A Bible Study on John 3.1-23
What is Jesus Christ’s message to you?
There is no question more important than this: “How can I enter the Kingdom of God?” Consider what Jesus said in John 3:3: « Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. »
Notice what Jesus said: the new birth is absolutely necessary for someone to see the kingdom of God! The kingdom of God is speaking of entering Heaven. Jesus was saying this: “No second birth, no heaven.”
Who needs to be born again? Jesus said “unless one is born again.” This means that the second birth is necessary for everyone! The Bible states clearly that we are all sinners. Because of this, we all must be born again.
Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
The Second Birth: What does it mean?
John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, « Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
The nature of the second birth: If you read verses 5, 6, and 8, you will find a phrase repeated three times: “born of the Spirit.” This phrase explains the nature of the second birth. The second birth is spiritual, not physical.
The need of the second birth: Why do we need to be born again? The Word of God states that we all are spiritually dead: Ephesians 2:1 “And you…who were dead in trespasses and sins…” Colossians 2:13a “And you, being dead in your trespasses…”
The work of the second birth: According to these same verses in John 3, when someone is born again, it is the work of the Spirit of God.
In looking through the Word of God, we see this same truth – the spiritual birth is the work of the Holy Spirit. Consider the following texts:
John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
1 John 5:1a “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…”
Resume: The second birth is a spiritual birth which occurs when the Holy Spirit makes someone spiritually alive who was spiritually dead.
The Second Birth: How can this take place?
The Answer — Preparation
Just like the man that came to Jesus that day, our hearts often need to be prepared to receive the answer to this question. Why? Often, we come with our own preconceived ideas, or with a hardened heart.
Before answering explaining how to be born again, Jesus rebuked this man. He said to him in verse 10, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?” Again, in verses 11b-12, Jesus said to him, “…you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”
Why was this man ignorant? It seems that many of the Jewish people had rejected the truth of God’s Word and exalted their own ideas, traditions, and teachings.
It is possible to be sincere and dedicated to your religion, but not understand God or His way of salvation. This man had the Word of God, but he was in error! Why?
Matthew 13:14-15a “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed…”
Before you read Christ’s answer concerning how to be born again, open your heart to the words of Jesus Christ. Will you receive His answer as God’s Word to you?
The Answer — Illustration
John 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Many years before Jesus was born, during their journeys in the desert wilderness, the children of Israel became very discouraged and sinned against God. As a result of their sin, the Bible says:
Numbers 21:6 “So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.
After suffering God’s judgment, the people asked Moses to pray to the LORD to take away the serpents. In answer to his prayer, the LORD said to Moses:
Numbers 21:8 “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.”
Moses obeyed the LORD, made the bronze serpent and put it on a pole before the people. From that time, whenever someone was bitten, the LORD promised that if they would look at the bronze serpent, they would live.
Numbers 21:9 “So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”
What a great picture of faith! In the same way that Moses lifted up the serpent and placed it on a pole so that whoever looked upon it would live, Jesus Christ was to be lifted up, so that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life.
When was Jesus Christ lifted up? Jesus Christ was lifted up when He was crucified, the time when He would take upon Him the sins of the world.
Matthew 20:28 “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
How can you escape the punishment for your sins and receive eternal life? You must look to Jesus Christ, the One who died in your place, and believe in Him as your personal Savior! As well, this is the answer to your question: How can I be born again? You must believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.
The Answer — Explanation
John 3:16 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.
God’s provision for our salvation: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
God’s provision for our salvation is through the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
God has provided everything necessary for our salvation – He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins on the cross.
God’s way of salvation:“…that whoever believes in Him…
God’s way of salvation is through believing in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. You must believe in Him to save you, to forgive you of your sins, and to give you eternal life. Salvation is not found in any work of God’s law, any ceremony, or any religious activity. Salvation is by faith alone is Jesus Christ alone!
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
God’s promise of salvation: “…should not perish but have everlasting life.”
What an incredible promise! God’s gift of salvation makes you absolutely safe from ever being condemned to hell for your sins. God’s gift of salvation gives to you life that is eternal! Remember, God can never lie! Whatever He has promised you, He will do for you, according to His Word.
John 10:28 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”; John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, « I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? »
Conclusion
How can you be born again? In order to be born again, you must trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your personal Savior. He is God’s only provision for your salvation. The moment you believe in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation, you will be born again and God promises that you will never perish, but that He will give you eternal life!
Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Would like to be born again right now? Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to die for your sins and to bring you eternal life. Consider the following promise: Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Right now, in faith, you can pray to Jesus Christ and ask Him to be your personal Savior, to save you and to forgive you of your sins.