Good morning, everyone. Open up your copy of God's Word to the Gospel of John.
I'm going to continue our study in John's Gospel, and today we're going to enter into the infamous John chapter 3,
and something that we all grow up hearing a lot of.
So before we dive into it, join me in a word of prayer.
Father, we come to you just needy and helpless today in asking that your Word would work deeply in our souls.
And if we haven't come here today expecting to hear from you, that you would change that.
That we would have faith to believe the promises that we study today, and you would apply it to our hearts.
And as at this time it would be pleasing to you, in Christ's name, amen.
Alright, we are in John chapter 3 today.
Some of the background, TJ did a wonderful job last week.
But it's always good to just sort of reconnect to what's going on.
But the Gospel of John gives us a very clear portrait about the identity of who Jesus actually is.
And it also forces us to either receive Him or reject Him.
This Jesus that is portrayed by John the Evangelist.
We have to come to Him or flee from Him.
It doesn't really leave much choice in this Gospel.
But before we get into John chapter 3, just a little background and reconnection to last week.
Jesus is now in Jerusalem with His disciples.
And He has cleansed out the temple in His holy and righteous anger.
And He goes on staying in Jerusalem with His disciples.
And people see Him do many signs and many miracles.
And it says that He actually kind of fled the crowd to avoid the fanfare.
Seeing that their expressed faith wasn't really real.
It was superficial.
And He knew it.
He knew that.
He didn't entrust Himself to them.
So later on, we see the story here in chapter 3 of Nicodemus, a Pharisee.
They came to Jesus at nighttime.
Probably to avoid the dangerous implications of actually being seen with Jesus.
Because many in His own religious order were against Jesus.
So He sought Jesus out to take a closer look to hear Him out.
He's genuinely intrigued by Jesus and His claims.
So we learn, though, in this interaction, some very serious things for our spiritual lives that are described in this interaction with Nicodemus.
And it answers a massive question for us that John addresses.
That question is, how can a fallen sinner that is dead to God actually enter into the kingdom of God?
How can those who are dead and sin, how can they have new spiritual life?
How can those who are rebels against the king have peace with him and then enter into his kingdom as his loyal subjects?
Enter into his presence.
That's the question.
And the answer is we must be born again.
That's where we're going.
But the kingdom of God is God's active reign or His kingly rule, both in the present and in the future,
that we get to experience in our souls once we come to know Christ.
It's not just a future reign, but a current reign.
Right now, the kingdom is here and it is coming.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, the kingdom is coming, but also the kingdom of heaven is here, it's at hand.
Both are expressed in the New Testament.
Christ ushered in the kingdom of God when He came the first time.
He brought it in.
The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Repent and believe the gospel, He said.
It exists with us now in the present and is also spreading.
His kingdom is spreading throughout the entire world by the preaching of the gospel.
And it will be perfectly realized when Christ comes to consummate at the end with His return.
And so, again, this is serious, but the coming of God's reign, His kingdom, either forces us,
it demands us to either repent of our sin or it brings us into judgment.
It's one or the other.
And so, let's read our passage today.
Today, we're going to look at John 3, 1-10, the first little section of John 3.
We read,
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
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.
And Jesus answered him,
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
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?
And Jesus answered,
Truly, truly, 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 flesh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I say to you,
you must be born again.
The wind blows where it wishes,
and you hear its sound,
but you do not know where it comes from and where it goes.
So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
So, and we go on to verse 9 and 10.
Nicodemus said to Him,
How can these things be?
And Jesus answered him,
Are you the teacher of Israel,
and yet you do not understand these things?
So we will stop there to begin unpacking this section.
But one of the ways I like to approach passages that I've found helpful to break that up
is do it by questions.
And the first one is,
Why do we need to be born again?
And we see this toward the end,
some of this at the end of chapter 2,
just by way of reminder.
If you look at verse 23 of chapter 2,
When He, Jesus, was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast,
many believed in His name when they saw the signs and miracles that He was doing.
But Jesus, on His part,
did not entrust Himself to them,
because He knew all people,
and needed no one to bear witness about man,
for He Himself knew what was in man.
And so, we see here a couple of things,
and from last week's passage and our passage today,
about what being born again is not.
