You Must Be Born Again

Every person who has shared their testimony with you today had a need which was beyond their ability to meet.  Whether that need was to be delivered from an addiction, or to take control of their anger, or to be healed in their body the need was beyond their control.

Likewise, each of us have a need which is so great that we cannot fulfill ourselves.  That is the need to be born again.

John 3:3-6

³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 

Let us feel the weight of this statement.  There was no other way that a person will experience the kingdom of God unless he/she is born again.  Any other methods will fall short.  You will not experience anything that Christ has to offer, including eternity in heaven unless you are born again.

You may be wondering what it means to be born again.  So did Nicodemus.

 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.

When a baby is born He/She is given newness of life and is born with flesh and blood.  That is the first birth that takes place.  By this natural birth we inherit what is called a sinful nature.  Meaning we do not instinctively live a life that pleases God. Nor does a toddler instinctively do what is right.  They must be taught the difference between right and wrong.

Romans 8:7-8

⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

We were born with a sinful nature that does not seek to please God and is even hostile towards God.  It has been passed on from generation to generation since the sin of Adam.

• How many of you ever stole before?
• How many of you ever lied before?
• How many of you guys have looked at a woman with lust in your heart?
• How many of you gossiped about someone or were hurtful with your words?
• How many of you ever coveted before?
• How many of you ever loved something or someone more than you loved God?
• How many of you have ever been overcome with drunkedness

If so and you have not repented then you are a sinner.

Romans 5:12 

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so deathspread to all men because all sinned

                  Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So not only have we inherited this sinful nature, the penalty for our sin is death. 

This death is referring to an eternity separated from God and from anything that is good.  It is an eternity of suffering. 

But to be “born again” is to have newness of life in the spirit.  To be born again is to have a new nature which is the nature of Christ.  With this new nature comes new desires, we have a new set of principles which governs our lives and we are even given a new purpose.

We must be born again.  We must die to our old sinful nature and take on our new nature which is founded in Christ. When we are born again we are born into a life of communion with God. That relationship that was severed between God and man when Adam sinned, can be restored because of what Jesus did on the cross for you and I.

• How can a person be born again?

John 3:16

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believesin him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

Romans 10:9-10

 ⁹ because, if you confesswith your mouth that Jesus is Lordand believein your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died, was buried, but then He resurrected so that you will be saved from your sins.

Confess with your mouth.  Confess your sins, confess Him as Lord of your life.

Receive the newness of Life that is found in Christ and you shall be born again.