You Must Be Born Again
John 3:1-15
Today is Reformation Sunday, when we remember Martin Luther igniting the theological debates by nailing his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg. The Reformation that followed sought to cleanse the church of selling Indulgences, much like Jesus cleared the Temple courts. But even more at stake was the understanding of faith and grace and God’s ultimate sovereignty over all things, including our salvation.
We Have a Natural Spiritual Dullness
We can generally recognize good and evil (3:1-2)
We can grasp some, but not all, theological ideas (3:9-12)
We are unable to truly love, value and serve God on our own (3:3)
The Holy Spirit Generates Spiritual Life
It is necessary to be born of water and the Spirit (3:5, Ez. 36:25-27)
The regenerative work of the Spirit precedes faith (3:5-8)
The divinity of the Spirit is revealed in seed form (3:8)
Jesus Is the Foundation of Our New Life
He spoke of what he knew and had seen (3:11 – the Father 1:18)
He descended from heaven – God/man (3:13, 1:14)
His cross, resurrection and ascension enable our faith and give eternal life (3:14-1 5)
