The Signs That You Are Born Again - John 3:1-8

©Copyright October 11, 2020 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche

This morning we turn to one of the most significant texts in all the Bible. It is where we get the phrase "born again." This is a passage that tells us what it really means to be a Christian.

The account has at its center a man by the name of Nicodemus. We are told he was a "ruler of the Jews." Jesus spoke of him as a teacher. As we search out Nicodemus in the rest of the Bible (he is only mentioned in the Gospel of John) we learn Nicodemus was a part of the Sanhedrin, a group of leaders who served as the "highest court in the land." He was a Pharisee, which means he loved the Scriptures and studied them carefully. With this background, let's look at the text.

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

The Meeting with Nicodemus

Note first, Nicodemus came to Jesus. He initiated the conversation. People speculate as to why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. First, it may have been a sign of caution. Nicodemus quite frankly may not have wished to commit himself by coming to Jesus by day. It is a miracle of grace that Nicodemus overcame his prejudices, his upbringing, and his whole view of life enough to come to Jesus. Second, the rabbis declared that the best time to study the law was at night when a man was undisturbed. Throughout the day Jesus was surrounded by crowds of people all the time. It may well be that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night because he wanted an absolutely private and completely undisturbed time with Jesus. What we know for certain is it was a remarkable visit from a Jewish leader.

Second, notice Nicodemus had an open mind. Here was a man who wanted to know God. He was open to the Lord speaking to him in ways that were "out of the ordinary." He was a powerful leader, a great scholar, but he was still learning and searching for God's plan for his people. He was not self-satisfied or complacent. He was pursuing truth rather than political correctness. In some ways, Nicodemus is a model for us of the right attitude for spiritual growth. He was humble enough to come to Jesus. Nicodemus recognized that Jesus was no ordinary man. The miracles Jesus did proved He had to be a man sent from God.

Born Again

Jesus did not waste time with a lot of small talk with Nicodemus (though surely there was some). Jesus knew Nicodemus came looking for insight. Jesus went directly to the central issue: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus didn't understand. He wondered how it is possible to be born again.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, 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.

This sounds like a confusing explanation because people don't know what Jesus was referring to when he talked about water. Some have concluded that Jesus was teaching about the necessity of baptism or cleansing. I may be way oversimplifying this but I think it isn't that complicated. He is saying, "Just like you were born physically with water (e.g. amniotic fluid), so you also need to be born spiritually or supernaturally. In verse 6 it seems He repeats what He means in a different way (which is something we all do). He draws a distinction between flesh and spirit or physical and supernatural birth.

The problem Nicodemus faced is one we all must address: the difference between religion and rebirth. We cannot make this happen on our own. There are no magic words to speak, no deeds we must do. This is a work of God's Spirit that transforms us.

This is the barrier for many people today. Many believe Christianity is about certain truth that must be believed. There are essential truths that must be embraced. However, you can believe these things and still miss out on what it means to be born again. This is about life or relationship. It is transformation.

Do you see how significant this is? Many people feel they are moving along quite nicely in their Christian lives, when in truth, they have not even started! They are gathering information, they are learning how to look like a good church person, but they have never truly been born again.

Let's try a rather silly illustration. Suppose there was a guy who was really taken with a girl. He learned everything there was to know about her. He memorized all her features. He often went by her house and talked about her to anyone who would listen (I realize this guy sounds a lot like a stalker, but don't get distracted!). He feels he is her "guy." But, he is NOT in a relationship with her. In truth, she doesn't even know him.

There are many who know a lot about Jesus. They speak of him in glowing terms. They call themselves part of His family. They attend church and small groups. They go on mission trips, they have had experiences, and might even teach Sunday School. However, many of them are not "born-again." They have not been transformed by His power and grace.

This talk confused Nicodemus much like it confuses many today. Jesus explained to Nicodemus,

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.”

In other words, just like you can't really explain how wind works; you can't explain the work of the Holy Spirit that transforms a human heart. John pointed to this earlier in the gospel. In John 1:12-13 we are told,

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

This new birth is something that God does in us. In John 6:44 Jesus said, "no one can (has the ability) come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up."

The Apostle Paul understood this and wrote,

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

As human beings we like to believe we can control our own destiny. We believe if we find the right formula, join the right group, learn the right behaviors, we can become a follower of Christ. Jesus is trying to explain to Nicodemus that this is not how it works. The Bible says we are "dead" in our sin. Dead people cannot make themselves alive! This is what Jesus is trying to convey to Nicodemus.

Welch preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes, "

You cannot decide to be born again. There are people who give that impression. They say, "You decide for Christ, and you will be born again." This is putting it the wrong way round. It is impossible. If you could decide for Christ you would not need to be born again.

Such thinking reveals a deep misunderstanding as to what it means to be a Christian. It also explains why so many call themselves Christians but look nothing like Jesus in the way they live their lives. They are trusting an experience they had, a prayer they prayed, or the confident belief that they have done their best. Such people are not really reborn at all.

These are deep truths. We find ourselves reeling like Nicodemus, don't we? We are called to share our faith with others. We are also told to defend our faith. God uses these things to bring people to a point of faith. However, HE is the one that brings them to faith. It is not our arguments that ultimately bring people to believe – it is the Holy Spirit.

What is the Evidence We Are Born Again?

There are a number of things that are true of those who are truly "born again".

First, there is a deep awareness of a need we cannot solve on our own. The first thing God does in the heart of someone is make them aware of how helpless they are. This is why it is true that the person who feels the farthest away from God is actually the one who is the most near new life. Until we recognize our helplessness, we are not open to the work of God's transforming grace. The born-again person knows they cannot save themself. They need God to save them.

