Introduction:
One of the greatest tragedies in religion today is that many church members, including religious leaders, do not know how to get to heaven, even though the Bible plainly tells us.
Need:
Man is dead in sin and is in the need of a spiritual birth.
Textual Idea statement:
[Jesus] addressed [Nicodemus] to [teach] him that [he must be born again to enter the
kingdom of heaven].
Sermon Idea statement:
Jesus tells us that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Interrogative:
What does it mean to be “born again”?
Transition:
Jesus tells us that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven.
What must you do to enter the kingdom of heaven? Jesus said, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of heaven”
In John chapter three, Jesus talks with a Religious leader named Nicodemus. In their conversation, Jesus clearly explains how a person can get to heaven. Three things stand out:
I. The Call - You must be born again (v. 1-3, 7)
II. The Meaning - What it means to be born again (v. 4-8)
III. The Direction - How to be born again (9-13)
Jesus says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again.
Point 1: The Call -You must be born again (v. 1-3, 7)
Explanation:
-Jesus told Nicodemus – in order to get to Heaven, he must be born again.
Who was Nicodemus?
a. He was religious man.
He was one of the most religious people of his day. In fact, verse 10, tells us Nicodemus was a great teacher of the Law. Despite all his religious credentials, Jesus still tells him that in order to get to Heaven, he must be born again.
b. He was a man of prestige. (A man with reputation)
Nicodemus was a Pharisee; his name was Greek in origin and means “victor over people”. He was a prominent Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin (Matt. 26:59) was the main ruling of the Jews. It was the Jewish Supreme Court or ruling council that probably arose during the Persian period.
The Pharisees were a strong religious sect--not like the Sadducees who were less rigid and more politically minded.
Clearly, Nicodemus was a member of the upper class and was conservative in his beliefs, but interested in Jesus’ teaching.
c. In the eyes of society, Nicodemus had made it to the top. He was a religious man with both position and popularity. Yet, he was also an Empty Man.
d. He was an empty man
One of the problems with religion is that it tells us to perform, get baptized, work for our salvation, do our good deeds, and follow the 10 commandments – this is the way of salvation.
The problem with this approach is that it will leave us void, lonely and bare--never satisfied with ourselves. Sadly, there many church members in the USA and all over the world who are religious, but empty! With this approach, every time we fail or sin, we have to go back and start all over. It is an endless, vicious circle. The devil wishes to see this cycle continue, because he knows it is the pathway to hell.
I believe Nicodemus was tired of living this way. I say that because Nicodemus came searching for Jesus. He knew there was something missing in his life. His piety, his prestige, his popularity, and his power could not fill the void in his heart. He is seeking the real meaning and purpose of life.
I believe he was tired of trying to work for his salvation. He was tired of obeying a strict set of religious rules that he knew he could never fully keep. So, Nicodemus came to the Lord Jesus Christ. He clearly made the right decision.
Illustration:
Tennis star Boris Becker was at the very top of the tennis world—yet he was also on the brink of suicide. He said, “I had won Wimbledon twice before, once as the youngest player ever. I was rich. I had all the material possessions I needed. It’s the old song of movie stars and pop stars who commit suicide. They have everything, and yet they are so unhappy. I had no inner peace. I was a puppet on a string.” Becker is not the first one to have that sense of emptiness.
Application:
Listen to me this morning, if you are trying to get to heaven by…working your way, trying to live a sinless life, forget all of that and come to Jesus Christ and allow him to create a new person in you.
Transition statement:
Jesus told Nicodemus first of all: You must be born again. The second thing that
Jesus told Nicodemus was -
Point 2: The Description – What it means to be born again (v. 4-8)
What does the word born again mean?
“Born again” – the transformation of a person so that he/she is able to enter another world and adapt to its conditions or, as it were, begin life anew in relation to God; his manner of thinking, feeling, and acting, with reference to spiritual things. The phrase literally means “born from above”.
Explanation:
When Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again, Nicodemus had a difficult time understanding it. Jesus explains in verse 5 what it means to be born again.
Illustration:
Ye must be born again. The necessity is implied in the word kingdom. A citizen of Philippines cannot become a citizen of the United States without complying with our naturalization laws. The kingdom of God has its own naturalization laws. The only means of entry is to be born of water and of the Spirit.
Argumentation:
Vs. 4–5 Nicodemus misunderstood Jesus’ response. He thought Jesus was talking about a physical rebirth. Jesus restated and clarified His answer. Some have taken Jesus’ words “born of water” to indicate the importance of baptism. While baptism is important, it is more likely that Jesus used water to refer to physical birth; a person must be born physically and spiritually.
Verses 6-8 Jesus used an illustration to explain the need for a new birth. At your physical birth, you became part of an earthly family. At your spiritual birth, you become a member of God’s family. Adam’s sin was passed down to us by
birth and gives us a sinful nature (1 Cor. 15:22). Fallen people can only give birth to fallen people. Only the Holy Spirit can give spiritual life to our souls. One must be born again (from above) to become part of God’s family.
