Foundations of Truth
This is the podcast of Firm Foundations ministries. Our mission is to help you build your life on the unshakable foundation of God's Word, rooted in Scripture and anchored in the grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Each episode is designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding, and encourage you to stand firm in a shifting world.
Foundations of Truth
God Saves Sinners: Born Again and Made New
Salvation is often misunderstood as simply becoming a better person or getting more religious. In this eye-opening message from John 3, Pastor Tim Mann tackles Jesus' famous conversation with Nicodemus to reveal what true salvation actually means.
When Jesus told this respected religious leader, "You must be born again," He wasn't suggesting a moral makeover or increased religious devotion. He was declaring the necessity of supernatural regeneration—a complete spiritual rebirth that only God can produce. This teaching confronts the sobering reality that someone can be deeply religious yet spiritually dead, attending church regularly while remaining outside God's kingdom.
Drawing from Jesus' words and Paul's letter to Titus, Pastor Tim unpacks the radical truth that salvation isn't self-improvement but divine transformation. The Holy Spirit's work in regeneration is compared to wind—unseen yet powerful, unpredictable yet undeniable. When true spiritual birth occurs, everything changes from the inside out. New desires emerge, new loves take root, and a new direction unfolds.
Most significantly, this message challenges our natural inclination toward self-sufficiency. We don't need to turn over a new leaf; we need to receive new life. We don't need a spiritual tune-up; we need a resurrection. Only the Spirit can take a heart of stone and make it flesh, giving sight to the spiritually blind and life to the spiritually dead.
Have you experienced this supernatural transformation? Or have you settled for religion without regeneration? Don't marvel at the message—marvel at the God who makes dead hearts beat with spiritual life. The question isn't whether you're religious enough, but whether you've been born again.
Welcome to Foundations of Truth, the Bible teaching ministry of Pastor Timothy Mann and Providence Church, ormond Beach, florida. Providence Church is a local assembly of followers of Jesus Christ dedicated to helping people become committed and mature followers of Jesus Christ. Now here's Pastor Tim Mann teaching the Word.
Speaker 2:What it means to be saved, discussing this theme of saved, understanding God's work in us, the Gospel of John, chapter 3. I'm going to be reading the first eight verses and I'm reading from the New King James Version of the Bible. The Bible says there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher, come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. And Jesus answered and said to him, most assuredly I said to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Do not marvel that. I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. Now go with me to the little letter Titus in the New Testament. Titus, chapter 3, verses 4 through 7. Titus 3, 4 through 7, the Bible says but when the kindness and the love of God, our Savior, toward man appeared not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to His mercy. He saved us. And we'll read it Savior, that having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. And we'll stop here. And this is God's Word that we've just read.
Speaker 2:I'll tell you what I've noticed over the last many years that I've been a pastor. Most people and I didn't do a survey, but at least anecdotally I think this is true it is most people, people who attend church and people who don't attend church Most people think of salvation as becoming a better person, turning over a new leaf. Turning over a new leaf, cleaning up your act right, getting religious. But jesus didn't say unless you improve yourself, you cannot see the kingdom of god. He didn't say if you behave better, attend church and fix your life, you'll be, be okay. He didn't say that. He actually said something far more radical. He said, most assuredly, the old King James says verily, verily.
Speaker 2:In our lingo we would say this is the fact of the matter and it is true. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. So that's not self-help, that's not moral reform, that's not religion, that's regeneration, a complete spiritual rebirth brought about by the Holy Spirit, brought about by the Holy Spirit, and without it Jesus said no one can enter the kingdom. Now this was shocking to Nicodemus, because he was a Pharisee, he was a religious leader, he was a moral man, he was a teacher of the law of God in the Old Testament. So if anyone ever looked saved I mean, if anybody ever looked saved on the outside, it was him. But Jesus looked straight at him and said you must be born again. You must be born again.
Speaker 2:In other words, salvation isn't something we can achieve, it's something we must receive. It's not a decision to improve our behavior, it's a miraculous act of God that changes our nature. That same truth is echoed in Titus 3 that we just read, where the Apostle Paul writes that God saved us, and I quote him. God saved us not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. So here's the heart of today's message. I mean, if you check out out later, just tune out later on, pay attention right now, all right. Here's the heart of today's message salvation is not self-improvement, it is new birth by the holy spirit who regenerates and renews us. I'm going to say it again Salvation is not self-improvement, it is new birth by the Holy Spirit who regenerates and renews us.
