You Must Be Born Again

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

This is going to be a simple message that comes from the book of John. It is a simple message that one needs to be born again if they want to go to heaven.

We are not to trust in men or buildings for they will not get us into heaven. It is a scary world we live in. Here are some thoughts that might concern you unless you are not in this world. We have all heard of the Muslim religion and how they have destroyed many. They are trying to do it with out having to go to war. Their plan is too simply go into a country and become so many that they can just take over the county. They are moving into France that one writer I read after says that by 2040 80% of the population will be Muslim and they will vote in a Muslim for president. The Muslims are also trying to control England. Next we have the nations of Europe coming together to create the ancient Roman Empire just as was predicted by Daniel. It is called the EU and with its union makes it the second most powerful political force in our world. They have their money called euro. Iran does not want us to pay for their oil with our dollars but in euro. One more thing is our dependence on oil from foreign nations that do not like us.

I am glad this morning that we have something more than this world to live for if we hope in this world only it is on sinking sand.

In the past few weeks we have spoken on the life of Jesus as He started His ministry at about the age of 30. John the Baptist baptized Him and heard God’s voice from heaven declaring He was His son. Jesus was driven into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil which he over came with the Word of God. Jesus called four men to follow Him. Jesus’ first social meeting was at a wedding in which He turned the water into wine. He also did many miracles while at His first Passover feast and told of the importance of making His Father’s house a place of prayer. Today He meets a man and gives to us the meaning of eternal life with God.

John 3:1-16

In this setting we see a man who is religious but lacking in wisdom of eternal life. Jesus uses this setting to give most proclaimed message of new birth.

1. We 1st seethe importance of the New Birth. He states “You must be born again,” not as a suggestion but as an experience to enter into heaven.

A. Man’s corrupt nature makes this necessary. Jer 17:9 “The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], And desperately wicked; who can know it?” Gen 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every intent of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. EPH 4:18 “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. RM 8:7, 8 “For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”

B. Without the New Birth Jesus says we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. JN 1:3, 5, 7:

Jesus replied, "I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God." Jesus replied, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Jesus replied, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”

A pastor told the true story of one of his church members, an attorney, who after meditating on several scriptures, decided to cancel the debts of all his clients that had owed him money for more than six months. He drafted a letter explaining his decision and its biblical basis and sent seventeen debt-canceling letters via certified mail. One by one, the letters began to return, unsigned and undelivered. Perhaps a couple people had moved away, though not likely. Sixteen of the seventeen letters came back to him because the clients refused to sign for and open the envelopes, fearing that this attorney was suing them for their debts. How profound! We owe a debt for our sin and God is willing to cancel it but too many people will not even open the letter that explains that.

2. The method of the new birth. JN 3:5 “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”