WEBVTT 00:00:00.900 --> 00:00:04.620 How many times have you been born? 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:09.080 Might seem a silly question. 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:10.859 What's he on about? 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:16.260 Well, it wasn't a silly question as far as Jesus was concerned. 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:19.859 Look at verse 3 of the passage we just read. 00:00:20.660 --> 00:00:23.600 In reply, Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:30.859 no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again, 00:00:31.740 --> 00:00:35.179 unless he has a second birth. 00:00:37.500 --> 00:00:44.640 Now, like us, Nicodemus thought that was the strangest and the oddest thing to have said. 00:00:45.140 --> 00:00:46.260 Look at verse 4. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:50.939 How can a man be born when he is old? 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:52.780 Nicodemus asked. 00:00:53.640 --> 00:00:58.859 Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born. 00:00:59.480 --> 00:01:02.039 I mean, Jesus, can you be serious about this? 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:03.679 Have you seen the size of my mother? 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:05.900 She's only four foot and look at me. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:09.879 Do you expect me to get inside her and be born again? 00:01:12.299 --> 00:01:14.680 What a daft thing to be saying. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.680 We all know we're only born once. 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:25.640 But, according to Jesus, there are two kinds of birth. 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:28.820 The first birth we all know about. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:31.099 It's physical birth. 00:01:31.659 --> 00:01:35.859 And if you're a mother, you really do know what it's all about. 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:39.079 That's what we've been celebrating this morning, isn't it? 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:41.920 The physical birth of baby Elaine. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:47.900 On the 31st of March this year, Elaine was born to Connor and Sarah. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:53.939 And so we've been giving thanks to God for this amazing and wonderful gift of life. 00:01:53.939 --> 00:01:59.959 And all of us here, I hope, have a birthday that we remember. 00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:05.439 Mine was the 14th of December, so presents are still welcome. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:06.679 Leave them at the door. 00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:08.920 But the point is simple. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:12.040 We all have had a physical birth. 00:02:12.700 --> 00:02:15.860 Otherwise, we wouldn't be sitting here right now. 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:19.319 If you're in doubt about that, give yourself a little pinch. 00:02:21.020 --> 00:02:24.200 The second birth is a little different. 00:02:25.540 --> 00:02:27.480 It's spiritual birth. 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:31.780 And that's what we have been praying for Elaine. 00:02:31.780 --> 00:02:36.280 Elaine, that she would experience a second kind of birth. 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:38.140 A spiritual birth. 00:02:38.740 --> 00:02:44.479 And that's the kind of birth Jesus is talking to Nicodemus about here. 00:02:45.699 --> 00:02:49.479 And this new birth that we have been praying for Elaine 00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:52.060 is not just something for Elaine. 00:02:52.060 --> 00:02:59.199 I want us to see this morning how we can all experience new births, 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:03.339 whoever we are and whatever age we are. 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:07.939 So, how can we be born a second time? 00:03:08.099 --> 00:03:10.939 What does it mean to be born again? 00:03:12.799 --> 00:03:16.319 Well, we must be born into the kingdom. 00:03:17.739 --> 00:03:21.519 You see, we've got to understand what Nicodemus was on the search for. 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:25.899 Like lots of people in life, he was searching for something. 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:30.719 And he wanted to experience the kingdom of God. 00:03:31.980 --> 00:03:33.620 Look at verse 3 again. 00:03:34.200 --> 00:03:35.740 Jesus said, I tell you the truth, 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:41.860 no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. 00:03:42.259 --> 00:03:46.400 Well, the kingdom of God, if that's a strange or a new phrase to you, 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:50.259 it's the kind of world that we all long for. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:54.420 We all long for a world of peace and justice. 00:03:54.419 --> 00:03:57.599 A world without sickness and suffering. 00:03:58.559 --> 00:04:00.919 A world where nobody dies anymore. 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:03.119 Where there's no more hospitals. 00:04:04.099 --> 00:04:05.839 No need of funeral homes. 00:04:06.399 --> 00:04:09.099 A life marked by love and kindness. 00:04:09.739 --> 00:04:12.699 Where there is the absence of all evil. 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:15.979 Where everything is good and life is perfect. 00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:18.740 And it's not just for a little time, 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:21.079 but it's for all eternity. 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:24.939 And everybody longs for that kind of world. 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:27.439 That's the kingdom of God. 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:32.359 And that's what Jesus came into the world to establish. 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:34.639 That's what we're celebrating at Christmas time. 00:04:34.719 --> 00:04:36.639 The reason Jesus came. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:38.819 So look at verse 2. 