<p> [ ] 4/21/2002 #436 BORN AGAIN John 3:1-8 INTRODUCTION: Nicodemus was a very religious and moral man. He was a teacher in Israel. He no doubt had seen the miracles Jesus had performed. (John 2:23) Many in Jerusalem had believed on Jesus for they saw those miracles too. But Jesus would not commit himself to these people because He knew the true nature of them. Jesus told Nicodemus there was more involved than believing in His miracles. A person must be born again! I. NEW BIRTH IS ESSENTIAL A. NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (v. 3) B. NECESSARY IN ORDER TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (v.5) II. NEW BIRTH IS EXPLAINED (v. 6-8) A. MYSTERY OF THE NEW BIRTH. 1. New birth is by the will of God. (John 3:8, 6:37, 44; James 1:18) 2. New birth is the work of God. (John 1:12-13) B. MEANS OF THE NEW BIRTH. 1. Gift of God. a. Salvation cannot be bought. (Acts 8:18-20) b. Salvation cannot be earned. (Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5) c. Salvation is not inherited. (John 8:39-47) d. Salvation is a gift from God. (John 4:10,14; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8) 2. Grace of God. a. Work of the Holy Spirit. (3:6, 6:63; Titus 3:5) b. Word of God in the heart of sinner. (1 Pet. 1:23) "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." Titus 2:11-12 III. NEW BIRTH IS EVIDENT A. TRANSFORMED LIFE. (Gal. 6:15; 1 Tim. 1:12-15; Titus 3:3-7) "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17) "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Eph. 4:24) B. TRIUMPHANT LIFE. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 4:4-5)</p><p>LESSONS FOR LIFE: 1. The new birth is an imperative from Jesus: "Ye must be born again." 2. Being born again means to possess a new life, a different life, everlasting life. 3. A changed life is the greatest evidence of the new birth. 4. For a person to be born again he/she must confess and repent of their sins, confess Christ as Savior and Lord and put their trust in Him alone.</p>