Now let's turn in our Bibles
to the book of John chapter three. In preaching through this chapter,
which is eventually, Lord willing, if he allows me to continue preaching
and allows you to continue hearing, I want to go through this whole
chapter, but a big, big part of this chapter is the issue
of the new birth. where the Lord Jesus Christ speaking
to a religious Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews,
who had respect unto Jesus of Nazareth, but not enough, who
looked upon Jesus as a good teacher, as a man sent from God, but not
as God manifest in the flesh, not as the savior of sinners,
the Messiah, the consolation of Israel, And so the Lord told
him in verse three, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man
be born again, born from above, he cannot see. He cannot see
and know and understand and value and believe the kingdom of God. What is the kingdom of God? Well,
that's Christ, the king, the ruler, the redeemer, the keeper
of his church. Sinners saved by grace. That's
his kingdom. Now Christ rules over the whole
universe. We know that. He sovereignly
rules over all things. But the kingdom that he's speaking
of here is the kingdom of salvation, the kingdom of redemption, the
kingdom of grace. His church. If you're a believer,
if you've been born again by the Spirit, you're a citizen
of his kingdom. And he rules and reigns over
you. in that sense. Paul wrote that
in Philippians chapter three, that we're not citizens of this
world. We live in this world and we're
responsible to do certain things. We're talking about voting Tuesday
and all of that. We're in this world and we have
to live in this world as God, but we're actually citizens of
the kingdom of God. Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.
And how do we know that? Because we've been born again
by the Spirit. And you can't see that except
you be born again. You don't have spiritual eyes.
The new birth, in the first six verses of this chapter, basically
he tells him the new birth is necessary because man by nature,
man as he or she is naturally born, fallen in Adam, Dead spiritually,
he's spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. Sometimes we talk about
the three R's of salvation. R number one, ruined by the fall. Adam brought the whole human
race into a state of sin and death, deserving of condemnation. But we know that before the foundation
of the world, God chose a people and gave them to Christ, and
that brings you to the second R, redeemed by the blood. The blood of Christ is the payment
for my sins. The blood of Christ is the righteousness
that God has imputed to me. The blood of Christ. And then
that brings us to the third R. Regeneration by the spirit. That's
the giving of life from Christ based upon his righteousness
imputed. Spiritual death is the absence
of spiritual life. That's why we must be born again. And it means that we're blind
to the realities that glorify the Lord God, especially in salvation. Cannot see the kingdom of God. And the kingdom of God, as I
said, that's the Lord Jesus Christ, the king of kings reigning over
his people, his church, his kingdom for their complete salvation
unto eternal life and glory. And he will not lose one citizen
of that kingdom. He will not lose one for whom
he died and was buried and arose again the third day. He is the
king of righteousness and of peace. His scepter, which is
his rule, is a scepter of righteousness. His kingdom is established upon
righteousness. His subjects are all made righteous
in and by him. And by nature, in spiritual death,
people deny him as king, redeemer, and insist on salvation their
own way rather than God's way. Over in that passage, In 1 Corinthians
1, it says, the preaching of the cross, which is the preaching
of the establishment of Christ's kingdom by his death on the cross,
putting away our sins, establishing righteousness, that preaching
of the cross is foolishness to them who are perishing, unbelievers. So the new birth is necessary
for us to have spiritual life, to see, to know, to believe and
to love Christ and his kingdom. But now how does this new birth
come about? Well, number one, I know it's
not by the works or the wills of sinners. Turn back a page
to John chapter one. How does the new birth come about?
Again, not by the works or the wills of sinners. It's a sovereign
work of the power and the will of God. That's what it is. Look
at verse 11 of John chapter 1, it says, he came unto his own,
and his own received him not. Now that's a commentary on all
of us by nature. But verse 12 says, but as many
as received him, In other words, there were some who received
him, or who will receive him. To them gave he power, and the
word power there is not ability, it's the right, the privilege,
to become the sons of God, even to them which believe on his
name. Right there we see one of the
first evidences of the new birth. And it says, verse 13, which
were born not of blood, not of natural birth, not of human pedigree,
nor the will of the flesh, which I believe is referring to the
works of the flesh, nor the will of man, not of our choice or
our cooperation, but they're born of God. Enough said, but
now there are all kinds of other scriptures that back that up.
