Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It
Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
Regeneration A Work Of The
Holy Spirit
(John 3)
Intro: There are those in our day who suggest that we should never mention Bible doctrine in our personal evangelism efforts. They encourage us to keep the message simple and non-controversial. Of course, we do not want to be religiously repulsive in our dealing with unbelievers. However, in Christ's one-on-one ministry, the Savior did not evade doctrinal truth. Here, in His memorable conversation with Nicodemus, He underlined several great Bible doctrines.
Jesus taught the doctrine of God or Theology (3:3,5); the doctrine of man, or Anthropology (3:6); the doctrine of sin, or Harmatiology (3:17-21; the doctrine of salvation, or Soteriology (3:16); and the doctrine of Christ, or Christology (3:14-16). Jesus also taught the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, or Pneumatology (3:5,6,8). Magnifying the significance of this doctrine, He described three specific ministries of the Holy Spirit in regeneration.
By explaining these statements, we are reminded of:
I. The Agency Of The Holy Spirit In
Regeneration
"born of the Spirit" (3:5,6,8)
A. His agency is a heavenly agency- "again" (3:3,7)=from above;
cf.v.12
B. His agency is a holy agency- "the Spirit" refers to God's
Spirit.
C. His agency is a heart-effecting agency- "see" (3:3);
enter(3:5); transforming power.
Illus. Regeneration takes beyond religious associations (3:1); awareness (3:2); and aspirations (3:2).
II. The Activity Of The Holy Spirit In
Regeneration
"that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (3:6)
A. The activity of a Maker- cf. to natural birth; a child is the creation
of God, Spirit conception!
B. The activity of a Mother- cf.v.4; The Holy Spirit incubates and carries
what he creates.
C. The activity of a Minister- "is spirit"; ref. to a new world;
the Holy Spirit searches and leads
Illus. Christ was Priest/Altar/Sacrifice; Similarly, the Spirit is Giver/Guardian/Guide
III. The Authority Of The Holy Spirit In
Regeneration
"so is everyone that is born of the Spirit" (3:8)
A. Like the wind, His authority cannot be denied- "The wind bloweth;
so is...."
B. Like the wind, His authority cannot be dominated- "where it
listeth"; so is he...."
C. Like the wind, His authority cannot be described- "canst not
tell"; so is..."
Ills. The Holy Ghost is as powerful and evident as a hurricane force.
Conclusion:
When our second daughter was born, she was born without the aid of a
doctor. The nurses delivered her. the, the doctor came in,
smacked her on the bottom, and sent us a bill! Actually, a baby can
be born without the presence of a doctor, without the presence of a nurse,
or even without the presence of a father. But, a baby cannot be born
without a mother! One can be born again without a preacher, without
a personal worker, without a Sunday-School teacher, etc..., but no one can
be born again, or spiritually regenerated, without the Holy Spirit of
God! Yes, regeneration is a work of the Holy Spirit!
Sermon From Evangelist Tom Hayes
