born-again means sermon outline

SYZYGUS IN CHRIST CHURCH
SUNDAY SERMON NOTES
PTR.DENNIS PANGANIBAN
DEC.6, 2009 @9:30AM

1ST READING: Ezekiel 36:22-32

SERMON TEXT: John 3:1-21

SUBJECT: Born-Again

THEME: INDICATIONS of a Truly Born-again

INSIGHTS: RE: SINNER’S PRAYER (The prayer is nowhere found in the Bible, but proponents often point to Romans 10:9-10, Luke 18:13-14, and Matthew 7:7 as their sources.) (One such critic has labeled the prayer an "apostasy" since the presumption is that salvation can instantly be received (prior to baptism) upon confessing one's sins and accepting Christ as Savior and Lord) and ALTAR CALL (Many preachers make use of the altar call, notably Billy Graham, Benny Hinn, Franklin Graham, Reinhardt Bonnke). Many Calvinists object to altar calls, believing they mislead people into confusing outward conduct with spiritual change. In doing so, they argue, altar calls may actually give people false assurance about their salvation (1).

INTRODUCTION:

Possibly Nicodemus came at night because was

1)afraid of public association with Jesus that will risk his favor to his fellow Pharisees among whom Jesus was generally unpopular, or 2)he wanted a lengthy discussion without interruptions . But the timing is significant for John in terms of the light/darkness motif—compare 9:4, 11:10, 13:30 (especially), 19:39, and 21:3. it symbolizes the spiritual darkness of his heart – came from darkness and came in to the presence of true light( Jesus ).

2:23-25. Those people in Jerusalem believed in Jesus because of the signs he performed. Nicodemus has apparently seen them too. But for Nicodemus all the signs have meant is that Jesus is a great teacher sent from God. His approach to Jesus is well-intentioned but theologically inadequate; he has failed to grasp the messianic implications of the sign-miracles.

v.2 “we know” in plural form—represented those (nation Israel—v.10) who believe because of the signs that Jesus did.

v.3- “kingdom of God”—is the rule and reign of God in the lives of His servants. Entrance in the kingdom of God requires a birth of the Spirit.

v.5. born of “water”— purification—cleanse from sin and be purified. and the “Spirit” – breath o wind--regeneration--

v.8 “wind” –cannot be seen but can be heard and felt-likewise , a man might not understand the Spirit, but he can know its activity in his life by the effects it has on him.

v.21- “truth”—is the revelation brought by and revealed in Jesus.

THESIS: WHAT ARE THE INDICATIONS OF A TRULY BORN-AGAIN? sign of something: a sign, signal, or symptom that something exists or is true.

PROPOSITION: THERE ARE 4 INDICATIONS OF A TRULY BORN-AGAIN---

1. he is spiritually alive (regeneration)—vv. 3, 5, 10- he will now illuminated in the Word of God because there is now a communication between the man who is indwelled by the Spirit and the Scripture whose author is the Spirit. 1) he knows the truth ( Jesus ).2) he hungers or crave for the truth (The majority of all born-again? Christians read the Bible once or twice a week, ...3) he live by the truth. See Rom.8:16- Spirit as testimony, Acts 5:32-Spirit was given, Gal.5:17- contrary to each other Spirit and sinful nature.

2. he is enabled by the power of God (unconditional election)—v.8. the Spirit can not be controlled or understood. His salvation are all by God’s grace.

3. he is the one who truly believes (genuine faith/ God-given faith)—vv.15,16,18—it includes trust and commitment to Christ as Lord and Savior which results in receiving a new nature (v7) which produces a change in heart and obedience to the Lord (2:23-25).

4. he is the one who hates darkness and love the light (purification/ righteous)—v.19,20,21 -- because the power that saves him is also the power that keeps him. He can now walk in a narrow way which is also known the process of sanctification. His old sinful nature will be mortified and the new nature will be revealed little by little.

CONCLUSION:

“Born again” refers to the doctrine of regeneration in which a person who was born “dead in sin and trespasses” is “made alive in Christ” by the work of the Holy Spirit (cf. Ephesians 2:1, 5). The “kingdom of God” is that reality that Jesus Christ inaugurated during his first advent and which he will consummate at his return. It is essentially the reign and rule of Jesus Christ over all things (cf. Philippians 2:10-11). The kingdom of God is already here, but yet fully realized.

CHALLENGE: