Welcome to Faith
Chapel, I'm Pastor
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Nathan Renner from
the Detroit Michigan
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Seventh-Day
Adventist Church and we're
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so pleased to have
you listening today.
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We're going to be
talking about how to have
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a new life right
now, and we're gonna be
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studying that
from John chapter 3,
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which is a famous
text of scripture,
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where Jesus speaks
about being born again.
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And this chapter is
particularly interesting
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to be because
for years and years,
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I used the term
born again as a negative
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way of referring
to Christians that is
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before I became a
Christian I referred to
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people as all those
or those born again.
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I used it in a
negative way and through the
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providence of God
he led me to become
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a Christian and
understand what it means
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to be born again
in a very real way.
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So, I'd like begin
here with prayer and then
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we're going to read
portions of John chapter 3
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and get into how to have a new
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life right now.
Let's pray. Our Father,
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thank you for the
promise of new life and
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we ask God that
your Spirit would be
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present with us,
that you would teach us
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and give us
understanding. And we thank
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you in Jesus name,
Amen. In John chapter 3,
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we'll begin in
verse 1, in John chapter 3
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we're going to read
verse 1, the Bible says:
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Now there was a man
of the Pharisees named
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Nicodemus, a ruler
of the Jews. We'll read
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also verse 2, it says
in verse 2: This man came
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to Jesus by night
and said to him, "Rabbi,
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we know that you
are a teacher come from
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God, for no one can
do these signs that you
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do unless God is
with him." Here in John
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chapter 3 verses 1 &
2 we have a very simple
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picture, there's a
gentlemen that named
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Nicodemus, he is a
Pharisees that means that
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his job in life is
to teach God's word.
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He's a ruler of the
Jews, that means that
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he has a position
of prominence in his
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community and the
Bible says in verse 2,
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that he comes to
see Jesus at night.
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And then he speaks
to Jesus and compliments
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him and I wonder why
it is that Nicodemus comes
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to see Jesus at
night. I think the answer's
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actually quite simple
and that is simply this.
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That in our modern
day doing something
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at night really
isn't that big of a deal,
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but in the Bible days
when you did something
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at night, there
were no street lights,
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there were no lamps
burning really like we
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have today. And
so, when you're doing
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something at night,
you're doing something
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somewhat out of the
ordinary. So, in John
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chapter 3, when the
Bible emphasizes that
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Nicodemus came to
see Jesus at night,
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it was
emphasizing that Nicodemus is
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doing something
odd. And the reason he
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would do it is
because he was looking for
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secrecy. He was
wanting to see Jesus at
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night, more then
likely because he was
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concerned about
what his friends would
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think I know the
feeling. I was 20-years-old
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and I was not a
Christian, I was a punk
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rock kid and I had no
real interest in these
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things of the Spirit
of God for many years
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and then the Spirit
of God began to work
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in my life and
began to speak to my heart
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and I began
interest, becoming interested
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in the things of
God and the things of
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Christ. When I
would go to Church on
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Saturday
mornings, I would leave the
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house, dress like a
punk rocker. And I would
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have in my
backpack clothes that would
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be more appropriate
for Church. And after
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Church was done,
then I would change
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back into my punk
rock clothes and go home
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where I lived with
my friends. I did this
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because I was
concerned about what
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my friends would
think if they were knowing
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that I was
interested in Jesus Christ.
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Now, as I continued
doing the study of the
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Bible and became
more interest of course
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then my friends
found out and I was
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seeing Jesus in the
day. So, in John chapter
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3, we have
Nicodemus coming to see Jesus
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at night and why
does he come to see
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Jesus at night, it's
very simple. 'Cause he
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was afraid of what
others would think,
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now in John
chapter 3 when he comes to
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see Jesus at
night, he comes to him and
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he says, Rabbi no
one can do these things
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that you do
unless God is with him.
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He comes to Jesus in
almost a flattering way,
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a very complimentary
way. Rabbi, we know
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that no one can
do these signs that
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you do unless God
is with him. And Jesus,
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you know you
might expect somebody to
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say when they
call you good master or
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Rabbi and they
compliment you like that.
