WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Okay.

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<v Speaker 1>Children ages 3 to 8 are dismissed for Children's Church downstairs to hear a Bible story, with our teacher standing at the door.

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<v Speaker 1>If there are any children here who would like to go down right now, just slip out and you'll be coming back up in a little while.

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<v Speaker 1>For the Advent season we're looking at the first chapter of John's Gospel.

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<v Speaker 1>So if you brought a Bible, you can make your way there, and if you didn't get a sermon outline and would like one or would like to borrow a Bible, just raise your hand.

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<v Speaker 1>Our ushers will help you out there.

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<v Speaker 1>John, chapter 1,.

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<v Speaker 1>John is helping us understand the meaning of Christmas, why Jesus came into the world, and John gets right to the point early on.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm going to read break in here.

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<v Speaker 1>John, chapter 1, beginning in verse 6.

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<v Speaker 1>There came a man sent from God whose name was John.

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<v Speaker 1>He came as a witness to testify about the light so that all might believe through him.

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<v Speaker 1>He was not the light.

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<v Speaker 1>He came to testify about the light so that all might believe through him.

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<v Speaker 1>He was not the light.

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<v Speaker 1>He came to testify about the light.

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<v Speaker 1>There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

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<v Speaker 1>He was in the world.

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<v Speaker 1>The world was made through him and the world did not know him.

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<v Speaker 1>He came to his own and those who were his own did not know him.

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<v Speaker 1>He came to his own and those who were his own did not receive him, but as many as received him to them.

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<v Speaker 1>He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name, who were born not of blood nor the will of the flesh, nor so you and I might be born again.

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<v Speaker 1>We just sang Charles Wesley's song Hark the Herald, and he got it Born to give them second birth.

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<v Speaker 1>That's exactly right and it comes right out of here.

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<v Speaker 1>That truth is based on this passage here and we're going to see three things this morning as we go through it.

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<v Speaker 1>The new birth is absolutely essential.

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<v Speaker 1>Second, the new birth is radical.

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<v Speaker 1>And third, the new birth is radical.

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<v Speaker 1>And third, the new birth is personal.

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<v Speaker 1>In a sense, john is saying Jesus was born so we could be born again Because, as John will make a case, as he continues, without a new birth we cannot and will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

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<v Speaker 1>We cannot and will not enter the kingdom of heaven, which means, first of all, that the new birth is absolutely an essential need everybody has.

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<v Speaker 1>If you look at verse 11 of John 1, it says Jesus came into the world, but the world did not receive him Yet.

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<v Speaker 1>Verse 12 says some did receive him.

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<v Speaker 1>Yet verse 12 says some did receive him, as many as received him.

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<v Speaker 1>To them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name.

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<v Speaker 1>All who did receive him were born again.

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<v Speaker 1>They were born verse 13, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but born of God.

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<v Speaker 1>This is huge.

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<v Speaker 1>This means there's no middle ground.

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<v Speaker 1>You either grasp who Jesus is or you do not.

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<v Speaker 1>You either reject him or you receive him.

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<v Speaker 1>You do not.

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<v Speaker 1>You either reject him or you receive him.

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<v Speaker 1>And anyone who claims to be a Christian must be born again.

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<v Speaker 1>Many people today hear the term born again and there's quite a number of reactions to that term, a lot of misunderstanding of what it means.

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<v Speaker 1>They think it simply means some sort of personality type.

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<v Speaker 1>They think it simply means some sort of personality type.

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<v Speaker 1>They think it's someone who's overly religious and looks down on others because they're not holy enough.

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<v Speaker 1>They think that born-again people need some sort of moral structure in their life and so they try to become more religious.

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<v Speaker 1>I've had people tell me this.

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<v Speaker 1>The problem with that view is what we're going to see today.

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<v Speaker 1>The problem is with this guy called Nicodemus, who John will introduce us to in John, chapter 3.

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<v Speaker 1>And I'm just going to jump over there for a bit.

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<v Speaker 1>Today John is here.

