Born Again

An older man was talking with a graduating high school senior. He asked, "So, what will you do now?" The young man said he planned to attend college and major in business. The older man asked, and then what? The young man said he would start his own business, marry, and have a family. The older man repeated, "and then what?" The young man said he hoped to travel, put his kids through college, and continue to have success in business. "All great goals," said the older man. "And then what?" The young man supposed he would grow old and retire. The older man asked again, "And then what?" The young man said, "I suppose I will die." "And then what?" said the older man. The young man said, "I don't know."

Most of us get so caught up in our plans that we fail to realize how quickly this life ends. We live for today with little thought for eternity. Jesus spoke about the work of the Holy Spirit that makes it possible for us to spend eternity with God in heaven.

We have been in a Bible study on Wednesday nights here at the church at 6:30 p.m. on the Gospel of John. As I was studying this particular passage, I began to see a few new things that I think God would have us to know. So, let’s talk some today about being born again. PRAYER

John 3:1-3 – “There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a group whose name literally means "the separated ones." By the time of Jesus's earthly ministry, the Pharisees were the most influential sect of Jewish leaders. They prided themselves on being experts in the Jewish law. They were also constant opponents of Jesus.

Despite how much the Pharisees disliked Jesus, Nicodemus seemed to be attracted to the teachings of Jesus. It doesn't appear that he came to Jesus to challenge Him or trick Him, he was there to learn more about Him and His teachings. Maybe Nicodemus planned to ask Jesus a question, but it appears that he didn’t have a chance to ask it. Jesus knew Nicodemus' heart and it's possible that He went straight to the answer before Nicodemus even voiced the question.

Jesus's answer was this, "Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jesus goes straight to the most important question any person can ask: what must I do to get to heaven? Being a Pharisee, Nicodemus probably assumed that following the Jewish law was necessary to be approved by God and enter His heaven, which makes Jesus's statement so amazing. Being born again is not something we can do for ourselves. It’s not about our efforts or our good works. This offer of salvation, our new birth, is something that only God can do for us.

To really look into Nicodemus's heart we have to see that he made three powerful statements about Jesus in this passage. He called Jesus Rabbi in verse 2. That term was used as a title of respect for a teacher of the law. This was both a courteous and a humble way for Nicodemus to greet Jesus.

Nicodemus called Jesus a teacher who has come from God. The original Greek word that was used for “teacher” was sometimes translated rabbi, but it was the more common term for a teacher. It was most often used to address Jesus, not only by the disciples, but also by the Pharisees.

While the Pharisees called Jesus teacher, they would not have called Him a teacher from God. Back in Matthew's writings, it was the Pharisees that attributed Jesus's ability to drive out demons as coming from the ruler of the demons. Unlike the other Pharisees, Nicodemus recognized something unique about Jesus's teaching. He realized it was something that could only come from God.

But also in verse 2, Nicodemus acknowledged that God was with Jesus. Nicodemus based his conclusion on the signs Jesus had performed. We don't know if Nicodemus personally saw some of the miracles or if he had just heard from eyewitnesses, but his statement shows that he viewed the acts of Jesus as miracles and evidence that God was with Him.

John 3:4-6 – “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.”