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You might expect
someone to say well
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thank you for those
kind words. And then
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move into
conversation, when Nicodemus
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comes to Jesus and
says Rabbi we know that
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no one can do
these sings that you do
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unless God is with
him. Jesus doesn't say
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thank you for those
kind words, Jesus says
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in John chapter 3
verse 3, we're gonna
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read it now, John
chapter 3 verse 3:
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Jesus answered
him, "Truly, truly,
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I say to you,
unless one is born again
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he cannot see
the kingdom of God."
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I want you to
imagine what it would be
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like if you had
approached someone with
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some very
complimentary words, that was
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a find sermon
you preached Nathan
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and I said you
must be born again and
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if you're not born
again you cannot see
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the kingdom of
God. You might be taken
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back; you may say
well that was rather
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abrupt Pastor. And
I imagine that when
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Nicodemus said good
master. Nicodemus was
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used to being able
to speak to people and
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lead them and
guide the conversation,
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and when he tries
to do that with Jesus.
00:07:06.62\00:07:08.56
Jesus just simply
looks him dead in the eye
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and says, you
must be born again.
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Now, obviously
this statement confused
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Nicodemus, Nicodemus taken back,
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it says in verse 4,
Nicodemus said to him,
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I'm reading now:
"How can a man be
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born when he is
old? Can he enter a
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second time into
his mother's womb and
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be born?"
Nicodemus is asking this
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question like what
are you talking about
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Jesus? You tell me,
I mean I come to you
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just being a nice
guy saying that you must
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be come from God
and then the first words
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out of your mouth
are you must be born
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again, what do
you mean? You want me
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to go back into
the womb and come out
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again and the
Bible says in verse 5,
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John chapter 3
verse 5, Jesus in John
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chapter 3 verse 5
tells Nicodemus what he
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means. Jesus
answered, "Truly, truly,
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I say to you,
unless one is born of water
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and the Spirit, he
cannot enter the kingdom
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of God. Jesus here in
John chapter 3 verse 5,
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defines what it
means to be born again;
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to be born again
according to Jesus is to
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be born of the
water and the Spirit.
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Follow, Jesus tells
Nicodemus you must be
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born again,
Nicodemus says what does that
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mean and how does
that happen, what does
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that mean? And
Jesus says you must be
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born of the water
and the Spirit. Now what
00:08:45.89\00:08:49.70
does it mean to be
born of the water and
00:08:49.77\00:08:52.37
the Spirit, to be
born of the Spirit means
00:08:52.56\00:08:54.54
that the Spirit of
God comes into the life
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and transforms the
person that you are
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and to be born of
the water of course
00:09:01.17\00:09:03.03
it's the
reference to Baptism, it's a
00:09:03.16\00:09:06.09
reference to being
Baptized in the name
00:09:06.12\00:09:08.16
of the Father,
the Son and the Holy
00:09:08.19\00:09:09.39
Spirit. And so,
Jesus is saying that you
00:09:09.61\00:09:12.47
must be born
again, you must have that
00:09:12.56\00:09:14.38
transformation in
your life by the power
00:09:14.53\00:09:17.33
of the Spirit of
God. Now, notice John
00:09:17.57\00:09:20.62
chapter 3 verse
6, Jesus now tells us
00:09:20.67\00:09:23.92
why it is that we
must be born again.
00:09:24.44\00:09:27.16
John chapter 3
verse 6, why must I be
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born again: That
which is born of the flesh
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is flesh, and that
which is born of the Spirit
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is Spirit. What
is Jesus saying here,
00:09:38.19\00:09:41.11
Jesus is saying that
the flesh produces more
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and more of the
flesh. The flesh is flesh,
00:09:45.54\00:09:50.21
Jesus says, that
which is born of the flesh
00:09:50.45\00:09:53.62
is flesh, so what
Jesus is saying is that
00:09:53.65\00:09:56.43
without being born
again, without the Spirit
00:09:56.75\00:09:59.00
of God transforming who you are.
