08/03/2026 - Kyle Hanna

Series: Jesus is Lord

Scripture: John 3:1–15

The Setting

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and respected teacher of the law, comes to Jesus at night. Though he is moral, religious, and knowledgeable, Jesus tells him something surprising:

“Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Nicodemus assumes Jesus means a physical rebirth, but Jesus is speaking about spiritual rebirth.

1. What We Think the New Birth Is

Many people assume the new birth means moral improvement:

• Trying harder to live well
• Following rules more carefully
• Becoming a better person

But Nicodemus already lived this way. If the new birth were about effort, he would already qualify.

Trying to change ourselves through effort alone is like driving in thick fog with high beams on—it feels helpful but actually makes it harder to see.

What we need isn’t brighter headlights.

We need the fog to lift.

1. What the New Birth Actually Is

Jesus explains the new birth is a work of God.

Drawing from Ezekiel 36, God promises:

• “I will sprinkle clean water on you.”
• “I will give you a new heart.”
• “I will put my Spirit within you.”

The new birth is God renewing us from the inside.

Think of a garden:

• Reformation is mowing weeds (managing behaviour).
• Transformation is pulling weeds out and planting new life.

God doesn’t just manage sin—He plants new life within us.

Jesus also says the Spirit is like wind (John 3:8).

You can’t see wind, but you see its effects:

• Pride becomes humility
• Anxiety becomes trust
• Resentment becomes forgiveness

You don’t control the wind—you witness its effects.

1. The Cross Makes New Birth Possible

Jesus points to Numbers 21, where Moses lifted a bronze serpent in the wilderness. Those who looked at it in faith were healed.

Jesus says:

“So must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14–15)

Just as the Israelites looked and lived, we look to Christ on the cross and receive life.

The new birth comes through:

• The Spirit giving new life
• Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross
• Faith in Him

The Invitation

Being born again is more than seeing Jesus as a teacher or trying to live well.

It is receiving Him as Lord and Saviour.

A new birth means:

• A new heart
• A new life
• God dwelling within us

Like the fog lifting, when we receive Christ, we begin to see clearly:

Jesus is Lord — in all that we see, do, and are.

Three ways to apply this to our lives:

Here are three clear application questions, one for each group you mentioned:

1. Curious about faith:
2. Where in your life does it feel like you’re navigating fog, and what would it look like to consider that clarity might come from Jesus rather than from your own effort?
3. New to faith:
4. Where have you begun to notice small changes in your heart, attitudes, or desires that might be the Spirit of God at work in you?
5. Seasoned in faith:
6. In this season of life, what might it look like for you to lift your eyes to Jesus again and rely on Him rather than just the habits or structures of faith?