BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT

TEXT: John 3:3,5

Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus answered,
Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of the
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God.
INTRODUCTION:
A. The WORD of GOD is the only source whence we may learn what
conversion is and how it can be brought about.

ILL: Dictionary can help us to know the meaning; BUT IF WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT
TRULY MEANS, WE MUST TURN TO THE WORD WRITTEN BY THE HOLY MEN OF GOD.
ILL: Other Christians can tell us their ideas about it, BUT WE MUST GO TO THE
SCRIPTURES IF WE WOULD BE SURE

B. This we know, THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE NEW BIRTH

ILL: A man may pass from the LOWEST IGNORANCE - HIGHEST INTELLIGENCE. In a word,
he may pass from OBSCURITY - POPULARITY, POVERTY-RICHES from one extreme to
another in all things and still be a stranger to the NEW BIRTH and CHRIST'S SAVING
POWER.

NO EARTHLY CHANGE WHATEVER CAN be a substitute for the birth that comes from
above; any more than the LIGHTS OF EARTH will suffice for the SUN, MOON, AND STARS;
ANY MORE THAN THE POTTER CAN MAKE A GOLD COIN out of CLAY.

PROPOSITION: Entrance into the church requires such a change that it is called "a
birth"; it is conversion.
I KINGDOM OF GOD
A. It is the CHURCH - The spiritual BODY of CHRIST and the Family of God.
B. A SPIRITUAL KINGDOM.
1. Has a spiritual KING.
2. Has spiritual LAWS.
3. Has spiritual FORCES.
4. Has spiritual SUBJECTS.

FOUNDER & FOUNDATION IS JESUS. Matt 16:18; I Cor 3:10-11

SUBJECTS - Christians
HEAD - Christ Eph 1:20-23
PURPOSE - Save the Lost.
II "BORN AGAIN"
A. Some SYNONYMS
1. Conversion, Matt, 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
2. Obedience to the gospel.
3. Translation. Col. 1:13-14 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and
hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
4. Obedience to the faith. Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of
the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were
obedient to the faith.
B. "Born anew." "Born of water and Spirit"

WITHOUT THIS NEW BIRTH NO MAN SHALL SEE HEAVEN:

No more than the POTENTIAL CHICK in the UN-HATCHED EGG can ever see DAYLIGHT - can
the UNREGENERATE SOUL ever SEE HEAVEN!!
The CATERPILLAR must meet death to BECOME A BUTTERFLY - so must the SINNER MAN
DIE as a sinner and BECOME ALIVE as a CHRISTIAN.

III WHAT IS A BIRTH?

A. TWO necessary ACTIONS.
1. BEGETTAL
2. DELIVERY
B. Begetting process - Seed Sown
God begets thru the HOLY SPIRIT
1. WORD, the seed. Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of
God. (also, Mathew 13:3) 1 Cor 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in
Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you thru the
gospel. James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a
kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.
2. WHEN begotten? When one BELIEVES John 1:11-12 11 He came unto His own, and his
own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
C. DELIVERY - (to be posted.)

Brother James Mantooth, Author