Changes in the Position of Believers

John 3:1-15, NIV
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." ?
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You 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."
9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?
11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven?the Son of Man.
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.


Introduction: The bewildering question of Nicodemus
① He was a Pharisee of legalism.
② He was a Jew in a high position.
③ He was a teacher of Judaism.

He had a feeling of emptiness and a lack of meaning in his life and came to the Lord secretly.
① He acknowledged Jesus as a man of God based on what he had witnessed.
② Jesus told him the difference between a spiritual person and a physical person.

Only a change in our spiritual position will allow understanding of the spiritual world.

1. A new creation (2Co 5:17).
1) Adam, the first creation, and the death of his spirit.
- Adam became only flesh and lost his spiritual sight and knowledge (Ge 2:17).
2) A life born again with water and the Holy Spirit.
- His spirit becomes alive, and he realizes the spiritual world and lives by faith (Jn 3:5-6).
3) A life of calculation or a life of faith? (Ro 1:17; Mk 11:23).

2. A new nationality (Col 1:13).
1) The people of the devil’s nation.
① They do not know God (Ps 14:1).
② They have the human-centered values of an animal (Eph 2:2-3).
2) The people of the Son’s nation of love.
① They receive salvation through Jesus (Ro 10:9-10).
② They live a life of serving God (Mk 12:30; Mt 6:33).
③ They are sheep that God tends (Ps 95:7; 100:3).

3. A new life (Gal 2:20).
1) The experience of becoming one with Christ on the Cross (Ro 6:4-5).
2) A life of becoming one with Christ through resurrection (Eph 2:4-6).
3) Jesus is the Lord of my life.
① My righteousness (Ro 3:24). ④ My blessing (2Co 8:9).
② My holiness (1Co 6:11). ⑤ My eternal life (Jn 10:28; 11:25-26).
③ My health (1Pe 2:24).

Conclusion: When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, a change takes place beyond our imagination. With that in mind, we should live a changed life.