JOH 3:5 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.

>>The chapter before us again reveals the blindness and emptiness of judaism, and the ushering in of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ.

>>Nicodemus was a true representative of the unrepentant natural man, or of the jews and their leaders, i.e., their Sanhedrin—Israel's highest ecclesiastical court.

JOH 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

>>Nicodemus was clearly one of Christ's chosen flock; at first he acted very timid coming to Jesus by nigh, but later it is obvious he became very defensive of His Master.

JOH 7:50-51 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)

51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

>>When all of Jesus' disciples had fled and forsaken Jesus, see how bold Nicodemus had become to assist Joseph of Arimathaea in giving Jesus an honorable burial.

JOH 19:39-40 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

>>Jesus disciples believed upon Jesus through the manifestation of His glory at the beginning of miracles.

JOH 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

>>This manifestation of His glory is only seen by the revelation of the Holy Spirit through the authority of the WORD.

>>Nicodemus "...came to Jesus by night, as we see from JOH 3:2 "...and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: [Nicodemus saw the distinction between Jesus' teaching and that of the Sanhedrin] for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him," JOH 3:2.

>>This manifestation of Christ's glory in the power of His Word revealed the need of something more than the letter of the law to Nicodemus, and brought him to Jesus seeking to be taught.

JOH 3:3 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.

>>This word "see" comes from the Greek word "eidon" which means to know or become acquainted with.

>>It was obvious that Nicodemus, though he was a ruler in Israel had not become acquainted with the need for the kingdom of Christ to be established upon the throne of his heart.

>>Our Saviour's blessed ministry began by preaching the gospel, i.e., the good news of the kingdom of God, saying, MAR 1:15b The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

>>Now that Nicodemus had heard the good news of the kingdom of Christ, and had seen the authority in His Word, he came by night to inquire of its meaning. This is when Jesus said, JOH 3:5 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.

>>The central truth about the Spirit's work of grace is found in our Saviour's teaching about the principles of the new birth.

FIRST, Jesus reveals the supreme importance of the new birth in V:3.

SECOND, the instrument used to effect the new birth—"water" V:5.

THIRD, who produces the new birth—"the Spirit" V:5.

FOURTH, The new character found in the new birth—a new nature or "spirit" or mental disposition. V:6.

FIFTH, the process of the new birth.

>>First, Jesus emphasizes the supreme importance of the new birth saying, "...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," V:3.

>>How we are to live was not our Saviour's first teaching, but how men are made alive. A man cannot live until he is made alive.

EPH 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

>>Our Saviour began by saying, "Verily, verily," which means "of a truth, of a truth." Our Saviour emphasizes the importance of the new birth saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," V:3.

>>So what is meant by the kingdom of God? Entering the kingdom of God is to enter the service of Christ.

ROM 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things [i.e., righteousness, and peace] serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

>>As Jesus said outside of the new birth the kingdom of God cannot be seen in you.

1CO 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

SECOND, water is the instrument used to effect the new birth.

JOH 3:5 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.

>>Water is one of the Scriptural symbols of the Word of God when it is used for cleansing. The Word of God is the instrument used of the Spirit for purifying to perform the new birth.

1PE 1:22-23 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

>>David attributed the quickening of the Spirit to the Word of God in

PSA 119:49-50 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

>>This new birth is what the Apostle Paul was referring to when he said in 1CO 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you [i.e., your spiritual birth is] through the gospel.

>>This same word "begotten" or "begat" refers to the new birth by the Word in

JAM 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

>>The Word is likened unto water because of its cleansing properties.

PSA 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

JOH 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

>>Being "born of water" means being sanctified by the cleansing power of the Word.

EPH 5:26-27 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

THIRD, The Holy Spirit produces the new birth by the Word of Truth.

JOH 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

>>The Holy Spirit uses the Word as Water for cleansing, but also as a lamp to enlighten our understanding of the way of truth.

PSA 119:104-105 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

>>The Holy Spirit uses the Word as a hammer to break up a hard and stony heart.

JER 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

>>Nothing could be plainer than the fact that no sinner is quickened apart from the Word.

ROM 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

>>The order in which the Spirit produces the new creation is the same as that whereby the first creation was effected.

GEN 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

>>This term "moved upon" is also rendered "brooded over" in the Hebrew.

>>In the new creation the Spirit broods over the heart and conscience of the one whom He is about to quicken—opening the eyes of our understanding to realize our deadness and darkness by nature.

>>The next thing is the Word enters the heart with power shedding light upon our darkened minds as the Spirit says, GEN 1:3 Let there be light: and there was light.

>>The Holy Spirit produces the new birth by the authority of the Word.

JOH 3:5-6 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.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

FOURTH, The new character found in the new birth—a new nature or "spirit" or mental disposition. V:6.

JOH 3:6-7 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

>>But what is the new birth? What is the great difference between one who is dead in trespasses and sins, and one who is passed from death unto life?

JOH 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

>>Tell the average person he must be born again he thinks you mean he must reform his manner of life, but the trouble is within the heart.

EZE 36:24-27 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

>>Those who have received a new heart have a new attitude, new desires and new affections, i.e., the new man of the heart, but that old man of sin is still all to well and alive and needs to be crucified daily.

>>Therefore Jesus says, LUK 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

>>Our highest command is found in JOH 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

>>So what is our best evidence that we have experienced the new birth?

1JO 3:14-16 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

>>The new birth is the new nature imparted by the Holy Spirit.

2PE 1:3-4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

>>Being made partakers of that Divine nature reveals itself by its fruit which is set forth as follows 2PE 1:5-9 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

>>The Lord willing next week we hope to cover our

FIFTH POINT, i.e., the process of the new birth.