00:04:38.819 --> 00:04:44.519 Nicodemus had come to Jesus at night and he said, 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:48.360 Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God, 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:52.939 for no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:55.719 if God were not with him. 00:04:57.019 --> 00:05:01.079 You see, Nicodemus had been watching Jesus' life very closely. 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:04.620 And he had seen Jesus do these amazing miracles. 00:05:04.620 --> 00:05:07.680 He had seen him heal the sick with just a touch. 00:05:08.819 --> 00:05:11.420 Controlling nature with just a word. 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:14.439 Defeating satanic forces. 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:19.040 And every time Jesus did one of these amazing miracles, 00:05:19.980 --> 00:05:22.680 he was giving everybody a little glimpse, 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:27.540 a little picture of what life would be like inside his kingdom. 00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:34.340 Where nature wouldn't go all wrong with tornadoes and earthquakes. 00:05:34.960 --> 00:05:36.860 Where nobody did get sick. 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.280 And where there was no evil forces. 00:05:41.140 --> 00:05:45.600 He was giving a picture into what life could be like. 00:05:45.980 --> 00:05:48.379 The kingdom that he came to create. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:51.920 Now Jesus says to Nicodemus in verse 3, 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:55.960 If you want to see this kingdom, 00:05:56.900 --> 00:06:01.560 if you want to enter this kingdom and to have it for yourself, 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:05.500 you must be born again. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:09.160 You've got to have a second birth. 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:15.860 Now Nicodemus, as I've said, was really pretty much like us. 00:06:16.580 --> 00:06:18.220 He wanted to enter the kingdom. 00:06:18.220 --> 00:06:20.500 And I'm sure if I asked each one of you, 00:06:20.620 --> 00:06:21.880 none of you would be saying, 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:23.440 I don't want that. 00:06:24.200 --> 00:06:25.000 Bah humbug. 00:06:25.380 --> 00:06:26.900 No, of course you want it. 00:06:27.080 --> 00:06:28.880 We all want the kingdom of God. 00:06:29.940 --> 00:06:32.700 And he thought he was going to get in. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:34.680 Because, look at verse 1, 00:06:35.260 --> 00:06:37.720 we're told he was a Pharisee. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:42.440 A member of the Jewish ruling council. 00:06:43.520 --> 00:06:45.740 He was a very religious man. 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:47.699 He read his Bible, 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:49.180 always praying, 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:51.259 always went to church, 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:54.120 following God's rules very carefully, 00:06:54.579 --> 00:06:57.600 and on the lookout to make sure everybody else was doing the same. 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:01.960 So if there was anybody who was going to enter the kingdom of God, 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:03.400 well Nicodemus would, 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:05.699 because he was a good religious guy. 00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:08.639 But, says Jesus, 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:11.360 look what verse 3 says again. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:15.800 No one can see the kingdom of God 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:19.120 unless he is born again. 00:07:20.280 --> 00:07:21.680 And we're no different. 00:07:22.699 --> 00:07:24.759 We all want this kingdom. 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:29.699 In fact, we're so desperate for something that's different to this life, 00:07:30.340 --> 00:07:33.360 that we'll do all kinds of things to make sure we'll qualify. 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:36.620 Even if we're not religious at all, 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:41.139 we'll try to live a good life and do good things. 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:42.459 Just in case, 00:07:42.819 --> 00:07:43.220 somehow, 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:44.660 it all adds up 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:47.459 and it will help me to get to something better. 00:07:48.280 --> 00:07:49.639 Or maybe we are religious. 00:07:50.660 --> 00:07:52.120 And maybe going to church, 00:07:52.840 --> 00:07:53.740 or to confession, 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:55.579 or getting baptised, 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:57.879 whether as a little person or a big person, 00:07:58.280 --> 00:07:59.480 or taking communion, 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:01.259 or making our communion, 00:08:01.660 --> 00:08:02.540 whatever it may be, 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:03.220 somehow, 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:04.700 all of these things, 00:08:05.080 --> 00:08:06.080 God will look and say, 00:08:06.400 --> 00:08:07.640 hey, you're really good. 00:08:08.260 --> 00:08:09.360 Come into my kingdom. 00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:13.160 But that's not what Jesus is saying. 00:08:13.640 --> 00:08:14.060 He says, 00:08:14.200 --> 00:08:15.100 none of these things, 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:16.900 none of our self-effort, 00:08:17.420 --> 00:08:18.840 will get you into the kingdom. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:21.900 It's only by being born again. 00:08:22.020 --> 00:08:23.800 You've got to have a second birth. 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:25.580 You see, 00:08:25.580 --> 00:08:28.379 Jesus is not talking about something natural. 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:31.740 He's talking about something supernatural. 00:08:31.740 --> 00:08:33.899 This isn't a physical birth. 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:37.600 He's saying you need to have a spiritual birth. 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:42.759 And he explains what that is in verse 5. 