JOHN 3:1-15
There are three aspects of spiritual birth:
I. THE SPIRITUAL BIRTH IS ESSENTIAL 3:1-7
Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Why? Because of the inadequacy of human:
A. Reformation 1a "a man of the Pharisees"
B. Religion 1b "a ruler of the Jews"
C. Reason (human opinion) 3:2-6, 12 "thou art a teacher"
1. It is bound 3:2 "The miracles" he needed more than teacher!
2. It is blind 3:3-4 "he cannot see"
Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
2 Corinthians 4:4-6 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
3. It is barren 3:5-6a "he cannot enter", "flesh is flesh"
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
II. THE SPIRITUAL BIRTH IS EVERLASTING 3:6b-7, 15, 16
A. Because of its nature - it is imparted life of God and His life is eternal
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
B. Because of the nature of physical birth - you can’t be unborn. (The goat doesn’t and can’t say, "I don’t think I will be a goat today")
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
C. Because of the Promises of God’s Word (John 3:15-18)
1 John 5:12-13 He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
III. THE SPIRITUAL BIRTH IS EVIDENTIAL 3:8-11
There will be:
A. A new relationship with Jesus 3:13
B. A new perception of spiritual truth 3:11-12
C. A new attitude toward life and death 3:15
