Born In Sin…born Not To Sin

Illus: A mother was watching a PBS special showing the birth of a baby. The mom thought it would be a good starting point for answering questions about the facts of life.

• As her five-year-old studied the baby coming out of the birth canal, he asked, "Mom, does that hurt?"

• Recalling the difficulty of her deliveries said, "Oh, yes, it does,"

• "Wow," he continued in awe, "Does it hurt the mother too?"

Children have a hard time comprehending all of this stuff about child birth.

Illus: That reminds me of a little girl that was sitting with her grandmother, who had presented her with her first little children's Bible, when she was very young.

• A decade or so later, the elderly lady was ready to spend a few sweet moments handing down the big old King James Version family Bible to her granddaughter.

• Understandably excited, the youngster was asking a number of questions, both about the family members whose births and deaths were recorded therein, and about various aspects of the Scriptures themselves.

• Her grandmother was endeavoring to answer all the child's questions in terms she could understand, but the one that stopped her cold was this sincere inquiry:

• "Which Virgin was the mother of Jesus? Was it the Virgin Mary, or the King James virgin?"

Illus: Women seem to know more about child birth than men. Because men do not know as much about child birth as women do, they say some pretty dumb things while their wives are giving birth to a child, such as:

• Boy! You're lucky. I sure wish men could experience the miracle of childbirth

• Do you think the baby will come before Monday Night Football starts?

• I hope your ready. The Glamour Shot photographer will be here in fifteen minutes.

• If you think that hurts, I should tell you about the time I twisted my ankle playing basketball.

Any time a birth takes place, it is an EXCITING TIME!

The birth of a child will cause any parent to gloat. But did you know that God also gloats over the birth of one of His children?

Illus: Max Lucado wrote: “God is crazy about you!

• If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

• If God had a wallet, your picture would be in it.

• You might go days without thinking of Him, but there would never be a moment when He would not be thinking of you.

You are the most important thing in the world, in all of God’s creation!”

We know a great deal about the PHYSICAL BIRTH but many know very little about the SPIRITUAL BIRTH.

The Lord, in this scriptural passage, wanted to teach Nicodemus something about the spiritual birth. We can learn from what He taught him.

Let’s look at THREE things about the BORN AGAIN life:

I. BEING BORN AGAIN MEANS YOU ARE REDEEMED

Look at verses 1-2. We read, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 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.”

Notice, in verse 3, immediately when he inquired about who the Lord was, “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.”

WHY DID HE SAY THAT? Because there are people in every church who have heard Jesus’ name mentioned over and over again, yet they do not know Him. They know ALL ABOUT HIM, but they do not KNOW HIM! They sing about Him, but they do not know who they are singing about!

Nicodemus went to Jesus to find out just who He was. Jesus was quick to tell him that if he wanted to know Him in all His greatness, he MUST BE “BORN AGAIN.”

BEING BORN AGAIN MEANS YOU ARE REDEEMED. Also...

II. BEING BORN AGAIN MEANS YOU ARE RECEIVED

If you are born again, you have been RECEIVED into the family of God!

Look at Romans 8:16, we read, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

The moment we are born again, we are BORN INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD.

• For me to be able to enjoy this earthly life, I have to be born into this world in which I live.

• For me to be able to enjoy the heavenly life, I have to be born into the family of God!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN AND RECEIVED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD?

Look at 2 Cor. 5:17. It tells what will take place in our life. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”