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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

BORN AGAIN!

INTRODUCTION

Jesus said here in verse 3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Also, Jesus told this very religious Pharisee and ruler of the Jews here in verse 7, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.”

What was Jesus talking about? We know from the context that Nicodemus was confused about this matter himself.

If being born again is such an important matter, then what does it mean to be “born again?”

I.         WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” IS NOT ABOUT!

            A.        Being “Born Again” Is Not A Natural Birth. (Vs 4-6)

                        1.         We Each Come Into This World In Need Of Being “Born Again.”

                                    Verse 3 implies that something was lacking in our first birth experiences.

                        2.         John 1:12-13 Says That This Birth Is “Not Of Blood.”

                                    In other words, it is not of natural descent.

You don’t become a child of God because of who your Mom and Dad are in this world.

It is because of our natural descent that we need to be born again, because the first time that we were born we were born physically alive, but spiritually dead! (Ephesians 2:1)

Romans 5:12–“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

            B.        Being “Born Again” Is Not A Result Of A Human Decision.

                        1.         John 1:12-13 says that it is “not of the will of the flesh.”

                                    Had God not intervened, we would have remained spiritually dead.

                                    A fallen person cannot regenerate himself; he needs a Divine operation!

None of us could ever have done anything that could bring forth spiritual life! Only God’s Holy Spirit can regenerate a human spirit!

                        2.         John 1:12-13 says that it is “not of the will of man.”

                                    Had God not intervened, no one else could have given us spiritual life!

                                    This preacher can’t get you into the kingdom of God.

                                                I can pray for you to get saved!

                                                I can preach the Gospel to you to try to get you saved!

                                                I can witness to you!

                                                But only you can accept the wooing of the Holy Spirit of God!

II.       WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” IS ALL ABOUT!

            A.        Definition Of “Born Again.”

                        1.         Being “Born Again” Is A Spiritual Birth. (John 3:5)

                                    It is a birth that is produced by the Holy spirit of God!

In order to be “born again,” a person must respond in faith and obedience to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But understand that it is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart and life of a person that brings about the New Birth in a person’s life!

The work of the Holy Spirit is invisible and mysterious like the blowing of the wind. Man has no control over either the wind or the Spirit of God!

                        2.         Being “Born Again” Is Being “Born Of God.” (John 1:13)

That is, we are born into God’s family. Again, this shows us that it is a spiritual birth.

John 4:24–“God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

                        3.         Being “Born Again” Is Being Born By The Word Of God.

                                    (1 Peter 1:23)

                                    This makes sense if you think about it.

John 6:63–“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

            B.        Description Of “Born Again.” (1 Peter 1:3-9)

                        1.         We Are “Born Again” According To His Abundant Mercy!

                                    (1 Peter 1:3)

                                    “Abundant” means “much.”

                                    a.         His Mercy Is Abundant In Its Availability! (Titus 3:3-7)

Psalm 86:5–“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

Psalm 86:15–“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”

Exodus 34:6-7–“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin”

Psalm 103:8–“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”

Jonah 4:2–“. . .For I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.”

Romans 5:20–“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”

Ephesians 2:4–“But God who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us.”

His Mercy Is Abundant In Its Availability.

                                    b.        His Mercy Is Abundant In Its Dependability.

                                                (Psalm 103:10-17; Psalm 136)

                                    We Are “Born Again” According To His Abundant Mercy.

                        2.         We Are “Born Again” Unto A Lively Hope. (1 Peter 1:3)

Romans 5:10–“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

                                    The resurrection of Jesus gives us a lively hope!

Romans 8:11–“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

                                    1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Ephesians 2:4-7 

                                    Titus 2:13–“Looking for that blessed hope. . .”

1 John 3:2-3–“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14–“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

                        3.         We Are “Born Again” Unto An Inheritance.

                                    (1 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 1:11-14)

                                    a.        It Is An Incorruptible Inheritance. (1 Corinthians 15:52-54)

                                    b.        It Is An Undefiled Inheritance.

Revelation 21:27–“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

                                                It Is An Incorruptible and Undefiled Inheritance

                                    c.         It Is An Unfading Inheritance.

Isaiah 40:7-8–“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”

                                    d.        It Is A Reserved Inheritance. (Colossians 3:1-4)

2 Timothy 4:7-8–“7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

                                    We Are “Born Again” According To His Abundant Mercy

                                    We Are “Born Again” Unto A Lively Hope.

We Are “Born Again” Unto An Inheritance–Incorruptible, Undefiled, Unfading and Reserved.

                        4.         We Are “Born Again” Unto Eternal Security. (1 Peter 1: 5)

                                    1 Samuel 2:9–“He will keep the feet of his saints. . .”

                                    Psalm 37:23-24, 28

Proverbs 2:8–“He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.”

John 4:14–“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

John 5:24–“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

                                    John 10:28-29; Romans 8:31-39

Philippians 1:6–“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

2 Timothy 1:12–“. . .for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

Jude 24–“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”

                        5.         We Are “Born Again” Unto Rejoicing. (1 Peter 1:6)

                                    Philippians 4:4–“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

                                    a.         We Are To Rejoice In The Lord!

                                    b.         We Are To Rejoice In His Abundant Mercy!

                                    c.         We Are To Rejoice In Our Lively Hope!

                                    d.         We Are To Rejoice In Our Inheritance!

                                    e.         We Are To Rejoice In Our Eternal Security!

                        6.         We Are “Born Again” Unto Temporary Heaviness Through Manifold Temptations.

                                    Christians are not exempt from the trials of life.

Psalm 34:19–“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”

John 16:33–“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

                                    1 Corinthians 4:9-14; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

                                    Share the words from the hymn “Until Then” by Stewart Hamblin.

James 1:2–“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

CONCLUSION

Have you been “born again?” “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Have you been born from above? Have you been born of the Spirit of God? Have you been born of God? Are you one of His children? Have you been born into His family?

If not why don’t you come today and let us show you from the Word of God how you can be born again and experience the grace and mercy of God in your life! God’s mercy is abundant in both its availability and dependability! Do you have it? Don’t you want it?

If you are born again, can others see Jesus in you? Do they know about that lively hope that you have? Are you rejoicing in what you have in Christ? Remember that whatever trials and temptations that you are going through here on earth, it will be worth it all when we see Jesus!

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!