STARTING ALL OVER!

John 3:1-15

INTRODUCTION: Have you ever felt like you would just like to have a new start to your life. Perhaps a new start on your chose career path or a new start for you mistakes in your marriage. Our Lord Jesus talked with a religious leader of His day speaking of how to have a new start in life. Nicodemus was a high roller, a high-profile man and also high in the synagogue leadership. John 3:3: born again: does that sound familiar to you? Being born again is something that happens on the inside of a person that changes the outside of the person. Being born again into God’s family not only gets you to heaven but allows you to literally start over again.

I. IN ORDER TO GET A NEW START YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

John 3:7: Why did Jesus say to this religious man “You must be born again?” Why did Jesus say “You must be born again?” Romans 3:22-23: We are born with a sin nature and we will sin until this life is over for us. Our sinful nature will keep us not only out of heaven but even from seeing heaven. We need a change in our very nature to fit heaven’s demands.

II. HOW CAN YOU BE BORN AGAIN?

Nicodemus question is one many have asked: “How?” John 3:4. Jesus said there is a natural birth and a spiritual birth: John 3:5-7. Natural birth begins at conception and ends at physical death. Spiritual birth starts at the second you trust Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and never ends. 1 John 5:11-13: When you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior you receive spiritual life and are a part of God’s forever family. Has there been a definite time and date of your spiritual birth into God’s family?

III. BEING BORN AGAIN ERASES YOUR PAST!

When we are born we don’t have a past we only have a future. Isn’t that a wonderful thing? You can be born again today and have all your past sins forgiven and never held against you again. When someone is born someone else has to suffer. Each of us here today had a mother who suffered greatly bring us into physical life. When you were born your mother walked literally through the valley of the shadow of death. Two thousand years ago, our Lord Jesus Christ died for our sin as suffered on the cross so we could be born of the Spirit and have eternal life. John 3:8: we can see the effects of a breeze and the changes it brings. We can also see the effects in a person’s life that is truly born again. Don’t let the mystery of the wind or of being born again rob you of the joy of having God give you a new heart. Now Nicodemus is so interested in being born again that he asks the Lord Jesus for the second time: “How?” John 3:9; John 3:13-14. Just as we must be born again, so the Son of Man must be lifted up: 1 Peter 2:24. In that moment on the cross Jesus became sin for us so we might become the very righteousness of God in Him: 2 Corinthians 5:21. Jesus has already done His part. Jesus has already died for our sins. Now Jesus begins to talk about our part of being born again: John 3:15. Jesus is saying I have done my part now you must do your part. It is time for you to receive the gift of God! We are all marching toward the grave and when our heart beats for the last time what will really matter is “have you been born again through faith in Jesus Christ?” John 3:16-21.