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<v Speaker 1>He here is setting us up for Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in chapter 3, because right here he's talking about being born again, people who are born not of the flesh but of God, and that's what Jesus is going to talk to Nicodemus about and that's what Jesus is going to talk to Nicodemus about.

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<v Speaker 1>Nicodemus, if you remember, comes to meet Jesus secretly at night and Jesus brings up the new birth.

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<v Speaker 1>The problem with thinking that born again is some type of religious person is Nicodemus.

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<v Speaker 1>Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the religious ruling class in Israel, called the Sanhedrin.

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<v Speaker 1>Nicodemus was an older, wealthy, influential member of that ruling council.

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<v Speaker 1>He was successful and at the top of the religious social pecking order in Israel.

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<v Speaker 1>He was incredibly religious, following the Mosaic law diligently to be where he is, and he wasn't self-righteous.

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<v Speaker 1>He came to Jesus with an open mind.

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<v Speaker 1>He even said to Jesus we've heard great things you are doing.

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<v Speaker 1>You must be from God.

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<v Speaker 1>Notice, jesus did not say to him thank you, nick, I've heard great things about you too.

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<v Speaker 1>He didn't say that this wonderful, wealthy, successful, religious person heard great things about you too.

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<v Speaker 1>You're doing the right thing.

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<v Speaker 1>Didn't say that.

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<v Speaker 1>He said you, you must be born again, wow, wow.

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<v Speaker 1>Unless you do that, you don't know the first thing about the kingdom of God.

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<v Speaker 1>I've heard people, for instance in my family.

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<v Speaker 1>They, you know, through the years, they look at me odd.

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<v Speaker 1>They know what happened to you, know I came to faith in Jesus, but in their mind it's I got religious.

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<v Speaker 1>I hate that.

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<v Speaker 1>Nicodemus had more religion than anybody else in this room and Jesus said you must be born again or you will not enter the kingdom of God.

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<v Speaker 1>That's huge.

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<v Speaker 1>And when Jesus said you must be born again, it cannot be a call to become more religious.

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<v Speaker 1>It can't?

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<v Speaker 1>He's already very religious.

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<v Speaker 1>In fact, he's actually saying to him no religious thing you've ever done counts, it doesn't.

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<v Speaker 1>You must be born again, you must start all over.

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<v Speaker 1>There's a whole spectrum of truths that John 1, 12-13 is teaching us.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me begin with.

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<v Speaker 1>He says but to all who receive him.

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<v Speaker 1>It's in the present tense, which means this statement is in force to anyone and everyone, for all time.

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<v Speaker 1>Whoever does this, whenever To receive Jesus to believe in him, to be born again means it doesn't matter who you are.

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<v Speaker 1>Racial or otherwise Does not matter.

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<v Speaker 1>All Circle the word, all, all who receive him means that no one is excluded from him on any basis.

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<v Speaker 1>When John says, then they were not born of natural means or by a human decision, it means that birth that Jesus came to give us is absolutely supernatural, born of God, john is saying that it doesn't matter how good you are, how bad you are, it doesn't matter how religious you are.

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<v Speaker 1>It means anyone can and must be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God, which basically is a reference to heaven.

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<v Speaker 1>But being born again is not only essential to everyone, it's also a very radical change when we do believe in Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>We pick up two things in John 1.12 about what this radical change involves to those who are born again.

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<v Speaker 1>First, it means we're receiving a brand new life.

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<v Speaker 1>That's the point of being born again.

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<v Speaker 1>We must start over Brand new life.

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<v Speaker 1>Whole new life has begun in the bible.

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<v Speaker 1>This new birth happens because when we believe in jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>He gives us his own holy spirit as a kind of a seed.

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<v Speaker 1>John describes it later in his letter a seed that's in us, a holy seed, a supernatural seed from god himself in the Holy Spirit in us.

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<v Speaker 1>First Peter Peter talks about this being born again.

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<v Speaker 1>In this way, in this metaphor, he says for you have been born again, not of seed, which is perishable, but imperishable.

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<v Speaker 1>That is, through the living and enduring word of God, is through the living and enduring word of God.

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<v Speaker 1>When we are born again, when we are born physically, it's an absolutely definite event.

