John 1:11-13 - He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
4 reasons to make regeneration a primary focus for life and ministry
I. Because the New Birth Is the Only Way to Enter the Kingdom (vv. 1-3)
A. Four facts about Nicodemus that show his surprising need
John 3:1-2 - Now 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 have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
1. He is a Pharisee (v.1)
2. He is a ruler of the Jews (v.1)
3. He is attentive to Jesus’ arrival (v.2)
4. He is a teacher of Israel (v.10)
B. One simple truth that would satisfy his need (v.3)
II. Because the New Birth Is Supernatural Transformation (vv. 4-8)
John 3:4-8 - Nicodemus 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?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into 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 be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
A. This new birth was predicted in the Old Testament (v.5, 7)
Ezekiel 36:25-27 - Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
B. It can only be accomplished by the Spirit (v.6)
C. Those who have not experienced new birth cannot understand those who have (v.8)
III. Because the New Birth Comes Through Faith in Jesus and Results in Eternal Life (vv. 9-15)
A. Not by a prideful heart (vv.9-10)
John 3:9-10 - Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?”
“Doubtless he himself had for years taught others the conditions of entrance to the kingdom of God, conditions cast in terms of obedience to God’s commands, devotion to God, happy submission to his will; but here he is facing a condition he has never heard expressed, the absolute requirement of birth from above.” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 198)
B. Through the testimony of Jesus, John, and the prophets (v.11-14)
John 3:11-14 - Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up…
1. Jesus’ prior home qualifies Him to explain the truth (v.12-13)
2. We must exercise faith (v.14a)
3. Jesus must give His life (v.14b)
C. It results in eternal life (v.15)
John 3:15 - …so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
IV. Because the New Birth Is Only Possible Through God’s Great Love (vv. 16-21)
A. God, because of His love, gave His Son Jesus (v.16)
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
B. Jesus came to save the world (v.17)
John 3:17 - For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
C. His gift requires our response (vv.18-21)
John 3:18-21 - He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.
“Whoever believes in him experiences new birth (3:3, 5), has eternal life (3:15, 16), is saved (3:17); the alternative is to perish…to lose one’s life (12:25), to be doomed to destruction…There is no third option.” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 206)
John 19:38-42 - After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Let’s consider 4 reasons to make regeneration a primary focus for life and ministry
I. Because the New Birth is the only way to enter the Kingdom (vv. 1-3)
Four facts about Nicodemus that show his surprising need
John 3:1-2 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this 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.”
- He is a Pharisee (v. 1)
It means separated ones. They were known for their outwardly ‘high ethics’, but were in desperately need of inward salvation change. They were also legalists, trying to earn their salvation by trying to keep the Law. Perhaps there are some here this morning who are in need of spiritual change. Perhaps you too believe you can lift yourself up by your own moral bootstraps to earn your salvation, much like Nicodemus and the Pharisees.
Perhaps you’re like the Samaritan woman at the well, not yet knowing your need of salvation until you are confronted by the Christ of Scripture who offers freely to you the life-giving waters of salvation!
And this brings us to our story of Nicodemus.
You see, he’s staring face-to-face, with the Redeemer of his soul. Some of you may be here today will have to stand before the Redeemer of your soul. Like Nicodemus, you must come to terms with this King.
The Pharisees, in their trying to earn their salvation and teaching others to do the same they perverted The Way, “not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” – Romans 10:3
No wonder why Christ dropped the hammer on them, calling them whitewashed appearing “beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” – Matthew 23:27-28
- He is a ruler of the Jews (v. 1)
That is to say, Nicodemus was a recognized teacher and leader among the people of Israel Can you imagine how much sway this man had over the people? Yet, this man was not saved! Compound this by the fact that these teachers of the law proselytized their empty rhetoric to others! And Jesus excoriated the Pharisees and Sadducees for it.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” – Matthew 23:15
In other words, bearing the wrong message has damnable consequences for the soul. Nicodemus carried the wrong message - I can only pray that none of you here this morning carry the wrong message. Teachers receive the greater condemnation.
- He is attentive to Jesus’ arrival (v. 2)
He does not see Jesus for who he is yet, but he recognizes that God is with him. He cares and wants to know more. So, he comes at night possibly because it would allow for a more open conversation.
He knows there’s something extraordinary about Christ! You have to understand the significance of what was going on here. Biblically speaking, if you drew a horizontal timeline that represented 4,000 years of bible history, 3 eras of time stand out in which God was doing the miraculous.