Second, the person who is a genuine follower of Christ is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and this should be the most obvious thing about them. Here is a clue, if you are around someone for awhile and then they tell you that they are a Christian and you are surprised . . . that person is likely only a religious person like Nicodemus.

The person who has the Holy Spirit in them (the definition of a true believer) is aware of the fact that something is happening in them they cannot explain. There are real changes taking place. They do not become perfect -- but they do become different. There is a new outlook, a new joy, new values that are taking over their life. Friends and family should see a difference.

The unchanged Christian is an impossibility. The Holy Spirit that is at work in the believer is moving them ever closer to the life and heart of Jesus. He is cultivating what the Bible calls the "fruit of the Spirit" in us. It is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23).

Notice this change in behavior does not result in us becoming hardened and judgmental.

we don't become self-righteous. We become softer and inviting toward others.

Third, the true believer is one who is humbled. This is a great test. If you are truly made alive by the Holy Spirit you will be blown away by the grace of God that has been given to you. You will recognize that you could not save yourself and that for some reason God reached out and changed your heart and made you new.

This is due to nothing we have done or could possibly do. It is a gift of God's staggering grace. Consequently, there is no arrogance in the child of God. There are no puffed chests or feelings of superiority. Instead we become soft. We grow quiet and serious as we talk about what God has done in us. Perhaps, if you have the kind of personality that I do, at times you can hardly talk about this grace. It brings you to tears because it is more wonderful than we can grasp. If you are not led occasionally into stunned silence by the reality of God's grace and transforming power, I have to question whether you have ever really experienced what it means to be "born-again."

Fourth the truly born-again person will read the Bible with new eyes and a new hunger. Suddenly, things slowly begin to make sense; the fog starts to clear. Now the Bible is no longer a textbook to be endured, it is a communication from God you want to understand and respond to. You will often find yourself reading the Bible and suddenly you will read a verse that is addressing the exact problem with which you currently struggle. It is uncanny how God's Spirit leads us right to where we need to be.

Fifth, there will be a desire and compulsion to share Christ with others. If you are truly born again you will have the desire to share what has happened to you with others. You will want your family and friends to know the power of God's forgiveness and love. You will grow in eagerness to share your faith with those around you. You will see the futility of their lives and want better for them. You will be bothered by the fact that they do not give any evidence of belief.

Sixth, we will increasingly see sin as something that grieves God. In other words, we will move from seeing sin as "wrong" or as "not a great idea" and we will start to see it as a barrier that is built between us and God. This maturing view of sin will in turn lead us to repent and work on change. We will stop blaming others and take responsibility for our own choices in life.

We will still sin, but we should start to see sin diminish in our life. It's like the difference between fulfilling educational requirements, and having a love of learning. It is about attitude. In one case you are doing what you "have to do" to pass the class. In the other case you are eagerly engaged in learning and thrilled by the process.

The person who is "born again" pursues holiness because they no longer want to grieve God . . . they want to honor Him with their lives. They become increasingly conscious of how their lives impact the way others view Jesus.

Seventh, you will begin to have a genuine love for other believers. It is a strange thing that happens when you come to Christ: you feel an instant connection and interest in others who likewise follow Him. You may have just met, but you are connected. Indifference becomes a thing of the past. And this connection leads to a love that defies description.

Eighth, you will see the emptiness of the world. The closer we draw to Christ, the easier it is to see the futility of the world around us. You see the emptiness in television and movies, you look around and you now can see people who are all logging their time on earth without ever asking "Why? Where is all of this leading?" The gap between the world and those who have been born again, becomes increasingly more obvious.

Finally, you hunger for a deep relationship with God rather than being satisfied with mere knowledge of Him. Once the Spirit takes up residence in your life, you are no longer content with simply being religious and doing religious things. Now you want to know God, to sense His presence, to bring Him pleasure. It is like those early days when you were dating (or in my case, ever since I've been married) you couldn't wait to get together and you couldn't bring yourself to hang up the phone or part. We begin to see God in His fullness, and we are captivated.

CONCLUSIONS

We must draw a distinction between being religious and actually being in that new and transforming relationship called the new birth. Nicodemus was as religious as a person could be. He was sincere in His desire to keep the law of God . . . but he still needed to be born again (the theological term is regeneration). Nicodemus could not make this happen on his own. He needed a supernatural intervention by God.

It is not always easy to tell the difference between a merely religious person and the person who has been brought into a new relationship with God through the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit. The truth is, it is not our job to make this determination. But we do need to know there is a difference between the two. Our focus needs to be on whether or not OUR relationship with God is more than superficial. We must apply these tests to our lives. If we find we are lacking we need to seek truly find and follow Christ.

Second, our methods of evangelism need to be rethought. We have come to the place where we see evangelism as getting people to attend church, say a prayer (magic words), raise a hand, get baptized, or walk an aisle. These things may play a part in the conversion of people, but this does not constitute rebirth. Rebirth is something God does. He makes us spiritually alive so we can believe.

So, here is the question: in light of all of this, are you born again? Do you see these traits in your life? Have you been swept up in the arms of the God of love? Do you see His transforming power changing your appetites and your relationships?

If the answer is "I don't know" then start searching. Read the Scriptures carefully. Be in places where the gospel is preached and lived out. Ask God to change your life and heart. Get off the performance treadmill and be still before Him. Ask God to do in you, what only He can do: give you a new heart.

Nicodemus was searching. When we get to the end of the story we will see that Nicodemus found what he was looking for. God changed his heart and it appears he became a true believer. May God give us His Spirit to remake our hearts and change our lives. And . . . may we never take for granted what an incredible gift, His grace really is.