Being born again means being fathered by God, which requires: 1) Belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God 2) Surrendering in obedience to God by keeping his commandments such as being baptized 3) Victory over the world through faith in Jesus, which allows one to conquer sin and live a new, righteous life

1. “Born Again”Fathered By God 1 John 5:1-5 Adapted from a Steve Shepherd sermon http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/born-of-god-steve-shepherd-sermon-on-born-again-150324.asp

2. 1 John 5:1 NET Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him.2By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments.3For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments.

3. And his commandments do not weigh us down, 4because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith. 5Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

4. During the French Revolution, men were determined to abolish Christianity. One fine, clear night an atheist was loudly proclaiming his doctrine to a poor countryman. “Everything,” he said, “will be abolished—churches, Bibles, clergymen; yes, even the word ‘God’ itself. We shall remove everything which speaks of religion!”

5. The countryman gave a quiet chuckle. “Why do you laugh?” said the other. The peasant pointed to the stars and replied, “I was just wondering how you and your crew would manage to get them down!” We do live in a world or society that wants to do away with God and everything sacred. Or so it seems.

6. Many people don’t believe in God, don’t care about God, and don’t want to hear anything about God, Christ or the Bible. And the world in which we’re living is pretty tough, wild, violent and unbelieving! And because it’s unbelieving, this is why we’re experiencing such wild and sinful behavior from people.

7. When people stop believing in the God of heaven and the fact that someday they have to give account to Him they will do anything! And that’s what we’re seeing and experiencing in our time.

8. Psalms 14:1 NET Fools say to themselves, "There is no God." They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right. 2The LORD looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.3Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

9. What a powerful scripture. What a powerful truth about the condition of mankind. Foolish. Unbelieving. Corrupt. Vile. No good. And the Lord sees us all. Will people never learn? Some won’t. And they will never learn unless we proclaim the gospel message! And some won’t even then.

10. Overall people are corrupt. Sin has infected us all and there is only one answer and one escape. It’s through Christ and being born again! Basically, if a person wants to see eternal life they must be born again. They must experience a new life in Christ and our text reveals what this means.

11. Being “Born Again,” fathered by God,means many things. 1- Being Fathered By God requires belief in Jesus Christ 2- Being Fathered By God surrenders in obedience to God 3- Being Fathered By God gives victory over the world

12. BEING FATHERED BY GOD REQUIRES BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST 1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him. Belief in Jesus Christ is what this born again business is all about. Do you believe that Jesus is who He claimed to be?

13. Matthew 16:13 NET When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 They answered, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

14. What a question? And it’s a question that all people must someday answer. Either here on earth or when they die! John 14:1 NET "Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. It’s not enough just to believe in God or believe that God exists. If a person is going to experience a new life, a born again life then they must also believe in Jesus Christ.

15. Let’s see if we can connect the dots & find how this new life, fathered by God, born again, all fits together in God’s great plan. Mark 16:15 NET He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.

16. The gospel, belief, baptism & salvation seem to be interlinked. Where does this new life come in? Romans 6:1 NET What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

17. 4Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. 5For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.

18. Belief in who Jesus is, is essential! Without this vital element we will not obey the commands to confess our belief, repent of our sins, or join Jesus in the watery grave of baptism putting to death our sinful ways. Rising out of the water so we too may live a new life. There is the new life, Now we are fathered by God!

19. Many people believe in “a” god, but the true and living God is the one who sent Jesus into the world to save us. That’s the God we believe in and the Jesus we believe in. Many people still don’t believe in Jesus. It all depends on who you ask.

20. You can speak of Jesus as prophet, holy man, teacher, or spiritual leader, and few will object. But speak of Him as Son of God, divine, of the same nature as the Father, and people will line up to express their disapproval. A billion Muslims will say: “Prophet, yes. God, no!” Jews scattered around the world will say: “Teacher, yes. Messiah, no!” Liberal Protestants and religionists of various stripes will say: “Exemplary man, yes. Divine, no!” (Richard Dresselhaus)

21. Josephus, the famed Jewish historian, lived from A.D. 37 to 95, wrote: “Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call Him a man: for He was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to Him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was Christ.

22. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned Him to the cross, those that loved Him at the first did not forsake Him; for He appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning Him. And the tribe of Christians so named from Him, are not extinct at this day.” (Antiquities Of The Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3)

23. The Encyclopedia Britannica uses 20,000 words to tell about Jesus, and never hints that He did not exist. This is more words than the Britannica allows for Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Cicero, Julius Caesar, or Napoleon Bonaparte. H. G. Wells (English journalist) blasphemed Jesus, yet he felt compelled to discuss Jesus on ten pages in his Outline of History and never questioned that Jesus lived.

24. The Hon. William Jennings Bryan, more than once candidate for the U.S. Presidency, in his book, In His Image, wrote: “The fact of Christ cannot be denied. Christ lived; that is admitted. He taught; we have His words. He died upon the Cross, that we know.

25. We can trace His blood by its cleansing power as it flows through the centuries. Judged by His life, His teachings, and His death, and the impression they have made upon the human race, we conclude that He was Divine, and that He has justified the titles bestowed upon Him.”

26. 1 John 2:22 NET Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son.23Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also. The fact remains: No one can experience the new birth or the new life unless they believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God.

27. BEING FATHERED BY GOD SURRENDERS IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD 2 By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down,

28. We must come to God on His terms or not at all. We can’t make our own rules when it comes to God, but many people try! Faith and obedience go hand-in-hand. Many people like the idea of living by faith but this obedience business is something else.

29. A couple had been married for 20 years and were having a heated discussion. The husband said, “Don’t you remember promising to love, honor and obey me?” The wife said, “Of course, I do. What else could I do? I didn’t want to make a scene in church.”

30. Well, guess what? Most people don’t want to obey anybody: a husband, a boss, a manager, a commander, or even God! However, obedience is absolutely necessary when it comes to being born again and experiencing a new life in Christ!

31. A little boy was riding his tricycle furiously around the block, over and over again. Finally a policeman stopped and asked him why he was going around and around. The boy said that he was running away from home. Then the policeman asked why he kept going around the block. The boy responded, "Because my mom said that I'm not allowed to cross the street.“ The point is clear - obedience will keep you close to those you love.

32. Psalms 143:8 NET May I hear about your loyal love in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you. 10Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God. May your kind presence lead me into a level land. An aviation cadet, on a practice flight, temporarily stricken blind, in panic radioed to his control officer. This officer radioed back: “Follow my instructions implicitly.”

33. Start a slow decent to 1,500 feet, turn left to 180o. You are on final approach,” and so the instructions continued. The cadet may not have known why he had these instructions but that did not matter. He gave perfect, exact, and unquestioned obedience and brought his plane in for a safe landing.

34. Psalms 25:4 NET Make me understand your ways, O LORD! Teach me your paths! That which is often asked of God, is not so much His will and way, as His approval of our way. (S. F. Smiley)

35. Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. "Wake up, son. It's time to go to school!" "But why, Mom? I don't want to go." "Give me two reasons why you don't want to go." "Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!"

36. “Oh, that's no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready.” “Give me two reasons why I should go to school.” “Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And for another, you're the principal!” Sir Leonard Wood once visited the King of France and the King was so pleased with him he was invited for dinner the next day.

37. Sir Leonard went to the palace and the King, meeting him in one of the halls, said, “Why, Sir Leonard, I did not expect to see you. How is it that you are here?” “Did not your majesty invite me to dine with you?” said the astonished guest. “Yes,” replied the King, “but you did not answer my invitation.”

38. Then it was that Sir Leonard Wood uttered one of the choicest sentences of his life. He replied, “A king’s invitation is never to be answered, but to be obeyed.” What a great thought! There are many things that God has told us to do and we don’t need to question them. We just need to obey them. Immediate obedience is needed but that’s not what God often gets from us!

