Regeneration
Please Note: the full transcript is available in the Manuscript link above.
Regeneration is the work of God whereby he gives new birth or new life to a spiritually dead person at conversion.
I. Our Need for Regeneration: Just like Nicodemus, the Problem is Worse than we thought (3:1-3)
A. Nicodemus was a very religious man (3:1)
B. Nicodemus recognizes something is different about Jesus (3:2)
C. Nicodemus comes at night (3:2)
D. Jesus’ response reveals the enormous problem (3:3)
John Calvin said it this way, “by the term born again He means not the amendment of a part but the renewal of the whole nature. Hence it follows that there is nothing in us that is not defective.”
II. The Act of Regeneration: Being Born Again is an Act of God (3:4-7)
A. Nicodemus’ response is one of unbelief (3:4)
B. Jesus explains that this rebirth is from God (3:5-7)
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.
Ezekiel 11:19-20 - And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, (20) that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.
Ephesians 2:1-5 - And 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. (3) Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ.
III. The Results of Regeneration (3:8)
A. You can see when it happens
John 7:45-52 - The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” (46) The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” (47) The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? (48) No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? (49) But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” (50) Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, (51) “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” (52) They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”
John 19:39-40 - Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. (40) So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
B. What happens is not fully understood by those of only one birth
IV. Regeneration only comes through Faith (3:9-15)
A. Knowledge is not enough (3:9-13)
B. Regeneration only comes by Faith (3:14-15)
Take Aways
1. Rejoice in your regeneration
2. Meditate on the doctrine of salvation every day
3. Seek to gain skill in gospel witnessing
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