- 12 hours ago
In our daily meditations, we focus on some teachings of Jesus. Yesterday, we saw Nicodemus, an elder and Pharisee of Israel, talking with Christ and asking Him about eternity. Jesus responded, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3).
It is difficult for a man who views life solely from an outward perspective to grasp concepts like the need for spiritual rebirth. Nicodemus responded in the same way most of us would when hearing such a statement for the first time. He thinks only in natural terms. To him, there was no logical way to understand this statement, and it confused him. If taken at face value, he would have to enter his mother's womb to be born again. He was thinking literally and wondered how this could be possible. Jesus told Nicodemus that he could not even see the kingdom of God without receiving spiritual life from God. The Lord wanted everyone to be clear about this truth, so He explained it plainly to Nicodemus and us. He said:
I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit (John 3:5-6).
You can't become a Christian by merely trying to lead a Christian life. Many mistakenly believe that simply being good enough will guarantee a place in God's kingdom. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but entering a spiritual kingdom requires your spiritually dead self to receive new life. Like physical birth, we were all born into the world with no control over it. Spiritual rebirth cannot be earned; it is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). Jesus emphasized two essential steps: being born of water and the Spirit. Tomorrow, we'll explore Jesus' meaning of being born of water, but today, let’s focus on His teachings about spiritual rebirth.
Until we come to Christ and receive the gift of eternal life, death remains active in our lives. When Adam ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, he disobeyed God's warning that he would surely die (Genesis 2:17). Adam did not physically die until he was 930 years old (Genesis 5:5), so what did God mean by saying he would die the day he ate? Death began its work in him the day he sinned, but what was also affected was his relationship with God, as shown by his hiding from God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). Without our connection to God, the author of life, we are without hope (Ephesians 2:12), a condition that God calls being dead. Jesus came to restore that connection. He said, “I have come that they may have life [zoe] and have it to the full” (John 10:10). If Jesus came to give us this new life, then what we have before receiving His life is not enough.
Paul the Apostle discussed similar topics in his letter to the church in Ephesus: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1 and 5). When people come to Christ, repent of their sins, and accept Him into their lives, they are born again: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). New life is given to the spirit of new believers. The sin problem that separates us from God is removed when we trust Christ. Let’s talk more about this tomorrow. Keith Thomas
This meditation is a shortened version of the in-depth study: You Must Be Born Again.
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