39. Romans 1:5 NET Through him we have received grace and our apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name. Obedience that comes from faith. Could it be that true faith always obeys?

40. Acts 2:38 NET Peter said to them, "Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 5:32 NET And we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

41. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 NET and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 8With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. We must not read this without looking into what it means to “obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

42. 1 Corinthians 15:1 NET Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received — that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,

43. 4and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, How is it possible to obeythe death, burial & resurrection of Christ? Refer back to our discussion on how we may live a new life. Romans 6:3 NET Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

44. 4 Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.

45. Hebrews 11:7 NET By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.

46. Often our faith is slow to surrender to God and obey Him. How can we do it better? How can we become more obedient? By starting where we are and obeying the Lord the best we can every time we come across a command in His Word. We start small and build up.

47. BEING FATHERED BY GOD GIVES VICTORY OVER THE WORLD 4 because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith. 5 Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

48. What’s so bad about the world? That’s what many people would ask. What’s bad is that the ideas and ideologies of the world are opposed to God. And when a person falls in love with this world they become guilty of the sin of idolatry. Frankly, we all love this world too much!

49. In England (1967), “The Forsyte Saga” TV series was so popular that ministers changed the hours of Sunday evening church services because they conflicted with the program. One man, whose home was flooded with seven feet of water, refused to come to the window to be rescued by a helicopter because he was watching an episode.

50. That sounds pretty wild, but it also sounds like something in the United States. I remember when I was just a boy “The Wonderful World of Disney” was on TV on Sunday nights. Oh how Alice & I wanted to stay home from church to watch it. Dad & Mom instilled in us the necessity to be with God’s people whenever the congregation meets together.

51. TV has come long way from where it once was! It’s more entertaining, more exciting, more realistic, and more bad language, nudity and violence than ever before! WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM THE WORLD? Can’t expect gospel and godliness. There is very little of that on TV and at the movies.

52. Robert H. Lauer wrote: Long ago, William Law warned that the world is now a greater enemy to the Christian than it was in apostolic times: It is a greater enemy, because it has greater power over Christians by its favors, riches, honors, rewards, and protection than it had by the fire and fury of its persecutors.

53. Yes, the world is quite attractive and in some ways, appears to be harmless. It’s not what God created that is our enemy but it’s what man has done with God’s creation that is our enemy! Look at the world’s ideas, ideologies and the world’s goals! LUST, GREED, PRIDE. All of these are in opposition to God and Christ.

54. 1 John 2:15 NET Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 16because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.

55. As tempting as the world is, there is victory in Jesus. There is victory over the world’s sinfulness in Jesus. Wes Tuttle was a country western singer and guitarist: born Lamar, Colorado 30 December 1917; married 1947 Marilyn Myers (one son, and two daughters deceased); died Los Angeles 29 September 2003.

56. In 1944, having played guitar on sessions by Capitol Records' first country signing, Tex Ritter, Tuttle became the second act to be signed by the label. His first release, a version of the Delmore Brothers' "Raining on the Mountains", was backed by "I Dreamed That My Daddy Came Home",

57. a sentimental number that he co-wrote with the guitarist Merle Travis, and proved highly popular. He followed it with "With Tears in My Eyes" (1945) and topped the country charts for a month. In 1957 the Tuttles left the Town Hall Party (a weekly radio and television program showcasing the region's country-music talent) and, following the traumatic death of their four year-old daughter, decided to focus solely on gospel music.

58. When Wesley Tuttle sang at the Fairview Christian Church in Carthage, MO, back in the 1960‘s. He said that he’d never even been inside a church until he was 40 years old and once he was converted to Christ he never turned back. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

59. Someone once said, “If you are born once, you’ll die twice, but if you’re born twice, you’ll die only once.” What did he mean by those words? If you have only been born physically, you will experience the second death. But if you have experienced the new birth you will only die the physical death.

60. The door of heaven will be opened to you but it will be only because of your acceptance of Jesus Christ! IT ALL BECAUSE OF HIM AND ALL DEPENDS ON HIM AND FAITH IN HIM!