“YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”
TEXT: John 3:1-15; Romans 5:12; cf. Leviticus 12
W. Max Alderman
The Lord as we sometimes say, “Got to the crux of the matter” when He said, “Ye Must be born again…” Today, we shall consider the importance of the new birth. The word “again” tells us much about the new birth. The word again means: (1) from the first (2) Again (3) from above…
In Leviticus chapter twelve there was a special ceremony and requirement for the newly born and also for the mother. There was a requirement that a sin offering be made because a sinner had given birth to another sinner. There was also a requirement that the mother could not perform religious duties for forty days if a boy was born and eighty days if a girl was born. The double period of time for a girl baby may have been to remind that a potential mother was born who would also bring another sinner into the world. Though the birth of a child was a very glad occasion, it was also a serious reminder of the impact of sin upon the entire human race. Any Jewish mother from this vantage point would more clearly understand the necessity of being “born again”. The first time each of us was born, we were born into this world as sinners. Because our first birth was wrong and was of the earth, we must be born with again with His righteousness, from above.
I. NOTICE THE GREAT TRUTH ABOUT THE NEW BIRTH. (V.3-11)
A. The Truth Expressed. (V.3)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
B. The Truth Explained. (V.5)
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
C. The Truth Exclaimed. (V.11)
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. (John 3:11)
II. NOTICE THE GREAT TRAGEDY APART FROM THE NEW BIRTH.
A. There Is No Substitution For The New Birth.
1. Baptism is no substitute
2. Church membership is no substitute
3. The Mass is no substitute
4. Living a moral life is no substitute
5. There is nothing at all that will substitute the new birth
B. There Is No Satisfaction Apart From The New Birth.
The woman at the well illustrates this truth…
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, (John 4:13, 14,28)
C. There Is Certainly No Salvation Apart From The New Birth.
This again is the reason that one MUST be born again…
III. NOTICE THE GREAT TRIUMPH AS A RESULT OF NEW BIRTH.
A. For The New Born There Will Be No Perishing In Hell.
B. For The New Born There Will Be Paradise In Heaven.
Now that we have shown you that you must be born again, you may wonder if you have ever really been born again, or if you now need to be born again. What comes next may be the most important part of the message. You may call this the CHARACTER TRAITS OF THE NEW BORN. Which Father do you favor?
In John 8:44 Jesus stated to the Jewish Pharisees: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44
In 1 John 3:1 the Scriptures tell us that if we have the heavenly Father as our Father, the world will not know us…
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1)
Number one: Is your life characterized by living righteously or do you do righteous acts as a way of life.
If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. (1 John 2:29)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. (Eph 4:24-25)
Number two: Do you practice sin?
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9)
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (1 John 5:18)
Number three: Do you have a genuine love for other believers?
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1 John 4:7-11)
Number four: Are you consciously living with the high goal of overcoming the world?
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)
Number five: Is there recognizable evidence to show that you have the divine seed or His nature?
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9)
CONCLUSION: If you do not know for certain that you have been born again, then YOU MUST be born again!
