BORN OF THE SPIRIT

 "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 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," JOH 3:7-8.

The most decisive and important message of the entire gospel is to properly understand the new birth. There are many variations or interpretations of what constitutes the new birth. But, regardless of these variations and interpretations, Lord Jesus Christ says, "Ye must be born again."

Without the new birth there is no eternal salvation. Without the new birth we are condemned to hell eternally. That is how important it is to be born again. Therefore, it is vitally important that we properly and rightly understand the new birth.

There is probably no other thing Satan would rather do than deceive us on this one point; he would let us think we have been born again when in fact we have not been born again.

Nothing is more important than to understand that summons of the Lord Jesus Christ, "...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," JOH 3:3. We cannot see God's kingdom unless we are born again.

The new birth is a marvelous thing which cannot be comprehended with the natural mind—it is a miracle of grace. Nicodemus was the ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee, the teacher of the Jews; the Jews were the tribe of Israel, the chosen of God, but Nicodemus did not understand the new birth. Look at JOH 3:4, "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?"

Nicodemus did not understand that Christ was speaking about being born spiritually. In V:5 the Lord Jesus Christ answered him saying, "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."

Water is the symbol of the Word of God. The Word of God is the vehicle or the instrument whereby the Holy Spirit quickens us unto newness of life. We are quickened by the Holy Word of God.

So if we are blind to the authority in the Word of God, we may lay spiritually dead thinking we are alive. We must see the importance of understanding the authority of God’s Word.

It is by the power of the Word that Jesus "cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth," JOH 11:43. And Lazarus who was dead in the grave four days came forth by the power of the Holy Word.

It is the Word of God that has the power to quicken us spiritually. The Holy Spirit uses the authority of the Word to bring us out of spiritual deadness into a state of spiritual life.

If we can see that a person is breathing and has a pulse, there is no need for a brain scan to pove there is life. But if these vital signs are missing, a brain scan can determine if there is still life. I want you to think about these vital signs as we go into this text; look for spiritual vital signs, senses, and tastes.

We have a wonderful sense of taste. What is sweet? Is it the charming things of this world or is it the blessed atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ?

When our spiritual senses are quickened, our taste buds begin to work. No longer can we swallow the things that are bitter. No longer do we delight in those things which are bitter. We now have a taste for the things which are precious, those things of more value.

The nature of this quickening is real, and it is revealed by our Saviour in the parable of the prodigal son. As we go through this parable, notice how the Lord Jesus Christ shows repentance.

Compare repentance with brain waves; repentance is shown by our attitudes and mental dispositions. It is a change of mind. Have you seen a change in your values? Have you noticed a difference in your tastes? Have your spiritual senses been quickened? See how beautifully our Saviour unfolds the meaning of the new birth in the parable of the prodigal son.

Notice LUK 15:32, "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." To understand this, look at EPH 2:1, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."

Spiritual death is where a person can walk in trespasses and sins. When a person can live in and delight in sin, it is a sign of spiritual death. Have you been born again by the Spirit? Are you now alive to Christ or still dead in your sins and tresspases?

Amen.