SERMON

John 3:1-7
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling
council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come
from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
[a]
”
4 
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a
second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of
water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit [b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be
surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’

Many people misunderstood the meaning of being born again

To them, it is another form of religion.

But Jesus taught Nicodemus, a traditionla ruler and religious person, that being born again is a
spiritual experience of transformation made possible by the intervention and poweer of the Holy
Spirit.

Who needs to be born again? Only the very good like Nicodemus? Or only the very bad like Paul?
The scriptures openly teach us that all we need to be born again. The universal sinful condition of
man demands a change, the new birth. THE HOLINESS OF GOD DEMANDS THAT MEN BE
BORN AGAIN.

WATER AND SPIRIT

In Jesus’ explanation of “born again”, He says that we must be born of water and born of the Spirit.
Some people think Jesus is referring to baptism (water) and spiritual transformation (spirit) as two
necessary parts to salvation. Others think that water and spirit refer to physical birth and spiritual
birth. However, a more likely explanation for Jesus’ phrase “born of water and born of the Spirit” is
that both water and spirit refer to the same thing: spiritual rebirth.

Water – spiritual cleansing

The Necessity of new Birth

1. It is the entrance to God’s Kingdom
John 3:3-5
3 
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born
again.[a]”
4 
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter
a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are
born of water and the Spirit.

2. It is God’s commandment that needs to be obeyed

The Nature of New Birth
1. It is a spiritual birth not a physical change
John 3:4-6
4 
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter
a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are
born of water and the Spirit.

2. It is a spiritual change not a reformation (to improve (someone or something) by removing or

correcting faults, problems)
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is
here!

The agents used in New Birth

1. The Word of God
1 Peter 1:23
23 
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living
and enduring word of God.

2. The Spirit of God

John 3:6
6 
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit [a] gives birth to spirit.

The Evidence of New Birth

1. The one who is born again lives a righteous life (UPRIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD)
1 John 2:29
29 
If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been
born of him.

Job 1:1
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and
upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

Psalm 119:5-6 where the psalm writer prays, “Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect
Your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.”
OBEDIENCE
Is it the desire of your heart to live a life that reflects the commands and instructions of God’s
word?
We pursue righteous living by actively seeking out God’s will and instructions for living in His
Word and actually obeying what it says. (James 1:22-25) God’s Word teaches us truth. It
corrects the areas in our lives that are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ( 2 Timothy
3:16-17)

Surround yourself with people that are pursuing Jesus the way you are.
Community is everything.
The kind of people you surround yourself with makes a huge difference in becoming the kind
of person you want to be and achieving the goals you have for your life. The same is true for
your faith.
make sure you are prioritizing and investing in those relationships and intentionally pursuing
Jesus together.
 GOD is HOLY
Constant - Improve
Relationship

2. The Born Again persons does not live a life of sin

1 John 3:9
9 
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they
cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

Ayaw na baliki ang imong mga sala. Wala kay angay og dili ka angayan
We failed and commit sin if we failed to read God’s Word

Basin nahimo na nimong habit/lifestyle ang pagpakasala

I know kabalo ta unsay sakto or sayop
Saputon
Words - pamalikas
Pagpamakak
Masugo/Tapulan
Lusftful desires
Pandaot/Panglibak

Hate the things what God hates and love the things what God loves

3. The Born Again person lives an overcoming life

1 John 5:4
4 
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the
world, even our faith.

Temptation
Trials
Problems
Kitang tnan dili exempted ani pero kadapende na dayon na unsaon nimo pgrespond og asa ka
nagsalig

How do we live an overcoming life on a daily basis?

By keeping our eyes and mind on the things above, (Col 3:1-4) and our heart full of the Holy
Spirit.
We walk our daily walk with him as sojourners towards our final destination.
We don’t turn to the left or the right but stick to the path.
When we stumble, we get back up and keep going.
When the enemy attacks we stand firm, not giving up any ground.
Day by day we make headway towards our heavenly home.
Don’t give up.
Pray for strength that only comes from the Lord.