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Your flesh will
always only produce more
00:10:01.39\00:10:05.82
of itself; the
flesh will produce more of
00:10:06.03\00:10:10.93
the flesh. I
remember, 5th grade my best
00:10:11.01\00:10:14.10
friend and I, we
were pushing our bicycles
00:10:14.13\00:10:16.10
up the hill, we
lived in Deadwood,
00:10:16.31\00:10:18.62
South Dakota and
there was, there were
00:10:18.91\00:10:20.76
hills and
mountains everywhere and
00:10:20.79\00:10:23.23
after school one
day my friend and I,
00:10:23.74\00:10:25.68
we were pushing our
bikes up the hill and
00:10:25.79\00:10:27.93
as we were pushing
our bikes up the hill,
00:10:27.96\00:10:29.75
he looked at me
and he said you know
00:10:29.84\00:10:31.45
Nathan if we don't
stop swearing we're
00:10:31.63\00:10:33.29
both gonna wind up
in hell. Here I'm a
00:10:33.42\00:10:36.52
little 5th grade,
he's a little 5th grade
00:10:36.55\00:10:38.49
boy and both of
us knew wow we need
00:10:38.53\00:10:42.43
to make a change
and I can tell you
00:10:42.68\00:10:46.18
that change
didn't happen in my life
00:10:46.22\00:10:48.38
until I was born
again. Because my flesh,
00:10:49.42\00:10:52.05
it would always only
produce more and more
00:10:52.89\00:10:56.00
and more and more
of itself. The flesh is
00:10:56.37\00:10:59.14
that fallen sinful
nature that we have
00:10:59.17\00:11:02.50
and it produces
more and more of itself,
00:11:03.04\00:11:05.99
there's no
changing it, it only has one
00:11:06.04\00:11:09.46
mode and that is
sin. And so Jesus says
00:11:09.92\00:11:12.92
you have to be born
again, you have to be
00:11:13.33\00:11:14.77
born of the Spirit
of God. So, that the
00:11:14.83\00:11:17.20
Spirit can come into
your life and instead
00:11:17.24\00:11:19.67
of the flesh
producing more of itself now
00:11:19.70\00:11:22.43
you have the Spirit
of God producing more
00:11:22.51\00:11:25.93
of itself. Jesus
said that which is born of
00:11:26.35\00:11:29.53
the flesh is flesh,
it's gonna produce more
00:11:29.61\00:11:31.76
and more and more of
itself. But that which
00:11:32.08\00:11:34.73
is born of the Spirit
is Spirit and the Spirit
00:11:34.76\00:11:37.55
will produce more
of itself. Now, after
00:11:37.62\00:11:41.61
Jesus makes that
important point in verse
00:11:41.73\00:11:44.66
7, Jesus then
says: Do not marvel that
00:11:44.69\00:11:50.19
I said to you, 'You
must be born again.'
00:11:50.22\00:11:53.01
He's saying
Nicodemus, don't you know
00:11:54.29\00:11:57.63
that your sinful
fallen nature just produces
00:11:57.67\00:12:00.82
more of itself and
don't you know that
00:12:00.91\00:12:02.89
if you had the
Spirit of God it would
00:12:02.97\00:12:04.46
produce more of
itself. So, why are you so
00:12:04.53\00:12:08.13
amazed that I'm
telling you to be born
00:12:08.22\00:12:10.84
again, every
single human being on the
00:12:10.90\00:12:14.01
face of this planet
needs to be born again,
00:12:14.21\00:12:16.69
there's not a young
man, not an old man,
00:12:17.07\00:12:19.58
not a young
woman, not an old woman.
00:12:19.65\00:12:21.61
No human being that is accepted,
00:12:21.97\00:12:23.99
because every
human being has the
00:12:24.39\00:12:26.39
problem with the
flesh that wants only
00:12:26.50\00:12:29.36
always to sin. And
the Spirit of God wants
00:12:29.89\00:12:32.69
to come in and
rewrite who you are and
00:12:32.72\00:12:36.60
change who you
are. He wants to birth
00:12:36.66\00:12:39.04
you anew and instead
of the flesh producing
00:12:39.07\00:12:41.75
more of the flesh,
he wants the Spirit to
00:12:41.79\00:12:44.27
produce more of
the Spirit of God.
00:12:44.36\00:12:46.92
Now, we're gonna
read in John chapter 8
00:12:48.67\00:12:50.77
verse 8 and Jesus
here describes one
00:12:51.18\00:12:54.25
of the most
beautiful experiences that
00:12:54.28\00:12:57.64
happens when the
Spirit of God begins to
00:12:57.67\00:12:59.81
work in the life.
