Except A Man Be Born Again
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
In this passage, one of the best known passages in the New Testament, Jesus has a personal encounter with a man named Nicodemus.
Nicodemus was one of the most powerful and influential men in all of Israel during this time period. Nicodemus is a wealthy, powerful, religious man. Yet, he is a man with an itch that neither he, nor his money, nor his power can scratch. During the course of their conversation, Jesus refers to Nicodemus as “a master of Israel”. This title means “teacher”. This tells us that Nicodemus was an educated man, but despite his learning, there were some things this man did not know. But, one night, this rich, powerful, educated man found himself alone in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What Nicodemus learned that night would prove to be the greatest lessons of his life!
It’s on this night in our text that Nicodemus discovered the need for spiritual regeneration!
I want to preach for a little while this morning on the phrase, “Ye Must Be Born Again”...
I - His Longing Was Real
I - His Longing Was Real
John 3:1–2 (KJV 1900)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Nicodemus had a longing to get near Jesus and have a one-on-one conversation with Him...
Notice,
In Spite of His Religion
In Spite of His Religion
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus,
He was a Pharisee! He kept the Law. He was morally pure to a degree that you and I cannot imagine! Even Jesus recognized the religious efforts of these men, Matt. 5:20. He paid his tithes, did everything the Law said to do; he kept the written Law and the traditions of the elders. He never touched a woman; he probably avoided looking at them when possible. He would not come into contact with a sinner. He was a holy man!
But none of that was good enough…In spite of His religion, Nicodemus had a great desire to ask Jesus some questions about who He was...
In Spite of His Renown
In Spite of His Renown
a ruler of the Jews:
When Nicodemus walked down the streets, people knew who he was and they pointed him out to their children.
He was held famous by all who knew him and saw him. He was, after all, a ruler in Israel!
Here’s the thing, what we achieve does not change what we are! It is good to be respected and to have a good name among men, but that will not provide you a place in Heaven...
But, we see Nicodemus getting this hurdle and coming to Jesus...
In Spite of His Reasoning
In Spite of His Reasoning
Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God
How did Nicodemus come to this reasoning?
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
Nicodemus didn’t have everything figured out, but he knew something was different about Jesus because of the miracles He had performed.
“know” means to have perceptive knowledge.
Nicodemus had thought this matter through and through and had concluded that Jesus was a teacher from God…Man, he was close, but I’ve got to park right here for just a second and tell you that believing Jesus was just a teacher from God isn’t enough to be saved...
Jesus IS God, and God IS Jesus…They are one and the same!
Nicodemus was the best kind of person that religion, education, and culture could produce. And his case was hopeless. What is needed is a new birth.
Which leads us to...
II - His Lord Was Revealing
II - His Lord Was Revealing
John 3:3–5 (KJV 1900)
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
We see Jesus revealing some important truths to Nicodemus...
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Had Jesus said that Gentiles must be born again, Nicodemus would have said, “Amen.”
You see, Jews regarded Gentiles as being outside the mercy of God. One rabbi even said Gentiles were but fuel for the fires of hell.
But as a Jew, Nicodemus thought that he was already in the kingdom of God. Imagine his shock to hear that he must be born again even to see—let alone be in—the kingdom of God. To see means to see with perception. We would use perceive: to see through, to understand the kingdom of God.
When Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again, it messed with his mind! Nicodemus could not grasp how that could be.
He imagined himself going back into his mother’s womb to be born a second time. Nicodemus knows that he is in the presence of a mystery and he wants the answers.
There is no doubt that the new birth is a mysterious thing. None of us truly understands everything there is to know about it. It is still a mystery, even to those of us who have experienced it! However, don’t let the fact that it is a mystery cause you to avoid it altogether!
You don’t let the mystery of electricity to cause you to sit in the dark do you? You don’t let the mystery of how a brown cow can eat green grass and give yellow butter and white milk stop you from enjoying butter, milk and ice cream do you?
There are many things that we do not understand in life, but we still believe in them. So, do not allow the mystery of the new birth to keep from being saved!
Jesus goes on to tell Nicodemus about the nature of salvation!
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Salvation is a work of the Spirit! Jesus gives a little more detail and explanation here…You must be born naturally and spiritually or else you can’t enter into the kingdom of God...
There are a few ways that physical birth can be used to illustrate spiritual birth.
Physical birth provides life—A babies have life because they are born! Likewise, spiritual birth provides a person with spiritual life.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Physical birth only happens once—Physically speaking, you can only be born one time! Spiritually, the same thing is true! Your spiritual birth is a one time for all time experience. It cannot be undone and it cannot be repeated!
Physical birth takes place because of the suffering on another—A mother enters the very jaws of death to bring life into this world. Jesus entered the cruel jaws of death so that you might be born again. The new birth rests squarely upon the pain and suffering of another!
Physical birth gives the infant a brand new start—No baby is born with a past! They have no past, only a future! So it is with the new birth. When you get saved, you get a brand new start. Your past is wiped away and a new, clean future lies in front of you!
The new birth is like a physical birth!
This leads us to:
III - His Lesson Was Regeneration
III - His Lesson Was Regeneration
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
What are seeing here? It’s one word, regeneration.
There must be a day when he was born into the kingdom of men and a day when he is born into the kingdom of God!
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Look at verse 8...
Jesus tells Nicodemus that just as the wind can be felt, it can be measured and the effects of it can be seen; where it came from and where it went to remains a mystery.
The new birth is the same way. You cannot see God do His work in a heart in this altar. But, you can see the effects of the wind of the Spirit in a life!
When you see a drunkard leave his bottle, you know God has been working!
When you hear clean language come from a mouth that used to be a sewer, you know God has been at work.
When you see a vile woman become a clean woman, you know God has passed by.
When you see a wicked, hateful man turn into a sweet, loving, holy saint, you know the wind of the Spirit has been blowing in his soul.
It is a mystery because we do not see it happen. But, there is no denying the effects of the power of God when He works in the human heart.
By the way, the wind of the Spirit was blowing in the soul of Nicodemus that day. He could not control that wind. It might be gone in an instant, never to return.
The time for Nicodemus to heed God’s call was when the wind was moving in his heart.
If the wind of the Spirit is blowing in your soul, the time to be saved is now! He will not always deal with you...
Genesis 6:3 (KJV 1900)
3 My spirit shall not always strive with man,
The best thing you can do is come to Him when He is near and calling...
6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near:
The only time you can come is when He is calling you,
John 6:44 (KJV 1900)
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:
Conclusion
Conclusion
In an attempt to find out something about Jesus, Nicodemus found out something about himself.
In spite of all his accomplishments, he needed the salvation of God which can only be received through the new birth!