Series: THREE16
Sermon: ReBirth
Scripture: John 3:1-5
ICE BREAKER: What is your favorite movie, and what significant change does the main character go through?
REVIEW:
This week we started a new series, looking at the context behind John 3:16. In week 1, we learned what it means to experience a REBIRTH. Jesus was in Jerusalem, and a Pharisee named Nicodemus came to see him under cover of darkness. Nicodemus wanted to know who Jesus was and where he got all of his POWER.
Power played a considerable role in their conversation that night. They used the Greek word for Power (Dunamai - where we get our word "dynamite") 4 times in 4 sentences! Instead of answering the question, Nicodemus asked Jesus, told him that if he wasn't Born Again, he did not have the power to see the Kingdom of Heaven!
This was quite confusing, so Nicodemus asked how this was possible! Did he have the power to go back into his mother's womb? Jesus responded that you must be born of both water AND the spirit, or you will not have the power to see God's Kingdom.
Jesus is talking about a spiritual ReBirth. There are other types of ReBirth we experience in life - social, relational, career-oriented, psychological, etc. Here is what you have to understand if you want to understand Rebirths…
Before You See New Birth
You Must Experience Real Death
To overcome an addiction, you must die to that habit and be Born Anew into a sober life. This is a real transformation that changes your life!
To Birth a new Marriage with the person you love, you must first Die Romantically to ALL other people and cling only to your new spouse.
What is a REBIRTH you have experienced in life? (new career, move to a new city, change in lifestyle, etc.)
What did you have to "DIE" to in order to see that ReBirth?
In John 3, Jesus talks to Nicodemus about the MOST IMPORTANT REBIRTH - Being Born Again Spiritually. This is the one ReBirth you are incapable of accomplishing on your own, and you cannot die to your spiritual problems - because scripture says we are already spiritually dead.
Because of our sin, we are spiritually separated from God - the source of spiritual life. The consequence of that separation is ACTUAL death. We do not have the POWER - The Dunamai to work our way into spiritual ReBirth. But, we do have the ability to put our faith in the one who did. Look what Peter wrote in 1 Peter chapter 1
1 Peter 1
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Jesus died to offer us ReBirth! All we have to do is what John 3:16 tells us - "... everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
APPLY:
Have you experienced a spiritual ReBirth through putting your faith in Jesus?
If not, what is holding you back?
If you have believed in Jesus, are there still some things in this world that you need to DIE to live out this new life fully?
Perhaps you are spiritually alive but are still holding on to some habits you had pre-Jesus?
Maybe you have a relationship with Jesus, but your earthly relationships are still based on selfishness?
A ReBirth always requires a Real death of some kind. What do you need to die to this week?
PRAY:
Ask God to show you the areas of your life that you need to be ReBorn. Seek out the things in your life that you need to choose to "Die" to so that you can begin FULLY living the life God created you to live!
