NEW BIRTH
NEW BIRTH
REV. LUIS FLORES
Biblical Basis: John 3:1-13
Text to memorize: 2 Corinthians 5:17
PURPOSE
To make an approach to the statement «born again», so that people can know that their lives have started from scratch, with all the opportunities to do new things.
REAL LIFE STORY
Many people believe that God is the Father of all humanity, but this is not true, only those who belong to the family of Christ have God as Father. After conversion, you have to be born again!
In the Gospel of John, chapter 3, Jesus declared to Nicodemus the absolute need to be born again, that is, of the Spirit of God, there is no other way to become a child of God. Like Nicodemus, every new convert has great doubts regarding the new birth, so, following the example of Nicodemus, you need to get closer to Jesus, so that, through His Word, He exposes what it is to be born again.
Juan Manuel had been an alcoholic for almost 20 years, he had lost his home, he was homeless and fed from the city’s garbage dumps. One day he was invited by his friend Roberto to visit a church, that night Juan Manuel gave his life to the Lord, the Holy Spirit began to work in his life making him a new person. In this change of life, he gave up alcohol, got a job, reconciled with his wife, and recovered his home. Juan Manuel once told this testimony in the church; «I don’t know if God makes changes in people’s lives, but before in my life there was loneliness, liquor and perdition, nowadays there is happiness, I have a home and God’s provision abounds at my table.»
WHAT DOES THE SCRIPTURE SAY?
Being born again does not mean a physical rebirth, it is something spiritual, a supernatural act of God when His Holy Spirit convinces us of evil and gives us new life.
Are not known exactly the causes that led to Nicodemus arriving at night to talk with Jesus, perhaps he thought that Jesus could provide him with a new teaching to help him better understand the Scriptures, the reality is that he needed to be born again!
I invite you to read the passage from John and answer the following questions according to the corresponding text:
According to John 3:1, who was Nicodemus?
According to John 3:4, what questions did Nicodemus ask Jesus?
According to John 3:5-6, what responses did Jesus give Nicodemus?
With the answers that Jesus gave Nicodemus, how do you explain being born again?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17
WHAT IS THE NEW BIRTH?
The synonym for ‘New Birth’ is ‘Regeneration’. The word ‘Regeneration’ means ‘to create again’, it is a reference to the act by which fallen man is internally created again to a condition that allows him to have communion with God.
The only requirement to be born again is faith in Christ, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. No one can be born again without hearing and believing the Word of God, and without the participation of the Holy Spirit.
In easy words «it is a moral change, like a restoration where the new believer passed from spiritual death to life.» For Antonio Hoekema to be born again is; «The act by which the sinner receives ‘spiritual life’ through the sovereign grace of God and by the special work of the Holy Spirit so that he may understand and discern the spiritual things of God.»
Write in your words, what is it to be born again?
What is the role of the Holy Spirit at this stage?
BIBLICAL SUPPORT
Read 1 Peter 1:3 and complete the verse:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy…
According to Titus 3:5, Jesus saves us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His…
Write James 1:18 literally.
Your new birth was not given by natural descent, nor by human will.
According to John 1:13, was by God’s will.
Ephesians 2:10. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
According to John 3:5, who cannot enter the kingdom of God?
