BORN AGAIN
John 3:1-21
INTRO: Charles Colson emerged as a prominent figure of the Watergate scandal. He served as counsel to the president for Richard Nixon. Colson wanted power, and he was willing to do ruthless things to get that power. His actions sent him to prison, and in prison he realized that he needed a change in his life. Colson was Born Again (the title of his autobiography). He became a Christian, and his life took on a new direction.
Perhaps no greater term could be used to describe the beginning of the Christian life. It is like being born all over again. Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again. Some interesting facts may be seen about the new birth.
I. THE NEW BIRTH IS A MANDATE FOR EVERY PERSON.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again” (v. 7). The reason the new birth is a necessity is because human being cannot change themselves.
Only God can change a person. To be born again means to allow God to begin a change. If anyone wants to be really changed, they must open their lives to the Lord.
II. THE NEW BIRTH HAS A MEANS FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
To be born again, a person needs to submit his or her life to the Lord. God seeks admission into each person’s life. He will join His life with a person’s life when the person opens his life to the Lord.
To be born again, you need to accept God’s provision for new life. Jesus told Nicodemus the Old Testament story in Numbers 21:4-9. God sent fiery serpents to the complaining people. God instructed Moses to make an image of a serpent and put it on a pole. The people could be healed when they looked to the serpent. Likewise, people can have new life when they look to God’s provision of Jesus.
III. THE NEW BIRTH IS A MIRACLE OF GOD.
When a person opens his life and looks to Jesus, God then begins a change. God’s Spirit produces what only God can do in a person’s life.
The new birth cannot be explained. It would be like trying to tell where the wind comes from and where it goes. Simply stated, each person born into God’s kingdom represents another miracle of God.
IV. THE NEW BIRTH HAS INEVITABLE MANIFESTATIONS.
Life becomes different when a person allows Christ to come. People will see results. The wind gives evidence of its presence. Likewise, the words of God in a person’s life cannot be seen, but the results can be observed.
The kind of manifestation of the new birth is described with the term eternal life. This term describes God’s kind of life. It is the life God gives.
CONC: Would you like a change in life? Allow God in your life and be born again. If you are born again, open your life more to Him for even more change.