Just to clarify,
it's not merely,
this is important,
not merely affirming the supernatural in Jesus.
Jesus did not entrust Himself or commit Himself to those crowds
that were witnessing His signs and His miracles.
He knew what was in their hearts.
He knew that many of them were not expressing genuine saving faith in Him,
but were merely enthused,
mesmerized by all the signs and miracles that He was doing.
So, belief in Jesus' name,
therefore, isn't just an intellectual assent to a true reality.
It's not just,
Hey, yeah, there's Jesus.
You know what?
There's something really amazing about Him.
There's something different about Him.
That's not what being born again is.
One of their own religious leaders that we see here today,
Nicodemus,
and others,
it says in our passage,
they affirm something special about Jesus too.
He says,
Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher that's come from God.
Because no one could do the signs that you're doing unless God was with him.
So even Nicodemus,
notice that it says we in that verse.
And not just Nicodemus,
he's implying that even other people,
maybe other Pharisees as well,
notice that there's something different about Jesus.
And that God is actually with him.
So, and he calls him Rabbi,
which is a very respectful term,
because Jesus,
especially because Jesus had actually never been to their schools,
and received their formal training,
as you can read about in chapter 7, verse 15.
But yet,
yet,
Jesus does not respond to Nicodemus
by saying,
hey, you know what?
I wish what you're seeing now
is what all those other people saw.
He doesn't say that.
I wish that they could see the truth that you see,
Nicodemus.
He doesn't respond to that.
Instead,
he catches them completely off guard.
And Jesus says,
Nicodemus,
listen
very carefully
to me.
You cannot enter into the kingdom of God
unless you're born again.
You'll never even see the kingdom of God.
And so,
it's not,
being born again
is not just
beholding signs
and miraculous things
that Jesus may do,
and being mesmerized by them,
and even giving credit.
Right?
That's what he says.
Like,
no one could do it
unless God was with him.
That doesn't save anyone.
So,
one of the great dangers
of signs and miracles
is because you don't need
a supernatural life
to be amazed by them.
Satan himself
knows that Jesus
is the Son of God
and that he works miracles.
It's Mark 1.24.
So then,
merely acknowledging
that there's something supernatural
about Jesus
does not give you the key
to the kingdom of God.
So,
is there someone you know
that,
right now even,
that may know some
true things about Jesus,
recognize something special
or different about Jesus,
but it hasn't really gone
beyond that?
We see here,
so it's not just
affirming the supernatural
in Jesus.
It's also
not merely getting
new religion
as we see here
in this passage.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee,
which means
the separated ones.
During the rule
of Herod the Great,
there were several
thousand of them.
He had lots of religious
zeal for the law of Moses.
He had dedicated
his life
to studying
and memorizing
huge portions
of the Old Testament Scripture.
And most Pharisees
at this time
prayed two hours a day,
they fasted
two days a week,
and they tithed everything.
He said Nicodemus
was a ruler
of the Jews,
meaning that he was
one of the head leaders
in the Sanhedrin,
the religious council
of the Jews
at that time.
He was the head
of most of us
in terms of
his religious zeal.
Yet,
Jesus again says,
he tells them
that's not enough
to enter
into the kingdom
of God.
He refers
to the Pharisees
in Matthew 23,
27-28,
Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites!
For you are like
whitewashed tombs,
which are outwardly
appear beautiful,
but within
are full of dead
people's bones
and uncleanliness.
So,
you also
outwardly
appear righteous
to others,
but within
you are full
of hypocrisy
and lawlessness.
So,
just getting
religious,
having religious
fervor,
doesn't equal
being born
again.
You think of
someone you may know
or you yourself
that becoming
a Christian
is just adopting
some new customs,
some new traditions.
It's not,
or do you think
it's just about
outward,
external behavior
modification,
where you
deem certain
things as good
and certain
things as bad
and you
try not to do
bad things
and try to do
good things,
that your
relationship with
God just boils
down to a bunch
of do's
and don'ts.
That's not it.
So,
Jesus says
that either
affirming
the supernatural
in Him
or just
simply having
religious zeal
does not equal
entrance to
the kingdom
of God.
