“YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN”
John 3:1-15; Romans 5:12
W. Max Alderman
INTRODUCTION: The imperative, “Ye must be born again” spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, shows just how important the new birth is. A person cannot hope to go to heaven without the benefit of the new birth. To be born again is to be born from above. This study will examine the new birth.
“If any doctrines within the whole compass of Christianity may be properly termed fundamental, they are doubtless these two, -- the doctrine of justification, and that of the new birth: The former relating to that great work which God does for us, in forgiving our sins; the latter, to the great work which God does in us, in renewing our fallen nature.” John Wesley
I. NOTICE THE GREAT TRUTH ABOUT THE NEW BIRTH.
A. The Truth Expressed (V.3) “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
B. The truth Examined (V.4) “How can a man be born when he is old?
C. The Truth Explained (V.5) “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
D. The Truth Exclaimed (V.7) “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
II. NOTICE THE GREAT TRADEDY APART FROM THE NEW BIRTH.
A. There Is No Substitute for the New Birth (V.6) “That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
B. There Is No Satisfaction Apart From the New Birth (V.15) “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
C. There Is No Salvation Apart From the New Birth (Titus 3:5)
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
III. NOTICE THE GREAT TRIUMPH AS A RESULT OF THE NEW BIRTH.
A. There Will Be No Perishing In Hell (Vv. 16-18)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
B. There Will Be Instead Paradise In Heaven (V. 16) “…whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
CONCLUSION: The new birth grants one a new nature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The new birth marks the beginning of a new life of holiness that is evident by change. If there is no change then there is no new birth…
