John Lesson 8

Introduction

Very pleasant, good day. I hope you’ll get your Bible open and study with us from John chapter 3 as we let the Bible speak concerning the new birth. How is it that man is born again? And how can we tell whether or not we have been born again? That’s a question that troubled Nicodemus nearly two thousand years ago, and there are many people even who in this generation do not understand the answers to those questions. But when we let the Bible speak, we come to the understanding that is given by God Himself through inspiration. Our studies in John chapter 3, and today we’re going to study the first fifteen verses. In our last study, actually, we talked about the first five verses, and we’ll review briefly the first five verses and then continue our study through verse 15.

You may recall, as we studied from John 3, verses 3 to 5, that when Nicodemus came to Jesus, he observed that no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him. He was he was impressed by the fact that Jesus must indeed be a man of God. He did things that no man could do unless there were supernatural gifts given unto it. That’s the very purpose for miracles, to testify in fact that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, that he was not just an ordinary ordinary man. He was the Messiah. And he worked miracles to bear witness that indeed he was the Christ, and that through believing in him we might have life through his name. John chapter 20, verses 30 and 31.

But Jesus made a statement to Nicodemus that puzzled him. For Jesus said, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus was a ruler. He was in fact a member of the Sanhedrin Council, and that meant that he was a student of the scriptures. He was looking for the kingdom of God, like every Jew was. But like other Jews, he no doubt thought that because he was born in the flesh, a Jew, and that he was a child of God, being a descendant of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, that surely he was going to be in the kingdom. But Jesus said, No, not unless you have been born a second time. That puzzled Nicodemus, for he said, How can that be?

Must a man enter his mother’s womb and be born a a second time? And of course, uh that was not possible. Jesus said in verse 5, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Now Jesus said a very uh positive statement. Unless a man is born again, and unless it is a water and the spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. He didn’t say he may not, he probably won’t, but very positively he said he cannot see the kingdom of God. Therefore, it’s very important, not only for Nicodemus to have understood what Jesus said, but for you and me. Have you been born again? How is it possible to be born again? Well, Jesus told us in this verse that the new birth consists of two elements.

1. Water Must Refer to Water Baptism

There is water and spirit. We observe in our last study how that water must of uh of necessity refer to water baptism. It is often spoken of in the New Testament, and why men would reject it and refuse it today seems uh uh a matter that I cannot understand. The Bible so often speaks about it. Why would we want to take our figurative scissors at least and cut it out? Water baptism was commissioned by Christ. In Matthew chapter 28 and verse 19, he told his disciples to go teach other men and to baptize them. It was something that one man could administer to another. That couldn’t have been Holy Spirit baptism, for one man never administered that to another. But the apostles, you go preach, and you baptize them into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

It was water baptism that was obeyed. In Acts chapter 8, verses 35 through 39, when Philip preached concerning Jesus, the Ethiopian understood that baptism, water baptism was essential. For he said, See, here’s water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip said, If thou believest, thou mayest. And he baptized him, immersed him. They both went down into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch, and they baptized him. It is water baptism that is commanded. In Acts chapter 10, verses 47 and 48, even at a time when the Holy Spirit had fallen on the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, in fact the first Gentile convert, though the Holy Spirit had fallen upon him. The scripture says in verse 47, Acts 10, Peter said, Can any man forbid water?

That these should not be baptized who’ve received the Holy Ghost as well as we. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Water baptism was commanded. And then finally we observe that water baptism saves us. As 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 21 says, the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us. And then he says in a parenthetical expression, it’s not the putting away of the filth of the flesh. It’s not just the outward washing of dirt from our body, but it is the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a man in faith hears the gospel, as he believes in the Christ, then he is baptized. He is baptized or immersed into the death of Christ, and that’s why it is said that baptism saves us.

For you see, baptism is described, water baptism, as the time at which we have our sins washed away. You remember in Acts chapter 22 and verse 16, when Saul of Tarsus was told, Why tarriest thou arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Now it’s not the power in the water itself, but rather the power is in the blood of Christ for remission of sins. Well, you see, it’s in water baptism that we reach that death of Christ. That’s the explanation given in Romans chapter 6. When in verses 3 and 4, the apostle says, Know you not, or don’t you know, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death.

