you must be born again, part 1

John 3:1-10

The Depravity of Mankind, part 3

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him,

“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” NASB

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

The literal meaning of regeneration is

“being born again”

“Born Again” means from above,

from a higher place. Of things which come from heaven or God.

4Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. NASB

Four possible meanings of

unless one is born of water and the Spirit

1. Two Births – one natural and one spiritual.

2. One Birth – Spiritual birth with the water referring to water baptism.

3. Jewish Ceremonial Washing – but being born of the Spirit is in contrast to the ceremonies of the law. Jesus is using them not in contrast to each other but working together.

4. Symbolic Cleansing for spiritual renewal.

Jesus expected Nicodemus to understand

what He was saying.

John 3:10 – …You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? NLT

Ezekiel 36:24-27 – For I (God) will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.

25Then I (God) will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away and you will no longer worship idols.

26And I (God) will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I (God) will put a new spirit in you. I (God) will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new obedient heart.

27And I (God) will put my spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command. NLT

Titus 3:5 – He (God) saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He (God) washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. NLT

Three Popular Views Regarding the Will

Pelagian View – Man’s will is not depraved – has a will

just like Adam before Adam sinned.

The 3rd ecumenical council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)

condemned Pelagianism.

Semi-Pelagian View – Man’s will is depraved, but not fully, for without God’s help man can express faith and he is

then Born again.

Semi-Pelagianism was condemned

at the Synod of Orange

in A.D. 529.

Arminian View – similar to Semi-Pelagianism in that

man has the ability to choose Christ (special favor

given to all mankind)

The Synod of Dort (1618-1619) condemned

Arminianism.

Jesus, the Apostle Paul & the Church Reformers – Man is dead – can’t choose good – can’t do anything that pleases God including accepting Jesus.

Ephesians 2:5 - that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. NLT

John 6:43-44 - But Jesus replied, “Don’t complain about what I said. 44For people can’t come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead. NLT

John 6:64-65 – But some of you don’t believe me. (For Jesus knew from the beginning who didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)

65Then he said, “That is what I meant when I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father brings them to me.” NLT

Pelagian

Man gets full credit for his salvation.

Semi-Pelagian & ArminianMan gets some of the

credit and God gets some of the credit But only if the

man chooses God.

BiblicalGOD gets Full Credit for man’s salvation.

GOD chose You!

Are you in Awe

of GOD?