You Must Be Born Again!
Notes
Transcript
Key statement: You must be born again by the power of the Spirit through the redemption of Christ.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Three: A Matter of Life and Death (John 3)
“I find that you grow more and more famous in the learned world,” Whitefield wrote. “As you have made such progress in investigating the mysteries of electricity, I now humbly urge you to give diligent heed to the mystery of the new birth. It is a most important and interesting study and, when mastered, will richly repay you for your pains.”
The Requirement by God (1-4)
The Requirement by God (1-4)
Jesus knew the question that Nicodemus needed answered, so he ignored the flattery.
You must be born again!
This is not optional, there is only one way to heaven and it is through spiritual rebirth.
Neighbor (Lales), good people, but they trust in their own religious good works for salvation.
How Can a man be born again?
How Can a man be born again?
By the Regeneration of the Spirit (5-9)
By the Regeneration of the Spirit (5-9)
The work of the Holy Spirit
The work of the Holy Spirit
Being born again (from above) is not a work that we can do, but must be done to us. Babies do not give birth to themselves.
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
People trust in all manner of works for salvation, but salvation is the work of God!
This was a work that had been prophesied in the Old Testament. It should have been no surprise to Nicodemus.
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. 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. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
The Role of the Church
The Role of the Church
The Spirit uses the Word of God, proclaimed by the people of God to bring men and women to Christ.
The church cooperates with the Spirit in the labor of giving birth to spiritual babies through evangelism and missions:
my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
The church must be engaged in calling people to Christ.
"The chief concern of the church and its ministry should be the salvation of men. This concern should not be localized nor nationalized. It should extend to all places and to all men. It should be as broad as the world and as wide as humanity.” B.H. Carroll
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
How is a man regenerated?
How is a man regenerated?
Through Redemption in Christ (10-15)
Through Redemption in Christ (10-15)
Nicodemus’ problem was not ignorance, but unbelief. Salvation is not complicated!
God’s Plan of Salvation
God’s Plan of Salvation
Since man cannot rise up to heaven, Christ has come down from heaven.
The Serpent in the wilderness.
All men have been bitten by the poisonous serpent of sin. We face certain death and destruction.
The people of Israel had to look in faith upon the bronze serpent to live.
And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
The Son of Man has been lifted up so that you may look upon Him and live!
Place your faith, you complete trust in Christ!