YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick


Introduction:

A. What being "born again" is not:

    1. Not merely an identification tag (A friend's calling card - Frank Smith, BAC - Born Again Christian)

    2. Not merely a religious experience (feeling happy, clean, relieved, loved - although all are valid experiences)

    3. Not merely a docrtinal distinction, but a reality!

B. Even as we are born physically, we must be born spiritually - it is not automatic; sin has brought death, from which we must recover - this may actually be viewed as a form of resurrection.

C. The primary source of this understanding is in Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:1ff

I. Note these points in the Nicodemus story:

    A. Literally, the expression "born again" means to "be born from above"

    B. Nicodemus had a measure of spiritual desire - even though under the cover of darkness, he came to Jesus. We find his name mentioned again later: John 7:50,51 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?"

    C. Nicodemus was attracted by the performing of miracles, and he rightly understood them as coming from God.

    D. Although he was well schooled in religious teachings, Nicodemus did not have understanding about a simple spiritual principle.

    E. The issue is one of eternal significance - entrance into the kingdom of God. The requirement given is that we must be born of water (referring to the confession associated with baptism) and Spirit (bringing to life that part of us which is capable of relating with God).

II. The idea associated with being "born again" is already found in the Old Testament Prophets:

    A. Jeremiah 31:33 - "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

    B. Ezekiel 11:19 - I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

III. The truth is also supported in the later writings of the Apostles (Peter, Paul, John):

    A. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (KJV) For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (NIV)

    B. The certainty of being "born again" comes through the witness of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, <"Abba>, Father."

    C. The expected results of being "born again" are: righteousness, love and persecution.

      1. Righteousness

      - 1 John 2:28,29 - And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

      - 1 John 3:9,10 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

      2. Love.

      - 1 John 4:7,8 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

      3. Persecution.

      - Galatians 4:28,29 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

    D. Being "born again" gives victory over the world, the flesh and the devil.

      1. The world - 1 John 5:1-4 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

      2. The flesh - Galatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

      3. The devil - 1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

Conclusion:

So what makes this possible? "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." (1 John 5:1)

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Note Taking Sheet

What being "born again" is not:

1. _______________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________

Even as we are born physically, we must be born spiritually - it is not automatic; sin has brought death, from which we must recover - this may actually be viewed as a form of resurrection.

Note these points in the Nicodemus story- John 3:1ff

A. _______________________________________________

B. _______________________________________________

C. _______________________________________________

D. _______________________________________________

E. _______________________________________________

Old Testament Prophets: Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 11:19

The writings of the Apostles

    A. 1 Peter 1:23

    B. The certainty of being "born again" comes through the witness of the Holy Spirit.

    Text: _________________

    C. The expected results of being "born again" are: righteousness, love and persecution.

      1. Righteousness

      Text: _________________

      2. Love.

      Text: _________________

      3. Persecution.

      Text: _________________

    D. Being "born again" gives victory over the world, the flesh and the devil.

      The world - Text: _________________

      The flesh - Text: _________________

      The devil - Text: _________________

So what makes this possible? "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God."

Text: _________________

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