There's a big
problem.
So,
why does
Jesus say
that you must
be born again?
Why does He
say that?
Well,
the answer is,
make all these
connections in
the Scripture,
the answer is
that man,
fallen man,
we are born
spiritually
dead.
Our sin,
our falling
short,
or our missing
of the mark
of God's
intended purpose
has brought
all men
and all women
to spiritual
death.
As it says
in Ephesians
2,
just make the
connections.
You ever
done it before?
Why do you
have to be
born again?
The connection
is because
you're spiritually
dead.
You have to
have a new
life.
Ephesians
2,
verse 1
through 3,
you were
dead in
your trespasses
and sins
in which you
once walked,
following the
course of
this world,
following the
prince of
the power
of the air,
which is
Satan,
the spirit
that is now
at work
and the sons
of disobedience
among whom
we all once
lived in the
passions of
our flesh,
carrying out
the desires
of the body
and the mind
and were by
nature children
of wrath
like the rest
of man time.
So the
Greek word
for dead
here means
corpse.
It means
a lifeless
body.
It's what
you see
in a cemetery
or a funeral
home.
It's spiritual
corpses
before God
because sin
has done
that to us.
Sin
is awful.
So
traditionally
many people
look at this
there's been
debate
obviously
over the
history
of the
church
but
Pelagius
taught
back in
the earlier
days
of the
church
a false
teacher
that
man was
born a
clean slate
that he
wasn't
affected
by the
sin of
Adam
and that
he just
really just
needed some
help
some moral
guidance
and he
would be
okay
like man
had the
ability
to do
it
he just
needed
some
help
and that's
what
Jesus
came
to do
not
true
a little
further
on
you would
call
them
the
semi
Pelagians
or
Arminians
they would
take it
as
well man
isn't a
clean slate
he is
tainted
by sin
he has
an issue
he's
very
sick
and he
needs
a doctor
to heal
him
we also
would contend
based on a lot
of other
debaters
and faithful
men in the
church
like Luther
Calvin
Jonathan
Edwards
that's
not
how
it
is
man
is
spiritually
dead
he
doesn't
need
a
teacher
he
doesn't
need
a
doctor
he
needs
a
miracle
worker
someone
who can
actually
bring him
back
from death
to life
so
man's
senses
are darkened
by sin
we're
separated
from God
this is
the grave
condition
that we're
focusing on
Paul wrote
in 1st
Corinthians
2
14
the natural
person
does not
accept
the things
of the
spirit
of God
they are
folly
to him
he is
not able
to understand
them
because they
are spiritually
discerned
so it
stands to
reason
right
that if
someone's
dead
they also
can't see
they also
can't hear
this is
the point
Nicodemus
recognized
as others
did
there's
something
supernatural
about
Jesus
but
that wasn't
enough
at least
at this
point
he still
was
confused
he didn't
quite
understand
it
now
later
in the
gospel
of
John
we do
see
Nicodemus
show
back up
and when
they were
trying to
condemn
Jesus
among the
council
of religious
leaders
he actually
stood up
for Jesus
and he
goes
is it
wrong
is it
wrong
for us
to
condemn
a man
without
you know
bringing
him in
this way
against
our
law
so he
stood
up
for
Jesus
and he
also
helped
bury
Jesus
along
with
Joseph
of
Arimathea
so maybe
he
got it
at some
point
but we
have a
deep
need
for
change
why do
you
and why
do I
constantly
have this
push
this desire
to remake
ourselves
why is
that
why can't
we just
kind of
settle
on it
why do
we love
new
things
why is
it
there
well
millions
of dollars
are spent