- The era of Moses to Joshua
- The era of Elijah and Elisha
- The era of Jesus and the Apostles.
These eras covered around 300 years. In the Old Testament, miracles are frequently referred to as signs and wonders – those miracles always pointed to someone. They authenticated the message proclaimed.
For example,
“ Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.” – Deuteronomy 34:10-12[1]
Fast forward to the era of Elijah and Elisha to the most notable standoff between Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:36. Elijah prayed to distinguish the God of Israel and his message from the false prophets were through signs and wonders.
“At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.” – 1 Kings 18:36
By the time you get to the book of Malachi and after words, there was a 400 year period of absolute silence – prophets had dropped off from the scene and so did the signs and wonders…and then all of a sudden, Christ and the Apostles arose in the New Testament era.
When Christ showed up on the scene, you had another explosion of miracles. So great was this era of history that no one could deny that this was an age of tremendous power such that no one could ignore or deny!
“When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.” – Matthew 9:8
“All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.” – Luke 1:65
“A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. "A great prophet has appeared among us!" they said. "God has visited His people!" – Luke 7:16
But there’s something even more significant that happened…far more impactful than the signs that Jesus performed was the message proclaimed. The people who heard Christ said that his teaching was “as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” – Matthew 7:29
Even Jesus’ enemies said, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” – John 7:46
Can you understand now why Nicodemus was so fascinated by the mystique, that is Christ? Can you understand why he said to him in verse 2, “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.” – John 3:2
Transition: After all, being the teacher of Israel that he is, it makes sense that Nicodemus would ask a question like that.
4. He is a teacher of Israel (v. 10)
Transition: But Christ being the greater teacher that he is,
B. One simple truth that would satisfy his need (v. 3)
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Can you imagine the look on Nicodemus’ face?
This was Nicodemus’ John Travolta lost in the field moment
This great teacher Nicodemus is confused in his mind!
He doesn’t understand what Christ is saying. Some of you may not understand either. Perhaps I can help you with that this morning
II. Because the New Birth is supernatural transformation (vv. 4-8)
John 3:4-8 Nicodemus *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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
A. This new birth was predicted in the OT (v. 5, 7)
Ezekiel 36:25-27 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
New birth, regeneration – it’s just another way of talking about the new birth – it’s there in the Scriptures…yet this caught Nicodemus by surprise. And Christ had to explain this to him.
For some here this morning, this may be the first time you’re learning about the new birth. And just as Christ had to taught Nicodemus, he is teaching you through the Scriptures what it means to be born again.
B. Can only be accomplished by the Spirit (v. 6)
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
In other words, Jesus referred to spiritual birth, not physical birth. Nicodemus didn’t understand this – he should have, but didn’t.
Transition Why?
C. Those who have not experienced new birth cannot understand those who have (v. 8)
“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
What a great illustration! In other words, No one can control where the wind goes – yet the effects can be seen. So then, no one can control the Holy Spirit. His sovereign work of salvation cannot be controlled or predicted – but the effects of a changed life are evidence of one who has been born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus needed his soul spiritually washed to enter the kingdom of heaven. No one can enter God’s kingdom unless you are born again from above. He didn’t understand yet. But he also didn’t understand that he cannot affect a salvation kind of change in and of himself.
I remember when my children were born into this world how happy Marleah and I was. I had something to with their physical birth, but I have no control over their spiritual birth. I have no control over their salvation.
I neither have the power nor the will to bring about that kind of transformation. But what I do know is that “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” – John 1:12-13
That is to say, just as you have no control over your physical birth, you neither have control over your spiritual birth. Your spiritual birth is brought about by the agency of the Holy Spirit who blew into your nostrils life saving salvation, as it were.
And Christ hammered this teaching into the hearts of his Apostles that you see it over and over again in the New Testament.
Prior to saving faith you “were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” – Ephesians 2:1-2
But then something happened, “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” – Ephesians 2:4-5
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” – 1 Peter 1:3
“…when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” - Titus 3:4-5
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God….” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
RC SPROUL
“No one is born a Christian. The flesh does not produce redemption. This was a common error the Jewish people made. They thought that because they were Jews, being descended from the Old Testament patriarch Abraham, that they were numbered among the people of God and would enter heaven. The Old Testament prophets and then the New Testament teachers had to show the people that this was not the case. Likewise, you may have been born to Christian parents, raised in a Christian home, and gone to a Christian school or a Christian college, but none of those things make you a Christian. All that your natural birth has given you is flesh, and flesh of that sort is powerless to enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Unless you are born of the Spirit of the living God, whatever you do in your flesh will avail nothing toward entering the kingdom of God.”[2]
Transition: Time would fail me this to share with you the many New Testament spiritual truths about the Holy Spirit’s role in our salvation. But certainly, it’s nothing short of the sovereign act of God.
