“Born of the Spirit”
John 3:1-8
Introduction:
1.Before we talk about being filled with the Spirit or walking in the Spirit, we must talk about being born of the Spirit. You have to be born before you can walk and feed yourself.
2.Nicodemus had come to Jesus to talk about theology, but Jesus only wanted to talk about birthdays. Everyone needs two birthdays. Our first one, we like people to remember it when we’re young and forget it when we’re old. The second birthday is more important. The first is for time – the second for eternity.
3.The term “born again” has fallen on hard times. It is too commonly referred to. However, it is the miracle of salvation that takes place in a believer’s heart. We cannot go to Heaven unless we have been born again.
I.Being Born Again is Essential. (vs. 3)
a.“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Jesus said in verse 7, “Ye must be born again.”
b.Requirement, Necessity, Not optional, Not an elective.
c.Nicodemus was religious, rich, and a ruler, but none of that could get him to Heaven.
d.Being born again is not a way to Heaven; it is the way to Heaven. (John 14:6) There is no other way (Acts 4:12)
e.The only way to get us into Heaven is for God to get Heaven into us, and He does that by the new birth.
f.If you are born twice, you only have to die once. If you are only born once, you have to die twice. (Physical death and spiritual death)
g.Those who are not born again will spend eternity in Hell. They are condemned already. (vs. 18)
II.Being Born Again is Explained. (vs. 4-6)
a.Nicodemus did not understand. Many do not understand how to be saved. They need someone to explain it to them. Salvation is mysterious, but we don’t have to understand it to enjoy it. I don’t understand electricity, but I enjoy it. I don’t understand how a brown cow can eat green grass and produce white milk, but I enjoy a cold glass of milk or a bowl of ice cream. However, we can understand some things about salvation.
b.The water refers to the Word of God. The preaching of God’s Word produces salvation. 1 Peter 1:23, “Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” James 1:18, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
c.The Spirit refers to conviction. The Holy Spirit reproves and convicts us of sin. The Holy Spirit makes us sick of our sin and puts within us a desire to be saved.
d.Jesus’ birth is somewhat like the new birth. The Holy Spirit helped Mary conceive a baby without ever being with a man. The Holy Spirit must convict us and give us a desire to be saved if we are going to have a new birth.
e.The Bible explains salvation:
i.We are sinners. (Romans 3:23) Only had to break one of God’s laws to be a sinner. Sinner by conception and sinner by choice.
ii.Sin has to be paid for. (Romans 6:23) When we break the law, there is a consequence. Just God could do no less than that. Penalty for sin is death and Hell.
iii.Jesus Christ paid for our sin. (Romans 5:8) Christ died for us (in our place) Took our punishment, became sin for us. Our physical birth was only made possible by the suffering of another, and so is the case with our spiritual birth.
iv.We must by faith turn from our sin and receive the gift of salvation. (Romans 10:13) Call on the name of the Lord and be saved.
f.Jesus went on to explain salvation in verses 14-17. You can only be born again by putting your faith in Christ, not by working or being good enough.
g.Just like you didn’t work to get out of your mother’s womb and be physically born, you cannot work to receive a new birth. No such thing as “do-it-yourself” salvation. You can only be born once, and you can only have one spiritual birth. Being born again is not cleaning up your act, trying to do better, or turning over a new leaf. It is not going to a class or support group. It is a total transformation.
h.We need regeneration, not reformation. Reformation will put new clothes on a man, but regeneration will put a new man in his clothes.
III.Being Born Again is Evident. (vs. 8)
a.Jesus compares the Holy Spirit to wind. You can feel wind, but you cannot see it. You can only see the results of it. You cannot see the Holy Spirit but you can see the results of His presence in a person’s life.
b.If you do not have the Holy Spirit in you, you have never been born again. (Romans 8:9, “If any man have not the Spirit of God, he is none of His.”
c.If you can sin without His conviction. If He never bears witness with your spirit, you have never been born again. 1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for His seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 5:4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
d.When we are born again, we possess a love for other believers. 1 John 4:7, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
e.Paul was someone who evidenced being born again. He received a new nature. When we were born physically, we received a physical nature. Pigs play in mud because it is their nature. Humans don’t like filth because it is against their nature. We have a sin nature. We sin because it is our nature to sin. We enjoy sin, but when we get saved, we get a new nature, and we can’t enjoy sin anymore. We enjoy the things of God. We don’t always do right, but we enjoy doing right. We enjoy going to church. We enjoy reading our Bible and praying. That is the new nature that comes from the new birth.
Conclusion:
Being born again is something that happens at a definite point in time. You have not always been born, and you have not always been born again. You were not born more than once, and you can only be spiritually born once. If you cannot remember a time when you were born again, you are not a child of God, not on your way to Heaven, and bound for Hell. You can be born again today if you have a desire in your heart to be saved and are willing to repent of your sin and ask Christ to save you.
