The 3 musts of John 3

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 2 AUGUST 2026 pm – MR JOHN WEIR

JOHN 3 VERSES 1 TO 18, 30 – THE 3 ‘MUSTS’ OF JOHN 3

 

John 3 is one of the most famous chapters in the bible. 36 verses in total. John Luther called John 3 verse 16 the heartbeat of the bible. When you become a Christian you have a desire to read the word of God, you cannot wait to get to the Sunday services. The bible is a tremendous book. We must read it every day. It is good to have a bible reading plan and take time to read all the bible. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Imagine meeting some of the prophets in heaven and being asked by them “what did you think of my book”? It is important to keep the word of God and it is important that we respond when we hear the word of God.

 

Firstly, the “must” of salvation – verse 7 “Ye must be born again”. Some people get confused about being born again. Some people talk about being saved, converted or regenerated. They all really mean the same thing. Nicodemus is told he must have a spiritual birth. In the Greek it means to be born from above. Have you had a spiritual birth? That is the requirement Jesus makes. To be in the kingdom of God only the Holy Spirit can perform this in the heart of man. There are many ways to the cross, every testimony is different but it is important we get to the cross and God’s salvation. Ephesians 2 tells us we are dead in trespasses and in sin. 2 Corinthians 4 verse 4 tells us we are blinded by the god of this world. You can talk to people about many things – the weather, farming, shopping for instance but when they hear you talk about the gospel, salvation and the Holy Spirit they don’t want to know. In verse 8 we read about the wind – “it bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” We don’t know where the wind is coming from but we see its effects. We can see the leaves moving, we can feel the hair on our heads moving, we can see cut grass blowing. When a person is genuinely converted there should be a change. When you meet the Lord you are not the same. “What a wonderful change in my heart has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart.” Before conversion there is conviction. The Lord can use many things to convict us but it is important that we preach the word of God. We live in a day and an age where people try all sorts of gimmicks to get a crowd into a building. “Being born again not of incorruptible seed.” There are a lot of people who know the word of God but are not saved. They know the gospel inside out and back to front but are not living for the Lord. Nicodemus knew the Old Testament. He knew all about religion but he was outside the kingdom. I wonder how he felt when Jesus told him he need to be born again. John Wesley was preaching God’s word and was never converted himself. He read Luther’s Preface to the Romans and there were Moravians on the ship when his heart was strangely warmed. He went everywhere preaching the word and many churches were founded. The converted man gets a new heart, a transplanted heart. When you get saved there are certain places you used to go to but don’t go there anymore. We don’t talk like that anymore – why – because we want to please the Lord. The Lord was direct with this man – “you must be born again.” Reverend Wiliam Haslem was an Anglican Vicar in Cornwall. In 1851 he was preaching his own sermon when he was converted. He was preaching on the verse “what think ye of Christ?” Some saw he had now been converted and shouted “the parson is converted. Hallelujah!” The congregation erupted with joy. We read of many ministers converted during the 1859 Revival.

 

Secondly, the must of suffering – verse 14. The Lord Jesus is speaking of his death. Maybe the problem is that Calvary’s cross becomes all too familiar. We sing the hymns, read the bible but does it ever cut our hearts? Do you think about the cross? Are any tears shed? That is sometimes the problem. We become too familiar. Never forget the suffering and agony of Jesus as he hung on the cross. To be saved we must come by the way of the cross. The preacher must uplift the Saviour. He shouldn’t be promoting himself or his denomination or his own achievements. Salvation is totally and completely in him and him alone. “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me.” Here the Lord speaks of Moses in the wilderness. Nicodemus knew all about the Old Testament and where this story came from (Numbers 21). Sadly in the Israelite history there were ungrateful hearts. The Lord used this story to explain his death. When I think of all Jesus went through for me, how he shed his blood for me, was beaten, mocked and humiliated more than any man. Reflect back on Calvary – he died there for you and me.

 

Thirdly, the must of submission – verse 30 “he must increase but I must decrease.” The words of John the Baptist. He knew when he began his ministry he would fade out. He didn’t want the limelight. Loads of people want that tonight. Stay in the background. Some of the best Christian people are there in the background. Everyone wants to be famous today. John the Baptist wanted to decrease. Stay humble. Sometimes people get big headed and proud. Some people in God’s work don’t know when to step aside. John the Baptist knew. We are not building our own kingdom but God’s. He knew he had to fade away. When our time is over we should bow out gracefully. John the Baptist was a wonderful character. He was full of the Holy Spirit in the womb. His father was Zechariah and his mother Elizabeth. People flocked to hear this rough man. He was uncouth but he had the touch of God on his life. That is why people wanted to hear him. He had God’s approval on his ministry. He told people to repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Maybe we have never repented of some secret sin. John ate locusts and wild honey, his clothes were made of camel hair. John the Baptist had the touch of God on his life. Maybe because he was humble. If we stay that way the Lord can use us. He must increase and I must decrease. The 3 musts from John 3 – the must of salvation verse 7, the must of suffering verse 15 and finally the must of submission verse 30.