What is this stuff about being born again?
This is a term I was not familiar with until after I was saved.
Then after I was saved it took me a little while to understand it.
Born again is a bible term and only appears in two passages, John 3 and here…
1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
All though it only appears in 2 passages, it is referred to as being born of God in John 1 and in the book of 1 John.
Many people believe born again refers to a baptism, many people believe that a person can be saved without being born again, both of which are misunderstandings of the scriptures.
Today, we are going look at what the bible says about being born again.
THE DIALOGUE of THE 2ND BIRTH
John 3:1-3 (KJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Here we have a dialogue between a man named Nicodemus and Jesus.
We know from earlier messages that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and God in the flesh.
Jesus is from Heaven and HE knows all.
The bible tells us that Nicodemus is a Pharisees, a ruler of the Jews.
What is a Pharisee, the bible plainly tells us, in this scripture it is a ruler of the Jews.
The word Pharisee means separate ones, they separated themselves by holding to a very strict religious life.
The bible calls them rulers of the Jews in that they held a standard of God’s law as well as many man made laws.
Not just anybody could be a Pharisee: it took a very disciplined person to be a Pharisee.
In fact the bible says you cannot be saved UNLESS your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees.
Matthew 5:20 (KJV)
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
You think that your good works can get you to heaven; your good works would have to exceed that of this Nicodemus.
What is Jesus saying; the closest that anybody can come to keeping the law would be the scribes and Pharisees.
But even the scribes and Pharisees could NOT completely keep the law; the scribes and Pharisees fell short of keeping God’s law of righteousness.
Why else would Nicodemus be seeking Jesus, the bible says he came to Jesus by night.
Why night?
A Pharisee is not supposed to need anything else, why would this Pharisee be seeking Jesus and why at night?
Because something in the heart of Nicodemus was missing, something was not right in his life and he was likely ashamed to be seeking Jesus, so he went to Jesus at night.
He opens with a statement of respect, calling Jesus Rabbi.
Signify he is coming to learn from Jesus, he has some truth he is in need of.
Jesus answers his question before he even asks it.
Jesus knew why he was coming and what he wanted to know.
Nicodemus, all though has the title of Pharisee, had no security of heaven.
He wanted to know the entrance of Heaven; Nicodemus knew he fell short of God’s standard all though in all appearances he kept the law.
James 2:10 (KJV)
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Jesus told him he needed to be born again, why; Nicodemus could not enter Heaven even if he just sinned ONE time, Nicodemus needed to be born again.
The bible tells us…
Romans 6:23 (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death;
23 For the wages of sin is death;
Nicodemus a Pharisee had earned death for his sins, God cannot let any sin go unpunished, and God in His righteous character has to judge sin.
Jesus is saying NO HEAVEN, NO SALVATION without being born again.
THE DESCRIPTION of THE 2ND BIRTH
John 3:4-7 (KJV)
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into 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 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into 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 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The bible describes the 2nd birth as a spiritual birth; this passage is only talking about two births.
The first birth is that of our flesh which comes with water, the second birth is a spiritual birth which comes by the Holy Spirit of God.
The bible then describes how this takes place.
John 3:8 (KJV)
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
When somebody gets saved the Spirit of God moves upon them like the wind.
The wind, we cannot see where it is going, we cannot even see its existence, but we know it to be there because we see its effects.
We know when the wind blows, when we see the tress moving, when somebody gets saved we do not see the work of the Spirit of God coming upon them, but we will soon see its effects.
When somebody gets saved their life changes.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
An evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit of God is a changed life, something that sticks, a love for the word of God, a love for the people of God, a desire to see others saved and a continual developing relationship with God Himself.
John 3:9 (KJV)
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Nicodemus clearly understood that he was not born again; he wanted to know how he could be born again.
John 3:10-12 (KJV)
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Jesus begins to show that the Pharisees lacked spiritual understanding.
Again the Pharisees thought they had it all figured, they may have done the works of the law (not flawlessly), but they had no relationship with the Lawgiver.
They gave themselves to the law but never to the LAWGIVER.
Salvation is not by the works of the law, how many times do we have to preach this?
May I suggest over and over again.
John 3:13 (KJV)
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
The Son of Man is the only one qualified to speak these things, why, because HE has come from Heaven.
Jesus is talking about Himself, at the same time HE was here on earth HE was also in Heaven.
Who better to speak of these things than Jesus Christ?
THE DEMANDS of THE 2ND BIRTH
1. You must look upon Jesus.
John 3:14 (KJV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
In the book of Numbers the people of Israel spoke evil of God and of God’s servant Moses, so God judge their sin of blaspheme by having serpents to come among the people to bite them and they would die.
Numbers 21:4-9 (KJV)
4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
The people became sorry for their sin and they repented of their sin, but that was not enough.
They asked God to take away the judgment.
God responded by telling Moses to make a brass serpent and to put it upon a poll and everyone that was bitten could look at the serpent to be healed.
Nicodemus was a sinner, Nicodemus needed healed by the curse of sin, the Son of Man would be lifted up and if Nicodemus would look upon HIM for salvation he would be saved.
Jesus Christ was prophesying HIS death, there was coming a day that HE would be lifted and this is what happened, Jesus was lifted between to thieves and died on the cross of Calvary.
Every sinner that would look upon HIM would be healed from the curse of sin.
You see Jesus would stand in the place and take the penalty for the sins of Nicodemus or anybody else in this world.
You must look upon Jesus, there is NOWHERE else to look, you must look upon Jesus.
2. You must believe in Jesus.
John 3:15-19 (KJV)
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The words believeth and believed appears in this passage 5 times.
Let’s not complicate this, YOU MUST BELIEVE IN JESUS.
What do we believe in HIM for?
God so loved us, He gave HIS Son as a SAVIOR.
God does not want anybody to perish, to go to the eternal fires of Hell, to burn forever and ever.
We believe in HIM for our salvation, we believe in HIM for dying in our place for our sins.
This is why HE came.
John 3:17 (KJV)
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Nicodemus or anybody else cannot get saved WITHOUT believing upon Jesus as a Savior for their personal sins against God.
3. You must repent of your sins.
Where do you see that in the scriptures, does this passage teach repentance of sins as a part of salvation?
We must read the rest of this passage; Jesus is still speaking to Nicodemus.
John 3:19-21 (KJV)
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Jesus finishes HIS conversation with Nicodemus by telling him why people do not get born again.
Why don’t people get born again, because they want to continue sin?
You cannot get saved wanting to continue in sin.
Could Nicodemus get saved loving darkness?
Could Nicodemus get saved hating the light?
Could Nicodemus get saved not wanting his evil deeds to be reproved?
NO, NO and NO!!!
There has to be a turning in the heart away from self and sin toward Jesus Christ.
When somebody is truly born again they are going to want their deeds reproved.
This is one the evidences of the Spiritual Birth.
This is the person that does truth and comes to the light and wants HIS sins manifested.
John 3.21 could not be clearer, salvation requires repentance of sins.
Have you truly looked upon Jesus, believed upon Jesus as Savior and repented of your sins?
Jesus tells us what happens to those who are not born again.
John 3:15 (KJV)
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:18 (KJV)
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
They are condemned and they will perish without Christ.
Perish is talking about the eternal fires of Hell, do not go there, be born again, repent of your sins and believe upon Jesus.
Preached by Jason LaPat
06/26/2011
jasonlapat@yahoo.com
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