The focus of the message this morning is upon chapter 3, verse 3, John 3, verse 3, where Jesus said, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. And so the occasion upon which our Lord Jesus was speaking these things was that he was witnessing to Nicodemus, who had come to him by night. And Nicodemus, as you know, as the scripture says here, that he is a Pharisee. And his name, Nicodemus, he was a ruler of the Jews. Now, he was a teacher of the law. He knew the scriptures well. But he had no knowledge regarding, you must be born again. To him, the new birth was a profound mystery. And therefore, when Jesus declared the necessity of being born again, he asked this question, how can these things be? How is it that one can be born again? That's the title of the message this morning. How can these things be? And these things is talking about the new birth. And so may God give us grace as churches and Christians to be witnessing the gospel. If ever we needed the pouring out of God's spirit in the witnessing of the gospel, it is in our time. But remember that when you go witnessing that you're dealing with someone If they're unsaved, you're witnessing to someone that's just like Nicodemus. He was profoundly ignorant of the gospel, and we must make it plain to them and teach them regarding the new birth. Now, we see that Nicodemus' question, how can these things be, revealed his complete ignorance of the necessity of the new birth. When you go to someone that's not a Christian, this is what you're dealing with. And remember this, follow the outline of our Lord Jesus Christ here in this chapter, the verses that we have just read. Now we know that he was completely ignorant, though he was what some would seem to be a doctor of the law. In fact, he would be considered a scholar amongst his peers. But he did not know the very basic thing that to enter into the kingdom of God, you must be born again. And we see his ignorance accented in verse four, chapter three. He says, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? So I would like for us now, as I mentioned earlier, we're going to be looking at verses nine through 15, and we have Jesus' answer to Nicodemus, to the question, how can these things be? So I'd like for us to note three things here in our Lord's answer to Nicodemus' question, how can these things be? I want us to note in verses nine and 11, Our Lord Jesus Christ reproved Nicodemus for being a teacher of scripture and yet ignorant of the necessity of the new birth. Secondly, we want to note in verses 12 and 13 how that Nicodemus, being unconverted, didn't understand spiritual things. He only understood things according to his nature, his own sinful nature. And so he needs to be taught that he needs to see things spiritually. He needs to see the new birth as something spiritual. It is not a physical birth. And then lastly, we want to note here in verses 14 and 15 that our Lord Jesus clearly confirms that his death on the cross is the means of bringing about the new birth his shed blood on the cross. So whenever you're witnessing the gospel, you must preach the cross. I think it was Spurgeon, he said in all of his sermons, no matter what he was speaking on, he would like to hasten to the cross in that message because this is what our faith points to. All that we are in Christ is through Jesus Christ and him crucified. So first of all, we're going to note how that our Lord Jesus lovingly reproved Nicodemus for being a teacher of the law, and yet he was ignorant of being born again. See, if you will, now verse 9, we read these words, Nicodemus then answered and said unto him, how can these things So what we want to note here, first of all, is what do we mean by these things when he says, how can these things be? That is, what do we mean when we speak about the new birth? It's defined very well by William Burgett. He explains the new birth as a birth of water and of the spirit, and this we read in Verse 5, look up at verse 5. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again of the Spirit and of the water, he cannot see, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Burgett says the birth of water and the Spirit is not a natural birth, but a supernatural and spiritual birth wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God whose working is like water, cleansing, purifying the soul from all sinful defilement. The Apostle Paul speaks of the new birth in Titus 3, 4-5. And he says it originates, the new birth originates from the kindness and love of God our Savior, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us by the washing of regeneration. Regeneration means to be born again, literally. By the washing away of our sins, we are reborn by Christ. This is the work of God. and also the renewing of the Holy Spirit. That's what Paul says to Titus, Titus 3, 4, and 5. No further, the new birth is a miraculous act. It's a miraculous act of God's sovereign power. And it resembles, you'll notice in verse 8, it resembles the wind and its effects. Note verse 8, John 3. Jesus said, God's sovereign power is like the wind that bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. So is everyone that is born of the Spirit, is of birth by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit working in the heart. We need to see that being saved or witnessing to others and seeing them come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It's all a work of God. It's a work of the Holy Spirit. So whenever the Word of God is preached and souls hear that preaching of the Word, it is the Holy Spirit working through the Word that calls sinners to repentance. And so we need to pray much. If we would like to see a visitation of God's spirit, if we'd like to see revival, if we'd like to see many souls coming to faith in Jesus Christ, we must submit to the power