2. John 3:1-15 - There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 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. 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. 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

3. born? 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. 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 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. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered

4. 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? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

5. 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 eternal life.

6. The Must of the New Birth - vs.1-7 I Peter 1:23 – “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”

7. The Must of the New Birth - vs.1-7 The nature of humanity makes it a must: Nicodemus was a rich man - You can buy a lot of things in this world but you can’t buy Heaven. Nicodemus was a respectable man - A high position in this world does not assure you a place in Heaven. Nicodemus was a religious man - He kept the law and the traditions of the elders but that is not enough.

8. The Must of the New Birth - vs.1-7 The nature of Heaven makes it a must: When you are saved you receive God’s nature, a new nature from Heaven. II Peter 1:4 – “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

9. The Must of the New Birth - vs.1-7 The nature of Heaven makes it a must: This new birth gives us a new nature that prepares us for our new home.

10. The Mystery of the New Birth - vs.4-8 Physical birth provides life. I John 5:12 – “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

11. The Mystery of the New Birth - vs.4-8 Physical birth provides life. Physical birth only happens once! Your spiritual birth is a onetime experience

12. The Mystery of the New Birth - vs.4-8 Physical birth provides life. Physical birth only happens once! Physical birth takes place because of the suffering of another A mother suffers a lot to bring life into this world Jesus suffered a lot that you might be born again

13. The Mystery of the New Birth - vs.4-8 Physical birth provides life. Physical birth only happens once! Physical birth takes place because of the suffering of another Physical birth gives a baby a start When you get saved, you get a brand new start

14. The Mystery of the New Birth - vs.4-8 You cannot see God do His work in a heart but you can see the effects of His Spirit in a life that is changed. II Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

15. The Means of the New Birth - vs.9-15 The role of the Savior - vs.13,14 Numbers 21:4-9 – “And they journeyed from mount Hor by way of the Red sea to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged by the way. And the people spake against God and Moses, wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul…

16. The Means of the New Birth - vs.9-15 The role of the Savior - vs.13,14 Numbers 21:4-9 – “…loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 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…

17. The Means of the New Birth - vs.9-15 The role of the Savior - vs.13,14 Numbers 21:4-9 – “…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.”

18. The Means of the New Birth - vs.9-15 The role of the Savior - vs.13,14 II Corinthians 5:21 – “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

19. The Means of the New Birth - vs.9-15 The role of the sinner - v.15 Believe and Receive John 1:12 – “But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God”

20. Romans 10:9 – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”