every year
on
psychiatrists
psychologists
who want
to just
change
their
behavior
hours
at the
gym
trying
to
change
your
outward
looks
and be
more
attractive
tons
of money
on
cosmetic
surgery
to look
more
pretty
on the
outside
people
desire
they want
to look
different
feel
different
and act
different
but
Jesus
says
the real
problem
is not
without
it's
within
the
problem
is
your
heart
has been
corrupted
by sin
he said
that in
Mark 7
verse 20
he said
what comes
out of a
person
is what
defiles
him
for
from
within
out of
the
heart
of
man
comes
all
kinds
of
evil
he
goes
on
to
say
all
these
evil
things
come
from
within
and
they
defile
a
person
so
the
fact
that
he's
saying
you
have
to
be
born
again
he's
saying
that
there's
nothing
that
isn't
in
us
not
just
a
makeover
of
the
old
but
a
completely
new
spiritual
life
we
cannot
it
stands
to
reason
that
we
cannot
look
to
outward
superficial
things
to bring
about
change
in
our
soul
we
can't
look
for
outward
remedies
when
the
problem
is
within
so
Jesus
says
this
in
Nicodemus
you
need
a
new
spiritual
life
not
just
a
repair
or
makeover
of
the
old
but
a
new
spiritual
life
this
is
our
need
as
well
so
all
this
goes
to
under
the
question
of
why
do
we
need
new
birth
so
a
great
need
we
need
it
because
we
are
separated
from
God
because
apart
from
Christ
we
are
spiritually
dead
hearts
corrupted
by
sin
stands
to
reason
right
so
number
two
the
second
question
how
does
God
give
us
new
birth
how
does
God
do
it
how
does
he
give
us
new
birth
we
see
in
verses
three
through
six
the
answer
verses
three
through
six
he
says
truly
I
say
to
you
unless
one
is
born
again
he
cannot
see
the
kingdom
of
God
he
said
to
him
how
can
a
man
be
born
when
he
is
old
can
he
enter
a
second
time
into
his
mother's
womb
be
born
is
he
still
confused
Jesus
answered
truly
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
flesh
is
flesh
and
that
which
is
born
of
spirit
is
spirit
so
he
doesn't
hold
back
Jesus
doesn't
hold
back
he
repeats
himself
and
he
goes
truly
you
must
be
born
again
to
see
the
kingdom
of
God
so
due
to
the
severity
of
our
own
spiritual
condition
before
God
Jesus
says
break
this
up
no
one
can
no
one
can
so
that's
an
absolute
statement
no
one
can
meaning
no
one
can
even
see
or
perceive
the
kingdom
of
God
unless
and
here's
the
condition
unless
he
is
born
again
and
the
Greek
means
born
from
above
so
something
coming
from
heaven
so
we
see
Nicodemus
pick
you know
he picks
up on
this
idea
that
yeah
I
see
you're
using
this
figurative
language
but
I
still
don't
understand
it
how
can
someone
be
born
when
he's
old
how
does
this
happen
and
Jesus
responds
in
verse
five
by
saying
a
fallen
sinner
cannot
enter
the
kingdom
of
God
unless
one
is
born
of
water
and
the
spirit
so
when
he
says
water
here
he's
not
referring
to
literal
water
but
the
need
for
cleansing
as we
read
about
in
Ezekiel
and other
places
usually
in the
Old Testament
when water
is referred
to in
this way
is expressing
this
desire
for renewal
or spiritual
cleansing
especially
in conjunction
with the
Holy Spirit
Psalm 51
verse 9
David
mentions
that
sprinkle
me
clean
with
clean
water
David
says
thus
Jesus
made
reference
to
the
spiritual
washing
that
we
need
purification
of our
soul
this
accomplished
by
the
Holy
Spirit
so
look at
verse
6
Jesus
is
indicating
that
people
become
a part
of an
earthly
family
like
all of
us
are
we
were
born
into
that
family
by
physical
birth
not
hard
to