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<v Speaker 1>We can recite the month, the day, the year and the time.

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<v Speaker 1>It's definite that happened.

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<v Speaker 1>And the same is true spiritually.

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<v Speaker 1>It's also a definite event in time.

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<v Speaker 1>You either have the seed or you do not have the seed.

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<v Speaker 1>You either have the spiritual life implanted in you or you don't.

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<v Speaker 1>Now it's very important to realize that when we're born again physically this is a great analogy, I think when we're born again physically, think of this and understand our spiritual birth as well when we're born physically, you and I contribute absolutely nothing to our birth, absolutely nothing.

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<v Speaker 1>It's all on our parents.

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<v Speaker 1>A baby is not born on the baby's planning, efforts, merits or promises, I'll live in a certain way.

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<v Speaker 1>None of that, nothing.

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<v Speaker 1>The parents are the ones who bring birth to the baby.

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<v Speaker 1>It's the same with people born again Spiritually.

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<v Speaker 1>It's something God does.

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<v Speaker 1>You're not coming to him and saying, okay, I promise to do this or I merit this.

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<v Speaker 1>No, you've got nothing in there.

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<v Speaker 1>Only Jesus, john and Jesus, though in chapter 1 and chapter 3, they're not talking about physical birth.

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<v Speaker 1>That was Nicodemus' first mistake.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus is talking about spiritual life.

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<v Speaker 1>What is spiritual life?

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<v Speaker 1>Well, what's having life and not having life?

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<v Speaker 1>A rock does not have life.

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<v Speaker 1>A baby does.

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<v Speaker 1>A baby eats and can grow.

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<v Speaker 1>A rock can't.

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<v Speaker 1>A baby is sensitive to its environment.

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<v Speaker 1>A rock can't.

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<v Speaker 1>A baby is sensitive to its environment.

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<v Speaker 1>A rock is not.

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<v Speaker 1>If you are born again spiritually, it means that you will start to grow spiritually in your internal being, your spirit and soul.

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<v Speaker 1>If the Holy Spirit's there.

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<v Speaker 1>You won't get bigger physically.

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<v Speaker 1>You will grow internally in your soul and your spirit.

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<v Speaker 1>You won't get bigger physically.

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<v Speaker 1>You will grow internally in your soul and your spirit.

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<v Speaker 1>You will increase in things like love for God, love for others, love for Jesus, joy and peace in your heart.

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<v Speaker 1>You'll grow in those things Spiritual life, being born again and seeing others born again in my ministry has shown me there are some definite signs of new spiritual life, like having a new understanding of God's word, if it starts to make sense.

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<v Speaker 1>What's the spirit giving you that insight?

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<v Speaker 1>1 Corinthians 2.12.

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<v Speaker 1>Or it's like having a more intimate prayer life.

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<v Speaker 1>God is your Father.

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<v Speaker 1>You know that.

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<v Speaker 1>You talk to Him like that.

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<v Speaker 1>He's not Dear God in heaven and almighty.

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<v Speaker 1>No, no, no, no, father, I need help, prayer life and it also.

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<v Speaker 1>I've see a new motivation to serve.

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<v Speaker 1>I just want to help others.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus talked about service as being one of the qualities of someone who follows him, who knows him.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus isn't here to make us nice.

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<v Speaker 1>He's here to make us new, brand new, born again, not religious, born again with the Holy Spirit coming inside you.

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<v Speaker 1>It means to get a radical new life and second, it means to get a radical new identity, which is everything John says.

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<v Speaker 1>We get the right to become children of God when we're born again, when he gives birth to us spiritually.

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<v Speaker 1>He gives us the right to be his children.

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<v Speaker 1>But aren't all people God's children?

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, partly.

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<v Speaker 1>The Apostle Paul in his sermon to the pagans in Athens in Acts 17,.

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<v Speaker 1>He says that God created all of us and in fact we're all his offspring.

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<v Speaker 1>But in John 1.12, he said God gives those who receive Jesus the right to become children of God.

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<v Speaker 1>They didn't have it before, but believing in Jesus gives it to them.

