You Must Be Born Again
Notes
Transcript
Starting Over
Starting Over
When I was born I lived on Patty Hill. I don’t remember one thing about it. I was told that we were buying a house under land contract and at some point whoever the owner was decided not to sell it so we moved. Glen Park. I only have vague recollection of it.. Then Brownville - that I remember.. best friends, big birthday parties, big Christmases, and them my parents split up. Sackets Harbor… bullied, chased around, 102 on my math regents, my Grandma deciding to sell the trailer that we lived in our from under us.... Mover to Watertown. Fit in better because I learned to party a bit. Mother offered to move in with my Grandma in West Palm Beach, Fla. druggie, gang(ish) leader, very serious girlfriend, numerous addictions taking route… Clover, SC getting saved and called into the ministry … Lake Wylie, SC.. Watertown, NY… Rock Hill, SC… Lake Wylie, SC… Watertown, NY… Sackets Harbor, NY… Watertown, NY… Parishville, NY… Adams, NY… Adams Center, NY...
Why do I bring tell that story? Each of those new towns cam with an opportunity. An opportunity to start over. And in some ways, especially in my high school years, there were some dramatic changes in who I was as I adapted to new surroundings. But can I tell you that in all of those moves there was something that I learned. Sometimes I will hear people say that they want a fresh start, an opportunity to get things right and to start over. I have rarely and I mean rarely seen it work. Because one thing is always true.
Where ever you go, there you are.
Where ever you go, there you are.
Nicodemus
Nicodemus
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 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.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 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?”
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 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.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 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.”
John 1:1-
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 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?”
jN 3:
Jn 3:
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 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.”
Jn 3:5-8
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’ ”
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
Jn 5:9
Jn 3:
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Jn 3:12
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Jn 3:17
Nicodemus
Nicodemus
He came during the cover of night.
He knew that He was a teacher from God.
Miracles performed
Prophecies fulfilled
Recent Events
Clearing the temple
My house shall be a house of prayer.
Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.
He knew God was with Him (so close)
He was a Pharisee
He was a ruler of the Jews.
Why was Nicodemus there?
You Must Be Born Again
You Must Be Born Again
This is not starting over.
When you start over you take yourself and put yourself someplace else.
When I moved from FL to SC I had every intention of starting over.... the problem is that when I moved, I took me with me.
It is not simply forming a new allegiance.
We can sign up for these step by step courses on how to make your life better, fuller, richer, healthier, etc. etc. etc. And they may work if you follow the steps to a tee. Not only is it that you are not very likely to follow the plan, but even if you do, you will find that your moments of better life quickly fade.
Do we make Him Lord? YES!!! Do we follow His commandments? YES!!! But it is so much more.
What did Nicodemus hear?
You may have followed all the rules… not good enough.
did Nicodemus Hear.?
You may lead God’s people in morality and be able to teach them everything they are supposed to do.... and they might actually do it..... not good enough.
You are probably are paying all your bills and have no debt. Dave Ramsey would be proud… Not good enough.
You may be a great leader, a man among men. You carry authority and wield it well… Not good enough.
Everything you are good and bad doesn’t even come close to what needs to happen. You must become something completely new. Everything that you are needs to die.
We need to hear the same thing...
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Mt 7:13-14
It does not matter how good you are. You simply won’t make it without going through the one gate. The path is not the easy one. It’s hard and easy to fall off. Is there joy and peace? Absolutely, but in order to get to that all that is flesh needs to die.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 co
The Heart of Jesus
The Heart of Jesus
v. 3 He wants you to see the kingdom of God.
v. 14 He wants to bring salvation
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Jn 3:14-15
He gives up EVERYTHING so that you can be with Him in the kingdom of Heaven.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
It is a heart of love not a heart of condemnation.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
2 PE 3:9
It’s your turn.
It’s your turn.