Speaker 2:So let's begin with a conversation that changed everything for one man and reveals what is essential for salvation. First of all, verses 1 through 3, chapter 3, verse 1 through 3. I'm not going to reread everything just for the sake of time, but what we do see here is in these verses we see the necessity of new birth. You must be born again. You must be born again, be born again. So here we have. Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and he flatters Jesus. Basically, we know you're a teacher from God. No one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. And what's interesting here is, jesus didn't ease into the conversation. He didn't offer small talk. He didn't offer small talk. He didn't compliment Nicodemus for his dedication or his years of study. Even he got right to the point and he said you must be born again. You must be born again.
Speaker 2:Now here's the thing about Nicodemus. Nicodemus was religious, but he was lost. Nicodemus now. Look, nicodemus was religious, but he was lost. Nicodemus now. Look, nicodemus wasn't an outsider. He wasn't immoral by any stretch of the imagination. He was a Pharisee. He was a top-tier religious leader. He knew the Scriptures, knew the Old Testament Scriptures. He lived a disciplined life. He carried himself with respect in the community and so from the outside, nicodemus looked like the kind of man you'd want as a church leader. He looked like the kind of man that we might nominate to be a deacon or to be a Bible fellowship group teacher. We'd want him to be a Bible teacher.
Speaker 2:But Jesus wasn't impressed with outward appearances. He didn't say, nick, you're doing great, just keep it up. He said that's not enough. That's not enough, that's not enough. And here's a sobering truth you can be religious, you can be deeply religious, and still be spiritually dead. Still be spiritually dead, still be spiritually dead. You can be religious, deeply religious, and still be spiritually dead. You can be in church every Sunday and still be outside the kingdom. You can believe in God. You can know the Bible. You can serve on ministry teams. You can serve on church committees. You can even teach a class. You can serve on church committees. You can even teach a class and still not be born again as a pastor now for over three plus decades. It's hard to believe. So, yeah right, I've seen it more than once, I've seen it several times.
Speaker 2:I'm talking about men and women who, who knew all the right answers, had never truly been made new. Their religion seemed sincere as far as you could tell, but it was still flesh. No new birth, no spirit of God, no transformation, no change, no transformation, no change, no change. See, what we see in these first three verses is new birth is not optional.
Speaker 2:Jesus didn't say being born again is a good idea or it's helpful for spiritual growth, or it's helpful for spiritual growth. No, he said, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Unless that word unless leaves no room for debate. This isn't one path among many, it's the only way. In fact, jesus himself says again later, john, chapter 14, verse 6, a pretty famous verse. He said I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me. And so that means there is one name, one cross, one door and one Savior and one way to enter God's kingdom you must be born again. You must be born again. It's not enough to try harder, it's not enough to clean up your act. You must be made new from the inside out. And I'll tell you, I've noticed this a lot. This is where a lot of folks stumble, because we like the idea of working our way to God. We like that idea. Working our way to God, you know, pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, as they say, kind of feels virtuous. But Jesus says that won't cut it. There's no listen, there's no patch job that can fix a dead soul. You don't need a spiritual tune-up, you need a resurrection. You need a resurrection.
Speaker 2:In these first three verses we also see that new birth is a spiritual miracle. The phrase born again it also in the Greek language can be translated born from above. Maybe you have an english translation that puts it that way. Born again can be translated born from above. Listen, this isn't something you do. I want you to know that you're born from from above. This isn't something you do. It's something God does, something God does.
Speaker 2:Look who in the room caused your spiritual birth. Raise your hand. You had nothing to do with it. You didn't cause your spiritual birth. You didn't earn your way into existence. It was given to you A miracle.
Speaker 2:And spiritual birth is the same way. You don't cause it, you can't manufacture it, you don't trigger it with religious activity or clean living. It's the sovereign work of God and that's why salvation is not about moral reform, it's about resurrection. God brings the spiritually dead to life, he opens blind eyes, he gives new hearts. And when it happens, you know it. You know why. Because nothing stays the same. Things begin to change in you and in your life.
