Mark Broadbent
*Many people think it is alright to believe God but for God taking over our life is a no no
*Some people say that Christians are good people but they do not want to be extremist
*Is that what the Bible says?
*John 3:1-9: Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
*John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
*Nicodemus came to Jesus at night because he was worried other people might look at him visiting Jesus
*There is Christians and Born-again Christians but Jesus said Christians are Born-again Christians
v5:
*There is a natural, physical birth but we have to go through spiritual birth to live a spiritual life with God
*Bible talks about old life dying and new life born
*Most people do not understand
*Acting like a Christian does not make us a Christian
*We can only be a Christians or a non-Christian
1. It does not mean we become a freak show
*1 Corinthians 9:20-22: To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
*In order to reach people, we need to be connected with them
2. It does not mean we can sin again
*Being a Christian does not mean our life is going to be perfect
*1 Corinthians 3:11-15: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
*Some of us may wonder how much good we have done
*v15: If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Then what does the new life mean?
*It does mean we will be transformed
*2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
*Romans 8:1: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
*Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
*The way we become Christians, we began to care and love people we never care like never before
*John 4:13-14: Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
*If you want satisfaction and fulfillment of life, then be born again
*John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
*He will take ownership in our lives
*It does not mean that God would answer all our prayers but He will let His Spirit live in you and do life with it
So, are you born again?
*God is asking
"Would you let God take over your lives"
not
"Christianity taking over our life"
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