Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: John 3:1-7

Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

In John 3, Jesus explains three miracle births that tell the story of our salvation.

First, this passage recognizes the deficiency of our natural birth. Despite any status or ranking that we may have, we have been born into this sinful world and are bound to a sinful nature.

Second, Jesus reveals the efficiency of the Virgin Birth. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Jesus is the only way we can know God and be saved. By being born of a virgin, He was omitted from the curse of the Fall (Genesis 3), and remained sinless. But He had to be a man to pay the sin debt, for, without bloodshed, there is no remission of sin. Therefore, He had to be the God-man.

Adrian Rogers says, “He came as He did, to be what He was, to do what He did, that we might be what we are, sons and daughters of God. He was born of a virgin that we might be born again.”

Finally, John 3 helps us understand the sufficiency of the new birth.

Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

The Word of God and the Holy Spirit are the “parents” of our new birth. As a result, our new character mimics that of our spiritual parents. We love the Lord Jesus Christ and have the witness of the Spirit. We have a desire for holiness, and to share Jesus with others. Just like there is a finality in our natural birth, once we are saved by the new birth, we are always saved; we receive a fresh start and begin to grow with the certainty of our miraculous rebirth.

Apply it to your life
Do you have the characteristics of someone reborn? Do you love Jesus and share Him with others? Do you desire holiness and have the witness of the Spirit?