John chapter 3 verse 8,
00:12:59.84\00:13:03.23
lets read it now:
"The wind blows where
00:13:03.32\00:13:06.98
it wishes, you hear
the sound, and you do
00:13:07.01\00:13:10.99
not know where it
comes from or where
00:13:11.14\00:13:13.52
it goes. So it is
with everyone who is
00:13:13.55\00:13:18.18
born of the
Spirit." Jesus here is making
00:13:18.31\00:13:21.92
the remarkable
point that the Spirit of
00:13:22.07\00:13:24.55
God is like wind and
we have no idea where
00:13:24.59\00:13:27.98
the wind comes
from, we don't know
00:13:28.05\00:13:30.10
where it goes, but we
do know that it's real.
00:13:30.24\00:13:33.50
And so what Jesus
is saying is that being
00:13:33.93\00:13:36.89
born again, having
that experience it's like
00:13:36.96\00:13:39.57
the, it's like the
wind blowing in your life.
00:13:39.69\00:13:42.33
I remember my own
life, I was living life,
00:13:43.40\00:13:45.84
I was happy, I was
content as punk rocker.
00:13:45.88\00:13:49.36
I was doing exactly
what I enjoyed to do
00:13:49.86\00:13:53.07
and then the
Spirit of God came out of
00:13:53.56\00:13:55.96
nowhere, it began
to blow in my life,
00:13:56.11\00:13:59.22
I didn't ask God to
do it. I didn't even
00:14:00.34\00:14:03.09
know that God
existed really. The Spirit of
00:14:03.12\00:14:06.35
God began to
blow, the Spirit of God
00:14:06.43\00:14:09.65
began to speak.
The Spirit of God began
00:14:10.02\00:14:13.38
to work, I didn't
know where it was coming
00:14:13.45\00:14:16.65
from, didn't know
where it was gonna
00:14:16.68\00:14:17.96
take me and that's
what Jesus is saying
00:14:18.02\00:14:21.83
with being born
again. It doesn't,
00:14:21.90\00:14:24.74
it comes from
nowhere really, it's like the
00:14:25.25\00:14:27.92
wind. You don't
know where it comes,
00:14:27.95\00:14:30.37
you don't know where it goes,
00:14:30.59\00:14:31.73
but you do know
it's real and that was
00:14:31.76\00:14:33.85
my experience. Now,
in verse 9, Nicodemus
00:14:33.93\00:14:37.56
asks the most
important question,
00:14:37.99\00:14:40.53
now what Jesus has
said is, we read his
00:14:41.78\00:14:43.53
point there.
Nicodemus said to him,
00:14:44.22\00:14:45.91
"How can these
things be?" Nicodemus asks
00:14:46.44\00:14:52.14
how can this
happen. Now, I want you
00:14:52.63\00:14:55.80
to follow really
what's happened here,
00:14:55.83\00:14:57.35
Jesus has simply
said to Nicodemus,
00:14:57.69\00:15:00.18
Nicodemus, you
need to be born again.
00:15:00.29\00:15:01.82
Nicodemus, you
need to be born again.
00:15:02.54\00:15:05.00
You need to be
transformed by the Spirit
00:15:05.57\00:15:07.03
of God, and you
need to give evidence
00:15:07.11\00:15:08.97
of that transformation
by being baptized.
00:15:09.00\00:15:12.39
Nicodemus, you've
got to be born again
00:15:12.76\00:15:15.19
and then the
question comes, how can
00:15:15.24\00:15:19.73
I have this
experience. People everywhere
00:15:19.76\00:15:23.59
asking how can
my life be changed,
00:15:23.62\00:15:26.32
how can my life be transformed?
00:15:27.15\00:15:29.22
How can this
happen to me? Very good
00:15:29.93\00:15:35.59
question and Jesus
wants to answer it.
00:15:35.69\00:15:39.97
You see Jesus is
not interested in just
00:15:40.03\00:15:42.87
telling you
what needs to happen.