and grace of calling upon God to send his Holy Spirit mightily. Some of those who had seen visitations of God in revival and reformation, referred to it, I believe it was Jonathan Edwards, he calls it a visitation of God's spirit. And when it's like a reformation or revival, it's like an extraordinary visitation of God's spirit. It is by God, it is not by our own words that we speak. The words that we speak should be the clear word of God. And it is through the hearing of the word of God that sinners come to faith in Christ. So our Lord Jesus Christ, in verse 10, rather reproves Nicodemus, he being a teacher, a scholar, a highly educated leader amongst the Jews. In verse 10, when Jesus said, you must be born again, he says, He answered Nicodemus, art thou a master or a teacher of Israel, and knowest thou not these things? And so we see that it is so that there are many who can know a lot of theology. They may know the scriptures frontwards and backwards, but they may not be born again. I believe it was George Whitefield, he had mentioned how that in his day, it was amazing how that so many men were ministers of the gospel, they were preachers. And they did not even make a valid profession of faith of Jesus Christ. And that was like a great bane upon the church in his time. And so George Whitefield was asked, why is it then, when you preach and you go from place to place to preach, and he did. He always got around to preaching on, you must be born again. So they asked him, why do you do that? And he said, it's because men and women, children need to be born again. And so we need to remember that when we witness, you're dealing with people, as I said earlier, that are as ignorant as Nicodemus, because they don't have the spirit of God in them to teach them these things. And so we have to depend heavily 100% upon God, upon his Holy Spirit working in their hearts. And so as Jesus lovingly reproves Nicodemus because of his ignorance, he said, are you a teacher of Israel, master, or some would say a doctor of Israel, and you know not these things? There is a commentary, it's called the Fourfold Gospel Commentary, so aptly explains that Nicodemus should have known about the new birth. It was taught in the Old Testament. It was taught, obviously, in the New Testament. And we see we should not, in our time, be ignorant of these things. This is a very important chapter in the book of John in regards to Salvation. The new birth is necessary for anyone to be saved and to be a member of the church. But the fourfold gospel commentary so aptly explains that Nicodemus should have known the new birth. He says, the Jewish teachers or doctors of the law made very arrogant claims to knowledge. But it often happens that the professedly learned are remarkably unacquainted with the first principles of their religion. The first principles of Christianity is the new birth. And so Nicodemus should have understood the new birth. We see it being given to us in writing of Moses in Deuteronomy 30 verse 6. Moses alludes to the new birth here. Let me read that passage. Moses says in Deuteronomy 30, verse 6, and the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all that thou mayest live. So the commandment then to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, this is the work of the Holy Spirit. Only those who are born of God can do this. And this was a way of expressing it in the Old Testament. Also, the Apostle Paul, of course, that was after the time of Nicodemus, but we see in the New Testament, in Romans 2, 28 and 29, The Apostle Paul, alluding to the new birth, he says, for he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. So Jesus declared to Nicodemus that he must be born again. And this is what we must tell those who are lost. This is the message that needs to be preached. If you want to be a Christian, if you want to be in the church, if you want to be in the kingdom of God, you must be born again. We know it in verse 11, Jesus says unto Nicodemus, verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know and testify that we have seen, and ye receive not our witness. In other words, our Lord Jesus Christ was witnessing the gospel. He was witnessing about having a new heart and repenting of your sins. And Jesus said, you have not been receiving that. He's been teaching that, but they are not receiving that. And this is the way it is when you're dealing with a person that is unconverted. They do not have a mind to be able to receive these things. And we need to pray that God would open up their heart. It's said of Lydia that God opened up her heart. And this is what has to happen to receive the knowledge of the new birth. We need to pray for sinners that God would open their heart as you proclaim the gospel to them. Now, we see that Jesus is telling Nicodemus, the problem, Nicodemus, is really your own heart. You're not receiving what I say, but you must be born again if you would enter the kingdom of God. He was very well learned in Things of the world, natural things, but not the spiritual things, the heavenly things that are revealed from God's word. Now, Jesus said you did not receive our witness, but our Lord is telling him in verse 11 that what I tell you, Nicodemus, is the truth. Jesus declared with certainty the truth of the new birth. that truth which he had received of his father, and he testified to Nicodemus that he had received this of the father, and he delivers it unto us, and it is for sure. And there are things here I'd like for us to note. In verse 11, verily, verily, our Lord Jesus said, when you see verily, verily, it's in the Greek, it's amen, amen, it means it is so, it is so. And maybe you wonder why the doubling there, and what does that mean? Well, the doubling of verily, verily, verily, Jesus said this frequently in the Gospels, is to show how certain