The Cooling Stream

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Nicodemus confused the things of God with those of the flesh.

He thought that Jesus was referring to a return to his mother's womb.

A thing that would be an absolute impossibility.

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There are many around who do not understand the plan of salvation.

When someone tries to think about it in human terms, it makes absolutely no sense at all.

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The plan of salvation is a thing that is spiritually discerned.

Unless the Spirit of God awakens the mind to the truth of God's plan, there can be no understanding and no salvation.

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That is why Jesus stressed the need for the Father to draw men to the truth.

Jesus compared the mystery of the new birth to a breeze (John 3:8).

Jesus told Nicodemus that just as the wind could be felt and measured, and the effects of it could be seen, where it came from and where it went to remained a mystery.

We cannot see God do His work in a heart.

But we can see the effects of the Spirit in a life!

When we see a wicked and hateful man turns into a sweet, loving, and holy saint, we know the Spirit has been working in his soul.

We do not see how it happens.

But we can see the effect of the power of God in the human heart.

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The wind of the Spirit was blowing in the soul of Nicodemus.

But he could not control that wind.

And it might be gone in an instant, never to return.

The time for Nicodemus to heed God’s call was when the wind was moving in his heart.

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If the wind of the Spirit is blowing in our soul, the time to be saved is now!

Remember, God will not always deal with us (Gen. 6:3).

We must come to Him when He is near and calling (Isa. 55:6; 2 Cor. 6:2).

We can come to him only when He is calling us (John 6:44).

John 3:4-7

The mystery of the new birth is like that of a physical birth.

When Jesus said “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit”, He was talking about physical birth and spiritual birth.

He was saying that for a man to get to heaven he must have two births.

He must be born into the kingdom of men and he must be born into the kingdom of God!

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There are a few ways physical birth can be used to illustrate spiritual birth:

• Physical birth provides life. Likewise, spiritual birth provides a person with spiritual life.

• Physical birth only happens once. Likewise, spiritual birth is a one time event.

• Physical birth happens because of the suffering on another. A mother suffers to bring life into this world. Jesus suffered so that we might be born again.

• Physical birth gives the infant a brand new start. Our past is wiped away; our future lies in front of us!

The new birth is a mystery!

It is like our physical birth!

John 3: 4-8

When Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again, Nicodemus could not grasp how that could be.

He imagined himself going back into his mother’s womb to be born a second time.

He wanted to know how this could happen.

So he asked Jesus about the “How?” of the new birth.

Nicodemus knew that he was in the presence of a mystery and he wanted the answers.

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The new birth is a mysterious thing.

None of us truly understands everything there is to know about it.

It is still a mystery even to those of us who have experienced it!

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But the fact that it is a mystery should not cause us to avoid it altogether!

There are many things in life that we do not understand, but we still believe in them.

So, we must not allow the mystery of the new birth keep us from being saved!

The new birth is a must!

We are unable to save ourselves!

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When Nicodemus came to Jesus, he came humbly.

He came with some serious questions, but he did not expect the answer he received. Jesus told him, “You must be born again!” (John3: 3, 7).

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Nicodemus must have thought that this was a mistake.

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Nicodemus was a very rich man. He had a lot of money.

But what we have does not change what we are!

We are still a sinner in need of a Savior! Our money can buy us nothing in Heaven!

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Nicodemus was a respectable man. People knew who he was. He was held in great esteem.

But what we achieve in life does not change what we are!

It cannot provide us a place in Heaven!

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Nicodemus was a religious man. He was a Pharisee! He kept the Law. He was morally pure. He did everything the Law said to do. He kept the written Law and the traditions of the elders. He was a holy man!

But what we do does not change who we are!

We are still in need of a Redeemer! Our religious activities cannot save us.

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We can never buy our way to Heaven!

We can never gain our way into Heaven!

We can never do enough to enter Heaven!

Salvation only comes through the new birth!

No matter what we have, no matter what we do, and no matter who we are, we are still a sinner in need of a Savior!

The new birth is not an option; it is a must!

Our sinful nature demands it!

John 3:1-7

The New Birth Is A Must

We need to be born again.

What does it mean to be born again?

It means to be born from above.

It means getting a fresh start, a new life from Heaven.

It means being saved or being born again.

It means regeneration.

It means more than just reformation!

It means more than just turning over a new leaf.

It means more than just getting a new lease on life.

It means to be born from Heaven above!

And the new birth is important.

It is necessary, if we want to get to Heaven!

John 3:1-15

Jesus has a personal encounter with a man called Nicodemus.

Nicodemus was one of the most powerful and influential men in all Israel during this time.

Nicodemus is a wealthy, powerful, and religious man.

Jesus referred to Nicodemus as “Israel’s teacher”. Nicodemus was an educated man.

But despite his learning, there were some things Nicodemus did not know.

So one night, this rich, powerful, educated man found himself alone with the Lord Jesus Christ.

What Nicodemus learned that night would prove to be the greatest lessons of his life!

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Jesus shared great truths with Nicodemus.

Nicodemus came to Jesus for some answers about religion. But he received some answers about redemption.

He came to Jesus with questions about Jesus. He went away with more knowledge about Jesus and about himself.

He came to Jesus to ask questions about life. He left with information about the new birth.

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Jesus taught Nicodemus the truth about salvation.

He shared with him the new birth that we all need to hear.