"YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN"

Proclamation:

“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ‘… No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and The Spirit’ … ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:3-7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as He responded to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, who had come to Him under the cover of night. (John 3:1-2)  Nicodemus took Jesus literally and wondered how one could re-enter their mother’s womb to be born again.  Jesus made it clear that He was referring to a spiritual birth. (John 3:5-6)

Application:

We must have a spiritual transformation or regeneration produced by The Holy Spirit.  This new birth is an act of God based upon a person's belief in and acceptance of Jesus Christ.  It also implies becoming a new born child of God.  Therefore all believers have two birthdays.  The first is their physical birthday and the second is their spiritual birthday.  We must all undergo a spiritual transformation.  Without this second birth, we will remain a lost soul for eternity.

WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Proclamation:

"In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again ... unless he is born of water and The Spirit.'" John 3:1-6 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus, The Christ, as He spoke to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, who had come to Him secretly by night. (John 3:1-2) 

Application:

All Christians have two birthdays, the date of their physical birth and the date of their spiritual birth.  With our physical birth, we were born into sin when we entered this world.  With our spiritual birth, we are released from the penalty of sin when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  When we are born again, we undergo a spiritual transformation.  We are a "changed" group of people who act, talk, and think differently because of the effect of The Holy Spirit upon our lives.  We are not perfect, we still make mistakes, and we still sin, but we are not as bad as we used to be.  Hopefully, we are getting better, more Christ-like, each day because we have been born again.