You Must Be Born Again!
In John, chapter 3, Nicodemus, the Jewish ruler, came to Jesus by night to ask some questions. Jesus went right to the heart of the matter, saying, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
Nicodemus was confused, thinking, “It’s impossible to re-enter my mother's womb and be born again!” But Jesus was not talking about a natural birth. He said it again. “Except a man be born of water, and of 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. Marvel not that I said unto thee, you must be born again.” (John 3:5-7)
The deepest, most profound truths are contained in the Bible. Often, they are tucked away in simpler messages, but every word is carefully chosen. When God is speaking, we need to understand exactly what He is saying. The Word of God (the Bible) is eternal and that means forever. (Psalm 118:89) We cannot afford to make a mistake. For a mistake in understanding and in obeying the Word of God is a mistake for eternity.
Jesus used the simple, easy to understand illustration of the birth of a baby to explain the importance of truly being born again. At the birth of a baby, the water in which he has been immersed for nine months gives way for him to enter into the world. However, it is not a “live birth” until that first breath of life enters his lungs. We hear him cry out as he draws that first breath and rejoice. Here’s the underlying truth. Nicodemus needed to know (and so do we,) that just as both water and spirit must be present in natural birth, so both water, (baptism in Jesus' Name by immersion,) and the Spirit (receiving the Holy Ghost - evidenced by speaking in other tongues - crying out) must be present in the New Birth experience. (See Acts 2:38; 8:15-17; 10:44-48; 19:1-7.)
The Apostle Paul explained the New Birth experience as being identified with what Christ accomplished at Calvary. (See Romans 6:1-5.) He described salvation’s three key components; the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
First, Jesus died. He who had no sin, took your sins, my sins, the sins of all mankind upon Himself. This was not an easy thing. It involved intense sorrow and suffering. And He did it all “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8) “He endured the cross, despising the shame - for the joy that was set before Him.” (Hebrews 12:2) He suffered willingly, knowing that by doing so He was making a way for us to live with Him throughout eternity. He loved us that much! In repentance, we forsake (“die to”) sin; we “nail” our sins to His cross. This is not something we do lightly. It is important that we understand how much He loved us when He gave Himself for us. True godly sorrow for our sins works godly repentance.
Second, Jesus was buried. Sorrowful, grieving disciples took His body down from the cross and laid it in a borrowed tomb. All the sins He bore while hanging on that tree, were buried with Him and for three days and nights His body lay in that tomb. In baptism in Jesus' Name, we are buried with Him. Our old sinful nature is covered with His blood and our sins are remitted. The price is paid, sin's penalty is dealt with and we come up out of the water as a new creature in Christ Jesus - clean and ready to be transformed into His image. But it doesn’t stop there. Remember, the New Birth is both water and Spirit...
Third, like as Christ was raised up from the dead, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Resurrection power is at work in us as the Holy Spirit fills us from the inside. It wells up like rivers of living water (John 7:38-39) and flows out of our innermost being. Like newborn babies, we too cry out, speaking in the language of our heavenly home (Galatians 4:6). And like in the natural birth process, the Bible tells us all heaven joins with us in celebrating and rejoicing (Luke 15:7).
The prophet Joel spoke, saying, “In the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh... and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy... and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:16-21) It’s important to be sure about your salvation. In order to enter into the Kingdom of God and be part of the New Testament church...
In John, chapter 3, Nicodemus, the Jewish ruler, came to Jesus by night to ask some questions. Jesus went right to the heart of the matter, saying, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
Nicodemus was confused, thinking, “It’s impossible to re-enter my mother's womb and be born again!” But Jesus was not talking about a natural birth. He said it again. “Except a man be born of water, and of 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. Marvel not that I said unto thee, you must be born again.” (John 3:5-7)
The deepest, most profound truths are contained in the Bible. Often, they are tucked away in simpler messages, but every word is carefully chosen. When God is speaking, we need to understand exactly what He is saying. The Word of God (the Bible) is eternal and that means forever. (Psalm 118:89) We cannot afford to make a mistake. For a mistake in understanding and in obeying the Word of God is a mistake for eternity.
Jesus used the simple, easy to understand illustration of the birth of a baby to explain the importance of truly being born again. At the birth of a baby, the water in which he has been immersed for nine months gives way for him to enter into the world. However, it is not a “live birth” until that first breath of life enters his lungs. We hear him cry out as he draws that first breath and rejoice. Here’s the underlying truth. Nicodemus needed to know (and so do we,) that just as both water and spirit must be present in natural birth, so both water, (baptism in Jesus' Name by immersion,) and the Spirit (receiving the Holy Ghost - evidenced by speaking in other tongues - crying out) must be present in the New Birth experience. (See Acts 2:38; 8:15-17; 10:44-48; 19:1-7.)
The Apostle Paul explained the New Birth experience as being identified with what Christ accomplished at Calvary. (See Romans 6:1-5.) He described salvation’s three key components; the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
First, Jesus died. He who had no sin, took your sins, my sins, the sins of all mankind upon Himself. This was not an easy thing. It involved intense sorrow and suffering. And He did it all “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8) “He endured the cross, despising the shame - for the joy that was set before Him.” (Hebrews 12:2) He suffered willingly, knowing that by doing so He was making a way for us to live with Him throughout eternity. He loved us that much! In repentance, we forsake (“die to”) sin; we “nail” our sins to His cross. This is not something we do lightly. It is important that we understand how much He loved us when He gave Himself for us. True godly sorrow for our sins works godly repentance.
Second, Jesus was buried. Sorrowful, grieving disciples took His body down from the cross and laid it in a borrowed tomb. All the sins He bore while hanging on that tree, were buried with Him and for three days and nights His body lay in that tomb. In baptism in Jesus' Name, we are buried with Him. Our old sinful nature is covered with His blood and our sins are remitted. The price is paid, sin's penalty is dealt with and we come up out of the water as a new creature in Christ Jesus - clean and ready to be transformed into His image. But it doesn’t stop there. Remember, the New Birth is both water and Spirit...
Third, like as Christ was raised up from the dead, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Resurrection power is at work in us as the Holy Spirit fills us from the inside. It wells up like rivers of living water (John 7:38-39) and flows out of our innermost being. Like newborn babies, we too cry out, speaking in the language of our heavenly home (Galatians 4:6). And like in the natural birth process, the Bible tells us all heaven joins with us in celebrating and rejoicing (Luke 15:7).
The prophet Joel spoke, saying, “In the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh... and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy... and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:16-21) It’s important to be sure about your salvation. In order to enter into the Kingdom of God and be part of the New Testament church...
You must be born again!
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