it is. Now, when we want to make certain, we take a vow, right? We swear before God. And to take a vow, and you have witnesses, there must be two witnesses. And so some think that this is actually verification, confirmation by Using verily, verily, you're calling those two words the two witnesses. Some look at it that way. So you see, it's very certain what he is saying about the new birth. And he said further, he says, we speak that we do know. He said, but I'm telling you I know. because I received it of the Father. And we do testify what we have seen. We know it, we have seen it, that is, with the spiritual eye in our heart, we understand it. And so this is, you have verily, verily, and then he says, we speak that we do know and testify that we have seen. Here is further confirmation. This is true. because it is revealed to him, the son of the Father. His witness and his disciples' witness are in agreement with regards to, if you want to enter the kingdom of God, it is through the new birth. There is no other way. And so in verses 12 through 13, our Lord Jesus Christ then instructs Nicodemus as to his problem. As a person is unconverted, we have to understand that they, as I was saying earlier, they do not understand spiritual things. When you're talking to someone that's unconverted, they see only things that we know by nature. We are speaking to them and they're reasoning things out in their mind by their human reason. But we know that to understand the things that are spiritual, you must understand them by the Holy Spirit's leading your mind and opening up the scriptures to you. So you need to pray for them that God would open their heart. Now notice in verses 12 through 13, the Lord then reveals to Nicodemus the need to make a distinction between the things that are natural, that is the things that we have by nature, all of us, as human beings on the planet, we have in common reason and knowledge of nature, of the earth. But there is a mind, though, that one has when they're born again that has the indwelling Holy Spirit, and it is that mind that understands the things that are in heaven. Keep that in mind when you're dealing with someone. You need to pray that God will open up their hearts because they only understand what they have by nature. And we need to pray that God would open up their hearts. In verse 12, Jesus says, if I had told you of earthly things and you believe not, how shall you believe if I tell you of heavenly things? Our Lord Jesus Christ is using an argument from the lesser to the greater. If you don't understand the things that are less, how can you understand that which is higher or that which is more? And the lesser things are the earthly things, and the greater are the heavenly things. So he need to understand the reason why you're not getting it, Dicodemus, is that you're thinking only with an earthy mind. And there is a mindset that God gives us that is a spiritual mindset that can comprehend the things that are spiritual. And since those who are not born again cannot understand spiritual things, that is because of the earthliness of their mind, they certainly would not understand the more difficult things, the teaching of things that are spiritual, the things that are heavenly. And the things that are heavenly is that of the spiritual birth. You must be born again. And so the natural man is spiritually dead to the knowledge of that which is spiritual. He is incapable of understanding the unseen and the spiritual, the holy and heavenly things of God. He does not comprehend. Paul tells us this very thing, does he not? In 1 Corinthians 2 12-14. Now we, Paul says to the Corinthians 2 12-14, We have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God, which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness. unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." When you are witnessing the gospel and when the gospel is being preached in the churches, we need to hold up the pastors who preach the gospel. And they preach the gospel in different places of the scriptures. When that gospel is being preached, we need to pray for them. that God would open up their hearts, that they may be able to understand those things. It is through prayer that God works to open up the heart. They're dead, spiritually. The natural, unconverted man has not any true spiritual discernment. And thus, Nicodemus, though he was a very intelligent man, He wasn't converted and he could not comprehend those things that are spiritual. Jesus here then divides spiritual things into two divisions, earthly and heavenly. In distinguishing between earthly and heavenly things, I'd like to just give you this one comment by the family Bible notes. Earthly things, are things which take place on earth, such as being born of the Spirit, the evidences which are obvious to the senses. Nicodemus did not understand even the earthly things that had spiritual content. And so he couldn't understand the heavenly things, which were even far greater, which relates to God, who God is. who Christ is, heaven and eternity, the evidences of which are not addressed to the sense. Evidence is not to the sense. This requires faith. That's why the scriptures are foolishness to the unbeliever. And we need to pray that God would open up their hearts, that they may receive the word of God and that we may declare it powerfully and plainly And further we note in verse 13, Christ explains to Nicodemus regarding earthly things as they relate to heavenly things. In verse 13 he says, and no man hath ascended up to heaven. but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man, which is in heaven. What is this saying? This is that which the Lord has given, and these are heavenly spiritual things. I like what Wimberget says in regards to this verse. He says this verse 13, think about what we just read, read