MONDAY, 2^nd WEEK OF EASTER-B

I Reading: Acts 4:23-31: As the prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldly.

Gospel: John 3:1-8: Unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The New Birth, John 3:1-15

The new birth along with God’s great love (v.16-17), is the most important revelation ever made in all of human history. Jesus revealed the new birth.

1.     Nicodemus approached Jesus (v.1-2)

a.     He came in behalf of the religionists: “We”

b.    He acknowledged Jesus only as a teacher from God

c.      He asked, “Who are you?”

2.     The new birth: a necessity, an imperative (v.3)

a.     A strong assertion

b.    Importance: One can never see God’s kingdom unless born again

3.     A new birth: a spiritual birth (v.4-8)

a.     Its source: being born of the Spirit

b.    Its importance repeated: one will never enter God’s kingdom unless born again

c.      Its nature: spiritual, not physical and material

d.    Its absolute necessity: reemphasized

e.      Its illustration: the wind

4.     The new birth: a true experience (v.9-11)

a.     Nicodemus’ heart touched

b.    Jesus’ strong assertion: we do know; have seen

5.     The new birth rejected (v.11-12)

a.     Some did not accept the witness

b.    The reason: man’s nature of unbelief

6.     The new birth: revealed only by Jesus (v.13)

a.     His origin: heaven

b.    His timeless experience: “From heaven”

7.     The new birth: secured by tow acts (v.14-15)

a.     By Jesus’ death

b.    By believing in Jesus

Thought: The new birth is a changed life, a totally a new life. A person proves that he/she is born again:

a.     By doing righteous acts ( 1Jn 2:29; Eph 2:10; 4:24)

b.     By not practising sin ( 1Jn 3:9, 5:18)

c.      By loving other believers (1Jn 4:7)

d.     By overcoming the world (1Jn 5:4)

e.      By keeping himself (1Jn 5:18)

f.       By possessing the divine seed or nature (1Jn 3:9; 1Pet 1:23; Col 1:27)