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<v Speaker 1>What does that mean?

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<v Speaker 1>Well, he's using a legal term the right and tells us we've been given new, brand new legal status.

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<v Speaker 1>With God Legal status, you get legally conferred on you a brand new identity with his new life in you, brand new identity.

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<v Speaker 1>And that means, first of all, we have a new intimacy with God as our Heavenly Father.

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<v Speaker 1>When someone becomes your father, it doesn't matter how big or important he is or how successful he is.

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<v Speaker 1>You have access to him anytime you want.

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<v Speaker 1>He's not too busy for you.

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<v Speaker 1>And in fact, john chapter 17, in Jesus' prayer, jesus asked the Father to love us like he loves his only begotten son.

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<v Speaker 1>That's the relationship.

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<v Speaker 1>The right of adoption means also that Christ is our brother.

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<v Speaker 1>We have a new relationship with him and we will one day share in his inheritance in the kingdom.

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<v Speaker 1>Everything the Father has given him, he's giving to us.

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<v Speaker 1>That's amazing.

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<v Speaker 1>And then, on top of that, god's going to renew all creation and we will rule and reign with Christ in his kingdom when he returns.

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<v Speaker 1>Wow, receiving a new identity means something else.

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<v Speaker 1>It means a new security we have and a new significance in life.

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<v Speaker 1>You see, our identity, who we view ourselves to be, our identity is where we find security in life, significance in life, whatever we look to to find meaning and security, that's how we know who we are.

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<v Speaker 1>Some people find their identity in what they do.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm a teacher, that's who I am.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm a painter or I'm a musician, that's who I am.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm a painter or I'm a musician, that's who I am.

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<v Speaker 1>That's my identity, based on what I do.

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<v Speaker 1>Some people find their identity in how they look, because people think I'm good looking, I feel good about myself.

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<v Speaker 1>Some people find their identity in having piles and piles of money.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm so rich, I feel secure.

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<v Speaker 1>Problem with those identities is they're all attempts to save ourselves by our works.

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<v Speaker 1>All those identities and many more keep listening are unsafe, fragile and can be lost All of them.

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<v Speaker 1>And when that happens, what happens to our identity?

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<v Speaker 1>Wow, we plummet into, sometimes despair, desperation.

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<v Speaker 1>What am I here for, then?

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<v Speaker 1>What's life all about?

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<v Speaker 1>What am I here for, then?

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<v Speaker 1>What's it a life all about?

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<v Speaker 1>But that doesn't happen if our identity is in Jesus Christ, and being given the right, the legal status, to become God's children Changes everything.

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<v Speaker 1>We are secure as an adopted child of God himself.

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<v Speaker 1>He's not going anywhere.

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<v Speaker 1>His promise is faithful and secure.

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<v Speaker 1>No one can snatch you out of his hand, no one.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus said in John 10, not one person.

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<v Speaker 1>Never be lost.

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<v Speaker 1>We've been given God's presence, lives and joys that will last forever and never.

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<v Speaker 1>Ever go away, can't be lost If our identity's in him as his child.

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<v Speaker 1>All these other identities are just flimsy, not worth thinking.

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<v Speaker 1>That's who I am.

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<v Speaker 1>Who am I?

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<v Speaker 1>I'm a Christian.

00:20:55.047 --> 00:20:56.319
<v Speaker 1>I'm a Christ follower.

00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:57.643
<v Speaker 1>I'm a Christ believer.

00:20:57.643 --> 00:20:59.515
<v Speaker 1>I'm a Christ believer.

00:21:00.297 --> 00:21:01.340
<v Speaker 1>How does all this happen?

00:21:01.340 --> 00:21:03.201
<v Speaker 1>How are we born again?

00:21:03.201 --> 00:21:05.143
<v Speaker 1>That's the question that we should be asking.

00:21:05.143 --> 00:21:07.423
<v Speaker 1>How do we receive this new life?

00:21:07.423 --> 00:21:10.022
<v Speaker 1>And John answers that question as well.

00:21:10.022 --> 00:21:12.953
<v Speaker 1>It's very simple.

