Are You Truly Born Again? Embracing the Light

Devotional

Day 1: Being Born Again Is Essential, Not Optional

To truly be a light in the world, Jesus teaches that being born again is not just a suggestion or a cultural label, but the very foundation of entering the kingdom of God. This spiritual rebirth is not about family heritage, good deeds, or religious activity, but about a personal encounter with Jesus that transforms the heart and imparts eternal life. Each person must come to a place of recognizing their own need for a Savior and respond in faith, moving beyond assumptions or traditions to a genuine relationship with Christ. [37:16]

John 3:1-8 (ESV)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Reflection: Can you point to a specific moment or season when you personally responded to Jesus and experienced spiritual rebirth, or have you been relying on family background or religious activity to define your faith?

Day 2: Salvation Is a Clear, Transformative Experience

There is nothing ambiguous about being born again; just as physical birth is a distinct event, so is spiritual birth. When God gets a hold of your heart, you move from death to life, and your life is never the same. If your story of faith is vague or simply about trying to be good, it may be time to examine whether you have truly encountered Jesus and received the gift of new life He offers. [49:57]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Reflection: How would you describe the change that took place in your life when you were born again, and if you can’t, what might God be inviting you to consider today?

Day 3: Faith, Not Knowledge, Is the Doorway to New Life

You don’t have to know everything about God or have all your questions answered to be born again; God is after your heart, not just your intellect. Salvation is available to anyone who believes, regardless of background or education, and it is received through simple, childlike faith in Jesus. Don’t let unanswered questions or doubts keep you from responding to God’s invitation—He welcomes you as you are. [53:03]

John 3:16-17 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Reflection: What questions or doubts have you allowed to keep you from fully trusting Jesus, and what would it look like to bring those honestly to Him today?

Day 4: Condemnation Comes from Unbelief, Not Sin

Many believe that sin is what condemns, but Jesus teaches that condemnation results from not believing in Him. The cross has paid for all sin, and the only thing that separates us from God is our rejection of the gift He offers in Jesus. The opportunity to respond is not unlimited—God calls us to believe and receive new life while we have the chance. [58:53]

John 3:18 (ESV)
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Reflection: Is there any area where you are still trying to “clean up” your life before coming to Jesus, rather than simply believing and receiving His finished work for you?

Day 5: Being Born Again Makes You a Light

It is only through being born again that you become a true light in the world, reflecting God’s truth and love. Good deeds and community involvement are valuable, but Jesus says that living by the truth and coming into the light begins with a transformed heart. When you step into the light, your life becomes a testimony to God’s grace, and heaven itself celebrates every soul that moves from darkness to light. [01:01:49]

John 3:19-21 (ESV)
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

Reflection: In what practical way can you step into the light today—whether by confessing something, sharing your story, or serving others—so that God’s work in you is visible to those around you?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus centers on the question: “Are you a light?”—not in the sense of simply doing good or being a nice person, but in the deeper, biblical sense that Jesus describes in John 3. The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus reveals that being a light is inseparable from being “born again.” This is not a matter of heritage, family tradition, or cultural Christianity, but a personal, transformative encounter with Jesus Christ that imparts new spiritual life.

Nicodemus, a respected religious leader, comes to Jesus at night, perhaps out of curiosity or caution. Despite his credentials and moral standing, Jesus tells him plainly that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. This statement is both radical and offensive to human pride, as it dismantles the idea that spiritual status can be inherited or earned. Jesus insists that spiritual birth is as real and distinct as physical birth—there is a moment when a person moves from spiritual death to life, and it is not ambiguous or gradual.

Many people, especially in regions saturated with cultural Christianity, may assume they are Christians because of upbringing, church attendance, or good deeds. But Jesus’ words challenge us to examine whether we have truly experienced the new birth. This is not about accumulating knowledge or waiting until all doubts are resolved; it is about responding in faith to the love of God revealed in Jesus, who was lifted up for our salvation.

