You Must Be Born Again

I want to share with you today about a man in the Bible...His name was Nicodemus. He was a ruler of the Jews...a Pharisee...a leader in religious law. Now Nicodemus was a very educated man in the law of God...in fact, he had committed his life to learning and enforcing the law of God and he was a very respected man in his leadership position. His story is found in the 3rd chapter of the book of John. I want to share that story with you now if I may:

• "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 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.” (Verses 1-2) 

So Nicodemus had heard about this man Jesus. He had heard about the healings that Jesus was performing and he had heard about the unusual teachings that Jesus was spreading throughout the land...and so he came to Jesus in the cover of darkness to have a very important conversation with Him. Nicodemus spoke to Jesus on behalf of all the Pharisees when he said, "Rabbi, we know that You came from God and we know that the miracles You perform can only come from God” because all of the Pharisees were amazed at the things they had seen and heard about Jesus.

Because Nicodemus, though he was a religious leader himself, had recognized the importance of this man Jesus, for he called Him "Rabbi" which in the Hebrew means "Master", indicating the way a student would address a Master of the Law. So he was holding Jesus in a place of high respect and honor. He also recognized the significance of Jesus, that He was no ordinary man but He was a man who had come from God. 

Then Jesus said something very strange to Nicodemus. 

• "Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (Verse 3) 

At this point, Nicodemus became confused. He did not understand what Jesus was saying and so he asked Him a very strange question in verse 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?" (Verse 4) 

We are not sure if Nicodemus was serious with this question, or if he was being sarcastic, but it is very obvious that he had no idea what Jesus was talking about. And so Jesus offered him further explanation.

• "Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (Verses 5-8) 

And so these two men continued their conversation that night...a highly esteemed Pharisee and the Rabbi, or Teacher. But I believe when they finished talking that night, Nicodemus went away a changed man for He had encountered the Messiah, the Lord of Glory.

And so it is with us today just as Jesus said to this man Nicodemus so long ago...we ALL must be born again. And so what does that mean to us and how does it happen? In order for us to understand the answer to these questions, unfortunately, I must tell you about sin.

For you see, the problem is that every man and woman, and every boy and girl from the beginning of time has been a sinner. The Bible makes that point very clear to us in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." No one is exempt...there is none righteous...no not one. We have all broken the heart of a Holy and Righteous God...and He has already passed judgment on sin. Romans 6:23 tells us, "For the wages (or penalty) of sin is death...." We are all doomed to die in our sins and to be separated from God forever. We all deserve to die, but the good news is, that in spite of our sin...God still loves us with an undying love...for the rest of that verse says, "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

So I am here to tell you today that God has made a way for you and for me to have eternal life and to live with Him in Heaven forever. And the way that He made for us was through His very own Son, Jesus Christ. You see Jesus is the only person who ever lived on this earth who NEVER sinned. Jesus NEVER lied, Jesus NEVER hated, Jesus NEVER turned His back on God. Whenever He was tempted to sin, He refused to allow sin to enter His life. And so, because of His perfection, He was the only Person who was ever qualified to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus HAD to die in our place...as our substitute...He carried our sins to a cruel cross on Calvary. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I want to tell you today that Jesus loves you and He paid your sin debt so that you can be set free. He has died in your place and He has given you eternity with God instead of eternity in hell. He has made a way for you to live forever.

"And so", you may ask..."how can I receive so great a gift?" 

1. First you must confess in your heart that you are a sinner. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” You must realize that it is your sins that have separated you from God. Isaiah 59:2 says, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear." God is a holy God and He hates sin, and He cannot tolerate sin in His Heaven, but He loves you so much that He made a way for you to come to Him... 
2. Second you must repent of your sins...that means you must be truly sorry in your heart that you have sinned against a Holy and Righteous God. 2 Corinthians 7:10 tells us, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." You must repent and do your very best to turn away from your sins.
3. You must trust Christ for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal life. If you truly believe in your heart that Jesus paid the sin debt that you could not pay, you may ask Him to forgive you for your sins and to be your Savior and Lord. He wants to come to you, He wants to forgive you of your sins...all you have to do is to repent of your sins and believe it and trust Him for it and He will do what He said He will do.

Won't you trust Christ to save you from your sins and give you eternal life today? If you will repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus, you can pray this prayer with me right now:

Prayer: Jesus, I come to You as a sinner. I know it is my sins that has separated me from God and I am sorry for my sins. I choose right now Jesus to turn away from my sins and I ask You to forgive me. Come Jesus and live with me forever and help me to live all my life for You. I choose now Jesus to place my trust in You. I choose right now to receive eternal life because of Your death on the cross. I thank You for dying for me, and I will try to live my life for You. I need Your presence and Your help every day. Help me Jesus to live for You. I thank You Lord. Amen.

If you have prayed that prayer and if you meant it from your heart, you have just become a Child of God and you have just received eternal life. God has just sent His Spirit to live in you so that you can have the power you need to live for Him. Congratulations! And God bless you.