The Work of the Spirit in Conversion
Week 3 Summer Series 2003
July 13, 2003
*Not his real name. Name changed for security reasons.
Welcome people to the fourth week in the preaching series.
Transitional week—This week we begin to move into the work of the Spirit. We have seen His person-Now how does the Person of the Spirit interact with us. We are looking at the first work of the spirit in sinful humans, the work of regeneration.
Today is a huge day in the cycling world. As the 100th anniversary of the Tour de France progresses, it moves into the high alps and becomes the graveyard of many hopes and dreams for the would be competitors. Suppose Lance Armstrong again finishes this day with the yellow jersey and prepared to win a 5th straight tour de France. What if a new judge comes up to Lance on Monday morning and looks him in the eye and says, “Mr. Armstrong –You have traveled the wrong road for the last 800 miles. All these people applauding you, all these people following you are wrong as well. Your best hope is to ride back those 800 miles and take the left fork instead of the right fork you took. What do you think Lance would do?
Our Bible contains a story more shocking than the story I just told, because it is about something more precious than a bicycle race—it is about the ultimate purpose in life. It is about ultimate realities and it is about eternal destinies. It is about Spiritual awakening.
Let us read our passage this morning.
John 3:1-21
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? [11] Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. [12] If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? [13] No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. [14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God.
Nicodemus was just slapped into the reality of the real possibility, that he had traveled a very long way down the wrong road. But he is the expert. He has all the right answers. He has the rulebook memorized. People come to him for answers. He is the person without any doubts. He is the spiritual person that has pointed people to God. Nicodemus was commissioned by the leaders of the entire religious movement to check out a guy that doesn’t even own a pillow, let alone a house. This young upstart says to him---you have it all wrong. As a matter of fact, you don’t even have it. The essential work of God you have missed. You are dead!
How does this ”You are dead story” fit in with the story line of the rest of the Gospel of John?
The Evangelist John is concerned with Life-Spiritual Life—Eternal Life. Today he will show us the connection between the Spirit and life. The stated theme of John is stated in chapter 20, verses 30-31.
[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Approach this story today as Nicodemus—You think all is good—even better than good. You are in control. Little did you know that your world would be turned upside down in one brief conversation.
(Read text) 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."
Nicodemus had the courtesy to address Jesus in a way that made him a peer. Teacher-Rabbi. He doesn’t call him a prophet or the Messiah. No reason to. Up to this point Jesus has only turned water to wine--nothing more. Maybe a few small miracles but nothing like what is to come in the book. Nicodemus has been commissioned by the rulers to find out more about this Jesus. “WE Know” Jesus, I will let you know if you check out. Nicodemus thought the night meeting was going to be about Jesus. Instead Jesus, lets Nicodemus know that the appointment was scheduled in eternity past. Nicodemus you have the wrong answer—God is not WITH ME—I am God. Jesus starts him towards the path of life. And that path is toward the Spirit.
(Read text) Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Immediately Nicodemus entertains the metaphor and tries to show Jesus the ridiculousness of his teaching.
John 3:4 - 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?"
Jesus immediately reveals to Nicodemus the third person of the trinity.
Nicodemus- a staunch monotheist had to be swimming at this point.
John 3:5-8 - 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."
Jesus has introduced the idea of a life-giving spirit to Nicodemus. His thinking had to be going back to Ezekiel 36:24-28
In this passage both the Spirit and the Water flow into Nicodemus’ thinking.
The water signifies the purification that must take place and the Spirit represents the new life or the new heart that must take place.
Ezekiel 36:24-28 - I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. [25] I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. [26] And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. [28] You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
What is this LIFE Jesus is speaking of that is given by the Spirit?
Is it necessary?
It is as necessary.
Jesus Says---You MUST be born again.
What is meant by Born again? To be “born again” is to experience a second genesis. It is a new beginning, a fresh start in life. When something is started, we say it is generated. If it is started again, it is regenerated.
Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is a change. It is a radical change into a new kind of being. To be regenerated does not mean that we are changed from a human into a divine being. It does mean we are changed from spiritually dead human beings into spiritually alive human beings.
Jesus is saying “you must be born again” and Nicodemus was silenced. Nicodemus needed a new heart. He needed this new life.
What do we learn about this new kind of life from this passage.
As I explain it, I want us to examine our own lives and have the Holy Spirit speak to us. In a few minutes time your life will flash before your eyes.
1. Regeneration is the Work of the Holy Spirit.
A. It is certain that it is happening. -Jesus describes it as taking place. The Rebirth is that which increases Jesus’ realm or Kingdom, And Jesus’ kingdom is a growing kingdom. So we know the Spirit is regenerating people. It is certain because Jesus commands us to be born again. He would not command an impossibility. It is certain because it is the purpose of the Spirit to point people to Jesus and for them to be regenerated. If no one is regenerated then The Holy Spirit has failed. God doesn’t fail. It is certain that individuals will be regenerated. It is certain that individuals will be born again.
B. Because Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit, it is new. It is a new work. He is not refurbishing something. He is making it brand new. It is a work of spiritual birth. When a person falls in love it is like the world is a different and better place. Being born again is like falling in love with God. It is like the world is a new and fresh place. Over and over Jesus uses the word for birth. Nothing is more new than a newborn babe.
I will explain this more in a minute.