00:15:42.90\00:15:45.14
He's also interest
in telling you how it
00:15:46.06\00:15:49.01
needs to happen,
so Nicodemus asked
00:15:49.08\00:15:52.54
how can these
things be, Jesus you've
00:15:52.76\00:15:55.19
told me that I
need to be born again.
00:15:55.36\00:15:56.93
Yes, I know that
my flesh is producing
00:15:57.18\00:15:59.36
more of itself. I
know that I need the
00:15:59.44\00:16:02.13
Spirit of God to
transform my life,
00:16:02.38\00:16:03.85
but how can it
happen and this cry has
00:16:04.22\00:16:07.96
come from many hearts and minds.
00:16:08.09\00:16:11.02
Many people who
asked how can I have
00:16:11.48\00:16:14.59
the change in my
life that I know I need
00:16:15.08\00:16:17.97
to have, how can I
have it? Well, Jesus
00:16:18.00\00:16:21.35
answers the
question, but before he
00:16:21.40\00:16:23.02
answers the
question, he gives Nicodemus
00:16:23.05\00:16:25.48
a little bit of a
hard time. Remember
00:16:25.64\00:16:28.07
Nicodemus' job was
to teach people how
00:16:28.19\00:16:32.43
to know God. He was
basically, you could
00:16:32.85\00:16:36.11
almost call him
like a pastor he was a
00:16:36.17\00:16:37.99
teacher of the word of God.
00:16:38.02\00:16:39.95
He was a zealous
follower of God and
00:16:39.98\00:16:42.48
so Nicodemus, Jesus
gives him a hard time
00:16:43.52\00:16:46.05
in verse 10, we'll
read it. Jesus answered
00:16:46.16\00:16:49.34
him, "Are you the
teacher of Israel,
00:16:49.37\00:16:53.67
yet you do not
understand these things?"
00:16:54.91\00:16:57.35
We'll read verse
11 as well. "Truly,
00:16:58.74\00:17:01.44
truly I say to
you, we speak of what we
00:17:02.21\00:17:05.74
know, and bear
witness of what we have
00:17:05.82\00:17:08.44
seen, but you do not
receive our testimony."
00:17:08.51\00:17:12.21
Follow what
Jesus is saying here,
00:17:12.98\00:17:14.82
Jesus is saying
essentially hey Nicodemus,
00:17:15.38\00:17:17.64
aren't you supposed
to be a Bible teacher,
00:17:19.22\00:17:21.40
aren't you supposed
to know the spiritual
00:17:22.21\00:17:25.44
message of God? How
is it that you don't
00:17:25.84\00:17:29.15
know the answer
to this question?
00:17:29.27\00:17:32.09
Jesus says, we
speak what we know
00:17:34.58\00:17:37.29
and obviously
since you're not talking
00:17:38.00\00:17:39.23
about this
Nicodemus you don't know about
00:17:39.30\00:17:41.21
it. Verse 12,
let's read verse 12:
00:17:41.27\00:17:45.22
"If I have told you
earthly things and you
00:17:46.67\00:17:48.95
do not believe,
how can you believe if
00:17:49.00\00:17:50.99
I tell you
heavenly things?" Verse 13:
00:17:51.07\00:17:53.63
"No one has
ascended into heaven except
00:17:54.53\00:17:57.32
him who descended from heaven,
00:17:57.40\00:17:59.25
the Son of Man."
Now, when we get to
00:17:59.80\00:18:01.94
verse 14, Jesus is
actually answering the
00:18:02.07\00:18:05.90
question how
can these things be?
00:18:06.00\00:18:09.41
Jesus' said you
must be born again,
00:18:10.50\00:18:12.13
you must be
transformed by the Spirit
00:18:12.19\00:18:13.59
of God. Your flesh
is only producing the
00:18:13.69\00:18:16.24
flesh, now you
need the Spirit of God
00:18:16.33\00:18:18.08
to produce more of
the Spirit, then the
00:18:18.11\00:18:20.22
question comes,
how can this happen?
