Ye Must Be Born Again

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YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN
John 3:7
 "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
TONY LLOYD LEWIS
 

During my matriculation at Bishop College, I had the blessed privilege of being on staff at the Concord Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Dr. E. K. Bailey.  It was at a revival service at Concord that was conducted by the late Dr. Manuel Scott Sr., that I first had these thoughts. 
Dr. Scott chose one night for his sermon this verse of scripture (John 3:7).  I remember the remarks that Dr. Bailey made after the sermon was over.  He said something to the  affect that this was such a well known verse of scripture that wondered what new insight Dr. Scott would bring out.  He concluded with the remark that no matter how well known a passage of scripture was that it would always give birth to more thought. 
This morning I want to take this well known passage of scripture and use for a subject Ye Must Be Born Again.
My hope and prayer is that you will find some new insight and perhaps think some thoughts that you have not thought before.  Or at least awaken within you some ideas and principles long forgotten.
As we together walk back through the corridors of time let's zoom our spiritual cameras in on a nocturnal visit, the Lord Jesus Christ had with a master teacher in Israel by the name of Nicodemus.
It place under the canopy of a night sky.  Scripture does not explain the reason for this nocturnal visit. It has been said that Nicodemus came to see Jesus by night because he did not want his religious colleagues to know that he was associating himself with one whom they had labeled an outcast. It may be some credence to this argument simply because those whose life and livelihood depend on their influence have to guard against any semblance of impropriety or scandal.
Then there is a school of thought that says Nicodemus came by night simply because his day schedule was too busy.  Nevertheless, when all the speculation has been exhausted, what truly is important is that Nicodemus came to see Jesus.    Whether you go in the morning, at high noon, at the eleven o'clock hour, the stroke of midnight, or even in the wee hours of the morning, the important thing is that you make your way to Jesus.
Undoubtably, Nicodemus had heard much about this new Rabbi.  The grapevine had it that he was laying claim to the fact that he was the Son of God.  And we are all aware of how swiftly the (though not always accurately) grapevine carries news.  When a new preacher comes to town, folk are naturally excited about his ministry.  People start gathering around to hear him preach.  We are generally excited about that which is new.  Because so many folk were gathering around Jesus that the news made its way back to the religious rulers of Jerusalem.
It could be that Nicodemus said, to himself, "I should go and check this new Rabbi out for myself and see what all the folk are so excited about. I need to see if he is preaching sound doctrine.  He is saying that he is the Son of God.  And any man who claims Sonship with the Divinity, any man who makes this kind of claim needs to be investigated and examined."  Even John the Baptist, that fanatical wilderness preacher, even he has testified to the fact that this man is indeed the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.
 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29
This kind of testimony demanded investigation, and who could be better qualified to look into the matter than Nicodemus, a religious ruler, a pharisee of the pharisees, and a member of the revered Sanhedrin Council. (John 7:50)
Keep in mind now that Nicodemus an astute scholar,  thoroughly investigated the matter before he went to Jesus.  He checked his data files and found out that Rabbi Jesus did not select his disciples for the Jewish seminary, but that he gathered unto himself men that society had labeled ignorant and unlearned.
Upon further investigation he discovered  that Rabbi Jesus had been to a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee where he had turned water into wine.  He was teaching that it is better to give than to receive.  The other day he drove the money changers and businessmen out of the temple. Maybe I had better go and check this new Rabbi out for myself. Perhaps God has invested in him some miraculous revelation that I need to know being a ruler of the Jew and all.  I think I will find out for myself." So Nicodemus makes a midnight visit to the Master.  I can see him as he knocks on the door, and a voice form within says, "Come in. I have been waiting on you."
Then Nicodemus says, "I have been hearing much talk about you.  Rabbi, you have a quality of life that demand investigation.  You are transforming Israel by your teachings. It is like none that we have experienced before. As a matter of fact, I have decided that no man can do the miracles that you are doing except God be with him."
Notice now. The Master did not engage in complimentary dialogue with Nicodemus. The Master never needed nor did he seek anyone to plaudit his personhood. He was different from all the other rabbis, but hew as not different just to draw attention to himself.  Ralph Sockman says that, "Jesus was not a demonstrator for spectators, but a sower going forth to sow."
He did not even respond to Nicodemus's pious platitudes nor to his flighty flattery.  He just brushes aside the compliments of Nicodemus and goes right to the heart of the matter.  "Nicodemus except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
"Nicodemus if you want to be a part of this movement called the Kingdom of God a change has to take place on the inside."
? You cannot make application for membership
? You cannot pledge your way in
? You cannot be voted in 
? You cannot get in on your social standing
? You cannot get in on your religiosity
? You cannot get in on your educational background
? You cannot get in on your scholastic achievements
? You cannot get in on your good works
? You cannot get in on your good looks
? You cannot get in on your good name
? You cannot get in on your good attitude
? You cannot buy your way in
? You cannot negotiate your way in
? You cannot force your way in
The only way into the Kingdom of God is that you must be born again.  You must experience the Mystery of the New Birth.
THE REASON FOR THE NEW BIRTH
The first point is the reason for the new birth, the Master says, "You must be born again" to a man who could reasonably consider this comment an insult.  For Nicodemus was a man who was usually on the giving end of spiritual advice, not the receiving end. He was accustomed to teaching not necessarily being taught.  He was the one who imparted wisdom and Talmudic truth. However, this time he found himself taking a night course from the Master Teacher in all of Israel.
Here was a Man who by all Worldly Standards Considered to be . . .
 
