JOHN 1:12-13 “THE CHRISTIAN BIRTH CERTIFICATE”
A) The birth certificate is a very important document for every person!
* It’s needed for many different events in each person’s life. * For instance …….
* Usually it is needed for employment purposes or for enrollment into colleges or universities.
* It may be needed for induction into military service as well as other events.
* There are certain privileges and responsibilities that each person inherits with the birth certificate.
B) I want to talk to you tonight about the Christian birth certificate!
* It is very similar to the physical birth certificate.
* I want to bring to your attention to five aspects of the Christian birth certificate.
* As I speak, examine yours and see if it is authentic.
(1) IT IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD! * Everyone can see it … It can’t be hidden!
A) In fact, Christianity can’t be hidden! * Listen to what Jesus said in Matt. 5:14-16 “Ye are …”
* When you got saved, a light began shining in you that will shine eternally.
* Believers are lights in a dark world, emitting the light we derive from Jesus, the Light of all
creation … Illustration: The moon has no light within itself … It reflects light from the sun.
B) You can cover the light up, but sooner or later it will shine through!
* Matt. 5:15 “… bushel …” * I wonder about these people who go around with a box over their
light all the time … You either let your light shine or you don’t have a light!
C) A person can go to any county court house in SC and look up the record of any birth in
that county that he might desire … It’s on public record!
* If we had access to the Lamb’s Book of Life, you could go to it and turn to the “D’s.”
* And there you would find my name, Bo Dunford, born into the family of God Feb. 26, 1978.
D) Let me ask you … Is your spiritual birth a matter of public record?
* Can people see it? * Is your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
* When a person does as our text states (as many as received Him), his name is written down in
the Lamb’s Book of Life, and he is saved.
* Not only is our Christian birth certificate a matter of public record … But also …….
(2) IT SHOWS THE PLACE OF BIRTH! * Mine says that I was born in Spartanburg.
A) The Christian’s birth place is Calvary’s cross! * “To them GAVE he power …”
* The word “gave” is past tense. * Where did He give this power?
* On top of Mount Calvary … There is Golgotha’s maternity ward … There’s where I was born!
* My birth took place as Jesus suffered the pain of death. * Gal. 2:20 “I am crucified …”
B) When He was crucified, you and I were also crucified!
* Our sins were atoned for that day … The guilt was erased and the sin debt was paid!
* Our conception became full grown and was now time to be delivered.
C) Christianity’s birth place is at the cross of Calvary … That’s our maternity ward!
* That’s our birth place … Let me ask you, have you been there?
* If your spiritual life has any other beginning other than Golgotha, then you have never been
spiritually born. * There’s something else on the Christian birth certificate …….
(3) IT SHOWS WHO THE FATHER IS! * Look at v.13 “… not of blood, nor of the …”
A) The word “born” means “begotten.” * “Not of blood,” which is the element of physical life.
* “Nor of the will of the flesh,” or from the natural or human impulse or design.
* “Nor of the will of man,” * The Greek word suggests human determination. * “But of God …”
* Human generation has nothing to do with regeneration … Salvation is of the Lord.
B) The spiritual birth is 100% from God … Not of man, works, or personal sacrifice!
* And you can’t save yourself! * There’s a false teaching going around, “God is Father of all.”
* God is creator of all, but He’s not Father of all.
* A group of Jews confronted Jesus with this issue in John 8:41-44 and He told them in v.44, “Ye
are of your father the devil …”
C) God spoke to the Christian in 2 Cor. 6:17-18 “Wherefore come out from …”
* If you’ve been saved, then you have the name of your Father, God, stamped upon your
certificate of new birth … You know who your Father is!
(4) A BIRTH CERTIFICATE MUST BE SIGNED BY THE ONE WHO DELIVERED YOU!
A) Most states require the doctor, the mid-wife, or whoever makes the delivery of the child
to sign the birth certificate!
* Jesus’ death on the cross, His suffering, the torment of hell, and His resurrection has
authenticated His signature.
* I still remember when the doctor came into the fathers’ waiting room to me …….
B) When Jesus was hanging on the cross and death was about to take over His body …….
* His spirit looked to the Father and said, “It is finished,” a heavenly jubilation took place
throughout all the portals of Glory … Angels rejoiced …….
C) Jesus took the quill in His hand and dipped it in the eternal blood that day …….
* And the signature of the Deliverer was written in its proper place.
* “To them gave he power, or authority to become the sons of God.”
* His signature made the new birth certificate authentic.
(5) IT MAKES YOU A CITIZEN OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH YOU WERE BORN!
A) If you were born in England, you’re a citizen of England!
* Australia … South America … USA …
B) We as Christians are born from above …….
* Therefore, that makes us citizens of that country called heaven.
* Phil. 3:20 “For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”
C) Turn to Heb. 11:13-16 ……. * I’m a citizen of that heavenly country!
CLOSE
A) The Christian birth certificate! * It’s a matter of public record … Everyone can see it.
* It shows the place of birth … That place is at Calvary.
* It shows who the Father is … God, the Father.
* It is signed by the one who delivered you …….
* And it makes you a citizen of the country in which you were born.
B) Do you have your spiritual birth certificate?
* If not, then you had better get it while you can!
