Wesley DeVries - July 19, 2026
“You Must Be Born Again” | John 3 Vs 1-21
Jesus did not describe being born again as an optional experience for especially committed Christians. He told Nicodemus, a respected and deeply religious leader, “You must be born again.” Nicodemus had knowledge, morality, religious experience, and respect for Jesus, but none of those things could give him spiritual life. He did not need a better version of his old life. He needed life from above. In this sermon, we consider four truths about the new birth: You cannot earn it. The Spirit must give it. The Son came to secure it. The light will reveal it. Eternal life cannot be earned through religious effort, good behaviour, ancestry, knowledge, or personal improvement. It is a gift of God’s mercy. The Holy Spirit cleanses the heart, gives new life, and produces a new direction. Jesus secured salvation by being lifted up on the cross. Just as the Israelites looked to God’s provision in the wilderness and lived, sinners are called to look to Christ, trust His finished work, and receive eternal life. The evidence of new birth is not sinless perfection. It is a changed relationship with sin. Those born of the Spirit no longer want to remain hidden in darkness. They come into the light through confession, repentance, faith, and a growing desire to become more like Jesus.
From Series: "Encounters With Jesus"
Throughout the Gospels, people from every walk of life encountered Jesus, and none of them left unchanged. In this series, we will look at several of these personal encounters and discover what they reveal about who Jesus is, why He came, and how He still transforms lives today.