John 3:1 - 10 (KJV) --- Jesus and Nicodemus

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again (GK.

BORN FROM ABOVE), he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Becoming a New Person ------- Matthew 5:20 “unless your righteousness exceeds the Pharisees”

A. The New Birth is a Necessity (v.3)

1. The Importance of the words, "cannot see the kingdom of God."
   1. One must be "born again" or else he will never "see" (John 3:3) nor "enter" (John 3:5) God’s Kingdom
   2. It is an absolute imperative that a person be born again (John 3:7).
2. The New Birth is Spiritual (v.4-8)
3. The new birth is a spiritual birth, the birth of a new power and spirit in life. (2 Cor. 5:17) a. It is not reformation [or improvement] of the old nature (Romans 6:6):

“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."