That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. That’s what we’re talking about. Newness of life. When are we born again? Well, the scriptures are all tie together. And in fact, we understand why it is at baptism, according to Romans 6, 3 and 4, that we walk in newness of life. Because it is at baptism that we reach the death of Christ. That’s where his blood was shed. And that’s why baptism, water baptism is described as the point at which our sins are washed away. It’s by the power of the blood of Christ. In Acts chapter 2 and verse 38, on the day of Pentecost, Peter said, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

2. Born of the Spirit Through the Word

Baptism, essential to salvation, according to the scriptures, it certainly is. It’s involved in the new birth. But then the question that certainly arises: how is it how is the Spirit involved? Water and the Spirit, John 3 5 says, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot see or cannot enter the kingdom of God. Well, we observed also in our last lesson that the Holy Spirit is involved in our salvation in that it instructs us. It is through the Holy Spirit that we learn what to do to be saved. And as we obey the word of God, so we are being born of that word. When we understand the Holy Spirit it is, who gave unto us the word of truth. We began to understand John 3 5.

Jesus said in John 16 and verse 13 that the Spirit, he called him even the Spirit of Truth. When he shall come, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak of himself, but what things he shall hear, that he shall speak. The word of God, when I read to you, I believe I’m reading God’s word, not man’s word. Not even the Holy Spirit Himself, but rather the Holy Spirit is the one who revealed the words of the Father. And so we’re reading an inspired book, the Word of God. But as we read it, we are being led by the Spirit. And it is the Spirit that begets us. It is the Holy Spirit that is involved in this birth process through the Word of God.

You know, there are passages like 1 Peter 1, verses 22 and 23 that talks about a new birth. There are only two times in the New Testament. One is in John 3 5, and the other is in 1 Peter 1, verse 23, that uses the expression about being born again. These two places. John 3 5 says, it is through water and the Spirit. But 1 Peter 1 23 says, We are born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. Now, how does the word of God cause us to be born again? There’s only one way. That is as we obey it. That’s what the verse preceding that one, 1 Peter 1 22 says. Seeing ye have purified your souls and obeying the truth through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently.

We are born again as we purify our souls, you see. And that’s in obedience to the word. The Holy Spirit begets us through the Word. James 1 and verse 18. And then in James 1 and verse 21, it says we’re saved. The word of God is able to save our souls as we obey it. That’s how it saves us. You see, the Holy Spirit teaches us who the Christ is.

There is this begettle. Man who wants to be saved needs to come and say, What would thou have me to do, Lord? And as he opens the pages of God’s word, he learns how to believe, and in whom to believe. For faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Romans 10 17. He learns, in fact, that he needs to believe that Jesus is the Christ. Mark 16 and 16, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He learns that he must repent of his sins, that is, turn from ungodliness. Acts 2.38 says, Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. And he learns that he needs to confess the Lord with his mouth.

Romans 10 verses 9 and 10. That verse 10 says, With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, with a mouth, confession is made unto salvation. And even so, as we are begotten by that word or by the Holy Spirit, we are born again at the time we are baptized. At the time that we are immersed with Christ into his death, as Galatians chapter 3 and verse 27 says, For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. It is at baptism that we rise to walk in newness of life. You remember we read Romans 6 and verse 4 a moment ago. And I think it’s significant also to note in that same chapter, Romans 6, verses 17 and 18, where the apostle said, God betank that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which delivered which was delivered you.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Then you became free from sin when you obeyed from the heart. It’s not water only that’ll save you. It’s not baptism only that’ll save you. There must be obedience to the gospel of Christ. And it must be an act of faith. As a man is born in again, it is in response to the faith that he has come to know and to believe by the direction and instruction of the Holy Spirit. Have you been born again? Have you obeyed being baptized or immersed in water, in obedience to the word of God, the answer of a good conscience toward God? Why reject the clear instructions of the gospel of Christ? Jesus said, Except you be born again, ye cannot see the kingdom of God.

3. How Can You Tell If a Man’s Born Again?

But somebody says, How can you tell if a man’s been born again? You hear some people today say, Well, they’ve been born again because they can speak in tongues. You can read through the scripture, and there isn’t a single place where the Bible talks about tongue speaking as a sign of a new birth. First Corinthians chapter 14 and verse 22 says, Tongues are for a sign, but it’s not for the believer. He said, Tongues are a sign for the unbeliever. The gift of other languages or speaking a language that they had never before learned was as a sign to convince an unbeliever that this man was of God, that he had the ability to speak the will of God. Tongues were for a sign. But it wasn’t to show a person himself that he was saved.

