Vineyard Labourer Bible College

Study 7

HOW TO BECOME A NEW PERSON

Many people today are searching for something new, something different, something that will make them feel complete. In the days when Jesus lived there was one such man which the Bible tell us about. His name was Nicodemus.

Nicodemus held a high position of trust in the Jewish nation. He was highly educated, and possessed talents of no ordinary character, and he was an honoured member of the national council. With others, he had been stirred by the teaching of Jesus. Though rich, learned, and honoured, he had been strangely attracted by the humble Nazarene. The lessons that had fallen from the Saviour's lips had greatly impressed him, and he desired to learn more of these wonderful truths.

He greatly desired an interview with Jesus, but shrank from seeking Him openly. It would be too humiliating for a ruler of the Jews to acknowledge himself as an associate of a teacher as yet so little known. And should his visit come to the knowledge of the Sanhedrin, it would draw upon him their scorn and denunciation. He resolved upon a secret interview, excusing this on the ground that if he were to go openly, others might follow his example. Learning by special inquiry the Saviour's place of retirement in the Mount of Olives, he waited until the city was hushed in slumber, and then sought Him.

In the presence of Christ, Nicodemus felt a strange timidity, which he endeavoured to conceal under an air of composure and dignity. "Rabbi," he said, "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." Instead of recognizing this salutation, Jesus bent His eyes upon the speaker, as if reading his very soul. In His infinite wisdom He saw before Him a seeker after truth. He knew the object of this visit, and with a desire to deepen the conviction already resting upon His listener's mind, He came directly to the point, saying solemnly, yet kindly, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3.

WHAT SAITH THE LORD

1. What is another way of putting "born again" that Jesus used? Matthew 18:3.

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3.

2. How did He further explain the new birth? John 3:5.

"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." John 3:5.

3. With what comparison did He illustrate the subject? John 3:8.

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:8.

4. What is one evidence of this change of death to life? 1 John 3:14.

"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." 1 John 3:14.

5. From what is a converted sinner saved? James 5:20.

"Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5:20.

6. To whom are sinners brought by conversion? Psalms 51:10, 13.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. . . . Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Psalms 51:10, 13.

7. In what words to Peter did Jesus indicate the kind of service a converted person should render to his brethren? Luke 22:31, 32.

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:31, 32.

8. What other experience is associated with conversion? Matthew 13:15.

"For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." Matthew 13:15.

9. What gracious promise of healing does God make to His people? Hosea 14:4.

"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him." Hosea 14:4.

10. By what means is this healing accomplished? Isaiah 53:5.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5.

11. What takes place when one is converted to Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:17. (Also see Acts 9:1-22; 22:1-21; 26:1-23.)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.

12. What is the value of merely outward forms? Galatians 6:15.

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." Galatians 6:15.

13. Through what was the original creation wrought? Psalms 33:6.

"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." Psalms 33:6.

14. Through what instrumentality is conversion wrought? 1 Peter 1:23.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1 Peter 1:23.

15. What change is wrought by beholding Jesus? 2 Corinthians 3:18.

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Note: A beautiful statue once stood in the market place of an Italian city. It was the statue of a Greek slave girl. It represented the slave as tidy and well dressed. A ragged, uncombed little street child, coming across the statue in her play one day, stopped and gazed at it in admiration. She was captivated by it. She gazed long and lovingly. Moved by a sudden impulse, she went home and washed her face and combed her hair. Another day she stopped again before the statue and admired it, and got a new idea. Next day her tattered clothes were washed and mended. Each time she looked at the statue she found something in its beauties to admire and copy, until she was a transformed child. By beholding we become changed.

16. What two things are evidence that one has been born of God? 1 John 2:29; 4:7.

"If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." 1 John 2:29

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." 1 John 4:7.

17. What is true of everyone who is born of God? 1 John 5:1.

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." 1 John 5:1.

18. What do those born of God not do? 1 John 5:18.

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." 1 John 5:18.

19. What indwelling power keeps such from sinning? 1 John 3:9.

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1 John 3:9.

20. What will be the experience of those born of the Spirit? Romans 8:1.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1.

Commitment:- I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, and want to walk daily with Him, and have the renewing power of the Spirit in my life.