Mini Sermon Series:
What Must I Do To Be Born Again
by christina farris
4/15/2012

John 3:1-13
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
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.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

What must I do to be born again? If you say those words today it much like me reading out of the King James Version many wonder at the meaning of some of the words, for they are not used today, or only used in the religious world. Majority of Christians that know there Bible will be able to tell you where the story of being born again is. John chapter 3 simple enough, However the understanding is for all of us. Nicodemus a Pharisee came to Jesus at night and said to Jesus I know you are good teacher for no one could work these miracles. The reason Nicodemus came to Jesus at night was simple he was fearful of what others in the group of the Pharisees might say. To even think of agreeing with Jesus was in contradiction with the Pharisees, so Nicodemus came to Jesus at night in secret. Jesus response to him was simple One must be born again. Nicodemus asked what he had to do to be born again, he was testing Jesus. For Nicodemus a Jewish leader called a Pharisee would of know that one must be spiritually born to be a person of faith in God. However Jesus answered and say one must be born again or they will not see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus replied I can not enter into my mother's womb again? Jesus replied one must be born of water and of spirit. We all know that to be born the embryonic fluid must break for birth into this world take place. However spiritual birth takes place when one believes in God. It is simple. One must believe as a child would believe without question or superstition, but simple faith in God. To be spiritual born is to be believe in God. Yet it does not stop there. Salvation comes by believing in Jesus God's only begotten Son. God made a salvation plan for us that we must believe In His Word. I spoke in my first sermon how Jesus was the Word of God. This being so we must believe in God's salvation plan through His Son Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins. Without Jesus dying on the cross for our sins there was no restitution or payment for our transgressions. Our repentance the first act of acknowledge that we have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God need restitution for our sins. See sin cost something even the world will tell you when you make a mistake it cost something. If you steal you have to repay. If you kill you are punished by capital punishment to our law or what ever your state law concerning murder is, for it varies from state to state.

What does sin cost us? It cost us separation from God. This separation is repairable for all mankind through the death of Christ on the cross. We have to give up something to get something. Nothing free in this world. However God sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins. For all people sin. The weight of our sin can not be justified by our good deeds. We can not stand before God with a scale that has sin on one side and good deeds on the other side and say Lord look of all the good things I did. We can not justify ourselves. We must come to a point of understanding that our good deeds can not ever out weight all the evil we do. Salvation must come from God. We are selves can not get to heaven without believing in God. This is what God did to show is love for us. He sent His only Son to die in our place. His Son would died not only physically but spiritually, by descending into hell and rising again in the resurrection. Jesus testimony on this earth was proof of God's existence. Was proof of what God had spoken for years to the people. God had said to worship Him only. To believe what He said and do what He said. Yet salvation comes from God through His Son. His Son paying the price for our sins on our behalf. Without faith we are condemn already. With faith we are condemn without repentance or turning away from sin. Because we all sin the sacrificial law was put into place. Jesus became the final sacrifice for sin. God took care of the separation between us and Him. We have to just accept His payment upon doing so we are given the promise of eternal life with Him. Repentance is the act of turning away from sin and walking in the ways of God.

If you would like to receive Jesus as Lord of your life, pray this simple prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father I come to you believing in faith that Jesus died for my sins. I ask that you forgive me of my sins and I receive Jesus as payment for my sins. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

If you like to know more about faith in Jesus do one or more of the following things. Get a Bible, there are some online and also you can visit my website http://www.turtle30cshell.com There is a New Christian help section on the Bible Study page. Also visit the How to be saved page for more verse and information about being saved.