00:18:20.25\00:18:22.18
How can these
things be? And now Jesus
00:18:22.73\00:18:25.22
is going to give
the answer to the most
00:18:25.61\00:18:28.70
important question
in life. Remember Jesus
00:18:28.73\00:18:31.49
said you are not
going to heaven unless
00:18:31.55\00:18:34.57
you're born again
and Nicodemus says,
00:18:34.60\00:18:36.71
alright, if I'm
not going to heaven,
00:18:36.83\00:18:38.66
if I'm not gonna get
to the kingdom of God
00:18:38.85\00:18:40.53
without being
born again, how does it
00:18:40.56\00:18:42.33
happen? How can I be born again?
00:18:42.39\00:18:44.88
And the answer
comes in verse 14,
00:18:45.42\00:18:48.63
Jesus lays it out,
Jesus says, this is how
00:18:49.03\00:18:52.63
you can be born
again. As Moses lifted
00:18:52.74\00:18:56.32
the serpent in
the wilderness, so the
00:18:56.73\00:19:00.35
Son of Man must
be lifted up. What is
00:19:00.38\00:19:08.25
Jesus saying here?
What is Jesus saying
00:19:08.28\00:19:13.32
here? It's a
fascinating story in the
00:19:13.37\00:19:18.10
book of Numbers,
God's people had been
00:19:18.13\00:19:21.32
in rebellion
against God. They had
00:19:21.71\00:19:25.55
wandered from God
and God allowed fiery
00:19:25.58\00:19:28.99
serpents, the Bible
says to bite them and
00:19:29.16\00:19:32.25
many of the
people were dying. That's
00:19:32.32\00:19:36.29
what Jesus is
talking about, Moses lifted
00:19:36.32\00:19:38.32
the serpent and
what happen there is
00:19:38.35\00:19:41.56
Moses prayed to
God, God what can we
00:19:42.00\00:19:44.61
do? What's the
solution to the problem
00:19:44.67\00:19:47.26
of these people
dying, and God's answer
00:19:47.29\00:19:51.55
was built a bronze
serpent and lift that
00:19:51.68\00:19:55.98
serpent on a pole
and whoever looks at
00:19:56.04\00:19:59.20
that serpent will
be healed and live.
00:19:59.37\00:20:03.61
Now, Moses built
the serpent and people
00:20:06.66\00:20:10.11
looked at the
serpent when they were
00:20:10.19\00:20:11.24
bite by snake and
they lived, which is
00:20:11.33\00:20:16.65
really a
fascinating picture here.
00:20:16.94\00:20:18.89
And Jesus is gonna
use this to describer
00:20:18.92\00:20:20.70
his own mission
but that really leads
00:20:20.73\00:20:22.96
us to an
interesting question, why a
00:20:22.99\00:20:25.07
snake? Why a
bronze snake? And here
00:20:25.19\00:20:28.13
in John chapter 3
verse 14, let's read
00:20:28.19\00:20:31.74
John chapter 3
verse 14 again. Now, that
00:20:31.80\00:20:34.17
we know the story
that Jesus is talking
00:20:34.20\00:20:35.99
about, let's read
it just now. John 3
00:20:36.03\00:20:37.96
verse 14: And as
Moses lifted up the
00:20:37.99\00:20:42.72
serpent in the
wilderness, so the Son
00:20:42.82\00:20:45.52
of Man must be
lifted up, Jesus is saying
00:20:45.55\00:20:48.99
just like Moses
lifted that snake in the
00:20:49.05\00:20:51.43
wilderness, so
Jesus must be lifted up.
00:20:51.58\00:20:55.07
Now, the question
for us today is how
00:20:55.55\00:20:58.80
come the snake is
now a symbol of Jesus,
00:20:58.83\00:21:02.91
I mean wasn't it
the snake in Genesis
00:21:02.98\00:21:05.62
chapter 3 that was
a symbol of the devil,
00:21:05.69\00:21:07.78
wasn't it a
snake in Revelation 12
00:21:08.15\00:21:10.26
that's a symbol
of Satan. Isn't the
00:21:10.37\00:21:12.64
snake all
throughout the Bible a symbol
00:21:12.73\00:21:15.77
of sin and Satan,
and how can a symbol
00:21:16.30\00:21:20.26
of sin and Satan,
all of a sudden become
00:21:20.29\00:21:23.76
a symbol of the
Lord Jesus Christ,
00:21:23.93\00:21:26.68
how can that serpent
lifted in the wilderness
00:21:27.13\00:21:29.75
be a representation
of Christ being lifted
00:21:30.10\00:21:33.09
up and dying on
the Cross, how can that
00:21:33.18\00:21:36.65
be? And the answer
to that question is
00:21:36.68\00:21:40.05
remarkably
profound, it is seen in the
00:21:40.42\00:21:43.59
simple fact that on
the cross. The Bible says
00:21:43.73\00:21:48.44
that the Father
made Christ to be sin for
00:21:48.58\00:21:53.96
us, so that we
could become righteous.