But many people today believe that the new birth begins with
their decision, their will. They choose God, they rise above
the foray of the mass of humanity, and they believe, and then they're
born again. But the problem is, they're spiritually dead. That's
what the Bible says. We must be born again. You see,
it doesn't begin with our decision or our faith. How can one who
is spiritually dead Believe. How can he enter into spiritual
things? He cannot. Just like Lazarus
in the tomb. Lazarus, come forth. And he came
forth by the power of God. We cannot choose to believe that
which we cannot see. What did Christ say? You must
be born again or you cannot see. We can't choose to believe what
we cannot see. Somebody said, well, no, wait
a minute. We walk by faith, not by sight. We walk by the word
of God, not by what we see physically. But what do we see spiritually
when we're given spiritual eyes? We see the word of God. True
believers do walk by faith, not by sight. But that's speaking
of physical sight rather than believing God's word. How firm
a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for our faith in
his excellent word. The Lord here in John 3 is speaking
of spiritual sight that brings us to walk by God-given faith
in Christ and not by physical sight. People are upset, worried,
scared about the situation in our country today. Sometimes
we fall into that state of mind too when we shouldn't. Who's
in control? Who's in control of this whole
mess? I'll tell you right now who's
gonna win the election. the one that God has foreordained
to be right there. Ain't that right? May not be
my choice, maybe, doesn't matter, God's in control. And we bow
to his sovereign will. You see, no physical qualities,
no natural abilities of works or will can bring us to be born
again. We're not born again and we do
not believe because we're better than other people or make a better
decision than other people. No fallen son or daughter of
Adam is capable naturally of willing to believe. So it's not
by works. or the wills of sinners. And
secondly, new birth comes by the sovereign will and power
of God. It's from Christ. It's based upon His work, His
power, His righteousness imputed. And by the Holy Spirit through
the Word of God. It involves a spiritual resurrection
from the dead. Regeneration. It involves the
impartation of new spiritual life. A new heart. That's what
I need. Preachers say, give your heart
to Jesus. Well, I need him to give me a new heart. And he said
that, didn't he? He said, I'll give him a new
heart. I'll give him a new spirit. New motives, new knowledge, new
desires, new goals. You see, the new birth is not
renovation. It's not reformation of the flesh. It's not an improvement of the
flesh. It's not simply making us better
people. The new birth is making us new
people, a new man in Christ. Look at verse seven of John three. Christ had already said, that
which is born of flesh is flesh, that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit. Verse seven, he says, marvel not that I said unto thee,
you must be born again. Don't be amazed at that. What
does the word of God tell us about ourselves naturally? We're
dead spiritually. So we shouldn't be amazed that
in order to believe, in order to see the kingdom of God, we
must be born again. And then he says, 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. Now, I think there's one point
here that every one of us would agree on. We cannot control the
wind. Isn't that right? We were down in Destin, Florida
last week, and there was one day where I felt like we were
going to get blown off of the porch. I decided that the wind would
stop. It didn't. I made a choice that
the wind would calm down. Didn't do it. I can't control
the wind. The wind cannot be controlled
by me, neither can the Holy Spirit. He comes and He goes and He works
according to the sovereign will and purpose of Almighty God. Preachers can manipulate people
to engage in false professions by using emotional props, scare
tactics, but no preacher, not even those who preach the truth,
can manipulate sinners into the new birth and true professions
of faith in Christ. Let me give you an example of
something that was written by a false preacher who claims to be a Christian.
I want you to hear this. He was instructing young preachers
on how to conduct an invitation at the end of the service. Incidentally, those are not biblical.
The invitation is the preaching of the gospel. That's a command
from God. And here's what this preacher
was telling these young preachers. He said, do not reveal the closing
of the sermon. Like for example, don't say and
in conclusion or to wrap it up. Or lastly, don't reveal the closing
of the sermon. When the sermon reaches a high
point of climax, then would be a good time to close abruptly. Even if the sermon is not completed,
sometimes God may lead one to close prematurely in order to
start the invitation from a high spiritual note. This also prevents
the unsaved from digging in, so to speak, before the invitation
is given and enables the Holy Spirit to sneak up on them and
take them by surprise. Unquote. Now that's ridiculous. What would Christ tell that man
when he told all of it? The wind bloweth where it listeth,
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. If you're born again, it's not
because you brought it about or I brought it about, it's because
God sovereignly brought it into play. No, the wind bloweth. The new birth. Can we explain
everything about the new birth? No. But you know what? Just like the wind. And he said,
and now notice what he said here, thou hearest the sound thereof. In other words, you know it's blowing.