understand
but
then he
goes
on
to
say
yeah
and
if
you're
going
to
have
a
spiritual
birth
it
only
comes
to
be
a
part
of
God's
family
through
the
Spirit
that's
it
so
here's
the
stunning
connection
both
of
those
births
are
out
of
our
personal
control
you
didn't
choose
to
be
born
you
are
dependent
on
outside
agents
for both
of
those
and
so
another
word
that
is
used
in
the
scripture
to
speak
of
being
born
again
is
the
term
regeneration
it's
used
I think
only
two
times
or maybe
three
times
in the
New
Testament
but
it
means
a new
birth
a
reproduction
a renewal
or
recreation
it's
used
to
denoted
the
restoration
of
a
thing
to
its
original
pristine
state
a
renovation
of
something
that
has
deteriorated
often
used
in this
term
as a
renewal
or
restoration
of
spiritual
life
and
so
we
see
here
be
born
again
being
regenerated
and
so
how
does
this
happen
Jesus
says
that
who
is
the
agent
of
this
it
is
the
Holy
Spirit
so
the
father
had
an
act
in
our
salvation
the
son
had
an
act
in
our
salvation
and
the
Holy
Spirit
has
an
act
in
our
salvation
he
is
the
one
who
gives
us
new
spiritual
birth
he
reveals
as it
says
in
1
Corinthians
2
the
Holy
Spirit
is
the
one
who
reveals
to
us
the
truth
about
God
he
shows
us
the
secret
things
of
God
man
through
his
own
intellect
and
exertion
as much
as we
want
to
throw
down
understand
things
we
only
can
attain
a
certain
knowledge
of
God
but
that
can
often
fall
short
of a
saving
knowledge
this
is
something
that's
beyond
the
natural
life
our
physical
faculties
long
ago
God
promised
this
we read
from
Jeremiah
earlier
Nathan
read
from
Jeremiah
that's
one
reference
to
the
promise
of
the
spirit
coming
to
give
us
a
new
heart
one
of
my
favorite
is
seen
in
Ezekiel
so
this
is
a
prophecy
about
the
Holy
Spirit
coming
and
what
he
will
do
to
our
hearts
and
our
souls
!
this
is
Ezekiel
11
verse
19
I'll
read it
to you
God
says
I will
give
them
one
heart
and
a
new
spirit
I
will
put
within
them
I'll
remove
the
heart
of
stone
from
their
flesh
and
give
them
a
heart
of
flesh
!
See
that
like
sin
makes
our
hearts
hard
unfeeling
toward
God
that
they
may
walk
in
my
statues
and
keep
my
rules
and
obey
them
and
they
shall
be
my
people
and
I
will
be
their
God
and
if
you
go
down
to
later
on
Ezekiel
36
verse
25
it
says
I
will
sprinkle
!
Here's
that
reference
I
will
sprinkle
clean
water
on
you
and
you
shall
be
clean
from
your
uncleanliness
and
from
all
your
idols
I
will
cleanse
you
and
this
is
the
part
that
connects
it
directly
to
being
regenerated
born
again
I
will
give
you
a
new
heart
and
a
new
spirit
I
will
put
within
you
I
will
remove
your
heart
of
stone
and
give
you
a
heart
of
flesh
and
here's
the
spirit
verse
27
I
will
put
my
spirit
capital
S
within
you
and
cause
you
to
walk
in
my
statues
and
be
careful
to
obey
my
rules
so
what
happens
in
regeneration
is
not
just
getting
some
new
religion
it's
not
just
improving
on
what
you
have
on
the
outside
it
is
a
new
birth
given
to
us
by
the
Holy
Spirit
the
Holy
Spirit
is
the
one
who
applies
the
work
of
Jesus
to
our
souls
and
he
raises
us
from
spiritual
death
to
life
Ephesians
chapter
2
just
after
we
just
mentioned
that
man
is
dead
in
his
trespasses
Ephesians
2
verse
4
but
God
being
rich
in
mercy
because
of
the
great
love
which
he
loved
us
even
as
we
were
dead
in
our
trespasses
made
us
alive
together
with
Christ
by
grace
you
have
been
saved
let
me
give
you
an
analogy
that's
going
to
come
later
in
John
but
when
Lazarus
died