Speaker 2:And in your life we also see the Scripture teaching us here that new birth brings new life. See, being born again doesn't just give you a new label, it gives you a new life. It gives you a new nature. It gives you a new heart. You're not just forgiven, you're transformed. You're not just forgiven, you're transformed, you're changed. You don't just believe differently in your brain, you don't just believe differently intellectually. You don't just believe a new set of facts or a doctrinal statement. You start to live differently. That's what changes.
Speaker 2:As the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5.17, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. The Spirit of God now dwells in you and he convicts you, and he teaches you, and he leads you. You don't need to turn over a new leaf. You need to receive new life.
Speaker 2:Think of it this way. Think of a caterpillar. It can crawl. It can crawl, it can stretch, it can strive, but no matter what it does, it can't fly. It can't fly. Something has to happen inside it. It has to be changed, it has to be transformed and through metamorphosis it becomes something entirely new a butterfly. That's what new birth is like. That's what being born again is like. God doesn't just teach you how to crawl better. He transforms you, he changes you. He gives you new desires, new loves. He transforms your very nature. He enables what was once impossible, and that's a new heart, a new identity and a new direction. Now new birth is initiated by God, but it's also responded to by faith.
Speaker 2:Now we'll explore more of the Spirit's role in the next section, but don't miss this. You must respond. God awakens the heart, the Spirit convicts, but you must repent and believe. If you're in John, go back to just a page John 1. We didn't read any out of John 1, but John 1. I didn't have this on the screen. I didn't have it in the plan for it to be shown, but John 1. I didn't have this on the screen. I didn't have it in the plan for it to be shown, but John 1, verse 12 and 13,. This really articulates this John 1, verse 12 and 13. You guys are good. Back there I'll tell you what the Bible says.
Speaker 2:But as many as received him that word received in the Greek language gives the idea of welcoming as many as received him. To them he gave the right to become children of God To those who believe in his name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. God does the saving, but you must receive Christ, you must turn from sin and trust in Him. So these truths that we've just talked about in verses 1 through 3 apply to all of us. They apply to all of us. They apply to all of us.
Speaker 2:So if you're here this morning and you've been a true believer for a long time, maybe that's you You've been a true believer for a long time. I want to say to you this morning don't ever forget you are not a polished version of your old self, you're a new creation. So don't drift back into the old ways. Keep walking in newness of life. Maybe you are a relatively new believer in Jesus. Well, you may not feel brand new every day, but the Spirit of God lives in you, begun a good work and he will finish it. Maybe this morning you're in this room and you would be very honest with yourself and you would say I'm not saved. I'm really still an unbeliever, and I know that. Let me tell you Don't settle for religion. Don't settle for religion. Don't settle for tradition or ritual. Have you been born again? Have you been born again? Have you been born again? If not, jesus says you cannot see the kingdom of God. So today, call on Him, ask Him to make you do Do.
Speaker 2:Verses 4 through 8. What we see in these verses is the nature of the new birth. It's a work of the Spirit. After hearing Jesus say you must be born again, nicodemus was confused. He tried to understand it in physical terms. Verse 4,. Nicodemus said to him how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born Now? That's an honest question, and I'll tell you. What it does too is. I think it reveals just how much we naturally think in earthly categories. Right, it's kind of just where our mind goes. Nicodemus had a sharp mind, he had a deep knowledge of the Old Testament, but he still missed it. He was trying to make sense of a spiritual reality with human logic. Jesus wasn't talking about a second physical birth. He was talking about a spiritual, a supernatural transformation that only God can perform. And look what he says. Jesus answered most assuredly.
