The New Birth

John 3:1-8  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.  (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.  (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.

INTRODUCTION:           In our text we find Nicodemus a Sanhedrin ruler coming to Jesus, in the night, to ask or interrogate Jesus. 

John 7:50-51  Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)  (51)  Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

In this one verse Nicodemus defended Jesus, yet he would not proclaim Jesus outwardly.

              Nicodemus was a Pharisee of the Sanhedrins, the ruling body of the Jews.  He was a master teacher; we suspect he held a very high position within the Sanhedrin.

              He was either a leading official or the leading teacher of Israel.

It is considered he was a wealthy man; he spent a great deal of money for Jesus' burial.   Nicodemus is thought to be a silent believer. 

              He was silent at Jesus trial, and may have absented himself from the trial, yet, he stepped forward with Joseph of Arimathaea to claim His body from the Cross.  Both Nicodemus and Joseph were secret disciples.  They both came forward publically and acknowledged Jesus by collecting and burying His body.

I.            WE KNOW                                                                                 (v 2)

              A.           Thou Art…Come From God

1.           They wondered if Jesus was the Messiah.

2.           Some eventually became followers of Jesus.

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

                                           i.            Many became followers

B.           Jesus Was Claiming To Be The Messiah

1.           He was performing spectacular works

i.            These works were prophesied by the prophets.

ii.           Jesus was the talk of the nation.

(Matthew 21:8-9)  And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. ⁹ And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

                             2.           The rulers were asking the question

                                           i.            Is He really the Messiah?

C.           Because Of This Question; Is The "Why" Nicodemus Came To Jesus.

1.           Nicodemus only acknowledged Jesus as a teacher from God.

i.            They knew something.

ii.           They knew that only a man from God could do such miracles.

2.           Nicodemus was asking another question.

              i.            Who are you?

D.           We Should Note That Jesus Failed To Answer Him Directly.

              1.           Jesus knew something also

i.            He saw an empty searching heart.

ii.           He saw the honesty in his question.

2.               Jesus cut to the quick

II.           EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN                                       (v 3)

              NOTE:  The word “Again” has three meanings

·       From the first; = From the beginning

·       Again;               = One more time

·       From above;     = From the top; from God

              A.           Born Again

                             1.           From God

                             2.           He must be:

                                           i.            Born completely and fully

                                                          a.           A full change

                                           ii.           All over again

                                                          a.           A second time

                                           iii.          From above

                                                          a.           From God

              B.           Cannot SEE the Kingdom of God                               (v 3)

                             1.           Ye must be born again

              C.           Cannot ENTER the Kingdom of God                         (v 5)

                             1.           Ye must be born again

(John 3:18)  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.

                             2.           He that believes

                                           i.            Is not condemned

                             3.           He that believes not

                                           i.            Is condemned already

Acts 3:17  And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

(Acts 3:19)  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

                             4.           Change from following the devil

                                           i.            Change your mind

(Romans 12:2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

                                           ii.           By renewing your mind.

5.           Accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

III.         IT IS A SPIRITUAL BIRTH.                                                    (v 5)

A.           Nicodemus Was Confused By The “Again.”

                             1.           The second time

                             2.           He didn't understand the How.

              B.           He Understood He Was Born Of Water.

(John 1:12-13)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

                             1.           “Which were …born of God”

              C.           Jesus Illustrates By Using The Wind                         (v 8)

                             1.           We can feel it

                             2.           We can see its results

                             3.           But where it comes from

                             4.           Where it goes

                                           i.            Only God knows

CONCLUSION:   In verse 9 Nicodemus continues to ask, “How can these things be?”   We all asked the same question before we were saved.  I cannot give you an answer of the physical means of our Salvation.  However I can show you the timing.

              But some who are saved continue to ask these questions.

              If they were in church and under the Word of God they would understand better.

              Maybe we will never have a good understanding of all that Nicodemus looked for.

              But God, never asked us to understand, He asked us to Believe.  Have the faith to go beyond understanding.

                                    You see, it is still 

                  THE BLOOD,                              HE BOOK, 

                  THE BRIDEGROOM,     and     OUR BLESSED HOPE

                                     Which is    JESUS, THE CHRIST.

Are you covered by God’s Blood?  Jesus died so that the necessary blood would be available.

Leviticus 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Jesus’ Blood was provided for your sins, Jesus was the atonement [the payment] for your sins.

                  Jesus is our Bridegroom and our Blessed Hope, all that He has done was for you.  Do you know Him?  

                  If you died today, would heaven be your home.  Or do you fear the hellish fires of hell will be your eternal abode?

Romans 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

John 3:16   Romans 10:9, 13  

If you are waiting to know Him, you will never know Him.  If you put off Jesus today, you may have no more today’s after today.

              Call on His name the most wonderful name, that name above all names Jesus (Jehovah Saviour)