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<v Speaker 1>The new birth, finally, finally, is a personal event.

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<v Speaker 1>In John 1, verse 12, john says the world did not receive him, but all who did receive him, who believed in his name, were born again.

00:21:32.667 --> 00:21:36.365
<v Speaker 1>Those who did receive him did so by believing in his name.

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<v Speaker 1>He lays it right out there Receiving Jesus and believing in his name are synonymous in John's theology, and believing in Jesus is a personal event in time and space is a personal event in time and space.

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<v Speaker 1>Receiving and believing in John is not something someone else can do for you, not parents, not teachers, not pastors.

00:22:08.285 --> 00:22:14.957
<v Speaker 1>Somebody else can't do that for you, you personally.

00:22:14.957 --> 00:22:20.047
<v Speaker 1>You personally, like Nicodemus, must be born again.

00:22:20.047 --> 00:22:30.199
<v Speaker 1>How, receiving Jesus, believing in his name, okay?

00:22:30.199 --> 00:22:31.766
<v Speaker 1>Well, what does that mean?

00:22:31.766 --> 00:22:35.064
<v Speaker 1>Well, let me suggest that means two things.

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<v Speaker 1>Simplifying it.

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<v Speaker 1>First, I believe that believing in Jesus means to repent of the life.

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<v Speaker 1>Listen to me carefully.

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<v Speaker 1>Repent of the life you are living, whether religious or sinful.

00:22:51.488 --> 00:23:05.609
<v Speaker 1>Either one Repent why You've got to turn to jesus as your one and only salvation, hope, that's it.

00:23:05.609 --> 00:23:09.499
<v Speaker 1>You missed in repentance.

00:23:09.499 --> 00:23:12.962
<v Speaker 1>You're gonna stop believing for some reason.

00:23:12.962 --> 00:23:18.709
<v Speaker 1>You're okay with God on your own, by your good works, all that you've done.

00:23:18.709 --> 00:23:19.650
<v Speaker 1>Stop.

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<v Speaker 1>No, you're not Nicodemus, thought he was.

00:23:24.300 --> 00:23:28.806
<v Speaker 1>You must be born again or you won't enter the kingdom of heaven.

00:23:28.806 --> 00:23:31.338
<v Speaker 1>Stop believing.

00:23:31.338 --> 00:23:32.963
<v Speaker 1>There are other ways to save you.

00:23:32.963 --> 00:23:41.487
<v Speaker 1>Look to Jesus only, as Peter said in Acts, chapter 4, verse 13,.

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<v Speaker 1>To the folks who were listening and were questioning what on earth is happening, he says listen, there's salvation in no one else.

00:23:55.487 --> 00:24:02.163
<v Speaker 1>There's no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.

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<v Speaker 1>Do we realize that we're not going to be born again?

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<v Speaker 1>So first there's repentance, repent of my religiosity, the good things and the bad Turning to Jesus as my Savior.

00:24:19.045 --> 00:24:27.045
<v Speaker 1>And second, I believe I'd like to suggest that believing in Jesus' name means resting in Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus settled your account with God forever.

00:24:33.921 --> 00:24:38.403
<v Speaker 1>If he is in you, no condemnation.

00:24:38.403 --> 00:24:42.702
<v Speaker 1>You pass out of judgment into life.

00:24:42.702 --> 00:24:44.086
<v Speaker 1>John 5, 24.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus settled your account with God and made peace.

00:24:50.684 --> 00:24:52.201
<v Speaker 1>You can rest in that.

00:24:52.201 --> 00:24:57.682
<v Speaker 1>Second, rest in who Jesus is as your Savior.

00:24:57.682 --> 00:24:59.767
<v Speaker 1>Rest in what he's done for you.

00:24:59.767 --> 00:25:06.888
<v Speaker 1>He took your place and paid the penalty for your sins on the cross and then he gives you when you believe.

00:25:06.888 --> 00:25:08.757
<v Speaker 1>He gives you his righteousness.

00:25:08.757 --> 00:25:14.904
<v Speaker 1>Finally, rest in his promise.

