Sermon Outline:
1. The Introduction (v. 1)
2. The Inquiry (v. 2, 4)
3. The Insight (v. 3)
4. The Instruction (v. 5-6)
5. The Incomprehensibility (v. 7-8)
Sermon Text:
john 3:1-8
You Must Be Born Again
3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Sermon Notes
Review
12 Essentials of Local Church Ministry:
1. pray fervently: Eph. 6:18
2. study carefully: Acts 17:11
3. embrace fidelity: 1 Thess. 2:13
4. contend earnestly: Jude 3
5. live missionally: Romans 15:20
6. serve sacrificially: Phil. 2:1-4
7. teach faithfully: Titus 2:1-8
8. love genuinely: 1 Cor. 13:4-8a
9. walk obediently: Titus 3:1-2
10. repent daily: Luke 17:3-4
11. worship continually: Hebrews 13:15
12. and watch expectantly. 2 Tim. 4:8
Four biblical pillars that define us; humble us; unite us; and ignite us:
1. The One Triune God
2. The Word of God
3. The Gospel of God
4. The Worship and Glory of God
Today’s Message
In today’s familiar text of John 3:1-8 we read of Jesus’ interview with Nicodemus. He is presenting for the first time the gospel to a very learned man who is a Pharisee – a ruler of the Jews. This narrative is a profound instruction by our Lord on what it means to be born again.
From God’s vantage point salvation begins with His election of individuals, which is His determination beforehand that His saving purpose will be accomplished in them (John 6:37–39, 44, 64–66; 8:47; 10:26; 15:16; Acts 13:48; 16:14; Romans 9; 1 John 4:19; 5:1). God then in due course brings people to Himself by calling them to faith in Christ (Romans 8:30; 1 Cor. 1:9; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Pet. 2:9).
God’s calling produces regeneration, which is the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in which a spiritually dead person is made alive in Christ (Ezek. 11:19–20; Matt. 19:28; John 3:3, 5, 7; Titus 3:5). The revived heart repents and trusts Christ in saving faith, which is God’s grace-gift to us, as the only source of justification.
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him” (1 John 5:1). The miracle of the new birth is that regeneration precedes faith.