he was
dead
right
he was
not
coming
back
his
sisters
were
sad
that
Lazarus
had
died
he was
in
a
tomb
and
Jesus
shows
up
and
what
did
Jesus
do
what
did
he
say
to
Lazarus
he
didn't
say
Lazarus
if
you
want
me
to
make
you
alive
come
out
he
said
Lazarus
come
out
and
so
he
rose
from
death
to
life
and
he
came
out
it
is
a
physical
metaphor
for
what
happens
to
us
spiritually
and
as
we
read
it's
caused
by
God's
mercy
and
his
great
love
for
us
Peter
wrote
in
1 Peter
3
that
we
have
been
born
again
to
a
living
hope
through
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
from
the
dead
so
when
or
excuse
me
I
should
say
how
does
this
new
birth
take
place
like
how
does
it
happen
it
happens
when
the
Holy
Spirit
enables
us
not
merely
to reach
an
intellectual
knowledge
about
the
gospel
but
he
enables
us
to
believe
it
to
love
it
resulting
in
regeneration
Peter
went on
to say
in
1 Peter
1
23
since
you
have
been
born
again
not
of
perishable
seed
but
of
imperishable
through
the
living
and
abiding
word
of
God
not
to use
too much
anatomy
or
biology
but
the
term
seed
here
that
1 Peter
uses
is
the
male
reproductive
seed
and
he
says
that
at
some
point
God
puts
his
word
in
you
and
at
some
point
that
grows
resulting
in
a
spiritual
birth
that
is
the
gospel
that
is
the
word
of
God
it's
what
Christ
has
accomplished
for
us
and
at
some
point
the
Holy
Spirit
applies
that
from
death
to
life
so
there
was
some
point
in
your
life
you
heard
the
gospel
message
you
read
it
you
understood
it
and
at
some
point
the
Holy
Spirit
applied
it
to
your
soul
and
you
truly
actually
believed
it
as
it
says
in
2
Thessalonians
2
that
the
Spirit
called
you
through
our
gospel
he
called
you
through
our
gospel
so
that
you
may
obtain
the
glory
of
our
Lord
Jesus
this
effectual
call
at
some
point
we
resisted
the
Holy
Spirit
at
some
point
we
said
get
lost
we
don't
want
to
hear
it
get
lost
and
God
could
have
in
judgment
been
like
okay
die
in
your
sin
but
he
didn't
do
like
a
little
please
let
me
in
he
and
thankfully
he
came
in
and he
saved
us
you
have
nothing
to boast
about
we
have
nothing
to boast
about
he
saved
us
according
to
his
own
grace
and
mercy
so
do you
see
these
things
do you
long
to
embrace
Christ
do you
hate
your
sin
even
though you
still sin
you hate
it
and long
to be
freed
from
it
if so
probably
a child
of God
probably
living in
his
kingdom
born
anew
of the
spirit
and
then
lastly
the
last
question
we
see
answered
in
verses
8
through
10
what
are
the
results
or
maybe
what
is
the
outcome
of
being
born
again
and
so
here
Jesus
uses
a couple
words
wind
and
spirit
which
translate
the
same
Greek
and
Hebrew
words
so
he
is
simply
saying
that
you
cannot
physically
see
the
wind
and
the
wind
can't
be
controlled
by
man
you
see
the
effects
of
the
wind
the
effects
of
the
wind
are
seen
and
felt
and
he's
saying
so
it
is
with
the
work
of
the
Holy
Spirit
Jesus
calls
him
the
teacher
of
Israel
I
remember
seeing
on a
church
sign
you
know
in front
of
this
church
building
the
honorable
pastor
reverend
doctor
so
and
so
if
we
ever
put
that
on
our
sign
just
like
fire
us
but
this
was
his
role
he
was
like
one
of
the
best
teachers
in
Israel
was
like
you
should
know
out
of
Deuteronomy
30
verse 6
the
Lord
God
will
circumcise
your
heart
born
again
and
the
heart
of
your
offspring
so
that
you
will
love
the
Lord
your
God
with
all
your
heart
with
all
your
soul
that
you
may
live
so
physical
circumcision
was
just
an
outward
!
