BORN AGAIN
JOHN 3:3-8 NKJV
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 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?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Years ago, when The Ark was a fairly new church, I had a man get very upset with me for using the term born again. But it’s totally scriptural.
It seems as if we don't hear that phrase used much anymore. And yet this is not a phrase that is a product of the American church. This is a statement straight from the lips of Jesus.
Jesus was speaking with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. Nicodemus had a hunger to know more about this Jesus. There was something about Jesus that resonated with his heart.
Jesus began to speak of a spiritual birth that He called being born again. Nicodemus was thrown off by that phrase and questioned how such a thing could take place. And Jesus gave him an answer. There is being born of the flesh, we can all understand that. There is also being born of the Spirit.
Being born again is a recreation of the spirit of man that makes him a new creation. A spiritual rebirth means that old things have passed away, and all things have become new, spiritually speaking.
Jesus explained that being born of the Spirit is not something that is visible to the eye. Like the wind, we can see the effect but not determine its origin and destination.
Jesus was the one who put the emphasis on being born again. Without this spiritual rebirth, someone cannot enter God's Kingdom.
APPLICATION:
I can only surmise that religion does not like the idea of being born again. But Jesus was the one who made it of utmost importance.
Being a good person is not enough to enter God's Kingdom. Our access to God's Kingdom is by believing in Jesus and what He did for us during His death, burial, and resurrection.
I never quite understood why the man who wrote me was upset at using the phrase born again. To me, it's the most wonderful thing that I am a new creation and can come before God as one of His much-loved children. That I have within me the life and light of God is outstanding news.
What a privilege to believe in Jesus and be born of the Spirit, to be born again.
PRAYER:
Thank You Father for making it possible for me to be born again born of Your Spirit.
All the best,
Alan