? A good man, 
? A religious man.  
? A ruler of the Jews, 
? A master in Israel, 
? A member of the Sanhedrin council.  
? A holy man of Israel.
? A noble man by birth. 
? A man trustworthy in character.
? An honored patrician.
? An admired aristocrat.   
? A theologian of great renown. 
? He taught others the Word of God.  He had a Ph.D. from the rabbinical school of Mosaic Thought
The people in the community looked up to him and respected him.  Politicians considered his opinion before making bureaucratic moves.  Mothers wanted their sons to be like him.  Yet this Galilean Peasant from the ghettoes of Nazareth had the audacity to say to him, "If you want to be a part of My Kingdom you must be born again."
Nicodemus could have reasonably considered the comments of the Master to be an insult.  Because that is the way, most religious folk are.  They feel that the gospel is not for them, not for the so-called good folks.  The so-called good folks, the religious folks are in the darkness and they see no need for salvation.  They  have not experienced the Light of God.  The only light they have is their self righteousness which is not really light at all, but in reality it is just a form of darkness. It is spiritual blindness. The apostle Paul puts it this way, "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 
      2 Corinthians 4:4. 
Therefore, They Feel That the Gospel is for Other Folks, Not for Them You Need to be Telling
? Pimps and prostitutes
? Panderers and perverts.
? Hustlers and harlots
? Highjackers and highwaymen.
? Adulterers and fornicators
? Infidels and Idolaters.
? Winos and drug addicts 
? Whoremonger and charlatans 
? Crooks and convicts
? Bandits and burglars
? Felons and frauds
? Pickpockets and purloiners
? Miscreants and malefactors
? Rogues and reprobates  
? Thieves and robbers that they need to be born again, not a good man like Nicodemus.
The reason Nicodemus had to be born again was because he was still a son of Adam. And the only folk allowed in the Kingdom of heaven are the sons and daughters of God. Only twice born people can be citizens of the City whose Builder and Maker is God.
Though he may have been a good man, but in his present condition Nicodemus was dead.  There are  many folk who are basically good folk, according to how the world counts goodness, but they are dead.They are dead in trespasses and sin.  They are dead because they have not been born again.
Nicodemus was a Religious Man,  but he was a Dead Man.
? He was a good man, but he was dead
? He was a member of the temple, but he was dead
? He was a religious ruler, but he was dead
? He was a master in Israel, but he was dead
? He was a chief rabbi, but he was dead
? He was on the board of directors in the temple, but he was dead
? He probably grew up singing in the temple choir, but he was dead.
? He probably grew up working on the temple usher board, but he was dead.
He was dead because he had only been born once. Like all men since Adam with the exception of the Savior, he was born in sin and shapen in iniquity.  Nicodemus was dead because he had inherited the fallen nature of his father Adam.
When Adam was created, he was God's visible and physical expression of Himself.  One day in the corridors of heaven the Holy Trinity called a meeting and said, "Let Us make man after our image and our likeness."  And so God formed man from the clay of the earth and he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and Adam became a living soul. Then God recognized that Adam had a need to respond, reciprocate and react to an equal companion.
That Is He Needed . . .
? Someone to share with him 
? Someone to stand by his side
? Someone to help him be all that he was meant to be
? Someone who looked like him
? Someone who talked like him
? Someone who felt like him
? Someone with whom he could communicate with on his own level.
God recognized Adam's need for reciprocity with an equal companion so he  said, "It is not good for man to be alone." So He created the woman.  They moved about the garden of Eden as one unit.  They were totally committed to God and to one another. All creation could look at Adam and see what God was like.  All creation could look at Adam and see God's image and God's likeness.  But then one day Eve followed the advice of a serpent and disobeyed God.  And Adam followed in her footsteps of disobedience.
When that happened that image of God, Imago Dei, the likeness of God became a twisted caricature, a distorted picture.  Creation could no longer look at Adam and see God because the image and likeness of God was ruined.
? The lamb no longer laid down with the lion
? The wolf became the vicious enemy of the sheep
? The perfect peace in the garden had been disturbed.
? The earth no longer yielded forth her prolific nurture
? The fig trees no longer blossomed
? The cosmos went from concert and concord  to chaos.
? The cattle were cut off from the stall
? The fabric of fellowship was rent in twain
? The planet was plunged into the abyss.
? The angel of death became gainfully employed.
? The birds of the air no longer trusted in man. 
? They built their nest up in the tree out of the reach of   man

Worst of all, Adam was no longer fit for the Kingdom of Heaven.  He was no longer fit for the presence of God.  He had to be remade.  He had to be born again. That is reason for the new birth.  That is why Nicodemus and all of humanity must be born again before they can see the Kingdom of God.
THE RESULTS OF THE NEW BIRTH.

