Only the Holy Spirit Regenerates the Spiritually Dead

The Holy Spirit
Written By Tommy Smith

Sermon Notes

The Holy Spirit’s Work in Regeneration
The Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.

KEY PASSAGE

John 3:1-10 ESV… Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 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.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

JESUS OFTEN SAID THINGS THAT LEFT PEOPLE REALLY CONFUSED

  • Jesus was often at a complete loss over people’s lack of understanding… Mt. 15:15

  • When Jesus taught about the Holy Spirit’s role in causing people to be born again, Nicodemus was left utterly confused.…. John 3:1:10

THE REGENERATING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

  • Nicodemus was fundamentally confused about being “born again”... John 3:4

  • Nicodemus was thinking in “worldly terms”, but Jesus was speaking in “spiritual terms”

THE REASON WE NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN (REGENERATED)

  • Apart from Christ, all mankind is SPIRITUALLY DEAD.

  • When Adam sinned, both physical and spiritual death entered the world… Gen. 2:16-17

  • Jesus even said no one has the “ability” to come to him… John 6:44

  • Another term for being “born again” is “REGENERATION”.

REGENERATED PEOPLE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED PEOPLE

  • When a person is “born again” they are a new creation… 2 Cor. 5:17; John 5:24

  • Just because some says they are a Christian doesn’t mean they are born again… 1 John 2:19-20; Mt. 13:3-9

REGENERATION CANNOT BE COERCED, CONTROLLED OR MANUFACTURED.

  • The Holy Spirit regenerates people wherever and whenever HE WISHES… John 3:7-8

  • The Spirit gives life, the flesh is no help at all… John 6:63

REGENERATION HAPPENS WHEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD USES THE WORD OF GOD TO CHANGE PEOPLE

  • As believers, we have one job… preach the word of God… 1 Peter 1:23

  • People cannot be saved without the preaching of the Word of God… Rom. 10:13-15

  • Don’t mistake a person’s spiritual zeal to mean they are truly born again… Rom. 10:1-3

  • As believers all we can do is “plant” and “water”... the Spirit causes people to be born again… 1 Cor. 3:6-7

THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE

Don’t let yourself be unnecessarily burdened to manufacture results that only the Holy Spirit can bring about.

Tommy Smith
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