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:45.279 Look at the text in verse 5. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:47.899 Jesus said, 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:48.919 or answered, 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:50.240 I tell you the truth, 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:53.680 no one can enter the kingdom of God 00:08:53.680 --> 00:08:59.060 unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 00:08:59.059 --> 00:09:02.459 That's the spiritual birth he's talking about. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:03.939 It's strange words. 00:09:04.059 --> 00:09:05.439 It's a bit foreign to us. 00:09:05.939 --> 00:09:10.379 He's saying we need to be born of water and the Spirit. 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:12.819 Well, what does that mean, 00:09:12.959 --> 00:09:14.579 to be born of water and the Spirit? 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:16.779 I understand being born by my mother, 00:09:17.419 --> 00:09:20.739 but what does it mean to be born by water and the Spirit? 00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:23.419 Well, we're going to look at two passages 00:09:23.419 --> 00:09:27.340 in the Old Testament to help us understand it. 00:09:28.539 --> 00:09:32.539 It's really talking about us being made spiritually clean. 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:35.100 So go back in your Bibles to Ezekiel. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:36.860 The page number is there. 00:09:39.060 --> 00:09:39.700 868. 00:09:39.700 --> 00:09:50.379 Ezekiel was a prophet who looked forward. 00:09:52.140 --> 00:09:53.580 And in this section, 00:09:54.100 --> 00:09:56.000 well, in the two that we're going to look at, 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:00.980 he's talking about the work of the Spirit of God, 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:04.340 what he's going to do in people's lives, 00:10:05.140 --> 00:10:08.660 which ultimately brings about this spiritual birth. 00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:13.199 So we're going to read chapter 36, verse 25. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:21.319 So here God promises what he will do when the Spirit comes. 00:10:26.459 --> 00:10:28.079 Verse 25, he says, 00:10:28.219 --> 00:10:31.579 I will sprinkle clean water on you 00:10:31.579 --> 00:10:33.480 and you will be clean. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:36.679 I will cleanse you from all your impurities 00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:38.799 and from all your idols. 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:43.279 And remember, an idol is anyone or anything 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:46.279 that we make more important than God. 00:10:47.239 --> 00:10:48.299 Verse 26, 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:49.919 I will give you a new heart 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:51.919 and put a new spirit in you. 00:10:52.139 --> 00:10:54.699 I will remove from your heart of stone 00:10:54.699 --> 00:10:57.299 and give you a heart of flesh. 00:10:57.299 --> 00:11:01.039 And I will put my spirit in you. 00:11:01.839 --> 00:11:04.839 And move you to follow my decrees 00:11:04.839 --> 00:11:07.799 and be careful to keep my laws. 00:11:08.859 --> 00:11:09.579 Verse 29, 00:11:09.899 --> 00:11:15.059 I will save you from all your uncleanness. 00:11:15.839 --> 00:11:19.799 So do you see what this new spiritual life is about? 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:22.059 God is promising 00:11:22.059 --> 00:11:26.199 that he is going to come to wash us, 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:28.179 to clean us, 00:11:28.439 --> 00:11:30.179 and to purify us 00:11:30.179 --> 00:11:32.399 by, look at verse 25, 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:36.439 by sprinkling clean water on you. 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:40.539 Now that doesn't mean your baptism will clean you. 00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:45.039 That doesn't mean that a shower is going to clean you. 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:46.679 Well, it will clean you on the outside. 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:50.759 No, this is talking about a deep inner cleaning 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:52.240 on the inside. 00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:56.799 You see, the water is a symbol 00:11:56.799 --> 00:12:01.099 of the Spirit's cleansing power in our lives. 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:03.539 That's why Jesus said to Nicodemus, 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:07.360 you must be born of water and the Spirit. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:10.680 You see, there's something 00:12:10.680 --> 00:12:12.759 that keeps us all out of God's kingdom. 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:14.399 It's our sin. 00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:15.180 It's our failure. 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:16.159 It's our mess. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:19.159 It makes us unclean and makes us impure. 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:21.139 And they keep us from entering 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:24.120 into God's pure and perfect kingdom. 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:27.139 You can't have something that's dirty and messy 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:29.639 into something that's pure. 00:12:31.060 --> 00:12:33.460 But he says the Spirit will come. 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:36.399 And he's going to wash us and clean us 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:39.799 and purify us on the inside 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:44.459 so that we might be able to enter 00:12:44.459 --> 00:12:46.299 the kingdom of God. 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:48.480 So that's the first thing 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:51.459 about being born spiritually. 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:54.279 The second is similar 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:58.419 and it comes in the next chapter of Ezekiel. 00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.360 You can see it there. 