The The ABSOLUTE NECESSITY ABSOLUTE NECESSITY

of the New Birthof the New Birth

John 3:1-7 John 3:1-7

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

I. I. The NECESSITY of the new birthThe NECESSITY of the new birth. . (John 3:3, 5)(John 3:3, 5)

A. It is necessary because of theA. It is necessary because of the OneOne who said it. who said it. (v. 3)(v. 3)

"Verily, verily, "Verily, verily, I say unto theeI say unto thee, except a man , except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."God."

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

I. I. The NECESSITY of the new birthThe NECESSITY of the new birth. . (John 3:3, 5)(John 3:3, 5)

B. It is necessary because of B. It is necessary because of the the wayway in in

which it is said.which it is said. (vs. 3, 5) (vs. 3, 5)

Verily, verilyVerily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man , I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."God."

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

I. I. The NECESSITY of the new birthThe NECESSITY of the new birth. . (John 3:3, 5)(John 3:3, 5)

cc. It is necessary because of . It is necessary because of the issuethe issue at at stake. stake. (vs. 3, 5) (vs. 3, 5)

““Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of he cannot see the kingdom of GodGod."."

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

I. I. The NECESSITY of the new birthThe NECESSITY of the new birth. (John 3:3, . (John 3:3, 5)5)

cc. It is necessary because of . It is necessary because of the issuethe issue at stake. at stake. (vs. 3, 5)(vs. 3, 5)

““Except a man be born of water and of the Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of he cannot enter into the kingdom of GodGod.”.”

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

The issue at stake is The issue at stake is seeingseeing and and enteringentering the kingdom of God.the kingdom of God.

There are but two kingdoms: There are but two kingdoms:

1) the kingdom of darkness, of sin, and of Satan, 1) the kingdom of darkness, of sin, and of Satan,

2) the kingdom of light, of grace, and of God.2) the kingdom of light, of grace, and of God.

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

I. The NECESSITY of the new birth. I. The NECESSITY of the new birth. (John 3:3, 5)(John 3:3, 5)

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: (John 3: 5-7)5-7)

““Except a man be born of Except a man be born of waterwater and of the and of the SpiritSpirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of , he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”God.”

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

A. The meaning of the terms “water” A. The meaning of the terms “water” and “Spirit.”and “Spirit.”))

Nicodemus was a student of the Hebrew Nicodemus was a student of the Hebrew Scriptures and should have recognized the Scriptures and should have recognized the reference to Ezekiel 36:25-27reference to Ezekiel 36:25-27

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

Ezekiel 36:25-27 explains the two-fold change Ezekiel 36:25-27 explains the two-fold change that must occur for a spiritual relationship to that must occur for a spiritual relationship to be established.be established.

By use of the symbol of By use of the symbol of waterwater, God says that , God says that

He changes our He changes our outward lifestyle.outward lifestyle.

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: (John 3: 5-7)5-7)

Ezekiel 36:25Ezekiel 36:25: "Then I will sprinkle : "Then I will sprinkle clean clean waterwater on you, and you shall be on you, and you shall be cleanclean; I will ; I will cleanse youcleanse you from all your filthiness and from from all your filthiness and from all your idols." all your idols."

The reference to "filthiness" and "idols" The reference to "filthiness" and "idols" speaks of the speaks of the outward lifestyleoutward lifestyle by which by which the Jewish people expressed their the Jewish people expressed their disobedience to God's Word.disobedience to God's Word.

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: (John 3: 5-7)5-7)

Ezekiel 36:26: “Ezekiel 36:26: “A new heart also will I give A new heart also will I give you, and you, and a new spirita new spirit will I put within you: will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”flesh.”

Ezekiel 36:27: Ezekiel 36:27: "I will put "I will put My SpiritMy Spirit within within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgment and do them."and you will keep My judgment and do them."

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

The reference to “new spirit” and “My Spirit” The reference to “new spirit” and “My Spirit” speaks of the speaks of the inward heart changeinward heart change that that occurs in the new birth.occurs in the new birth.

When God places His Spirit within us, that When God places His Spirit within us, that marks the moment of our spiritual new birth. marks the moment of our spiritual new birth.

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

As a result, the born again person is enabled As a result, the born again person is enabled to stop all known sinful attitudes and to stop all known sinful attitudes and

activities and to walk in obedience to Christ.activities and to walk in obedience to Christ.

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

A. The meaning of the terms “water” A. The meaning of the terms “water” and “Spirit.” and “Spirit.”))

B. The method of being born again.B. The method of being born again.

Only two things are required!Only two things are required!

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

Genuine RepentanceGenuine Repentance

Matthew 4:17Matthew 4:17: From that time Jesus : From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, began to preach, and to say, RepentRepent: : for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luke 13:3Luke 13:3: I tell you, : I tell you, except you except you repentrepent, you shall all likewise perish, you shall all likewise perish

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: (John 3: 5-7)5-7)

Genuine RepentanceGenuine Repentance

Acts 17:30Acts 17:30: God commandeth all men : God commandeth all men everywhere to everywhere to repentrepent..

Acts 26:20Acts 26:20: : repentrepent and turn to God, and do and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance [consistent with works meet for repentance [consistent with repentance].repentance].

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

Genuine RepentanceGenuine Repentance

RepentanceRepentance is a change of heart and mind is a change of heart and mind demonstrated by a change of attitude and demonstrated by a change of attitude and behavior.behavior.

ToTo repent repent means that you tell God you are means that you tell God you are sorry for your sins and with His help willsorry for your sins and with His help will stop doingstop doing what you know is wrong and what you know is wrong and will will start doingstart doing what you know is right. what you know is right.

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

Genuine RepentanceGenuine Repentance

RepentanceRepentance is a change of heart and mind is a change of heart and mind demonstrated by a change of attitude and demonstrated by a change of attitude and behavior.behavior.

There is a big difference between saying you There is a big difference between saying you are sorry for your sins and true repentance. are sorry for your sins and true repentance.

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

Genuine RepentanceGenuine Repentance

RepentanceRepentance is a change of heart and mind is a change of heart and mind demonstrated by a change of attitude and demonstrated by a change of attitude and behavior.behavior.

A person who says he is sorry for his sins, and A person who says he is sorry for his sins, and even asks God to forgive him, but then even asks God to forgive him, but then continues to commit the same sins he continues to commit the same sins he confessed, confessed, has not truly repentedhas not truly repented. .

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: (John 3: 5-7)5-7)

Genuine RepentanceGenuine Repentance Biblical FaithBiblical Faith

Hebrews 11:6Hebrews 11:6: “But : “But without faithwithout faith it is it is

impossible to please him: for he that cometh impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

Biblical FaithBiblical Faith

Faith Faith believesbelieves what God says - “he is a what God says - “he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”rewarder of them that diligently seek him”

Faith Faith commits to docommits to do what God requires - what God requires - “diligently seek him”“diligently seek him”

Faith Faith trusts intrusts in and and rests onrests on what God what God

promises – “he will reward diligent seekers"promises – “he will reward diligent seekers"

The Absolute Necessity of the New BirthThe Absolute Necessity of the New Birth

II. The NATURE of the new birth. II. The NATURE of the new birth. (John 3: 5-7)(John 3: 5-7)

A. The meaning of the terms “water” A. The meaning of the terms “water” and “Spirit.” and “Spirit.”))

B. The method of being born again.B. The method of being born again.

C. The results of being born again.C. The results of being born again.