Born Again
February 24, 2002
John 3:1-7
2nd Sunday in Lent
Galena-Warwick United Methodist Charge
Warwick & Galena, Maryland
Rev. Dr. Lawrence D. Jameson
larry@larryjameson.com

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2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.'

Nicodemus visited Jesus at night.  Nicodemus was probably afraid. You see, pretty much all of the members of the Sanhedrin hated Jesus. And those people were ruthless.  Considering that, a night visit was probably a pretty good idea.

But if Nicodemus believed that Jesus was the Messiah, he would have to make a choice sooner or later.

We know that later on Nicodemus opposed the Sanhedrin when they were denouncing Jesus (John 7:50-52).

And later still, it was Nicodemus that took 100 pounds of spices to embalm the body of the Lord. (John 19:39)

What drew this man to Jesus?  It was the signs and wonders:  the healings, the miracles, the acts of kindness.

Nicodemus said "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

This was correct.  Why didn't the rest of the Sanhedrin think that way? They were full of hate. Their hearts were corrupted with power.    They refused to see what was in front of them, a good man, full of love, preaching the good news.

Before we go any farther,  this needs to be pointed out.  

It is a characteristic of everyone who becomes a Christian that a choice must be made.   Choose the world or choose Jesus.

That's part of the definition of being born again.

When we look at Nicodemus,  we see a man who was in the process of making that choice.

Kingdom of God

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Now before we examine the term "born again"  let's take a look at another other key phrase in this verse:  the Kingdom of God.

What is the "Kingdom of God"?

That is all Jesus talked about for three years.  All the miracles, all the healings, all the parables everything Jesus did was focused on one thing:  teaching his disciples about the Kingdom of God.

That is key to understanding what it means to be born again.

It is the Kingdom  that requires us to make a choice.  Yes or No.

Are we going to rule ourselves or will we accept God's sovereignty?

Are we going to try to earn our righteousness or will we accept the righteousness given by God?

Are we going to live for ourselves  or will we live for God?

It is a choice between two loyalties.

This is what they say:

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

There are some important similarities between  becoming a Christian and becoming a naturalized citizen of the USA (or any country).

If you are forced it isn't a valid oath.

You have to decide which side you are on.

You take an sacred oath.

That is similar to what happens when you become a Christian.

You accept Jesus by a free choice, not because you have to, but because you want to.

You renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,  reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin.

You have to decide which side you are on.

Somehow, by going through these steps your citizenship is moved from earth to heaven.

Now that we have considered citizenship in the Kingdom of God let's look at that phrase "born again".

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

What does it mean to be born again?

It means becoming a Christian.

If you are a Christian, you have been born again.

But what if you don't feel born again?  That doesn't matter.   It is a fact, and it does not depend on feelings.

But what if you don't look born again?  That doesn't matter.   It is a fact, and it does not depend on appearances.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord you are born again.

That's one of the perks of citizenship in the Kingdom of God.

This is what the phrase "born again" means. 

It is a word picture, a metaphor.

The first life is something everybody understands:

physical conception and birth.

The first death is when the body fails:

our breath, and heart, and brain stops working.

We understand physical birth and physical death.

What Jesus referred to is spiritual.

There is a second birth (being born again)

and that is when you become a Christian.

you get lots of wonderful things from God.

One of those wonderful things is eternal life.

Eternal life is different from physical life.

Physical life ends.

Eternal life never ends.

air, water, protein, fat, carbohydrates,  vitamins, and minerals.

Spiritual life is sustained by  a right relationship with God.

There is a second death.

We read about the second death in the last book of the Bible.

( Revelation 2:11; 20:6 & 14; 21:8 )

The second death is  eternal separation from God.

First death

Physical

Second death

Spiritual

the spiritual reality of having eternal life,

That is what it means to be born again.

The answer is simple.

If you are a Christian. You have been born again.

You may not like that phrase,

but like it or not, that's what you are.

Being born again is citizenship in the Kingdom of God.

as your personal Savior and Lord

you can do so right now if you want to.

You can do so by saying this prayer.

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