You Must Be Born Again Series

You Must Be Born Again

(John 3:1-18)

John 3:1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

Nicodemus. Who was Nicodemus? This verse tells us.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee. The Pharisees were a group of Jews who were excessively concerned about keeping the letter of the Law. They were legalistic. The law was very important to them.

Nicodemus also was a member of the Jewish ruling council. This was one of the highest political positions for a Jew. Nicodemus was somebody. He was a prominent Jewish leader and teacher.

In this sermon today, we will look at the conversation that Nicodemus had with Jesus. It gives four points about salvation. This sermon is entitled, You must be born again. This is what Jesus told Nicodemus many times. You must be born again.

The first point is an admission that Nicodemus made.

1. Jesus is From God

John 3:2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

Nicodemus came to Jesus with an admission: Jesus is a teacher come from God. This is quite a statement for a Pharisee to make. But it wasn't just Nicodemus making this statement. Nicodemus didn't say, “I know that you are a teacher from God.” He said, “We know.” Evidently, he and his friends or colleagues had come to this conclusion. It is a step in the right direction. Jesus is from God.

We talked about signs in the previous sermon. Nicodemus and his friends had seen the signs that Jesus had performed. The signs had convinced them that Jesus was from God.

Anyone who wants to be saved, must start at this point. Jesus is from God. Do you see Jesus as being from God? Do you? If so, you have made a step in the right direction. If not, go back to the signs that Jesus did. Look at them. See them. Believe them. They all point to this fact: Jesus is from God.

You would think that when Jesus replied to Nicodemus after Nicodemus said this, that He would say something about this, but He didn't. Jesus goes directly to the subject of salvation. He does so by saying that another birth is necessary.

2. Another Birth is Necessary

John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

Here’s some bonus material. It says, “very truly” here in the NIV. Your Bibles may say, “verily, verily” or “truly, truly.” In the Greek it actually says, “amen, amen.” Amen, amen, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. The word “again” here is actually “from above.” It can have the meaning of again as it does here.

No one can see the kingdom of God, no one can go to heaven, unless they are born again. This is necessary. There must be a birth, a rebirth.

Nicodemus responds to this in verse 4.

John 3:4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

Nicodemus is not just asking an innocent question here. He is disagreeing with Jesus. He states that a person cannot enter a second time into the womb.

Jesus doesn't respond to his question. He just makes His statement again. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born. He adds two elements: are born of water and the Spirit. What does this mean? Look at the next verse.

John 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

The flesh, the physical body, gives birth to a physical body. This corresponds with the water in the previous verse, being born of water. When you were born, you came in a water sac. That’s what water here is referring to. It is not referring to water baptism. It is referring to a physical birth. You have been born physically. You also must be born spiritually. The Spirit gives birth to spirit. You can only function in the spiritual world where Jesus and the Father are, if you have been born in the spirit.

Jesus continues.

John 3:7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

This is the third time that Jesus has said this. It was the one thing that Nicodemus needed. You must be born again. It does not matter how rich you are. You must be born again. It does not matter how long you have gone to church. You must be born again. It doesn't matter which denomination you are a member of. You must be born again. It doesn't matter how many ministries that you are involved in in this church. You must be born again. It doesn’t matter how good you are. You must be born again. Have you been born again? If not, you must be born again.