John 3:1-8 - Cameron Jungles - 5-12-2013

“Born of the Spirit” John 3:1-8 (Eastside Baptist/Sun AM/May 12, 2013)

John 3:1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

John 3:2 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."

John 3:3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

John 3:4 "How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!"

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

Ezekiel 36:24 "'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.

Ezekiel 36:25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Ezekiel 36:28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

John 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

John 3:7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

John 3:8 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."

1.  The New Birth is an absolute necessity in order to be saved.

John 3:3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

2.  The New Birth cannot be brought about by any human means.

John 3:4 "How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!"

John 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

John 1:13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

3.  The New Birth only happens by the gracious and sovereign work of the Holy Spirit.

John 3:8 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."

Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

Titus 3:6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Titus 3:7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Main Idea:

Ø The Holy Spirit graciously and miraculously causes sinners to be born again as children of God, awakening faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Implications:

Ø Honors God, not people

Ø Removes all confidence in our own ability

Ø Moves us to thankfulness for the grace and mercy of God

Ø Places our confidence for evangelism in God’s Spirit

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Cameron Jungels Eastside Baptist Church May 12, 2013 Sun AM Unless otherwise noted, the verses are in NIV.