Born Again: A Second Chance Starts Today
Listen to Jesus – Part 3
Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA
In Part 3 of our Listen to Jesus series at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, Pastor Zoe Hatcher leads us into a clandestine nighttime meeting between Jesus and a Jewish leader named Nicodemus. We’ve followed Jesus to the mountaintop. We’ve followed Him into the wilderness. Now we listen in as He explains one of the most essential truths of the Gospel: You must be born again.
📺 Watch the Full Message Here
You Must Be Born Again
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
-John 3:1–8
Jesus doesn’t ease into the conversation.
Nicodemus begins respectfully. He acknowledges Jesus as a teacher from God. But before Nicodemus can ask his theological questions, Jesus cuts straight to the heart:
No one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.
Not improved.
Not reformed.
Not more religious.
Born again.
Just as physical birth is required to live in this world, spiritual birth is required to enter eternal life. You cannot exist physically without being born of flesh. And you cannot enter the Kingdom without being born of the Spirit.
Spiritual rebirth is not something that can be controlled or manufactured. The Spirit moves like the wind — unseen, powerful, impossible to manipulate. Just as you had nothing to do with your physical birth, you cannot control your spiritual birth. It must be surrendered to. It must be received as a gift.
You do not receive eternal life because your parents brought you to church.
You do not receive eternal life because you were raised in a Christian home.
You do not receive eternal life because you know the Bible.
You must be born again.
Who Was Nicodemus?
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,”said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”-John 3:9–13
Nicodemus was not spiritually uninformed. He was a Pharisee. A teacher of Israel. A member of the Sanhedrin — the Jewish ruling council.
He lived in Jerusalem.
He was respected.
He knew the Scriptures thoroughly.
Yet he came at night.
Why? Likely fear. Fear of being publicly associated with Jesus. Fear of his peers. Fear of exposure.
But he came personally.
He did not send an assistant. He did not rely on secondhand accounts. He sought Jesus for himself.
And that reveals the first truth:
1) Seek a Relationship with Jesus for Yourself
No one else can do this for you.
Nicodemus examined Jesus’ life and teaching personally. He separated fact from rumor. He came with questions.
No matter how educated or intelligent you are, you must come to Jesus with humility — ready to be taught.
Humility Is Required
Nicodemus knew what the Kingdom meant from Scripture. He knew it would be ruled by God. He knew it would be restored on earth. He knew it involved God’s chosen people.
But Jesus reveals something revolutionary.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
-John 3:16–18
The Kingdom is not limited to one nation.
It is not reserved for one ethnicity.
It is not secured by religious status.
God so loved the world.
And even Nicodemus — a Pharisee, a religious leader — must be born again.
This leads to the second truth:
2) Be Humble Enough to Learn
Intellectual knowledge does not guarantee salvation.
You can know Scripture and still miss the Savior.
You can understand theology and still need transformation.
The Kingdom is personal.
Entrance is repentance and spiritual rebirth.
Everyone must receive it.
Lay Down the Old to Receive the New
Jesus then says something that seems strange at first.
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
John 3:14–15
Why bring up a snake in the wilderness?
Because nothing Jesus says is random. He knows exactly who He is speaking to. Nicodemus would immediately recognize the reference.
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
-Numbers 21:4–9
In the wilderness, the Israelites complained against God. Venomous snakes came among them. Many died. There was no cure. No anti-venom. No escape.
Then God instructed Moses to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole. Anyone who looked at it in faith would live.
It was not the bronze that healed them.
It was their belief in God expressed through obedience.
That bronze serpent was a type — a symbol — pointing forward to Christ.
Just as the serpent was lifted up, Jesus would be lifted up.
Just as those bitten could look and live, those poisoned by sin can look to Christ and live.
The third truth:
3) Lay Down the Old to Receive the New
Nicodemus knew the Law.
He knew the Old Testament.
But he needed a relationship with the God those Scriptures revealed.
Knowledge alone cannot save.
Religious effort cannot save.
Heritage cannot save.
Only Christ.
Look and Live
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-Hebrews 12:1–2
Fix your eyes on Jesus.
The Israelites were dying from snake bites — suffering intensely — and God provided a way. When they obeyed and looked up, they lived.
Sin is a deadly bite.
The Cross is the cure.
Jesus is the Healer lifted up for us.
What Is Eternal Life?
Eternal life is not simply an extension of this mortal life.
It is not living forever in the same broken condition.
It is life without death.
Life without sickness.
Life without evil.
Life without separation from God.
We often live as if this world is all there is. Like children in the backseat of a long road trip, complaining: “Are we there yet?”
All we can see is the discomfort of the moment.
But eternity is the destination.
Eternal life changes perspective. It shifts how suffering is viewed. It gives hope beyond the present moment.
But belief is more than intellectual agreement.
Belief means trust.
It means leaning your weight on Him.
It means putting Jesus in charge of both your present life and your eternal destiny.
Heaven and Hell Are Real
We will all live eternally.
The question is where.
Heaven is eternal life with God.
Hell is eternal separation from Him.
Hell is not fictional.
It is not symbolic.
It is separation from the love and presence of God.
Not choosing Jesus is already a choice.
And today is the second chance.
If you woke up today, if you are reading this, if you are hearing this message — this is grace extended. This is opportunity.
Tomorrow is not promised.
The Invitation: A, B, C
Salvation is simple — though following Jesus costs everything.
A — Admit your sin and accept His forgiveness.
B — Believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
C — Choose to follow Him with your life.
You do not become a Christian by sitting in church.
You do not become a Christian by wearing a cross.
You do not become a Christian by proximity.
You must choose.
Be born again.
No One Is Beyond Reach
Nicodemus began in the shadows. Later, he defended Jesus publicly. Eventually, he helped bury Him.
God was patient.
God was persistent.
God transformed him.
No one is unreachable.
Perhaps you once said you would never step into a church. Yet here you are. And the building is still standing.
God can reach anyone.
God can change anyone.
God can use anyone who is willing.
Pray This Today
If you are ready to make that choice, pray this from your heart:
Father God,
Thank You that You love me.
Thank You that You love me enough to send Your Son, Jesus, to die for me.
I confess that I have sinned.
I have done wrong.
I have hurt people.
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
I believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
I choose You, Jesus.
Cleanse me.
Make me new.
Give me boldness to tell others about You
and to follow You faithfully with my life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Your Next Step
If you have never personally chosen to follow Jesus, today is the day.
If you are unsure of your salvation, ask Him. The Holy Spirit gives assurance.
If you have been a quiet believer, step into the light.
You must be born again.
Plan a Visit or Support the Mission
If you made a decision to follow Jesus, or if you would like someone to pray with you, we would love to connect.
👉 Plan a Visit
Join us Sunday mornings at 71 Congress Street in Bradford, PA.
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