00:21:54.20\00:21:58.11
Now, follow this
simple point then,
00:21:58.97\00:22:00.67
on the Cross when
Jesus was lifted up.
00:22:01.04\00:22:03.98
The Bible is telling
us that God made Christ
00:22:04.43\00:22:07.57
to be sin for us,
he became everything,
00:22:07.92\00:22:12.24
evil and vile, not
that he actually became
00:22:12.64\00:22:15.97
it, he became it
for us. And he died the
00:22:16.00\00:22:22.80
death that sin
required, remember Jesus
00:22:22.97\00:22:28.33
says you must be
born again, you must be
00:22:28.36\00:22:30.33
transformed by
the Spirit of God,
00:22:30.67\00:22:32.35
you must be
renewed. You must have
00:22:32.79\00:22:34.89
the Spirit of
God make you what you
00:22:34.94\00:22:37.57
need to be and
Nicodemus says how?
00:22:38.00\00:22:41.34
Oh! How can I have
the transformation?
00:22:41.71\00:22:44.62
How can I have
new life right now?
00:22:45.11\00:22:46.86
And the answer is
Jesus has to be lifted
00:22:47.24\00:22:52.66
up from the earth.
There is only one way
00:22:52.70\00:22:55.65
and that is the death,
burial and resurrection
00:22:55.78\00:22:58.87
Look now in John
chapter 3 verses 14
00:22:59.26\00:23:02.04
& 15, John
chapter 3 verses 14 & 15:
00:23:02.07\00:23:05.71
And as Moses
lifted up the serpent in
00:23:06.09\00:23:08.39
the wilderness, so
must the Son of Man
00:23:08.42\00:23:11.24
be lifted up,
verse 15, that whosoever
00:23:11.64\00:23:14.99
believes in him
may have eternal life.
00:23:15.16\00:23:17.43
Now, follow the
main point again,
00:23:17.84\00:23:19.83
how can these things be? How can
00:23:20.23\00:23:22.71
I be born again?
How can it happen?
00:23:22.77\00:23:25.23
And the answer
comes just like Moses
00:23:25.60\00:23:28.30
lifted the serpent
and the people looked
00:23:28.37\00:23:30.75
and lived, so Christ
must be lifted up that
00:23:31.21\00:23:35.16
whoever believes
on him should not
00:23:35.53\00:23:39.26
perish but have
everlasting life.
00:23:39.60\00:23:43.71
My friends, the key
to a new life right now,
00:23:44.93\00:23:48.01
the key to a new
life right now is a faith
00:23:49.31\00:23:54.01
and trust in the
death of Jesus Christ
00:23:54.64\00:23:57.64
as your salvation.
And you believe that,
00:23:58.31\00:24:02.28
you have God's
promise that he will give
00:24:03.10\00:24:06.13
you the Spirit
and birth you a new.
00:24:06.16\00:24:09.78
John chapter 3
verse 16 follows that up
00:24:10.80\00:24:14.72
with these beautiful promise,
00:24:14.80\00:24:16.81
this beautiful
promise. John chapter 3
00:24:16.92\00:24:19.64
verse 16, let's
read it now: "For God so
00:24:20.19\00:24:23.40
loved the world,
that he gave his only Son,
00:24:23.47\00:24:27.47
that whoever
believes in him should not
00:24:28.30\00:24:31.24
perish but have
eternal life." My friends
00:24:31.45\00:24:35.38
Nicodemus asked
the question, how can
00:24:35.53\00:24:38.15
these things be?
How can I have a new
00:24:38.23\00:24:40.47
life? How can I be
born again? How can I
00:24:40.50\00:24:43.52
be transformed by
the Spirit? And Jesus'
00:24:43.57\00:24:46.50
answer is so
simple, it is so simple,
00:24:46.91\00:24:50.81
yet so profound.
