Day 1: Except a Man Be Born Again
First, make sure you’re risen with Christ. The Gospel is the place to begin.
Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
John 3:1-18
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 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.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into 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 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Over the first 10 days of this study, we're going to go through a group of scriptures that we refer to as "Setting a Foundation" for our freedom in Christ, and the first (and most essential) is the Gospel. If you don't have this right, nothing else matters.
The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus from John 3 may well be one of the most quoted passages in all of Scripture, and it contains perhaps Jesus’ most direct presentation of the Gospel. And just as Jesus opens the dialogue by introducing the necessity of being "born again," it is essential that this study begin in the same place.
Read the entire conversation from John 3. Note how Jesus cuts straight to the chase with Nicodemus. While the ruler of Israel opens his address to Jesus with respect and well-wishes, Jesus responds with a direct challenge that not only redirects the conversation, it stops Nicodemus in his tracks and for the rest of the conversation he probes Jesus for more information, seeking the meaning of Jesus’ puzzling words, “You must be born again.”
There is a passage in Numbers 21 that is referenced by Jesus in John 3:14, and it shows us as it did Nicodemus the heart of the matter. Israel had sinned, and judgment had come upon the camp in the form of poisonous snakes. People were dying, and they recognized quickly that this was no ordinary course of nature but an act of God. They pleaded with Moses for relief, and God directed Moses to fashion a brass serpent—the likeness of the creature that was killing them—and lift it high above the camp. Whenever someone was bitten, looking upon the brass serpent would bring healing.
In like manner, Jesus took on himself the likeness of the creature that is lethal to us: our own flesh. Thus when Jesus was lifted up on the cross the way Moses lifted up the brass serpent, he became the sacrifice that heals all who look on Him and believe. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that God, “made [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” And as Jesus says to Nicodemus, whosoever believes in Him, in the miracle of divine substitution, will not die but have eternal life.
And if John 3 is the call, Romans 1:16 is the resounding echo. When Paul says he isn't ashamed of the Gospel, he refers to its efficacy and effectiveness, not his own boldness. It is a testimony of his trust in the Gospel’s ability to radically change lives. The work the Lord did in Paul's life was his proof—and recognizing that work in our own life is essential for understanding, fully trusting, and receiving the blessings of God in our own lives. Has God radically changed you? Sinner, are you born again? If you are not, none of what follows will impact your life. It must begin here.
Apart from the saving grace of the Gospel of Jesus, none of the rest of this Bible study will make any sense, or be of any lasting help. Without the new birth, this entire study is nothing more than a well-meaning addition to a long line of self-help books. It might be an inspirational way to start your day but it will not set anyone free. This study is wholly dependent upon, and focused around the Gospel. Without the life-regenerating work of the salvation that can only come through Christ, one may find fleeting rest from a struggle against sin through temporal means, but no one will ever be truly set free. Believe the Gospel. Cling to the cross as your only hope. Like Noah in the Ark, no life raft in sight, no "second option" or "fallback," release yourself to Christ and Him only, and carry no other means of salvation into the arrangement. It is only through Christ that we are set free.
Sinner, I am not ashamed to offer you the Gospel as the solution to your problems! You are struggling against sinful flesh, against sexual temptations and addictions, against brain chemistry, against muscle memory and force of habit, but none of that is your real problem. You are in need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and nothing else, because nothing but the Gospel of Christ can truly set you free. If you believe this with your whole heart, you already have everything you need to live victoriously. The work of justification was instant at the moment of your belief, and at that moment you were set free from the power of sin. You may not realize it right away because old habits may not fall away quickly or easily, but the chains have been broken and you are free the moment you are born again. If you have Jesus, you have found your freedom and the rest of this study is about learning how to live and walk in that freedom.
My friend, now is a great time to say, "Amen."
Today, meditate on the truth that Christ's death on the cross was enough, and praise God for His gift of salvation.