00:12:59.459 --> 00:13:02.960 Ezekiel 37, verses 4 to 6. 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:05.100 Here we have an extraordinary picture, 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:09.139 an amazing vision of a valley, 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:10.600 a big, big valley, 00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:14.980 and it's covered in human bones, 00:13:15.660 --> 00:13:19.180 like an empty or an exposed graveyard. 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:21.360 And there's all these bones there. 00:13:22.660 --> 00:13:24.660 And Ezekiel, the prophet, is standing 00:13:24.660 --> 00:13:25.860 and God comes to him 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:27.440 and we'll pick it up in verse 4. 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:31.580 Then God said to Ezekiel, 00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:34.820 Prophesy to these bones 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:35.800 and say to them, 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:37.560 Dry bones, 00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:39.659 hear the word of the Lord. 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:42.860 This is what the Sovereign Lord 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:44.159 says to these bones. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:47.820 I will make breath enter you 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:49.820 and you will come to life. 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:52.580 I will attach tendons to you 00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:54.640 and make flesh come upon you 00:13:54.640 --> 00:13:56.480 and cover you with skin. 00:13:57.160 --> 00:13:59.220 I will put breath in you 00:13:59.220 --> 00:14:02.160 and you will come to life. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:04.960 Then you will know that I am the Lord. 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:08.120 Then down to verse 10. 00:14:10.160 --> 00:14:12.720 So I prophesied as he commanded me 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:16.000 and breath entered them. 00:14:16.920 --> 00:14:18.200 They came to life 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:20.720 and they stood up on their feet 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:22.620 a vast army. 00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:25.280 Now what an incredible picture. 00:14:26.400 --> 00:14:27.860 But you know what this picture is? 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:31.700 It's a description of our life. 00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:36.480 We are those bones in the valley. 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:39.800 It's describing us as lifeless 00:14:39.800 --> 00:14:41.259 and as dead. 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:44.500 And dead people can't make themselves alive again. 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:48.379 And unless we are given spiritual life, 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:51.039 we remain spiritually dead. 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:54.480 We remain people who are outside of God's kingdom. 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:57.179 But what did we read here in this section? 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:01.259 That God by his spirit would breathe life 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:03.120 into these bones. 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.860 And they came to life. 00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:09.980 Now Connor and Sarah, 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.480 you will well remember, 00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:14.659 and I'm sure many friends and family 00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:17.019 will remember those very first few days 00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:18.180 when Elaine was born. 00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:22.759 She wasn't able to manage life by herself. 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:26.320 Many people prayed for her. 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:30.600 Elaine needed medical intervention. 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:33.259 She needed to be placed 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:35.159 in a special unit 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:39.040 where she could get the oxygen 00:15:39.040 --> 00:15:39.820 that she needed. 00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:42.240 She needed that specialised care. 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:43.600 Otherwise, 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:45.620 she wouldn't be able to live. 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.759 Thankfully, she did. 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:50.700 And we praise God for that. 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:53.700 Well, just as Elaine needed 00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:55.779 medical intervention, 00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:58.919 what we need in our life 00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:01.220 is spiritual intervention. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:04.360 We need God to breathe 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:07.519 spiritual life into our lives. 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.600 You see, without God, 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:14.179 we are not able to make it on our own. 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:17.339 He's the one who resuscitates us. 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.860 He's the one who gives us 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:20.100 true life, 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:21.480 spiritual life. 00:16:22.459 --> 00:16:23.439 And that happens 00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:25.179 when we hear God's word. 00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:27.120 The Spirit of God 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:28.439 takes God's word 00:16:28.439 --> 00:16:31.539 and he breathes life into us. 