Born Of God Series

INTRO.- ILL.- During the French Revolution, men were determined to abolish Christianity. One fine, clear night an atheist was loudly proclaiming his doctrine to a poor countryman. “Everything,” he said, “will be abolished—churches, Bibles, clergymen; yes, even the word ‘God’ itself. We shall remove everything which speaks of religion!”

The countryman gave a quiet chuckle. “Why do you laugh?” said the other. The peasant pointed to the stars and replied, “I was just wondering how you and your crew would manage to get them down!” Great answer.

We do live in a world or society that wants to do away with God and everything sacred. Or so it seems.

Many people don’t believe in God, don’t care about God, and don’t want to hear anything about God, Christ or the Bible. And the world in which we’re living is pretty tough, wild, violent and unbelieving! And because it’s unbelieving, this is why we’re experiencing such wild and sinful behavior from people.

When people stop believing in the God of heaven and the fact that someday they have to give account to Him they will do anything! And that’s what we’re seeing and experiencing in our time.

Psalm 14:1-3 “The fool says in his heart, "There is no God.They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

What a powerful scripture. What a powerful truth about the condition of mankind. Foolish.

Unbelieving. Corrupt. Vile. No good. And the Lord sees us all. Will people never learn? Some won’t. And they will never learn unless we preach the gospel message! And some won’t even then.

Overall people are corrupt. Sin has infected us all and there is only one answer and one escape. And it’s through Christ. And being born again!

Basically, if a person wants to see eternal life he or she must be born again. They must experience a new life in Christ and our text reveals what this means.

PROP.- Being born of God means many things.

1- Being born of God requires belief in Jesus Christ

2- Being born of God surrenders in obedience to God

3- Being born of God gives victory over the world

I. BEING BORN OF GOD REQUIRES BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

Belief in Jesus Christ is what this born again business is all about. Do you believe that Jesus is who He claimed to be?

Matthew 16:13-16 “13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

What a question? And it’s a question that all people must some day answer. Either here on earth or when they die!

John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” Or you believe in God. Believe also in me.

It’s not enough just to believe in God or believe that God exists. If a person is going to experience a new life, a born again life then they must also believe in Jesus Christ.

Many people believe in “a” god, but the true and living God is the one who sent Jesus into the world to save us. That’s the God we believe in and the Jesus we believe in. Many people still don’t believe in Jesus. It all depends on who you ask.

ILL.- In South Africa: I think Jesus is not god and can’t be god. He is human and he was a prophet. God can’t take the shape of a human. God is infinite and can’t be contained in human body.

- In Alabama: I think Jesus might have been a good person in his time. Today he is a monument to the stupidity of Christians.

- In Maryland: Jesus was a rabble rouser and a good, smart guy that lived and died about 2000 years ago.

I beg to differ with these people!

ILL.- Josephus, the famed Jewish historian, lived from A.D. 37 to 95, wrote: “Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call Him a man: for He was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to Him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned Him to the cross, those that loved Him at the first did not forsake Him; for He appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning Him. And the tribe of Christians so named from Him, are not extinct at this day.”