Kingdom Reality 7: God’s Kingdom is Re-Generate (Born Again) John 3:1-8 Big Idea: The natural man is incapable of seeing Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world. The Spirit of God regenerates us so that we might believe in Jesus. The Kingdom of God is God’s authority and ability to rule over any and all realms within the created order and beyond in order to bestow the blessings of his good and gracious rule on unworthy subjects for the purpose of displaying his glory to all peoples. 10 Kingdom Realities: God’s Kingdom takes priority. Jesus is Stronger! God is preparing hearts to receive his gospel. God is Building His Kingdom! God’s Kingdom will Thrive. God’s Kingdom is Spiritual. God’s Kingdom is ____-______________. (Born Again) The __________________________ John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. … the Sanhedrin had seventy members… The council’s members were drawn mainly from the leading priestly families and the religious instructors known as “scribes” or “teachers of the law”. By including both of these groups, the Sanhedrin was composed of both Sadducees (priestly) and Pharisees (scribal). The ____________________ Birth John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Just like we don’t have the natural ability to fly, so we do not have the natural ability to see God’s kingdom. John 14:17 (ESV) — 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) — 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Being born by a woman naturally gives you eyes to see the world, but being born by God gives you eyes to see the world rightly. Nicodemus may be a Pharisee and Judge in Israel, and the woman at the well may be a Samaritan and an adulterous, but God’s kingdom is open to both. The ___________________ of the Spirit John 3:7–8 (ESV) — 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 1 John 5:1 (ESV) — 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. Belief is a product of the Spirit’s work, not the cause of the Spirit’s work. Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV) — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Questions to Consider
What does Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus prove? His interaction with the woman at the well?
Why is Re-generation or new birth essential to believing in Jesus?
Read John 1:9-13. What do we learn of the new birth here?
How does Is 43:8-13 help us understand this reality? How should we respond to this kingdom reality?
