TRANSFORMED LIVESTRANSFORMED LIVES

““You Must Be Born Again” You Must Be Born Again” John 3:1-7 John 3:1-7

TRANSFORMED LIVES

• Superficial believersSuperficial believers, all outward, empty inside.

• Secure only by the Secure only by the ‘signs’ ‘signs’ he witnessed

• Seasoned life and Seasoned life and lifelong believer lifelong believer in the Talmud

TRANSFORMED LIVES1.1. THE MAN: THE MAN: Nicodemus ("victor over the people")

• Matthew 23:23 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.

• Matthew 6:1-5 1 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

• Approach to JesusApproach to Jesus• Acknowledgement of Jesus: Acknowledgement of Jesus:

TRANSFORMED LIVES

2. THE METHOD: 2. THE METHOD:

•““Born Again” Born Again” – Born from above; Born a second time; Born from the Spirit; •SeeSee the Kingdom of God•Explanation –Explanation – “born of water (physically) and the Spirit (spiritually) [vs.6] Explains (v.5)•Entrance into the Kingdom of GodEntrance into the Kingdom of God

TRANSFORMED LIVES3. THE MARVEL: 3. THE MARVEL: •““Signs” Signs” captured Nicodemas’ attention; Jesus’ words captured his heart. •““Truly, Truly” Truly, Truly” – only found in John’s Gospel; (Affirms veracity and significance of what follows) •““God is with Him” God is with Him” is the Marvel. •‘‘The Kingdom of God’ The Kingdom of God’ – (1)(1)God ruling over the affairs of people throughout the God ruling over the affairs of people throughout the creation, (no more Rome; no more Rules) creation, (no more Rome; no more Rules) (2)(2)God ruling over the human heart; God ruling over the human heart;

TRANSFORMED LIVES

4. THE MUST: 4. THE MUST:

• The Must is about RELEASE: Release what you are holding on to and striving for;

• The Must is about RECEIVING: Receiving Jesus’ Kingdom into your heart by faith. (Trust)

ApplicationApplication• Philippians 3:8-9 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for

the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

• My efforts: My efforts: “Loss, none of my own righteousness,” • Christ’s Efforts: Christ’s Efforts: “Excellent knowledge; gain Christ, by

faith”