You hear its sound, you feel its effects. The new birth can be known only
by its evidences. That's how it can be known. We
see the evidences of it. Regeneration, what is that? God
giving life where before there was no life. Spiritual life,
not physical life, but spiritual life. The calling, the Bible
says many are called but few are chosen. What are they talking
about? Well, that's talking about there's
a general call that many times falls on deaf ears, but there's
an invincible, powerful, irresistible call that when it comes to an
individual cannot be resisted. The power of God. Conversion. That's a change, isn't it? that
comes from regeneration and calling. Think about that. The evidences. Now I'm gonna talk to you about
the evidences of the new birth. And I'm gonna do this in several
messages because it's important that we know. For example, think
about this. We know the Bible teaches that
God has chosen a people before the foundation of the world and
he gave them to Christ. That's what the Bible teaches.
I know a lot of people don't preach it, a lot of people preach
against it, a lot of people don't like it, but that's what God's
word teaches and reveals. If you're a saved person, he
chose you before the foundation of the world and gave you to
Christ. And he didn't do it because he
looked through a telescope of time and foresaw what you would
do. God is not a crystal ball gazer. Why did he choose one
and not his sovereign will? For so, Lord, it seemed good
in thy sight. Now, here's what I want to know. Did God choose
me? How about you? You want to know
that? Did God choose you? Did Christ come to this world
and keep the law for me and die for me? Well, if he did, you will be
born again. Have I been born again? Turn
over to that passage that Brother Jim read, 1 Corinthians chapter
two. You know this whole passage, it ends
with a, in the ending of it, there's that verse 14 that I
quote all the time. The natural man. Well, who is
the natural man? That's all of us as we are by
nature born physically dead in trespasses and sin. The natural
man, the one who has not been born again, receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God. He says, for they are foolishness
unto him, neither can he know them because they're spiritually
discerned. You must be born again or you cannot discern, see, understand
the kingdom of God. Verse 15 says, but he that is
spiritual, that's the born again person, judgeth all things. He discerns all things. He knows
the difference. Yet he himself is judged of no
man. The judgments of men mean nothing. That's how it ends. But there's a very important
thing. Look at verse 10. He's talking about how the things
of the Spirit of God, the things of the kingdom of God, the things
concerning salvation, have not even entered into the minds of
the natural man. Even the most noble, even the
noblest, even the highest, the princes of this world, they didn't
know it. The philosophers, the religionists,
the thinkers. You go read the philosophies
of man. There's no understanding of the
things of the kingdom of God in the minds of the noblest,
the smartest, the most religious of natural man. Hadn't even entered
their mind. But look at verse 10. but God
hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit. Now, who's the us
there? That's believers. Sinners saved by the grace of
God. And he says, for the Spirit searcheth
all things, yea, the deep things of God. If you're gonna know
anything about God and His ways and His glory, it's gonna have
to be revealed by the Spirit of God through the Word of God.
It's not gonna come from natural philosophy, religion, Any of that. Verse 11, for what
man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which
is in him. All a man can know is what's in him naturally. Now
he can know a lot of things. Maybe things we admire and things
that are helpful. But he can't know anything about
God, the true and living God, the spirit, salvation. That which
is flesh, born of the flesh is flesh. Even so the things of
God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God. You see that in verse
11? Unless the Spirit reveals him. Now verse 12 is very important
here. And it's got a very, very important
word that we need to understand. Look at, now we have received
not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God.
Now how do we know that? How do I know that the spirit
that is in me is the spirit of God and not the spirit of the
world? Religion can't tell you anything about that. Look at it. That we might know
the things that are what? Freely given to us of God. That word freely is so important.
You know what that means? That means without a cause. Whatever's given to me by God
through His Spirit is without a cause in me. Without a reason
in me. It's totally unconditional towards
me. Whatever's given me of God by
the Spirit. What does the Bible teach us
that is given freely by His Spirit? Well, the Bible talks about Christ
Himself is a free gift from God. Where is it? Over in Romans chapter
eight, I believe. Let me just read this to you.
Verse 32 of Romans eight. He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, all of his people, all of his
chosen people, how shall he not with him also freely give us
all thanks? He gave us the gift of his Son. But with his Son, he freely gave
us unconditionally, without a cost, all things. Now what all things
is he speaking of there? Is he talking about physical
health? Some preachers say that's what he's talking about. Is he
talking about physical wealth? Some say he, no, not speaking
about that at all. He's not speaking about anything
perishable. It's speaking of heavenly things,
salvation, blessings. Ephesians 1.3, blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who have blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Did we do anything
to earn or deserve any of that? The answer's no. The Bible in Romans chapter five
speaks of the free gift of righteousness. In Romans 3 it says we're justified
freely by His grace, unconditionally. What does that mean? That means
my sins are forgiven. Why? Why? Because I made the right choice?