He says the only way
00:24:52.19\00:24:56.00
for you to have a
new life, is for me to
00:24:56.14\00:25:00.73
be lifted up, that is
for me to die for your
00:25:00.81\00:25:05.05
old life. The only
way for you to be born
00:25:05.21\00:25:09.16
again and be
transformed by the Spirit
00:25:09.19\00:25:11.29
is for me to die
for your old life.
00:25:12.02\00:25:16.42
So, that you can be
filled with the Spirit
00:25:18.40\00:25:19.83
and have a new
one. And why would
00:25:20.84\00:25:23.57
God do that? Why
would God do that?
00:25:23.62\00:25:25.91
Because he loved
the world, he loved
00:25:27.20\00:25:32.18
every last human
being and he wants
00:25:32.21\00:25:36.24
to take care of
every human being's past.
00:25:36.31\00:25:39.36
And give them a
new future, that's why
00:25:41.16\00:25:44.53
he says: "For God
so loved the world,
00:25:44.64\00:25:50.09
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:25:51.36\00:25:53.23
that whosoever
believeth in Him should
00:25:53.36\00:25:55.41
not perish, but
have everlasting life"
00:25:55.57\00:26:00.31
Friend of mine,
God wants you to live
00:26:01.99\00:26:04.39
forever, God wants
you to have a new life,
00:26:04.51\00:26:07.52
God wants you to be transformed.
00:26:08.80\00:26:10.89
You must be born
again, you say how
00:26:11.55\00:26:14.92
can that be, I'm so
enslaved to this habits.
00:26:14.95\00:26:20.40
I'm so weak in
this area of my life,
00:26:21.35\00:26:24.23
I've so many
problems in this part of
00:26:24.91\00:26:27.56
my life, there's no
way for me to change,
00:26:27.61\00:26:30.31
I've tried and
tried and tried and tried
00:26:30.41\00:26:33.17
and had absolutely no success.
00:26:33.32\00:26:35.87
My friend, God
wants you to have a new
00:26:35.91\00:26:37.83
life, he wants
you to have a new life
00:26:37.86\00:26:40.73
right now and
you can have it right
00:26:41.14\00:26:43.65
now. It's not for
pulling yourself up by
00:26:43.68\00:26:47.21
your bootstraps;
you'll never have the
00:26:47.29\00:26:49.51
strength. It is
through the transformative
00:26:49.63\00:26:52.66
power of the Spirit
of God that is yours
00:26:52.72\00:26:56.38
when you trust
Jesus Christ, when you
00:26:56.91\00:27:00.76
believe that Jesus died for you,
00:27:00.80\00:27:03.69
you'll receive
the Spirit of God,
00:27:05.16\00:27:07.12
the forgiveness of
sins and the promise
00:27:08.06\00:27:10.75
of a new life. You
want that new life?
00:27:11.48\00:27:14.55
Put your faith
in Jesus right now,
00:27:15.09\00:27:18.25
let's pray. Father
please, bless all of
00:27:19.15\00:27:22.35
those people out
there, blessed every
00:27:22.38\00:27:24.80
individual who's
trusting you right now.
00:27:24.83\00:27:28.69
Fill them with
your Spirit, Father,
00:27:29.40\00:27:30.82
I pray in Jesus name, Amen.
00:27:30.85\00:27:34.18
My friend, if you
have trusted Christ today,
00:27:35.51\00:27:39.27
believe with all of
your heart that he has
00:27:39.97\00:27:44.60
forgiven you in
giving you the gift of
00:27:44.65\00:27:45.91
eternal life. And
then enjoy the new
00:27:46.03\00:27:50.75
life that he's
giving you forever.
00:27:50.78\00:27:53.58
al who's trusting you right now.
00:27:53.61\00:27:54.58
Fill them with
your Spirit, Father,
00:27:54.59\00:27:55.56
I pray in Jesus name, Amen.
00:27:55.57\00:27:56.54
My friend, if you
have trusted Christ today,
00:27:56.55\00:27:57.52
believe with all of
your heart that he has
00:27:57.53\00:27:58.50