C. Because regeneration is the work of the Spirit, it is unpredictable.
[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." People I pray for don’t become Christ followers. They even die without faith. Why? Because the Spirit is not captured and moved only by my praying. The Spirit is like the wind. We see His work in people we gave up on praying for or never ever prayed for. The Spirit is unpredictable.
D. Because regeneration is the work of the Spirit, it is not our work.
It is new birth-Implying deadness. It is the work of the Spirit implying we are incapable of doing this work. What do we get if we think we can do the “Born Again Thang”?
[6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
“Like generates like. Only the Spirit gives birth to spirit. The second spirit is not an adjective but a noun. The Spirit does not give birth to spiritual people, understanding ‘spiritual people’ in some vague or merely functional way. What is in view is a new nature, not turning over a new leaf.” D.A. Carson
If we only can get more of the same by our own efforts, what do we get?
[18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Titus 3:4-5
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
But can’t I somehow help in the process?
While we are unregenerated by the Spirit, we are incapable of any action toward God. Regeneration is the First work of the Spirit in our lives and we are totally dependent on Him.
Now are you feeling a bit uncomfortable?
I am telling you of the unpredictable Spirit---and now you are totally dependant on Him for any possibility of a life with God. Exactly.
I do believe you believe this. Your praying shows your belief in what I just said.
“Birth and rebirth. Both are the result of the operation of the Holy Spirit. Just as nothing can live biologically apart from the power of the Holy Spirit, so no man can come alive to God apart from the Spirit’s work.…Is there something that I do? Many times since its rising popularity in the 70s people have asked one another, have you been born again?” Now in the asking of the question there is an expectation that you have some sort of control. How ridiculous to say that yes I born myself again.
Jesus was describing the work of the Spirit in our lives. Not our work in our lives. The wrong thinking of Nicodemus could easily become our wrong thinking. It goes like this…Life in God is based on my response to him and his word. This sounds good, but it is utterly wrong. It is a salvation determined by my response.
When Jesus speaks of life. He speaks of a new life initiated by the Holy Spirit. He speaks of us being born from above.
Listen to yourself pray. In that instant you reveal your true beliefs about God’s Spirit initiating salvation in everyone.
JI Packer says it well when he writes,
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
Two facts show that you believe God is sovereign in your salvation. In the first place, you give God thanks for your conversion…You know in your heart that God was entirely responsible for it. You did not save yourself; He saved you. There is a second way in which you acknowledge that God is sovereign in Salvation. You pray for the conversion of others. In what terms, now do you intercede for them? Do you limit yourself to asking that God will bring them to a point where they can save themselves, independently of Him? ….(We) pray in categorical terms that God will, quite simply and decisively, save them: that he will open the eyes of their understanding, soften their hard hearts, renew their natures, and move their wills to receive the savior.
If regeneration is the Work of the Spirit, what is the purpose and the result of regeneration?
2. Regeneration by the Spirit is to bring us into the Kingdom
[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.
16-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Living in the Kingdom means life.
Standing in front of Nicodemus was the author of Life, ws the King of all Kings, was the ruler of all spiritual authority, was his creator. Jesus says-you won’t even see the kingdom. It is standing in front of you. Nicodemus- you need to be Born again.
“Spiritually dead persons are incapable of seeing the Kingdom of God. It is invisible to them, not because the kingdom itself is invisible, but because spiritually dead are also spiritually blind.” R.C. Sproul
Nicodemus was the quintessential religious person that is spiritually dead. Couldn’t even see Jesus as God. The spiritual realm was invisible to him.
How does Regeneration by the Spirit bring us into the kingdom? It makes faith possible. Conversion is our response to God’s Spirit’s work in our lives. Belief is the right response to the Spirit’s work. Once the Spirit moves, we can respond.
The profound thought is that regeneration precedes faith. We as dead people can do nothing. Life without life describes the incredible dependency on the Holy Spirit we have in order for us to come alive. When Martin Luther was debating whether fallen man was utterly dependent upon the Holy Spirit for regeneration He cited John 6:63 and added, “The flesh profits nothing. And that ‘nothing’ is not a ‘little something’.”
Earlier I spoke of a pattern in John, I didn’t give the whole pattern. In much of John’s good news his goal is life, but before there can be life there must be belief. John writes his gospel so that a person might have enough evidence to believe.
In our story, Jesus apparently felt that Nicodemus had seen enough evidence. He confronts him with the life he doesn’t have. He shocks him out of his comfortable life. Then he calls him to believe. Today Jesus’ Spirit shocks us out of our comforts and confronts us with what we long for.
If you are new today and this story and this person of Jesus is all new to you—I say, consider the evidence. The Holy Spirit is shouting to you the magnificence of Jesus. If you are 72 and you think you have been on the right road all these years-what did you hear today? Being in this room every Sunday will not save you. You must be born again.
In 1957 Ford designed a car they thought would sell. They thought the auto buying public would go wild. It had push button shifting in the steering wheel. It had what they thought was a great design. Apparently the auto buying public didn’t like the Edsel, and the last one produced rolled off the lot in 1959. Ford bought a different design in the 1960s. It was produced under the supervision of Lee Iacocca. It was called the Mustang. It really sold.
I think we go through life wondering if the experience of God is any different from others. Much like comparing designs of cars. Sure they may have a Caddy, but I can get there just fine in my YUGO. What I am saying is it is not about design, but kind. Has God given you new birth? Can you see the Kingdom’s king? The spirit functions like Jesus to wake you. The Spirit is right now showing you Jesus. Now is the time to respond.