III. Because the New Birth comes through faith in Jesus and results in eternal life (vv. 9-15)
Not by a prideful heart (vv. 9-10)
John 3:9-10 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
How can these things be, Nicodemus asked Jesus…wow –
He was still stuck back at verse 4 – he’s still dumbstruck at what Jesus had taught him. Here was a man who was a learned Pharisee. Here was a man who was a member of the Sanhedrin (3:1).
Here was a man who was the teacher of Israel. Here was a man who occupied a great position of authority. Here was a man who was the primary teacher of Israel who didn’t even understand the most basic criteria for entry into the kingdom of God!
Nicodemus you are the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? This is an elementary truth of the Old Testament. How did you make it through graduate school?
It’s one thing if you’re a pupil just learning, but Nicodemus has been at it for a while now…something is wrong.
Jesus had to chip away at Nicodemus’ prideful heart. Little did Nicodemus know that the Lord had called Nicodemus to salvation. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, the Lord was working on Nicodemus’ heart to grant to him by the Holy Spirit rivers of living water.
You see, unbeliever will never see their need for Christ until they see how lost they really are. The Holy Spirit may be working on some of you this morning like he worked in the life of Nicodemus – chipping away at your self-centered pride. Chipping away at you until you see your need for him, and when you see your need for him, he will cultivate in your heart salvation change.
Don’t you see that the Lord he doesn’t “choose the wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Through the testimony of Jesus, John, and the prophets (v. 11-14)
John 3:11-14 “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;”
There’s a lot here to unpack here so I want to give the big picture of Jesus’ response to Nicodemus
- Jesus’ prior home qualifies him to explain the truth (v. 12-13)
John and the disciples have bore witness to the truth about Christ (see 1:1; 17:5) – yet Nicodemus and the rest of the leaders of Israel did not receive their testimony.
If Nicodemus can’t understand elementary points on what it means to be born again (vv.4-8), how can he understand the deeper spiritual heavenly realities, such as the kingdom of God and eternal life? (see v. 5)
Christ, who is God, came down from heaven and is the only one who is qualified to speak about it (v. 13).
- We must exercise faith (v. 14a)
We don’t have time to reread the story in Numbers 21, but the short version is that Moses lifted a bronze serpent. All those bitten by snakes could by faith look at the serpent and be healed. It was an act of faith. God said, “exercise faith by looking” and all those who looked proved that their faith was real.
- Jesus must give his life (v. 14b)
He also reminds us of the reality that Jesus will one day soon be lifted up on the cross. So then, looking to Jesus by faith would cure their sin problem. You cannot cure yourself from the epidemic called sin – only looking to Christ by faith alone, and he will forgive you and save you.
It results in eternal life (v. 15)
John 3:15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
IV. Because the New Birth is only possible through God’s great love (vv. 16-21)
God, because of his love, gave his son Jesus (v. 16)
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
His gift, requires our response (vv. 18-21)
John 3:18-21 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
There seems to be a seeming contradiction: Why in John 3:16 do we read that Christ didn’t come to judge the world, yet these verses suggest that he will?
The answer is cleared up if you understand it this way: His first coming was not to judge humanity, but was on a mission to save. But when he comes again, it will be not to pardon, but to judge.
For those who are here this morning, do you want to be born again? Do you understand that your sin demands a penalty?
Ezekiel 18:4, “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.”
If you acknowledge that you are a sinner today, Christ is a great Savior – he will save you from your sins today – all you have to do is believe in Christ alone. But if you do not accept the free offer of the Gospel, Christ will one day be your judge.
Romans 10:9-10 says,
“9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
John 7:37-39
If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive.”
For those who believe, the Apostle John says that he has “no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” – 3 John 1:4
[1][1] See also Deuteronomy 6:22, ““Moreover, the Lord showed great and distressing signs and wonders before our eyes against Egypt, Pharaoh and all his household.”
[2] RC Sproul, John: St. Andrew's Expositional Commentary (Ligonier Court: Reformation Trust, 2009), 39.
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