sign
of
an
inward
need
that
we
had
so
the
spirit
cannot
be
physically
seen
the
spirit
cannot
be
controlled
by
man
but
the
evidence
or the
outcome
of
his
work
in a
regenerate
person
is
seen
and is
visible
right
some
of you
who came
to know
the
Lord
you know
might not
have been
exactly
overnight
but
you're
just
different
you're
not
who
you
once
were
the
things
that
you
used
to
love
and
cherish
you
now
hate
you
want
to
honor
God
you
love
him
you
obey
him
out
of
love
and
grace
you
don't
obey
him
because
you
just
have
to
but
we
delight
in
him
is
there
evidence
of the
Holy
Spirit
work
in
your
life
and
in
your
character
so
another
term
the
scripture
uses
here
is
that
term
of
a
new
creation
God
by
his
power
in
the
Holy
Spirit
can
give
us
a
second
genesis
it's
not
just
improvement
on
the
old
but
a
new
creation
a
new
nature
which
really
is
who
you
are
forgiven
and
cleansed
as
Paul
writes
2nd
Corinthians
5
17
through
18
therefore
if
anyone
is
in
Christ
he
is
a
new
creation
the
old
has
passed
away
and
behold
the
new
has
come
all
this
is
from
God
who
through
Christ
reconciled
us
to
himself
so
in
regeneration
the
dead
sinner
is
given
a
new
heart
and
a
new
nature
by
God
that
enables
him
or
strengthens
him
to walk
in
gracious
obedience
to
God's
law
to
act
live
and
think
in
accordance
to
what
God
would
have
for
us
his
will
this
is
our
new
identity
it's
so
funny
to
watch
modern
day
psychiatrists
they're
like
they're
all about
identity
now
they talk
about
identity
a lot
but
it is
true
that we
live
act
and
think
in
accordance
with
how we
view
ourselves
it
just
is
but
if
you
are
in
Christ
this
is
who
you
are
you
are
you
are
a
new
creation
not
just
dry
religion
and
morality
but
true
love
and
affections
for
God
that
you
didn't
have
before
you
have
these
holy
desires
for
God
that
didn't
exist
God
gave
you
a
longing
and
a
yearning
to
know
him
and
follow
him
is
not
who
you
once
were
though
we
still
battle
sin
we're
battling
!
out
of our
new
nature
because
we're
battling
the
remaining
corruption
of the
flesh
!
If you
have
truly
been
born
again
you
have
a
new
and
holy
nature
and
you
are
no
longer
moved
towards
sinful
objects
as
you
were
before
the
things
that
you
once
loved
you
now
hate
you
can
hardly
understand
it
but
so
it
is
that
your
thoughts
and
your
tastes
are
radically
changed
you
long
for
that
very
holiness
which
was
once
irksome
to
hear
and
you
loathe
those
vain
pursuits
which
were
once
your
delights
I
can
look
back
on
who
I
was
before
a
believer
and
just
recognize
that
it
wasn't
just
an
outward
physical
change
like
I
just
need
to
stop
cussing
I
just
need
to
stop
you
know
having
a
hot
attitude
I
just
need
to
quit
this
it
was
I
want
to
follow
Christ
I
love
him
I
need
him
and
I
hope
that
that's
been
true
for
you
as
well
and
if
it's
not
if
you're
concerned
about
that
come
and
talk
to
us
but
I
would
assume
that
most
of
us
here
this
isn't
unfamiliar
language
you
know
that
the
holy
in
closing
turn
to
Titus
chapter
3
flip
over
to
Titus
chapter
3
and
let's
just
look at
verse
1
so we
see
the
old
we
see
what
God
has
done
and
then
we
see
the
new
right
in
this
passage
Titus
3
verse
1
for
we
ourselves
were
once
foolish
disobedient
let us
raise
slaves
to
various
passions
and
pleasures
passing
our
days
in
malice
and
envy
hated
by
others
and
hating
one
another
that's
who
we
were
before
Christ
no
exceptions
right
verse
4
but
when
the
goodness
and
loving
kindness
of
God
our
Savior
appeared
he
saved
us
not
we
helped
him
save
us
he
saved
us
not
because
of
works
done
by
us
in
righteousness
but
according
to
his
own
mercy
by
the
washing
of
regeneration
and
renewal
of
the
Holy
Spirit
whom
he
poured
out
on
us
richly
through
Jesus
Christ
our
Savior
so
that
being
justified
by
his
grace
we
might
become
heirs
according
to
the
hope
of
eternal
life
so
this
is what
we
have
to
do
if
we're
going
to
see
the
kingdom
of
God
we're
going
to
enter
into
the
kingdom
of
God
we must
be
born
again
in his
grace
we can
see it
as
grace
that
of
the
Spirit's
work
in
our
lives
so
join
me
in
prayer
asking
God
to
apply
his
word
to
us
to
!