The Gospel - Do I need to be born again or from above?
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The Gospel - for the next nn min. keep in mind the second birth. What does born again mean? Do I need this?
Sermon text with italics and bold and John 3:16 and v. 20.
Three readings
Rom 7:7-10 – Paul describing his sin problem.
John 3:3-7 - Nicodemus's Q & A - being born again – passage well known from John 3
1 Cor 15:39-49 - context of being made alive – what is death – eternal life. Comparing the differences between alive and dead.
(just after reading the three passages above in succession)
- Henry Drummond (1851–1897), Scottish writer and evangelist. His book, Natural Law in the Spiritual World, was published in 1883. said this,
- "The first law of biology is this; That which is Mineral is Mineral; that which is Flesh is Flesh; that which is Spirit is Spirit. The mineral remains in the inorganic world until it is seized upon by a something called Life outside the inorganic world: the natural man remains the natural man, until a Spiritual Life from without the natural life seizes upon him, regenerates him, changes him into a spiritual man”.
•I think Paul referring to this in 1 Cor.
•Says men/women are different that the beasts – different than fishes – different than birds.
•He says there is a difference between celestial and terrestrial – the glories of the two are different.
•Also moon, stars and each star different than the other.
•Then he talks about resurrection – we read that we are sown in corruption, dishonour - natural and raised in incorruption, glory - spiritual.
•Verse 42-44 – Resurrection of the dead. All are resurrected. Note to define incorruption: incorruption simply means: 14th century archaic : the quality or state of being free from physical decay
•I want to point out kindly that if you are not born from above, you will be resurrected with a body that is prepared to live forever in hell
(Sermon note: This is designed for a 30 min. Gospel message. Sometimes it needs to be expanded to 45 min. I don't like to add to this message, but if needed I spend 15 min in Luke 16 here speaking on the rich man and Lazarus)
- Matt 25:41 Then shall He say also to those on the left, Go from me, cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
- Rev 20:13-15 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged each according to their works: 14 and death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. 15 And if any one was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
•Resurrection – Rev. 20 the rejected NOT written in the book of life and 21 the redeemed are written in the book of life.
•Verse 47 (1 Chr 15): 1st man, Adam, is of the earth, earthly 2nd man is the Lord of heaven.
•Who is the 1st man Adam. That is him and all that have been born from him – earthly.
•Who is the 2nd man? Lord Jesus Christ. He is born from heaven.
•Conceived from the Holy Spirit. Come down from heaven (heavenly Manna) .
•Lived sinless life, died for your sins and mine.
•2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
•Philippians 2:6–8 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
•Buried (Matt 27:60) and resurrected on the third day (Luke 24:6).
Romans 7 - Sin
•Romans 7 describes Paul’s experience and testimony with sin. Paul understood the law. Was a Pharisee. Law is impossible to follow to the letter. Paul sees sin working death in him. Can you relate to that?
•Tie all of this together now: God formed Adam from the ground – earthly. He is called a son of God. The Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Holy Ghost “from above”.
•God’s word here is saying all shall be resurrected. We are all born earthly – from earth , sinful, and apart from God.
•All of us are of the 1st Adam’s linage corruption dishonour natural. We read in 1 Cor we shall be raised incorruption glory spiritual
Conclusion
Jn 3:13: And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
•Rom 3:10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
•John 3 echoes the words in 1 Cor 15. Lord Jesus Christ talks about being born again (Newberry margin has born from above.)
•John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Invitation to Salvation
Jesus Christ says
Jn 10: 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Jn 14: 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me