“Born Again”
By Pastor Jerry Donovan
John 3:1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.”
3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” NRSVRE
Just as the first birth is necessary for physical life, so a second birth is necessary for divine life. In other words, Christ’s kingdom can only be entered by those whose lives have been changed. Since His reign will be a righteous one, His subjects must be righteous also. He cannot reign over people who are continually going on in their sins.
Physical birth is not enough. There must also be a spiritual birth if one is to enter the kingdom of God. This spiritual birth is produced by the Holy Spirit of God when a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. He reminded Nicodemus that “the wind blows where it wishes, and a person can hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.”
The new birth is very much like the wind. First of all, it takes place according to the will of God. It is not a power which humans can control. Secondly, the new birth is invisible. You cannot see it taking place, but you can see the results of it in a person’s life. When a person has been saved, a change comes over them. The evil things which they formerly loved; they now hate. The things of God which they formerly despised; these things are now the very things which they love.
Just as no one can fully understand the wind, so the new birth is a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit of God which people are not able to comprehend fully. Moreover, the new birth, like the wind, is unpredictable. It is not possible to state just when and where it will take place.
Men and women have been bitten by the viper of sin and are condemned to eternal death. The Lord Jesus was sinless and should never have been punished, but He took our place and bore the judgment that we deserve.
We are saved by looking to Him in faith. The Savior was made sin for us, He who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Whoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ receives eternal life as a free gift. A person must receive what Christ has done for him before God will give him eternal life. “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish.”
There is no need for anyone to perish. A way has been provided by which everyone might be saved, but they must acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This Born Again Life is your ticket for eternal life with Jesus.
Continuing in your sinful life results in death.
God Be With You
Via Con Dios
