This morning I'll be talking about children experiencing what Jesus calls the new birth. Before I do, I want to say a word about Vacation Bible School. VBS is one of the most effective tools for reaching people with the gospel. VBS will happen in nine locations this year, and I hope you'll join us for training this evening. We want our children to be saved. And the stats are clear for America's children as Jesus finds a very high number of children/teenagers before they are eighteen. The clear desire of every Christian parent is the spiritual well-being of their children. As much as anything, we want to equip parents to lead their children to trust in Jesus Christ. And I'll scatter some nuggets throughout the message on how to shepherd your kids (no matter their age) toward embracing kids.
Today's Big Idea: The Gospel isn't just something we believe, it's something we love.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." (John 3:1-21)
The gospel must move from the head to the heart. Yet, there's a lot of confusion about knowing for sure if I'm "o.k." with God. One individual told of "walking the aisle a lot" when they were younger. Where they thought they had been saved at least once in every brand of church! Maybe you've had that experience, and you're confused. Today, I want to clear up your confusion. Some of you have never heard a clear explanation of how to receive Christ. In the next few moments, I want to share this message of salvation with you.
If Jesus is correct … think with me about this … what happens in your heart in the next few moments will be the most important thing 10,000 years from now. If Jesus is correct, then your reception or rejection of Him will make all the difference in 10,000 years. If you were to stand before Jesus Christ and He were to say to you, "Why Should I Allow You into Heaven," how would you answer? In just a few moments, I am going to extend to you an invitation, where you'll have an opportunity to receive Jesus Christ.
A Famous Conversation in John 3
This is the most comprehensive and complete chapter in the Bible on the subject of the new birth and what it means to be born again. Jesus interrupts Nicodemus. Nicodemus' first statement is twenty-four words, his second statement is eighteen words, his third statement is four words, and then he never speaks again. Nicodemus asks three questions, but the dialogue soon becomes a monologue.
Sermon Preview
Today I want to focus on Four Questions
Who Needs the New Birth?
What is the New Birth?
How Do I Know if I have the New Birth?
How Do I Receive the New Birth?
1. Who Needs the New Birth?
Jesus says it three times, "Unless you are born again, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. Unless you are born again, you cannot enter the kingdom of God." He says in verses three, five, and seven. Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again'" (John 3:7).
Look at who Jesus is talking to in verse one. He's a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin. Right away, we know several things about him. First of all, it means he's old. You didn't get up there unless you were an older man. Secondly, he's rich. Third, he's learned. The Sanhedrin were teachers.
Notice down in verse 10: "You are Israel's teacher …" That's actually a technical term. "You have a Ph.D. from an Ivy League school. You are a Scripture scholar. You are one of the accredited establishment. You are the cultural elite." Jesus says everyone must be born again. The new birth isn't just for drug addicts, convicts, and gamblers. Nicodemus is the very opposite of a "broken-down" person. Here is a man who's so religious, he makes sure he tithes off even his birthday gifts! Jesus is coming to a very good person, an incredibly moral person, and says, "You have to go back to the beginning. You have to start at day one."
You must be born again—every one of you. No matter your culture. No matter your emotional temperament. No matter your religious upbringing. When he says, "You must be born again," what he's really saying is: "Nothing you have done counts toward being a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. 'You must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven' means not a thing you've done counts. You're no further ahead than anybody else."
"If You Only Knew What I'd Done," someone says. By the way, if there is anybody here tonight who says in your heart, "If you knew what I've done, if you knew the things I've done, if you knew what was on my record …" Be encouraged. You're not behind. You're not behind the most wonderful and accomplished person in the world. When it comes to God, each one of us must be born again.
Our First Question: Who Needs the New Birth?
2. What is the New Birth?
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:14-17)
Jesus is talking about the new birth. Conversion and New Birth are two sides of the same coin. Conversion is what you and I do to come to God, but the new birth is what God does. God turns people, and people then turn to God. Conversion is a spiritual turn, and it includes three things no matter your age.
2.1 You Must Know the Facts of the Gospel
One of the reasons we are encouraging you to have faith conversations is because the first stepping stone to anyone's salvation is knowing the facts of the gospel: "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:14)
Faith isn't a blind leap in the dark. And if the next generation is to know Jesus, we must provide reasons for faith. The next generation must know the basic content of the gospel.
ASK PEOPLE TO STAND IF THEY KNOW THEY'VE EXPERIENCED THE NEW BIRTH AND THEY CAN CONFIDENTLY SHARE THE GOSPEL.
Four Facts of the Gospel
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
1. God created "the world" (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2);
2. People sinned are rebellious to God's rule by birth – "should not perish" (John 1:11; Romans 3:23);
3. Jesus came to rescue sinners through His perfect life, death, and resurrection – "he gave his only Son";
4. One day, Jesus will restore everything for those who have trusted in Him for "eternal life."
But knowledge about the facts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection isn't enough. That's why this knowledge must move from your heart to your head.
2.2 You Must Approve of the Gospel
The next generation must be really convinced the gospel is true. You must have a heartfelt hurt and sorrow for your sins – this is called repentance (Acts 2:37-38).