How can you tell if a man’s born again? Well, the way you can tell is by coming to the scripture. First of all, has he been immersed in water in obedience to the Holy Spirit or the Word of God? But notice with me as we read from John 3, verses 6 through 8. Jesus said, That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearst the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth, so is everyone that is born of the spirit. What’s he saying by this? Well, in verse 6, he’s talking about two different births.

Nicodemus has said, Must I enter my mother’s womb, or must a man enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time? Jesus is saying, No, that’s that’s not what I mean. You see, that which is born of the flesh is flesh. A baby that is born of flesh is a fleshly baby. But Jesus is talking about a spiritual birth. He is the King of kings and Lord of Lords, and his kingdom being a spiritual kingdom, must have spiritual citizens. People who have been born again, whose spirits are born again, born anew. And so that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. That is, he has the new birth, who spirit has been born again. Has your spirit been born new through your obedience by faith unto the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Well, how can you tell? Furthermore, Jesus said, don’t marvel the fact that I’ve said you must be born again. You may not be able to see that new birth take place any more than you can see the wind. Can you see wind? Not really. You see the effects of the wind blowing. You can see the objects as they’re blown about. You know the wind is blowing, or you may feel the wind blowing, but you don’t actually see the wind, do you? Neither do you see the spirit being born again. There are two parts of every man. You know, there’s the outward man and there is inward. James 2.26 said, even as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. So that our bodies, when we die physically, there’s the outward man that dies, but the inward man, the spirit, returns unto God.

There are two parts of us, and it’s that inward part that’s being born again, and you’re not able to see that with the visible eye. Anymore, you can see the wind. But how you can tell whether or not a person is born again is by the changes that take place in his life. Just like you can see the wind blowing objects around, so it is when a person is born again. You can tell there’s a change in his life. Like in Romans chapter 6, he says, knowing this, verse 6, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that we henceforth should not serve sin. You find a man who has been born again, he won’t continue to curse and take God’s name in vain.

You find a man who’s been born again, and he won’t be one who’ll continue to tell lies. He won’t continue to run with those who are who are sinners and who whose intent is to do evil and to gratify the lust of their flesh. You’ll find him to be the kind of individual who wants to serve God. As Romans 6 in verse 14 says, sin shall not have dominion over you. That is, when you become Christians, you now, being born again, are going to walk in the light according to the word of truth. How can you tell if a man’s been born again? Well, you can tell by the kind of lifestyle he lives. Even as Ephesians chapter 4 and about verses 24 through 32 describe, that we put off the old man, and we put on the new man in Christ Jesus.

We become new creatures. And he said, Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be ye angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your laugh, neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have the give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

4. Earthly Things and Heavenly Things

That’s the characteristics of one who has been born again. There’s a change in his lifestyle. And so when Jesus was saying in John chapter 3 and verse 8, just like you can see the effects of wind, so you can see the effects of the new birth in the life of an individual. Nicodemus answered him, though in verse 9, and said, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel and knowest not these things? Verily, verily I say unto thee, we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen, and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things?

The mile reproof to a man who was an interpreter and a teacher of the law. Jesus is saying, If I’ve told you about things that you can experience on this earth, in this life, and you don’t understand and comprehend these things, how could you comprehend those things that have to do with a heavenly nature? I’ve told you about a new birth. And while you may not see the Spirit itself being born again, yet you can experience that new birth, and you can see the effects even here on this earth. Nicodemus, you mean you don’t understand those things? Verse 13, Jesus said, No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven. Again, it’s a claim.

5. As Moses Lifted Up the Serpent

Who he is, the Son of God. Jesus is telling Nicodemus that not only is God with him, and not only is he telling him things of a heavenly nature, but he has assurance that what he is saying is truth, for he has been with the Father. He came down from heaven. Now in verse 14 and 15, Jesus continued by saying, And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever, and how says thou the Son of Man must be lifted up. Who is this son of man? You see, they didn’t understand that when he spoke about being lifted up, he was speaking about about his crucifixion. They didn’t understand the death that he should die. But Jesus gives us a parallel when he says, Even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. You remember back in Numbers chapter 21, there’s a story told about when Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. It’s at the time when the children of Israel were were traveling to the promised land, and at a time when they began to murmur and complain against God.