it again, now that he ascended, this is Jesus talking to Nicodemus, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth, he that descended is the same also that ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things. So this verse is really kind of an example of some difficult things for even sometimes believers to understand. And so what is being said here? Burkett says, this verse proves two distinct natures in Christ, namely a divine nature as he was God and a human nature as a man. In his human nature, he was then upon earth. when he spoke these words. In his divine nature, he was at that instant as he spoke, with regards to his divine nature, he was in heaven. You'll find as you go through the Gospel of John, verse after verse approves the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is another one. So what he is saying here in this verse is this. is that, let's look at it again. He that ascended, that is, Christ ascended. What is it, but also that he first descended. In his human nature, he came down. Actually, it was his divine nature that was there. And God gave a human nature to Christ, and he was born in Bethlehem, and that is his descending into the lower parts of the earth. And it is he that was born in Bethlehem that descended. He is the same also that ascended. He's the same Christ that ascended into heaven and he ascended bodily. He took upon himself his body on earth. He came down from heaven as God. And so we have one person in Christ. We don't have two persons, a physical body. of Jesus and a spiritual Jesus. We have one person with two natures. With his divine nature, he came down and took upon himself the human nature. At Christmastime, we focus upon the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, his coming down to earth. But the one who was born in Bethlehem and took upon himself a body who now has two natures in one man, He ascended into heaven with that body into heaven, as we also will ascend unto heaven when the Lord comes again. And Burkett's comment, let me read that. He says, this proves two distinct natures in Christ, namely a divine nature as he was God and a human nature as man. in his human nature, he was then upon earth. When he spoke these words in his divine nature, when he was on earth physically talking in this particular verse at that present time, at that instant that he was speaking, he was also God in heaven. Now these are spiritual things that our Lord brings out as an example to Nicodemus. This is very profound. How could he be a real man and be the God that's seated at the right hand of God? I mean, he later ascended and went to the right hand of God. So we have to say it this way. He has two natures. He has a human nature, he has a divine nature, and that in one person. And so, it says that Christ on earth came down from heaven, even the Son of Man, which is in heaven, the words which is in heaven, speaks of Christ having a presence on earth, while as God, he at that moment, as he was speaking, here in this passage, had his presence in heaven, his divine presence. Christ retained his divine omnipresence That is, his presence in every place in heaven and earth. While in his humiliation, he yet had a local human presence remaining on earth. So there are things that are very profound, those things that we know upon earth. But we want to rise above that as believers and see the spiritual things on heaven and the things on earth and in heaven. Now, we want to note thirdly here, verses 14 and 15, our Lord Jesus Christ then clearly confirms that his death on the cross in verses 14 and 15 clearly teaches us that his death on the cross is the means by which the new birth comes to us all. is by the shedding of Christ in his real human nature, could die as our substitute, redeem us, and then ascend back into heaven. Note, if you will, verse 14. Our Lord says, and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. So our Lord Jesus Christ here was teaching before he went to the cross that he would be lifted up. That is, that he would go to the cross. And he likens his going to the cross to that of the serpent that Moses lifted up to the people, who though they had disobeyed God and they were bit by poisonous serpents, that those who looked to the brazen serpent that Moses held up, they lived. And that parallels our look of faith to Jesus Christ and him crucified. We overcome death. by looking at Jesus Christ and him crucified. This lifting up of the serpent in the wilderness, we have this recorded in Numbers 21, verse nine. And the scripture says, and Moses made a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent, he lived. This is what salvation, this is how we receive salvation. By the grace of faith. looking to Christ and Him crucified. And so when you're witnessing the gospel, this is where you want to go. You want to tell the people that you're witnessing to that God calls upon you to repent of your sins and to look to the promise of the cross, and that is if you believe in Jesus Christ and Him crucified as your substitute, as your redeemer, as your mediator, You too shall live. Now there's a bit of a difference though between those who looked at the brazen serpent. They lived again, but they also died. But with Christ, Jesus is saying, you look to me and you will have eternal life. That is never ending life. This is the promise of the gospel. That's the good news of the gospel that we have. and Jesus Christ and him crucified. And so Burkett goes on to say that Christ having instructed Nicodemus in the doctrine of regeneration, in the former verses here, in verse 14, he instructs us in the death of the Messiah. Being lifted up means that he would die the death of crucifixion. It was necessary for Christ to die the crucifixion. by crucifixion because those who die, those who are dead in trespasses and sin are