A crucial insight from Jesus’ teaching is that condemnation is not the result of sin itself—since Jesus has paid for all sin—but of unbelief, the refusal to accept the gift of new life. The invitation is open to all, regardless of background or past, and the only requirement is to believe and receive. When this happens, a person becomes a true light, living in the truth and reflecting God’s glory to the world. The call is urgent, as the opportunity to respond is not guaranteed forever. Today is the day to step into the light, to be born again, and to join the celebration in heaven over every soul that moves from death to life.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual birth is not inherited or earned; it is a personal encounter with Jesus. No amount of family legacy, religious activity, or moral effort can substitute for the necessity of being born again. Each person must come to a place of recognizing their own need for a Savior and responding in faith, regardless of their background or upbringing. [37:16]
2. The message of new birth is inherently offensive to human pride and self-sufficiency. Jesus’ insistence that even the most religious and accomplished must be born again confronts our tendency to trust in our own achievements or status. The gospel humbles us, exposing our need and inviting us to lay down our defenses and receive grace. [42:34]
3. The experience of being born again is unmistakable and transformative. Just as physical birth is a clear, datable event, so too is spiritual birth a real encounter that changes everything. If our relationship with God is vague or merely cultural, we are invited to seek the genuine experience of moving from death to life through Christ. [49:57]
4. Knowledge is not a prerequisite for salvation; faith is. God is after our hearts, not just our intellects. While questions and doubts are natural, the essential truth is simple enough for a child: God loves us, Jesus died and rose again, and we are invited to trust Him. Waiting for perfect understanding will only delay the new life God offers now. [55:42]
5. Condemnation is not about the quantity or severity of our sins, but about our response to Jesus. The decisive issue is belief or unbelief—accepting or rejecting the gift of salvation. Jesus has already paid for all sin; what remains is our willingness to receive Him. The urgency is real, as the opportunity to respond is not endless. [58:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Upcoming Events and Membership Class
[03:45] - Duke Football Team Visit and Personal Testimony
[07:30] - Introduction: Are You a Light?
[10:15] - The Context of John 3 and Nicodemus
[13:30] - Reading the Conversation: John 3:1-21
[18:00] - Being a Christian Is Not a Birthright
[22:30] - The Offense of Being Told You Must Be Born Again
[27:00] - Responses to the Call: Fight, Dismiss, or Admit
[31:11] - Nothing About Birth Is Ambiguous
[36:00] - You Don’t Have to Know More to Be Born Again
[41:00] - Condemnation: Sin vs. Unbelief
[46:00] - Becoming a Light: The Result of New Birth
[50:00] - Invitation to Respond and Prayer for Salvation
[54:00] - Celebration and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 3:1-21 (ESV) —
> Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
> Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
> “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Observation Questions

What does Jesus say is required to see or enter the kingdom of God? (John 3:3, 3:5)
How does Nicodemus respond to Jesus’ statement about being born again? What does this show about his understanding? (John 3:4)
According to Jesus, what is the difference between being born of the flesh and being born of the Spirit? (John 3:6)
In the sermon, what examples were given of people who might assume they are Christians because of their background or good deeds? [37:16]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose the image of being “born again” to describe salvation? What does this say about the nature of spiritual transformation? [49:57]
The sermon says that being told “you must be born again” can be offensive to human pride and self-sufficiency. Why is this message hard for people to accept, especially those with religious backgrounds or accomplishments? [42:34]
The pastor said, “Condemnation does not result from sin. Condemnation results from not believing.” How does this challenge common assumptions about why people are separated from God? [58:53]
What does it mean to “come into the light” according to Jesus, and how is this connected to being born again? (John 3:19-21)

Application Questions

The sermon emphasized that spiritual birth is not inherited or earned. Have you ever relied on your family’s faith, church attendance, or good works as evidence of your relationship with God? How can you personally examine whether you have truly been born again? [37:16]
The message of new birth can be offensive because it tells us our achievements aren’t enough. Have you ever struggled with pride or self-sufficiency in your spiritual life? What would it look like to lay down your defenses and receive grace? [42:34]
The pastor said that being born again is an unmistakable and transformative experience. If someone asked you to describe your own spiritual birth, what would you say? Is your story clear or vague? [49:57]
The sermon pointed out that knowledge is not a prerequisite for salvation—faith is. Are there questions or doubts that have kept you from fully trusting Jesus? What would it look like to respond with childlike faith today? [55:42]
Jesus said that condemnation is about unbelief, not the amount or severity of our sins. How does this truth affect the way you view your past mistakes or the mistakes of others? [58:53]
The pastor warned that the opportunity to respond to Jesus is not endless. Is there any area of your life where you are delaying a response to God’s invitation? What is holding you back? [01:00:03]
If you have been born again, how are you reflecting God’s light to others in your daily life? Are there specific ways you can “live in the truth” and point others to Jesus this week? (John 3:21)