This was frequent with them, and God often suffered their murmuring, but finally he came to the point that he would punish them, because of their constant complaining and murmuring and their lack of faith in him. The scripture says in Numbers chapter 21, that God sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and much people of Israel died. That’s verse six. Verse 7 says, Therefore the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against thee. Pray unto the Lord that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole, and it shall come to pass that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole. And it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. It’s just that simple. Moses made this brass serpent, and as man came to look upon that serpent, if he had been bitten, if he looked upon the serpent that had been lifted up, then he would live. Now we may think that’s a rather foolish way, but who is man to say God’s ways are foolish? Who is man to have devised a way of saving man? You see what it taught us and why there is a parallel here is that first of all when Moses made that brass serpent and put it on the pole it was not man’s way.

It was God’s way of redeeming man. By God’s counsel he built this brass serpent and put it on a pole. Secondly when it was lifted up it was God’s way of saving men under the curse. God is the one who said lift it up on the pole. But thirdly we remember it took obedient faith for man to be healed from the serpent’s bite. Moses could have made that brass serpent had he not lifted it up it would have never helped anyone even when he lifted it up it would not have helped anyone if man didn’t come and look upon that serpent. There had to be obedient faith for anyone to have been healed. Numbers chapter 21 eight and nine you read it how does Jesus Christ parallel as serpent lift as Moses lifted up the serpent well when we think about it first of all we’d have to say that Christ came according to God’s plan.

6. By Grace Through Obedient Faith

Who would have devised salvation by means of the death of the Son of God none of us would, surely. It was only by God’s determinant counsel, by his plan. That’s what Peter preached in Acts chapter 2 and verse 23. God planned the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Man never devised it. And it’s by the gift of God. In Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 and 9, the scripture says, For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. I was talking earlier this evening about being born again, and I was talking about water baptism. Sometimes people rebel at that very subject because they see that it’s a work, and they say, Oh, we’re saved by grace and not by works.

Well, they have a half-truth of the way they word that. We are saved by grace, and it is not by works that is meritorious works. But it’s not by grace only either. Ephesians 2 8 says, For by grace are you saved through faith. It’s the gift of God that anybody could be saved. Man will never earn it. Man will never deserve salvation. But it’s by grace through faith that we’re saved. You see, Jesus Christ was by God’s plan. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was by God’s device. It man never planned it that way. Man would not have devised it that way. But even as Jesus Christ came, he died on the cross, as Romans chapter 3, 23 through 26 describes, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

But we’re justified freely by his grace. But also through faith. And the reason that Christ died is that God might be just, verse 26 of Romans 3, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Believing in Jesus, though, involves obedient faith. You see, a man can say in his own mind, oh, I believe in Jesus, but if he’s not willing to obey, of what value is it? Of no more value than the Jew who might have been bitten by the serpent and said, Yes, I know Moses lifted up that serpent over there, but I’m not going to go. Well, if he didn’t go look upon that brass serpent, he would never have been healed of the serpent’s bite. And even so for you and me, if you truly believe Jesus to be the Christ the Son of God, and through the instructions of the Spirit, you’ve come to know Him as the true Messiah.

Then won’t you repent of your sins? That is, turn from an ungodly life. Confess your faith by your own mouth that he is the Christ and be willing to be immersed, baptized into Christ. You won’t earn salvation. But what you will do in water baptism is obey the will of God. It’s God’s works that we’re talking about. We’re talking about works of faith. And just as the Jew had to come and look upon the serpent that was lifted up on the pole, so it is that you and I must come and obey what God says in order to be saved. That passage Ephesians 2, 8 and 9, I was referring to a moment ago. Look at Ephesians 2 and verse 10. For there it speaks about how that we must work the work which God hath ordained.

And that’s what we’re talking about in water baptism, just as in confession as in repentance. These are works God has commanded. James chapter 2, verses 14 through 26 talks about saving faith. He says, What does it prophet, my brethren? Though a man say he hath faith and hath not works, can faith save him? And he’s talking about obedience. If we’re not willing to obey him, will that faith alone save? Verse 17 says, Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. In verse 22 of James chapter 2, seeest thou how faith walked with works, and by works was faith made perfect. Verse twenty four. Works, by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. In our next study we’re going to talk about John three sixteen.

How is it that we’re saved by faith in the Son of God? I hope you can study with us at that time. Thank you.