Sermon Central
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You Must Be Born Again!
Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Mar 23, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: The words of our Savior found in John 3 are the very heart of Biblical Christianity. Many in our society want to dismiss the very idea of rebirth through faith in Jesus. Many of our churches have embraced a "social gospel" where works are elevated above rebirth.
Today we will be reading from the Gospel of John 3:1-18
Intro
Who am I? (Speaking as a guest preacher)
Cautions
Don’t trust me
- Check everything I say with the Scriptures
- Careful who you watch or listen to
- Check what they say with the Scriptures
- If you know the Scriptures you will “not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed …”
- Some say:
o Jesus was rich not poor and you should be rich too
o You can pray to Mary or some other dead person
o Certain sexual sins listed in the Bible are no longer sinful
o The Bible is not literal (miracles, resurrection, Jonah)
o All you need is love
- Be careful, very careful
Leading up to today’s Scripture
- The wedding in Cana of Galilee
- The Passover
o Jesus clearing the Temple outer court
o Signs
o The Jews demand “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do all this?”
Read the Scripture - John 3:1-9
John 3:1-2 - “Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with Him.’”
- Nicodemus
o Pharisee
o Jewish ruling council - the Sanhedrin
o “We know …” - Sincere question - not a trap (public)
Tension between physical birth and spiritual birth …
John 3:3 - “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
(born again or from above? - which is Nicodemus thinking?)
John 3:4 - “How can someone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
John 3:5-8 - “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you
cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’”
“born of water” - baptism??? Physical birth??? How can we tell?
- Context
Underline the following words in your Bible in verses 5, 6 and 7 and connect them with arrows and you will see the pattern …
verse 5 verse 6 verse 8
Born of water | flesh gives birth to flesh | everyone
(Born of) the Spirit | Spirit gives birth to spirit | born of the Spirit
Should everyone who is born again be baptized? Yes.
When verse 5 references water is it speaking of baptism? No.
John 3:7 contains an imperative statement!
(YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!!!!!!)
This is not a suggestion.
John 3:9 - “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
What a GREAT QUESTION!!
Popular culture never asks that question.
The main question, “How to get to heaven after you die?”
Popular beliefs:
1) There are many paths that lead to God
- Oprah - Steve Harvey - Mother Theresa
o “Yes, I convert. I convert you to be a better Hindu, or a better Muslim, or a better Protestant, or a better Catholic, or a better Parsee, or a better Sikh, or a better Buddhist. And after you have found God, it is for you to do what God wants you to do.’ ”
o Which “god” is she talking about?
2) God loves everyone unconditionally
- Proof text - first five words of John 3:16 - “God so loved the world …”
- It doesn’t matter what you have done - God still loves you
- Also used as a proof for universal salvation
3) God will accept anyone who feeds the hungry, gives water to the thirsty, clothes the naked, cares for the needy, visits the sick and those in prison
4) Whatever you believe just believe it sincerely and you’ll be OK
5) “God is still speaking …”
With all of these notions, what is the real way?
Would Jesus declare, “You must be born again” and NOT tell us HOW TO be born again?
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
