Have You Been Born Again

Have You Been Born Again?

March 2, 2008

Introduction

This morning we begin with a question, Have You been born again? What does it mean to be born again? Does it really make any difference? It’s impossible to know if you have been born again unless you know what it means to be born again. We often hear the expression, “He’s a born again Christian.” What does that mean? Is there any other kind?

Why do we need to be concerned about being born again? In (2 Th 1:6-9 NKJV) "since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, {7} and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, {8} in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,"

Body

I. BAPTISM is referred to as being born again.

(John 3:1-6 NKJV) "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. {2} This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." {3} Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." {4} Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" {5} Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. {6} "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

A. Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus meant by being born again.

John 3:4: Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

B. Jesus meant a change on the inside with evidence of the change on the outside.

(John 3:7-8 NKJV) ""Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' {8} "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.""

1. There needs to be a changed life on the outside to witness to the change on the inside. – Evidence of the new birth!

(Eph 4:22-24 NKJV) "that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, {23} and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, {24} and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

2. The changed life comes about because of true repentance.

(2 Cor 7:10 NKJV) "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."

3. Peter also spoke of the need of change--the need of repentance.

(Acts 3:19 NKJV) ""Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,"

1. That’s part of being born of the Spirit. There is a conversion.

4. To be born again is a very important concept. It is the idea of a totally new beginning--a new way of life.

(1 Pet 1:22-23 NKJV) "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, {23} having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,"

II. Baptism has two very important parts as they merge together to be true baptism.

A. There must be the repentance and the willingness to change our lives and to do God's will. – Referred to in Romans as a death to the old way of life.

B. There must be the willingness to be baptized in water. – An outward show of accepting the death of Christ in our stead.

1. Paul speaks of baptism as a burial.

(Rom 6:1-6 NKJV) "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? {2} Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? {3} Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? {4} Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {5} For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, {6} knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."

C. The importance of water baptism.

1. We live in a world of symbolism.

2. When we sign a document, whether it is a check, a note at the bank, or a letter to a friend, it means something.

3. Being baptized in water is our way of publicly proclaiming our desire to be a Christian and to live the Christian life.

4. It is our way of saying to Christ and to the world that we accept and appreciate what He has done for us in His death.

5. We must be willing to publicly confess Him.

(Mat 10:32-33 NKJV) ""Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. {33} "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

D. What else does the Bible say about baptism?

1. Baptism saves us.

(1 Peter 3:21 NKJV) "There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"

2. In baptism, we put on Christ.

(Galatians 3:26-27 NKJV) "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

D. It takes both.

1. Baptism without repentance and a desire to do God's will is little more than getting wet.

2. A desire to change one's life without being baptized misses the seal of commitment that Jesus asked for.

3. Anything other than what Jesus commanded misses the point and is not doing His will.

III. The question is a very personal one: “Have you been born again?”

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

A. If you have not been baptized into Christ--If you have not been born again, what real hope do you have of being justified before a living God?

B. Who should be baptized?

1. We have to be old enough to believe and to repent of our sins.

2. If we are accountable to God, then what happens if we die out of Christ?

3. What is that acceptable age of accountability?

(Luke 2:41-42 NKJV) "His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. (42) And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast."

Conclusion

This morning, our study has been on becoming a Christian. If you are not a Christian, you can become one today if you are willing to:

1. repent of your sins,

2. confess Christ as the Son of God, and

3. be buried in Christian baptism as we have studied today.

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