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Mar 27, 2022

John - Regeneration (Born Again)

Passage: John 3:1-15

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: John: Come and See

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: hope, salvation, life, regeneration, born again

The term “Born Again” carries a lot of negative baggage today, but Jesus clearly proclaims that being born again is the essential entrance for all who are His. To be Born Again is to be fully regenerated; to leave the old deadness behind and receive new life, which brings with it a new Father, new family, new hope and a new trajectory, both now and forever.

Central Theme:

The term “Born Again” carries a lot of negative baggage today, but Jesus clearly proclaims that being born again is the essential entrance for all who are His. To be Born Again is to be fully regenerated; to leave the old deadness behind and receive new life, which brings with it a new Father, new family, new hope and a new trajectory, both now and forever.

Central Text: John 3:1-12

1 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 are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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 marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

 

Sermon Discussion Questions:

  • Read John 3:1-12 together: outloud the first time, then silently another time, underlining main words or phrases that stick out to you.

  • What comes to mind when you hear that someone has been “Born Again”? Does the average person differentiate between a Christian and a “Born Again Christian”?

  • Nicodemus, like the average law-keeping religious person, wanted to know what behavior it would take to see the Kingdom. How then was Jesus’ command to be “born again” revolutionary and shocking? 

  • Talk about the differences it makes when we see being a Christian as being renovated (not utterly changed) vs. being re-created.

  • Talk about the “serpent on a pole” reference, which is a “remez” from Numbers 21:9 (with the realization that snakes were especially cursed in Gen 3 and “all those who hang on a tree are cursed.” Gal 3:13). How does our curse get transferred to him?

  • In all of this, think about these things:
    • Is there a character of God that has been clarified?
    • Is there a personal application that comes to mind?
    • Is there a sin that has been highlighted that you need to repent of?