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Sermon Outline

1. How does one Discern if a teacher is from God? (Jn 3:1-2)
   1. Common ways that are wrong
      1. They say what I want them to say (Jer 23:16)
      2. They perform/point to signs that seem to come true (Dt 13:1-5)
   2. Godly teachers point us to the Word of God and obedience to it. (Dt 13:4)
   3. Who is Nicodemus?
      1. A Pharisee (Jn 3:1, Acts 26:5)
      2. Ruler of the Jews
      3. Fascinated with the signs (Jn 3:2)
         1. Rabbi – term of respect
         2. Greatness is related to the signs Jesus is performing.
      4. Seems to be an example of one slowly coming to Faith
         1. Seeks out Jesus privately in Jn 3
         2. Defends Jesus without being attached to him in Jn 7:50
         3. Overtly ties self to Christ at his burial (Jn 19:39)
2. The need for Spiritual Rebirth (Jn 3:3-12)
   1. Jesus’ declares the need (Jn 3:3)
      1. Unless one is born again (Gal 4:9, Gen 49:25, Josh 3:16, Mk 15:38, Jam 1:17)
      2. The Spirit gives us eyes to see the Reign of God
   2. Nicodemus’ misunderstanding (Jn 3:4)
      1. Nicodemus was a literalist
      2. Why didn’t he get it?
   3. The Kingdom of God is spiritual (Jn 3:3, 5-8)
      1. There are a number of different ways that water and Spirit has been interpreted
         1. Water = baptism, spirit = God
         2. Water = repentance, spirit = God
         3. Water and spirit are synonymous terms(Jn 4:15)
         4. Water = cleansing, spirit = power (Eph 5:26)
         5. Water = Physical birth; Spirit = Spiritual birth (Jn 3:6, 1Jn 3:8, Gal 4:8)
      2. The Necessity of Rebirth
3. The one who gives spiritual Life (Jn 3:13-15, Num 21:1-9, Eph 2:4-10)