Now let us look at the result of the New Birth.  The Master uses the phrase . . . "unless one is born of the water and of the Spirit he cannot see the Kingdom of God." You must be born of the water and of the Spirit in order to be fit for the Kingdom of God. The water is symbolic for cleansing us from our old way of life.  And the Spirit represents the power to live the new way of life.  The Master says being born again by the water and of the Spirt because it is just not good enough to wash away our sins but we must also be made new by the Spirit.
If the Spirit just washed away our sins, we would just be a bunch of clean sinners. However,  the Spirit does not stop at washing.  He also gives us the power to function on Kingdom principles.  In other words not only will you have clean feet but your feet will be new. You will have feet that do not walk the way they use to walk.
When the Spirt makes us new, He just does not patch up the old building.  He tears down the old and starts with a new foundation.
Being Born Again Is Not Just
? turning over a new leaf, but rather it is a new life.
? reformation, but rather it is regeneration.
? talking a new talk, but it is also walking a new walk
 The seasoned saints  put it this way, "I looked at my hands and they looked new, I looked at my feet and they did too." Being born again changes us on the inside. 
That Change on the Inside Is Reflected on the Outside.
? The change on the inside gives us the power to rise above the level of low living.
? The change on the inside gives us power to walk in the light as he is in the light.
? The change on the inside gives us power to love the unlovely.
? The change on the inside gives us power to return love for hate.
If the Holy Spirit did not change us on the inside, we would be just like the pig who went to the county fair and won the blue ribbon.  His owner picked him up out of the muck and mire.  He got him out of the mud and filth, hosed him down, made him gargle with Listerine, washed his feet with lava with pumice. Then he put him in the tub and had Calgon to take him away. He towel-dried him, splashed a case of old spice behind his ears; then took him to the county fair.
The pig won the first prize blue ribbon.  Then he put him back in the truck and headed back to the farm. When he arrived, he let him out and the pig went straight to the hog pen.
For the farmer just cleaned him up on the outside.  But on the inside he still had a pig nature.   That is why some folk do not stay with the church.  They come and they go.  They vacillate from one degree of disgrace to another. They are irresolute when it comes to making a commitment to the King and kingdom principles. The reason is simply because they have not been changed on the inside.  Just like the pig their nature is the same.
I'VE BEEN CHANGED . . . THANK GOD I'VE BEEN CHANGED. HAVE YOU BEEN CHANGED?
 I may not be what I ought to be . . .  I may not be what I want to be . . .  I may not be what I should be . . .  but thank God I ain't what I use to be.  BECAUSE  I'VE BEEN CHANGED.
THE REWARDS OF THE NEW BIRTH
Not only is there a reason for the new birth, not only is there the result of the new, but thank God there are some rewards to the new birth.
Not only do I have citizenship on high, but there are some other rewards.  The apostle Paul puts it this way.   For those who have kept the faith, for those who finish the course, for those who run the race with patience . . . there are some rewards that God has promised his children.

He Promised . . .
? A well that will never run dry.
? An account at a bank that will never close.
? A check that will never bounce.
? A portion that cannot be denied.
? A joy that can never be taken away.
? A grace that will never be insufficient.
? A salvation that will never be lost.
? Power from on high.
? A lawyer that can never lose a case.
? A hope that will never disappoint.
? A High Priest that can never be polluted.
? A King that will never lose his kingdom.
No Wonder the Songwriter Says . . . Bring Forth the Royal Diadem and Crown Him King of Kings.  Crown Him Lord of Lords . . .  Crown Him . . .
? Abel's Vindicator
? Noah's Ark
? Abraham's Ram in the Bush
? The Rod of Moses
? The Courage of Joshua
? Wisdom of Solomon
? Strength of Sampson
? Tears of Jeremiah
? Ezekiel's Wheel in the Middle of a Wheel
? The Patience of Job
? The Rose of Sharon
? The Lily of the Valley
? The Bright and Morning Star
? A Rock in a Weary Land
? A Shelter in Time of Storm
? A Battle Axe in Time of War
? The Prince of Peace
? Mary's Baby
? An Offspring of David
? The Ancient of Days
? The Anchor of Our Hope
? The Author of Our Salvation
? The Alpha and Omega
? The First and the Last
? King of Kings
? Lord of Lords
? The Lamb of God Which Taketh Away the Sin of the World
? The Fountain of Life