00:25:16.527 --> 00:25:24.800
<v Speaker 1>He said multiple times in the Gospels he who believes in me will not perish but have everlasting life.

00:25:24.800 --> 00:25:26.260
<v Speaker 1>That's a promise.

00:25:26.260 --> 00:25:28.101
<v Speaker 1>Rest in the promise.

00:25:28.101 --> 00:25:29.877
<v Speaker 1>Do you think Jesus is going to lie to you?

00:25:29.877 --> 00:25:34.965
<v Speaker 1>We're resting.

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<v Speaker 1>He said it.

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<v Speaker 1>I believe it.

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<v Speaker 1>All who believe in him will receive eternal life.

00:25:43.965 --> 00:25:49.701
<v Speaker 1>And he said I'm going to raise them up on the last day, myself I'm going to raise them up.

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<v Speaker 1>Are you included in that?

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<v Speaker 1>I'll just leave you with this question Are you born again?

00:25:56.657 --> 00:25:57.032
<v Speaker 1>Have you believed in that?

00:25:57.032 --> 00:25:57.388
<v Speaker 1>I'll just leave you with this question Are you born again?

00:25:57.388 --> 00:26:03.602
<v Speaker 1>Have you believed in Jesus to save you from God's judgment of your sins and give you eternal life?

00:26:03.602 --> 00:26:07.722
<v Speaker 1>The Scripture says that Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

00:26:07.722 --> 00:26:09.227
<v Speaker 1>There's Christmas.

00:26:09.227 --> 00:26:14.523
<v Speaker 1>Jesus was born so we could be born again.

00:26:14.523 --> 00:26:18.721
<v Speaker 1>Well, come to him.

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<v Speaker 1>Peter even says he's rejected by men, but he is precious in the sight of God and you will be saved.

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<v Speaker 1>Leave you with just this.

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<v Speaker 1>Open your heart, welcome Jesus and receive him.

00:26:32.798 --> 00:26:45.780
<v Speaker 1>Let him reveal to you what it means to really have his life in you, to be born again.

00:26:45.780 --> 00:26:52.701
<v Speaker 1>And you're not going to come away thinking, gosh, I just became more religious.

00:26:52.701 --> 00:26:56.998
<v Speaker 1>No, you have a new relationship.

00:26:56.998 --> 00:27:05.258
<v Speaker 1>You know it's funny, john who wrote this?

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<v Speaker 1>Here's one of the most eloquent gospel presentations in the Bible.

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<v Speaker 1>He says he says born again, he gives us the right to become children.

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<v Speaker 1>Do you realize?

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<v Speaker 1>John couldn't get over that awesomeness of that truth?

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<v Speaker 1>Because in his letter later on in the Bible, in 1 John 3, 1, he says this See, behold how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.

00:27:43.825 --> 00:27:45.099
<v Speaker 1>Are you kidding me?

00:27:46.756 --> 00:27:51.007
<v Speaker 1>For this reason, the world does not know us because it didn't know him.

00:27:51.007 --> 00:27:52.602
<v Speaker 1>They just think we're religious.

00:27:52.602 --> 00:27:56.147
<v Speaker 1>We know we're born again.

00:27:56.147 --> 00:27:58.743
<v Speaker 1>We have his life living in us and through us.

00:27:58.743 --> 00:28:00.800
<v Speaker 1>We're not the same.

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<v Speaker 1>I trust that's you as well.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's pray together, father, thank you that you sent Jesus into the world so we could be born again, become your adopted children, secure in life, secure in heaven, forever in your kingdom.

00:28:25.836 --> 00:28:30.484
<v Speaker 1>And like the Apostle John, I ask please help us never to lose the wonder of being your child through our faith in Jesus.

00:28:30.484 --> 00:28:34.681
<v Speaker 1>Give us a new sense of your presence with those of us who have.

00:28:34.681 --> 00:28:36.807
<v Speaker 1>Let us not take that for granted.

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<v Speaker 1>Help us to celebrate Christmas in light of what you were able to do for us in giving us the right to become your children In Jesus' name.

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<v Speaker 1>Amen.