Born Again

Introduction

Many churches are pausing their regularly scheduled sermon series or replanning their sermon series around the coronavirus pandemic.

While I believe it is truly important to show people how God speaks through His Word to the current situations of our day, I believe God has divinely ordered our current series in John, Come and See, as it points us to the person and works of Jesus.

Here’s what I mean:

Many people have many questions about the world and things that are happening today and, while this passage is not talking about pandemics, I assure you, it will give the answer to the questions.

Perhaps the most important message for a time like this:

Have a guy whose world is rocked (walking in darkness), has him questioning everything and he comes to Jesus because it looks like he may have a good answer.

Is that you?

We’re going to pick up our story

John 2:23–25 (ESV)

23 Now when he (Jesus) was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Introduction to next several stories where Jesus will meet several types of people and expose their hearts: Religious Nicodemus, Samaritan Woman, and a Gentile Official

Tells us something about Jesus and something about people:

Jesus, as God, knows the heart of man.

because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Knowing the human heart is a power found only with God.

Jeremiah 17:10 (ESV)

10 “I the Lord search the heart

and test the mind,

to give every man according to his ways,

according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Jesus knows your heart right now.

An outward belief does not always equal an inward trust.

many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them,

They believed Jesus, but they didn’t really BELIEVE Jesus

Scary part — Nicodemus was a religious leader

In 2000, 45 percent of all those sampled qualified as practicing Christians. (Practicing Christians identify as Christian, agree strongly that faith is very important in their lives and have attended church within the past month.)

That share has consistently declined over the last 19 years. Now, just one in four Americans (25%) is a practicing Christian. In essence, the share of practicing Christians has nearly dropped in half since 2000.

[https://www.barna.com/research/changing-state-of-the-church/]

In Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians when asked about their religion

[https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/]

These are the:

- “Sure, I’m a Christian.”

- “I said a prayer once.”

- “I went to church as a kid.”

“I was baptized as a baby.”

There is a religion, a statement of belief , but they have not given themselves to Jesus.

Lives are no different from those who do not believe.

Two Types of Belief (2:23-25)

Superficial Belief

Intellectual belief

Expressed in acts of religion

Even the demons believe and tremble

James 2:19 (ESV)

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Religion doesn’t save

Going to church doesn’t save you

Watching church doesn’t save you

looking like someone who goes to church doesn’t save you

being kind doesn’t save you

not murdering someone doesn’t save you

Doing more good than bad doesn’t save you

If doing good is that which saves you, God would only have given rules and not sent Jesus.

Saying a prayer once doesn’t save you

If you’ve been counting on that checklist to get to heaven you are in trouble.

Jesus saves you by causing you to be born again.

ILLUST - Walking into wrong bathroom at store. I thought I belonged here, but I don’t. Awkward.

Awkward is still better than utter shock some religious people will have when they die only to find the religion they thought would carry them to heaven was only superficial belief.

In Matt 7 Jesus describes religious people who die and meet Jesus and describe how they prophesied, cast out demons, mighty works

Matthew 7:23 (ESV)

23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Superficial, religious faith does not save.

Saving Belief

affectual

not expressed in acts of religion but

Expressed in actions of a relationship

Illust - There is a difference between saying, “I believe that parachute will carry me safely to the ground” and jumping from the plane.

John 3:1–8 (ESV)

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

part of Sanhedrin - highest ruling authority of the Jewish people - he was the teacher

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 him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Truly, Truly -3 times

not Jesus telling truth vs not telling truth - “Listen up!”

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?”

Nicodemus not thinking spiritually - physically - makes it a bit awkward.

5 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.’ 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.”

Jesus reveals our need to be born again. (3:1-8)

Nicodemus knows something is off and he comes to Jesus.

He doesn’t even really ask a question and yet Jesus gives him an answer - Straight to the heart.

‘You must be born again.’

If you want to see the Kingdom of God - YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

in spite of your religion - YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Even though you were born a Jew - YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Only Criteria to coming to God is being born again - why?

Why we need to be born again:

Depraved in nature

Because of our sin nature from Adam we have natural tendency to live for ourselves

Staining of sin

Defiled in our bodies

Defiled hands

Defiled sexually as we lust and crave own desires

Defiled lips - slander, hurt, lie

Don’t think you fall into category? Congratulations you just lied

Dead in our sin

Doesn’t mean we have some work to do - there is none to to

Great lie - are all right or will be all right.

This delusion has left many in superficial belief.

Dead men can’t heal themselves

Does all this mean you are not a good person? No, according to world’s standards - filled with worse people, you may be considered good. But the world is not the one judging you — God is.

According to Him - not good enough- need to be born again.

Nicodemus was good - best

Truth is. Our own sin has condemned us and there is NOTHING we can do to change that.

How do I know if I am born again?

The thoughts of your mind will be illumined.

Spiritual thoughts and verses that did not make sense before will suddenly make sense and you will have a new sense as to how they apply to YOU

Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The loves of your heart will be reordered.

The things that once drew the affections of your heart will be deadened and you will find yourself looking to and longing for the things of God.

Luke 10:27 (ESV)

27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

John 3:9–15 (ESV)

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus rocked his world

10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 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. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

reference Numbers 21

People sinned by complaining against Moses

God sent fiery serpents

God told Moses to make bronze serpent

Anyone bitten could look to the serpent and live

Jesus enables a saving belief. (9-15)

Serpent raised on a pole was a type or symbol of Jesus who would be raised on a cross

They would turn and look to serpent to have danger of snake bite taken from them.

“God made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to become sin” so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

changed - born again.

Illust - If there is one thing I learned early on about being a father, it is that I can never take any credit for bringing those children into the world.

Just like being physically born the work was done by God through Jesus.

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 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.

This is the gospel - The good news.

God, as your Father, looked down on you, suffering, struggling, knowing you had no way to help yourself.

even pushing him away

sent His Son

If you could be ‘good enough’ - would he have sent Jesus?

The expense of your sin cost God’s Son, but the value He placed on you was worth His Son.

begs the question — the question Nicodemus needed to face — the question you must face:

Are you born again? (16-21)

Only two options: not condemned or condemned

John 3:18

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

How do you believe?

We have mentioned several times and the Bible clearly teaches that we are not saved by anything we do, but we are saved solely as a work of God.

- But, on the other hand, we’ve said “you must believe.” How does this work together? How does one express belief?

Surrender

Superficial belief is a selfish belief

Saving belief is a surrendered belief-

ILLUST - chair - you can intellectually believe a chair can hold you, but to have an actionable belief you need to surrender your full body weight to the chair.

not chair AND my legs

Saving belief in Jesus is a surrendered belief

— putting the full weight of your life in Jesus

Surrender and believe by praying to God in your words - tell him you surrender - you want to be born again - you know God has been at work. You’re now face to face with Jesus and he says YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

(Live service - hit the button - commit my life to Christ - pray for you)

You can say you believe in God, Say your a Christian, but until you take the actionable step of belief and surrender - you’re just pretending.

Stop pretending, Start believing, and be born again.