Born Again on SermonAudio

From Dust to Glory Sown in Weakness, Raised in Power — 1 Corinthians 15:35–58 This message explores the wonder of God's creative design, the transforming power of the gospel, and the glorious resurrection promised to those who belong to Jesus Christ. Using Paul's illustration of a seed planted in the ground, we discover that what is sown does not fully resemble what God intends to bring forth. Just as God gives each seed a body according to His design, He has promised to transform our mortal, corruptible bodies into glorious, incorruptible bodies through the resurrection. What we are today is not the fullness of what God has promised we shall be. The message contrasts the first Adam with the last Adam, Jesus Christ. Through Adam's disobedience, sin, corruption, and death entered the human family. But through Jesus' perfect obedience, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, eternal life is made available to all who believe. Adam received life from God, but Jesus gives life to others! While every human bears the effects of Adam's fall, those who are born again receive new life in Christ and are being transformed into His likeness. Paul's four resurrection contrasts reveal the completeness of God's redemptive work: sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. These promises assure believers that the limitations of our present bodies will not define our eternal future. The resurrection is not merely an escape from death but the glorious completion of the redemption Jesus has already begun within us. The message also emphasizes that our future transfo

This sermon on John 3:1-16 expounds the necessity of sovereign regeneration. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and Sanhedrin member, approaches Jesus privately by night, acknowledging His divine signs yet treating Him as a mere teacher. Still spiritually blind, he cannot see the kingdom on his own terms. Jesus insists that unless one is born again of water and the Spirit (Ezekiel 36), he cannot enter God's kingdom. Flesh produces only flesh; the natural man is dead in sin, hostile to God, and unable to please Him (Romans 8). The new birth is monergistic—cleansing, transforming, and empowering—entirely the sovereign work of the Spirit, who blows where He wills. When Nicodemus remains confused, Jesus points to the bronze serpent in Numbers: as the Israelites looked to the lifted-up serpent for healing, so the Son of Man must be lifted up that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. Salvation comes by looking in faith to the crucified Christ alone, by whom the poison of sin is removed. The gospel is all of grace; God alone raises the dead and draws sinners to Himself.

Genesis 14:13-24 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 17 ¶ And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 21 ¶ And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.

1. You must be born again (2:23-3:8) 2. Jesus must save you (3:9-3:15) 3. And that's it (3:16-21)

When babies are born, so too are appetite and voice. Such things are natural to life. When Christians are born again through the truth of the gospel, that new life produces love—a Spirit-enabled desire for the good of others expressed at the expense of self. Such love flows from a Christian's inner being and, like a child learns to speak or walk, must be spurred on to greater expression and growth. "... Fervently love one another from the heart," 1 Peter 1:22 (LSB). God's enduring truth produces sincere love, not merely its outward appearance. Our expression of that love can be hindered by hardship, outside temptations, or our ongoing battle with self-protection. We know we're growing in truth not merely by how much spiritual knowledge we have in our heads, but how much we love sacrificially from the heart. "... for you have been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, that is, through the living and enduring word of God," verse 23. Genuine knowledge of God's truth bears its fruit in love. Join us this Lord's Day as we turn to the closing verses of 1 Peter 1 and consider "Homeward Bound: Love From a Pure Heart." We'll also enjoy the visible reminder of Christ's love for us, and our union with one another in Christ, as we come to the Lord's Table. Prepare for Sunday: Read 1 Peter 1:13-25, meditating on verses 22-25. Also read John 13:34-35. What words or phrases does Peter use to describe love? Why do you think Peter links the command to love with being born again? What is distinctive about Jesus' command to love one another? How does this love identify His disciples? What circumstances, temptations, or self-protective habits

Guest Pastor-Pat Andrews 10-25-26 Sunday morning Follow us on social media-- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@matoakabaptistchurch-bartl6249 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064614887031 Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatoakaB Sermon Audio: http://tinysa.com/live/matoakachannel If you were blessed by this sermon, please consider donating here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/MatoakaBaptist We pray God's Holy Spirit quenches yours to eternal life through His everlasting powerful Word. May you be born-again of the incorruptible seed that always yields the fruits of His Holy Spirit and moreover leads to eternal life with Him, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST – The King of King's and the Lord of Lord's – The Alpha and the Omega – The Great "I AM"- The Author and Finisher of our faith – just to name a few. Hallelujah JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN – HE IS RISEN INDEED!!