Know the Facts of the Gospel
You Must Approve of the Gospel
But, two of our three isn't enough…
2.3 You Must Depend on Jesus
Saving faith is not just a belief in facts, but it is personal trust in Jesus to save me. Just as you trust the pilots of a 777 to fly you across the ocean, you must trust in Jesus to save you from your sins. Just as you trust other drivers to stop when the light turns red, you must trust in Jesus' death to absorb your punishment for your sins.
Who Needs the New Birth?
Our Second Question: What is the New Birth?
3. How Do I Know if I'm Born Again?
Do you remember Dickens' A Christmas Carol? Do you know the scene when Scrooge looked out on Christmas morning? Scrooge was a parable of what it meant to be reborn. Do you know why? He had the same eyes as he looked out of the same window, onto the same street, in the same town, but everything was different. He had a new perspective. He had new motives. He had a whole new governing principle to his life, and that is something only the Spirit of God can do.
For many parents here today, you've raised children inside your home that have walked away from Christ… … what about them? Let's look again at our story: And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." (John 3:19-21)
If you're born again, you know the one thing you always hated about God was you didn't like Him to tell you how to change. The difference between a religious person and a born-again person is the born-again person says, "God, I want to obey you in every area of my life. Show me what you want me to change." Jesus is saying when the new birth arrives, your "insides" are fundamentally changed. Rather than hating darkness, you now love the light. For some of you, the years have gone by, and you're holding on to your little born-again certificate… … but nothing has happened in your life.
You say, "Well, I know I'm a Christian." You do? How is it possible the omnipotent power of God's Spirit Himself blows into your life, and He doesn't mess up your hair? Nothing is blowing around. The power of God's Spirit is aggressive. The Spirit works like an acid. Is there dishonesty in your life? The acid of the Spirit eats through dishonesty. Is there cowardice and fear in your life? The acid of the Spirit works like acid as it eats through fear. Is there an unreliability in your life? Is there a depression? The evidence of the Spirit's presence is joy. Is there selfishness? The evidence of the Spirit's presence is love. Is there dishonesty? The evidence of the Spirit's presence is integrity. Is there pride and self-centeredness? The evidence of the Spirit's presence is humility.
Look at Nicodemus again in the gospel of John – go to the story with Nicodemus with Joseph of Arimathea. In the beginning, here, Nicodemus didn't really see Jesus. But by the end of the book of John, when all of Jesus' disciples deserted Him and He was being cut down off the cross, and nobody wanted to get near Him… … because at this point, anybody who said, "I'm a follower of Christ," his life was in danger… Watch Nicodemus get up, take Jesus' body, and buries Jesus in a beautiful tomb. He gives the body of Jesus Christ a king's burial. Their actions were an incredibly bold move, unbelievably courageous. For at a time in which the leader of the movement had been slain, and all the other followers were pretty much going into hiding, He was willing to get up and identify clearly as one of Jesus' disciples. What boldness! What courage! Do you see the difference the new birth makes?
Some of you have set the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of times you've asked Jesus into your heart. Stop this and see the difference the new birth makes.
Three Aspects of Godly Parenting
3.1 Pray Constantly for Your Children's Conversion
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)
3.2 Model a Godly Life
How do I do this?
3.2.1 Read the Bible Aloud
This includes both formal and informal times of instruction. Formal times where the church instructs your children. Formal where you, the parents, sit down with the intention of teaching your children. This is purposeful and intentional time, so there will not be gaps in their knowledge. But also informal where "teachable moments" present themselves. We constantly teach our children the things of God (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 78:3-6).
3.2.2 Pray with Your Children
Throughout this series, we want to continually encourage you to pray out loud with your children. Let them hear you pray!
3.2.3 Own Your Mistakes
One of the best things you can do is to admit to your children when you have blown it spiritually.
3.3 Don't Try to be God
Recognize God does the saving and you don't (John 3:8).
Who Needs the New Birth?
What is the New Birth?
Our Third Question: How Do I Know if I have the New Birth?
4. How do I Receive the New Birth?
Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple and co-founder of Pixar and inventor/entrepreneur, told the graduating students of Stanford these words: "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life."
If you were to stand before Jesus Christ and He were to say to you, "Why Should I Allow You into Heaven," how would you answer? The Bible describes the celestial city of heaven as a place where people of every nation will one day enjoy. Heaven will have no need of sun or moon because the glory of God will give it all the light that's needed. For heaven to remain eternally perfect, the Bible says these words: "But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Revelation 21:27).
Jesus must keep all sin out of heaven in order for heaven to be heaven. Jesus must keep all sinners out of heaven in order for heaven to be heaven. What hope do you have of entering Jesus' home of heaven?
If Jesus is correct, then your reception or rejection of Him will make all the difference in 10,000 years. "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:18)
Just as you trust the pilots of a 777 to fly you across the ocean, you must trust in Jesus to save you from your sins. Just as you trust other drivers to stop when the light turns red, you must trust in Jesus' death to absorb your punishment for your sins.
Invitation
Ask people who KNOW for certain they are believers to raise their hands. There are some here this morning that think you might go to heaven. You need to swear off all attempts of earning your place in heaven. Heaven is a gift.
Lead them in the sinner's prayer: Father, I know that you created me, and I have rebelled against you. Today, I place my trust in Jesus Christ for the complete payment of my sins. I will not try to help Jesus pay for my sins in any way. I turn away from sins because they are ugly, and they hurt you. I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord (boss). Thank you for saving me. Amen.