Speaker 2:I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God, verse 5. Now, there's been much debate over the years over what water and the Spirit means, but you need to remember the Old Testament was their Bible, and so, in the context, I believe Jesus is drawing imagery on Ezekiel, chapter 36 in the Old Testament, which was their Bible, where God promises to wash His people, clean and give them new hearts. Ezekiel, chapter 36, verse 25 through 27,. God is speaking and says Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clean. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes. This isn't about baptism. This isn't about water baptism. This is about regeneration, the washing away of sin and the giving of new life by the Spirit of God. So when Jesus says we must be born of water and the Spirit, he's describing a total spiritual renewal, a cleansing from sin and a heart made alive to God. And then he goes on to say verse 6, that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Speaker 2:Now Jesus is drawing a hard line here. He's saying that flesh can't produce what Spirit? Flesh can't produce spirit. So human nature, no matter how disciplined, no matter how educated, no matter how well behaved human nature, can't generate spiritual life. It can only reproduce itself. Listen, that's why you can raise your kids in church, you can teach them the Bible stories, you can model morality in front of them to the best of your ability. But only hear me only the Spirit can cause them to be born again. Plead with God for them, plead with God for them.
Speaker 2:I've seen people try to reform themselves. I mean they quit bad habits, they join a church, they clean up their language and still be just as lost as ever. Why? Because only the Holy Spirit can raise the dead. Only the Holy Spirit, only he can take a heart of stone and make it flesh. Only he can give sight to the spiritually blind and life to the spiritually lifeless. That's why salvation isn't earned, it's received. It's not something we control, it's something god does, and in this passage the bible also teaches us.
Speaker 2:Here jesus is speaking. You know how? I know it's in red, uh, anyway, anyway. No, I know it's in red, anyway. If you don't have a Bible that you know has red letters, you're missing out. What we learn here is that the Spirit's work is mysterious but powerful.
Speaker 2:Jesus said to Nicodemus Do not marvel that. I said to you In. In other words, don't be amazed by this, don't be surprised by this, don't don't act all astonished by this. Do not marvel that I said to you you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit, and so Jesus here compares the Holy Spirit of God and those born of the Spirit to the wind Unseen, unpredictable and unstoppable. Anybody in this room ever been successful at controlling the wind? You can't control the wind, but you can't deny its presence either. You can't control the wind, but you can't deny its presence. You see effects, the the trees sway, what we really see the its effects. When a hurricane comes our way, you, you see the trees sway, the, the leaves scatter flags wave, the sails fill, and so it is with the spirit of God.
Speaker 2:You can't chart His course or command His timing, but when he moves, you know it. You know it. Conviction grips the heart, tears come in repentance, faith is awakened and desires change. Your desires change. Your desires change. New birth isn't a decision we schedule. It's a sovereign move of God that changes everything.
Speaker 2:We also understand that the Spirit gives life, just information. Some of us really like information. Nicodemus had information, he had scripture, he had theology. What he didn't have was life, spiritual life.
Speaker 2:Jesus later said in john, chapter 6, verse 63 jesus said this, and I quote our lord and savior he said it is the spirit, capital s, who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The flesh profits nothing. It's the spirit who gives life. And then he said the words I speak to you are spirit and they are life.
Speaker 2:That's why I wish it were the case, but that's why sermons alone don't save. And lord knows, especially when so-called sermons have nothing about sin and repentance, and who Jesus is and what real salvation does. We have a whole lot of therapeutic, moralistic deism going on. We want to make you feel better, feel better about yourself. We'll put you in therapy from the pulpit, counsel you and give you psychology, pop talks, help you how to be nice, tell you how to be nice, be nice to each other, love everybody, whatever, and just believe in God.
Speaker 2:But even the kind of sermons I preach, those sermons alone don't save. That's why religious tradition or religious rituals won't change a heart. That's why even look, we can get worked up. We can work you up. We can lower the lights and get the smoke going. Man, we can sway and wave and have all the songs that's popular and you love and hunger for Listen, I'm telling you. That's why emotion, that's why tears and resolve on its own can't regenerate a soul. Only the Spirit of God can breathe life into dry bones. That's why we pray before we preach. That's why we plead with God in evangelism. That's why we depend on Him every time we share the gospel, because salvation is supernatural.
Speaker 1:You've been listening to. Foundations of Truth, the Bible teaching ministry of Pastor Timothy Mann at Providence Church, ormond Beach, florida. You're invited to join us on Sundays at 1151 West Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach For service times, bible fellowship groups and more information on activities at Providence Church. Go online to theprovidencechurchorg. If you feel led by God to financially support Foundations of Truth, visit the giving link at theprovidencechurchorg. Until next time, continue to build your life on the foundations of truth through Jesus Christ and God's written Word.