Sermon Clips

``And for all of human history, we have done the same. We've lined up our titles and we've lined up our accomplishments and we've built an identity around those. And then we present those before God as if they're good enough. And here would be Jesus's response to you today. If you line up your title, if you line up your accomplishments, if you line up all of your good works, here's what Jesus would say, you must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. That there's no amount of good that you can do to catch Jesus's attention. you must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. [00:42:57] (34 seconds) #NoGoodWorksJustNewBirth

And then the third response, and this is the one I would ask you to consider today, is you just admit it. You just admit it. Jesus is right. I'm not good. That's okay. I think all of us eventually have to get to a place in our life where we recognize, on our own, we just keep making a mess of things. Even those of us who have been born again, when we try to do things in our own strength, we just mess it up. And God has to bring us back, and he does in his kindness and his graciousness. [00:45:55] (32 seconds) #AdmitYourNeedForGrace

You talk to someone who's been born again, and just for a second, there's nothing ambiguous about God getting a hold of your heart. When you realize that the God of the universe is pursuing you, and he sacrificed his son for you, and this wave of conviction comes over you, where simultaneously you recognize your need for a savior because of the sin that's in your life, and the fact that God's already met that need by sacrificing his son Jesus, and that it's a free gift, and all you have to do is receive it, and then you receive it, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you. Church, I'm here to tell you that nothing about your life is ever the same after that experience. [00:50:04] (52 seconds) #BornAgainIsAnExperience

And too many people are going to stand before God one day and they're going to say, but God, I was a member of my church, but you weren't born again. God, I led great works for you, but you weren't born again. God, I pastored for you, but you weren't born again. And church, I'm here to tell you that being born again is an experience. And if you can't take me to that experience, might I suggest again, because I love you that maybe you've never been born again. [00:51:15] (36 seconds) #HeartOverKnowledge

You don't have to know more to be born again. I love that. You don't have to know more to be born again. Well, one of the greatest fallacies that's invaded the church is that all of our spiritual growth is tied to the knowledge that we gain. Now there's nothing wrong with learning more things, but just for a second, God's always been after your heart. He's always been after your heart. He's always been after your soul. [00:52:44] (23 seconds) #FaithDespiteUncertainty

But just for a second, God will allow you to sit in here, hear his word taught, hear the gospel presented clearly, and walk out of here the same person as you came in. God gives you a choice. God's word lays it out. But if you think for a second, there's still some things about God I don't understand. And until I understand those things about God, God, I'm not going to give my life to Jesus and be born again. Well, then you're never going to give your life to Jesus and be born again. Because if there's some things about God you don't understand, welcome to the club. I mean, if we understood everything about God, we'd be God. [00:55:05] (40 seconds) #UnbeliefNotSinCondemns

Condemnation does not result from sin. Condemnation results from not believing. Big misunderstanding. A lot of people think that people are condemned to hell for their sin. We're about to see from Jesus himself, that's actually not the case at all. [00:57:25] (18 seconds) #BornAgainLightsTheWorld

So what sends people to hell is not their sin, it's their unbelief. It's their rejection of Jesus. It's recognizing that God made a way for you through his son Jesus. That Jesus then defeated death through the resurrection. He is alive. Over 500 people saw him after he was on a cross. It's seeing that. It's hearing that. It's understanding that. And then it's rejecting that. That's what sends people to hell. That's what sends people to hell. It's not sin. It's unbelief. [00:59:05] (36 seconds) #TodayIsYourDayOfSalvation

When you're born again, that's when you become a light. That's how Jesus ties all this together. It's being born again that makes you a light. There are a lot of good things that happen in our world, and I'm grateful for that. There are a lot of people who serve well, and I'm grateful for that. There are a lot of people who get involved in the community, and I'm grateful for that. But from Jesus' mouth, if you want to be a light, you have to be born. Again. [01:01:09] (30 seconds)

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