Being Born AgainJohn 3:1-15

WHAT Does It Mean To Be A Christian?

Being born again ( a new creation) A transformed person

Being reconciled to God To one another To self

Being adopted as sons and daughters of God God as our Father Brothers and sisters to one another

Nicodemus, 3:1

Who was Nicodemus? A Pharisee A member of the ruling council A “Teacher of Israel” (3:10)

Why did he come to Jesus “by night”? Embarrassed? Lost?

WHAT did Jesus mean by being

“born again”? 3:1-10 Cf. 3:3 and 3:5

Illustration 1: Like begets like, 3:6-7.

Illustration 2: The wind and its effects, 3:8.

WHY could Jesus speak about being “born again”,

3:11-13 “No one has ascended into heaven except

the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.”

Son of Man. Cf. Daniel 7:13-14

John 1:1-2; 14; 18

John 2:11

HOW does Jesus bring about the new birth, 3:14-

15 Moses lifting up the serpent in the

wilderness, Numbers 21:4-9.

The Son of Man must be lifted up. Cf. John 8:28; 12:32 Acts 2:33; 5:31

Eternal life = Life in the kingdom of God.

Conclusions & Life Applications

Being a Christian means being in the kingdom of God.

To enter into the kingdom of God, one needs to be born again.

This new birth is not of our own doing or choosing, but by the power of God

This new birth is available to everyone through Jesus Christ.

The mark of this new birth is a transformed life.