under a curse because they disobeyed God. But Jesus, as our substitute, dies in our place. He takes upon himself the burden of the judgment of our sins. and his taking that upon himself relieves us of that through faith in him. And so it is necessary that our Lord Jesus Christ die. He mentioned many times about his dying. You know the thing that really puzzles me, reading through the Gospel of Mark, I believe there's four different times that the Lord Jesus Christ said that he must die and that he must go to the Father. He told his disciples that. And then when it actually happened, it seemed like they were just so puzzled about what was going on. And it goes to show that even the apostles, and we've heard a lot of things out of the scriptures, and then when it comes time for us to Go to those scriptures that instruct us and give us peace and quiet our hearts. It seems that those things are far from us as it was from the apostles being told over and over again to expect that Jesus must die, that their Savior must die. And so we see in John 8, 28, our Lord Jesus speaks of his crucifixion. He says, and when ye have lifted up the Son of Man, speaking of himself, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. Everything, every word, every action that Jesus did was in conformity to the will of his Father. It was the Father's will for him to go to the cross, and he went willingly. And so how we thank God that he gave his son and that he willingly died for our sins. And so there is a stark contrast. as I was mentioning, regarding those, though there is a parallel, yet there's a stark contrast between Jesus dying on the cross and those who were bit in the Old Testament and looked at the brazen serpent and lived. And that is the main contrast, stark contrast, is that, dear Christians, believing in Christ and being born again, you have eternal life. And that eternal life is now, and it will last throughout eternity. And so then, as we now come to this last verse, 15, let us note the promise of God to all who shall look by faith unto Christ, that they, as we said, shall have eternal life. Verse 15 says that whosoever believes in Him. And this is the verse that you want to ensure that when you're witnessing to sinners, they repent of their sins, they are to look to the cross of Christ, what He did there for us and as us. He took upon Him what He was not. He took upon Himself sin, our sin, all of it. and he gave us his righteousness. And so we are made righteous through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. The great promise here. whosoever believes in me. And then we know what verse 16, John 3, 16 is. If I'd have gotten in there, that would have been two sermons in itself. But that is really a very compact presentation of the gospel, John 3, 16. But we see the promise of the gospel, the beauty of the gospel. The good news is that God has taken us from death, being dead in trespasses and sins, to faith in Christ, not only to be made alive, but to be made alive forever, and to be the sons of God, and to be with Him and enjoy Him for all eternity. That is good news. And so then, by way of application of this message about the good things that God has done through His Son in giving Him to die for us. I want us to note here that being born again is what God does and we must faithfully witness the gospel. And seeing then that we are born again by true faith and Jesus Christ and Him crucified, it would be well when you are witnessing of the gospel to present to those you're witnessing to what is given to us in question two of the Heidelberg Catechism. How many things are necessary, say, for them to know that they may live and die happily in that comfort? Three things. So when you're witnessing the gospel, There are three things that you want to say by way of application. The first thing is you want to proclaim to them from the Word of God that they must have an understanding of how great their sin and misery is. If they don't know about their sin and misery, what would they repent of? And so We are to know our sin and misery. And a good verse for that, you can write this down, Romans 3, verses 10 through 12. As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, and they are together become unprofitable. There is none. that doeth good, know not why. When witnessing the gospel, the sinner needs to understand that there is no righteousness that they can add to the righteousness of God. And God gives to us the complete righteousness of Christ and all of our righteousness, which is, as Isaiah says, our filthy rags. Then we put all this on Christ and he gives to us his complete righteousness. There's none righteous, no not one. We need to know and we need to witness the gospel in such a way that we lovingly mention to declare to them that they have no righteousness and they need that and they will find it in Christ. Secondly, they must know how they are redeemed from all their sin and misery. They need to know their sin and misery, then they need to know how they are redeemed from their sin and misery. 1 Peter 1, verses 18 through 19 says, for as much as we know that you are not redeemed with silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. And then thirdly, coming to that third point, as they look by faith to Christ as Redeemer through faith, they need to also be thankful. Learn to be thankful in that they walk according to God's word out of thankfulness, not out of a work's righteousness, but because of gratitude for your salvation. as Peter says in 1 Peter 2.9, but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. So, dear Christian, by true repentance of one's sins, and by true faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, one is born again. As Paul says in Romans 10, 9 and 10, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Amen. Shall we pray?