begotten Son.”

4. People—“That whosoever believeth in him.”

5. Promise—“Should not perish.”

6. Peace—“But have everlasting life.”

C. The acceptance—Before a person can be born again, he must accept Christ as his personal Savior—; ; .

V. APPLICATION

A. Now you might be saying, this message didn’t apply to me. I am a believer. I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ

B. Salvation isn’t a one and done deal. The Apostle Paul Says....I die daily!

C. Ask yourself: How does my life show that I have been reborn.

D. Ask yourself: How does my life show that I have been reborn in the past year?

self: How does my life show that I have been reborn in the past year?

Christian Theology, Volumes I–III Characteristics of Regeneration

Mr. Wesley points out the analogy between the natural and spiritual birth as follows: “A man’s being spiritually born again, bears a near analogy to the natural birth. Before a child is born, it has eyes, but does not see: and ears, but it does not hear. It has a very imperfect use of any other sense. It has no knowledge of anything, nor any understanding. To that existence we do not even give the name of life. It is only when a child is born that it begins to live. He then begins to see the light, and the various objects which surround him. His ears are opened, and he hears sounds. And all the other senses begin to be exercised upon their proper objects, and he breathes and lives in a manner, very different from what he did before.

E. Do you need a new beginning? A restart? To be reborn?