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:33.659 Making us, as we said earlier, 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.759 into a new creation. 00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:38.799 He makes us spiritually alive 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:42.659 so that we can enter God's kingdom 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:44.500 and enjoy God 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:45.659 and live with him 00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:47.139 and be his children 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:50.479 treasured and cared for by him. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.300 So, 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:56.440 if we are to enter the kingdom, 00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:59.080 we must be born 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:00.200 into the kingdom. 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:02.860 We must have a second birth. 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.299 We must be made 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:05.860 spiritually clean 00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:08.240 and we must be made 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:10.480 spiritually alive. 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:14.420 Now, to bring this all together, 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:17.279 we need to ask 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:19.019 two big questions. 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.379 Here's the first question. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.200 How can I 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:23.460 experience 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:25.379 this new birth? 00:17:27.139 --> 00:17:28.980 Well, we must understand 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:29.879 it is something 00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:30.960 God does 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.119 for us. 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.480 Go back to 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:34.460 John's Gospel, 00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:35.339 chapter 3, 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:36.059 where we were 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.019 at the beginning 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.980 on page 1065. 00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:43.900 John, chapter 3, 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:45.120 verse 6. 00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:46.759 And we're asking 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.259 the question, 00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:48.460 how can I, 00:17:48.620 --> 00:17:49.360 for myself, 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:51.180 experience this new 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.920 spiritual life? 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.759 Well, look at verse 6. 00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.519 It says there, 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:01.319 flesh gives birth 00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:02.079 to flesh, 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:04.099 but the spirit 00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:05.400 gives birth 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.140 to spirit. 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:07.280 You see, 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.700 it's making a very, 00:18:08.820 --> 00:18:10.259 very obvious statement. 00:18:10.560 --> 00:18:11.780 We have the ability 00:18:11.780 --> 00:18:12.920 to make 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:14.300 physical life, 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.980 but we don't 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:16.780 have the ability 00:18:16.780 --> 00:18:17.460 to create 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:18.840 spiritual life. 00:18:20.300 --> 00:18:21.560 That same thought 00:18:21.560 --> 00:18:22.100 was said 00:18:22.100 --> 00:18:22.680 at the beginning 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.700 of John's Gospel. 00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.840 John, chapter 1. 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:26.120 Just go back a page. 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.480 John, chapter 1, 00:18:27.540 --> 00:18:28.180 verse 12. 00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:28.380 John, 00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:28.680 John, 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:28.700 John, 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:28.759 John, 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.180 John, 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:30.180 John, 00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:30.680 John, 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:30.720 John, 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.240 John, 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:32.240 John, 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.620 John, 00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:33.240 John, 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.180 John, 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:34.200 John, 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:34.240 John, 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:34.280 John, 00:18:34.280 --> 00:18:34.320 John, 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:36.120 John, 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:37.959 it says there 00:18:37.959 --> 00:18:38.699 in verse 12, 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:39.719 to all who 00:18:39.719 --> 00:18:40.639 received him, 00:18:40.719 --> 00:18:41.459 that's to all 00:18:41.459 --> 00:18:42.379 who received 00:18:42.379 --> 00:18:42.919 Jesus, 00:18:43.459 --> 00:18:44.779 to those who 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:46.519 believed in his 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:46.739 name.