According to Ephesians 2:1, from birth we were all dead in trespasses and sins – unable to do what is right:
That’s why the sinner continually struggles with sin. Spiritually he is dead and has no power to give it up! That is why -
* A gambler will continue to gamble even though his credit card is maxed and his checking account overdrawn.
* A drunkard will continue to drink, even though he knows his family has no food on the table at home.
* A drug addict will continue to stick a dirty needle in his veins knowing he might get AIDS.
* A thief will continue to steal.
All are powerless to heal themselves because they are spiritually dead. They need Jesus Christ to give them new life. JOHN 8:36 – For whom the Son sets free is free indeed!
When you allow the Holy Spirit to come into your heart, he –will
Transform you, save you, seal you as His son and break the chains of sin that bind you. That is the Nature of the New Birth – do you have it? Have you been born again?
Application:
You must live a new life. Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again is to begin anew. You cannot patch up the old building, but must begin anew from the foundation. Secondly, You must have a new nature, new principles, new affections, and new aims. You must be born which signifie- again, and- from above.
Whether educated or uneducated, Jew or Gentile, black or white, rich or poor, powerful or weak, blue blood or blue-collar, religious or sinner – all must be born again.
Transition statement:
Jesus declares to Nicodemus: Ye must be born again. Then, Jesus explains what it means
to be born again. “You must be born of water and spirit. Last point regarding being born
again.
Point 3: The Direction – How to be born again (9-13)
Let me tell you exactly how you can be born again.
Explanation:
• Jesus explains how one is born again spiritually. He points out that there are two steps. God does one, but man must do the other. John 3:14; "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. What does this mean? Our salvation happen when we look up to Jesus; believing he will save us.
• Step one is God’s step—He has sent his Son to be the final sacrifice for sin. When Jesus died on the cross he provided salvation for all. God has done all he needs to do to provide salvation. Even though this salvation has been provided, it is only part of the solution.
• The second step requires that the individual must personally trust or believe in God’s provision to have eternal life.
• Perhaps the most famous verses in John’s Gospel John 3:16 which reaffirms the two steps. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son", that is step number one. That is a finished step. God has done all he needs to do to provide salvation for men. But again, that alone saves no-one, because there is a second step. "Whosoever believes on him will not perish but have everlasting life." Now until Nicodemus takes the second step and accepts Jesus, will he have eternal life? Until he does so, he cannot enter into God’s Kingdom.
My question is: Are you saved? It is not a question about how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? If you were to die now, would you go to Heaven?
God says in order to get to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.”
God gives us the plan to be born again--which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?
1. Admit that you are a sinner.
The Bible says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
2. Know that God has already provided for your salvation.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son [Jesus Christ] that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
3. Know that you cannot save yourself.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5).
4. Repent of your sins.
“Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
5. Ask Jesus Christ to save you.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13) and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
6. Proclaim Jesus before others.
“If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9, 10).
Illustration:
When one is “born again,” he becomes a new creation! Forever delivered from the condemnation that faces everyone that has not been saved.
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”.
A caterpillar that has become a butterfly has been transformed. It has assumed a new identity. It has become a beautiful insect. It is a new creature.
Argumentation:
Jesus’ message is clear. Unless we submit to the power of the Spirit that changes our ideas, our philosophies, and most importantly, the way we live, it is impossible for us to enter God’s Kingdom.
Application:
Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven. Please! Let God save you this very moment. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
Transition statement:
Jesus says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again.
Visualization:
The only way you can go to Heaven is to be saved. God is giving you a chance to do that today. Jesus declares to Nicodemus: Ye must be born again.
Reiteration:
Friends, God has not changed. What the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus two thousand years ago, He is still saying to you today: "You must be born again!" God wants to cleanse and remake your heart and renew you by His power. However, you must first believe His Good News. You must believe in the Messiah. You must believe that Jesus, who never sinned, paid for your debt of sin, so that you can live forever in the presence of God. "You must be born again! No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again!"
Action:
Have you been born again? If not, I encourage you to do it right now. You cannot receive Christ by taking communion, by being baptized, by joining a church, or by any other human effort. You receive Christ by faith and trust in His finished work on the cross. Ye MUST be born again.
Appeal:
This morning, let’s take an honest look at ourselves--not just at what we say, but at what we do, and how we live our daily lives. To be a Christian is to be reborn, to be completely changed. To be a Christian is to live a transformed life, a life of forgiveness and love. In this Season of Advent, let us allow the Spirit of God to enter our hearts. Let us allow Jesus to change our lives so that we may see the Kingdom of God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I’m not sure I understand everything, but I know that you can give me the life I need. I repent of living life my way and on my terms. I surrender my life to you. Please forgive my sins, and cause me to be born again. Amen.