No. Because He sent His Son to die
for my sins. His blood washes away all my
sins. I didn't deserve any of it. I
don't deserve forgiveness for even one sin, let alone a multitude
that I can't even number. That means I have a righteousness
that answers the demands of God's law and justice, that cannot
be contaminated and cannot be taken away. It's the righteousness
of God, the imputed righteousness of Christ. What did I do to deserve
that? To earn that? Was it my decision
that brought it up? No, sir. And out of that comes the free
gift of life, spiritual life. I didn't deserve that. I didn't
earn that. I didn't make the right decision
for God to give that to me. I made the right decision because
God gave it to me. You must be born again. or you cannot see the kingdom
of God. Well, I wanna give you five things that are freely given
that evidence the new birth, and then I'm gonna come back
and preach on these, give you some scripture. What I hope is
that this will show us the nature and the evidences of the new
birth. Let me give you these five things. You can write them
down or think about it. I'll be coming back to these,
but number one, The gift of knowledge and faith. A revealed knowledge
from God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ said in
John 17 3, this is life eternal that they might know thee the
only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast seen. Spiritual life, eternal life,
is to know God as both a just God and a Savior. Through the
Lord Jesus Christ, who is God manifest in the flesh, and who
came and established by His death our salvation, our righteousness,
our forgiveness, our life. That's number one. Do you know
God? The Bible says they have no knowledge that set up the
graven images and worship of God who cannot say. And it's
revealed knowledge. It's not knowledge we attain
by our human intellect. It's knowledge that God gives
his people in the gospel. The gospel wherein the righteousness
of God is revealed. It involves a calling, an invincible
calling unto faith in Christ. And that faith is the gift of
God. For by grace are you saved through faith. That not of yourselves,
it's the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should
boast. Here's the second free gift.
Repentance of dead works and idolatry. The gift of repentance. You can't believe in Christ,
turn to Christ without turning away from self This repentance is a change of
mind concerning the issues of eternal life and glory, who God
is, who we are, who Christ is. It's a convincing of the Holy
Spirit, who convinces us of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment,
to where we, at one point throughout our lives in spiritual death,
we thought highly of our works and our efforts and our decisions.
But now in the light of the glory of God in Christ, we count them
all but loss that we may win Christ and be found in His righteousness,
which is not of the law, but that which He worked out. That's
a gift. That's repentance. That's a gift
from God. That's a free gift, freely given. Thirdly, the gift
of godliness and godly motives. The motives of grace, gratitude,
and love. Paul wrote about that in Romans
chapter seven when he spoke of fruit unto God as opposed to
fruit unto death. What motive do we have to serve
the Lord? Is it legal threats of punishment
or loss of reward or mercenary earned rewards? What is it? Are
you like that preacher who told another man one time, he said
the only reason he preaches so he'll have a bigger mansion in
heaven? Or is it out of grace? Gratitude, thank you Lord. Love
for God and love for his people. That's an evidence of the new
birth. Now we all have that warfare
within us, don't we? Fighting within us. sin and self,
but God establishes the motives of grace, gratitude, and love.
When we approach God, not upon anything we've done or will do
or try to do, but because of Christ, we cry, I have a father.
Here's the fourth one. This is the free gift of love
of the brethren in the faith. We know we've passed from death
unto life because we love the brethren. What does that mean? That means we have fellowship
with God's people and not with the world. That means we identify
with the people of God against the world. We stand together
in the truth. We help one another in the truth. That's an evidence of the new
birth. And then fifthly, the free gift of perseverance in
the faith. If a sinner is born of God, He
cannot leave Christ. Not because he of his own power
or his own goodness, but because of the grace and the power and
goodness of God. We can't leave Christ because
God won't let us. We persevere in the faith because
he preserves us. And we can do nothing else. Because
he which begun the good work in us He will bring it to its
fruition. He'll work it until the end.
He will accomplish it. Paul said, I know whom I have
believed and I'm persuaded that he's able to keep that which
I've committed unto him against that day. Now what have I committed
unto him? Because this is part of that.
What have you committed to Him? I'll tell you what I've committed
unto Christ. My whole salvation is committed to Christ. I don't
believe that I can be saved by grace and then kept and preserved
by my works. You haven't committed it all
to Him, see, if that's what you believe. But I've committed, it's all
Him. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,
and you're complete in him. We run the race of grace, looking
unto Jesus, the author and the what? The finisher of our faith. May the Lord bless his word to
our hearts and understand.