Born Again

John 3
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:3

LET IT GLOW

Who was Nichodemus?
Nichodemus was a scholared Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the
ruling Jewish counsel. He believed Jesus was a teacher come from God.
Why? He said that no one could do those miracles Jesus did except God be
with him. (verse 2).

Fourfold Gospel Bible Commentary says:

Nichodemus came to Jesus by night to avoid hostility of his

                    colleagues and had a more personal uninterupted interview with
                   
                    Jesus.

Later, in John 7:50, Nick is remembered as "he that came to Jesus by night,
being one of them." Also, Nick brought spices for Jesus' dead body, as
John 19:39 tells us. (This tells me that Nick was a believer.)

We don't have recorded Nick asking Jesus any questions, but remember
that Jesus could read minds and hearts.

Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (verse 3)

In verse 3, the Greek word anothen (which means from above) is the word
anew, and is translated  again.

So a person must be born anew, born again, born from above, in order to see
the kingdom of God.

Matthew Henry Commentary tells us:

          Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again is to begin anew. We must

          have a new nature, new principles, new affection, new aims. By our first
        
          birth we are corrupt, shapen in sin and iniquity; we must undergo a

          second birth. We must be born from above, with a divine nature and

          bear the image of the heavenly. The natural man must become a spiritual

          man, before he is capable of receiving and understanding them

          (instructions).


Jesus goes on to say in verse 5, "Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

To me, just as water cleanses and purifies and it takes away filth, so our soul
or heart must be cleansed by asking Jesus to forgive us of our sins, by His
blood (figuratively speaking). We are born of the Spirit when His Holy Spirit
comes into our heart whenever this occurs.

Nick kept asking how. The answer is found in the next few verses, believe in
God's Only Begotten Son. God loved us so much that He gave Jesus Christ to
us as a free gift so we wouldn't perish, or have to pay for our sins ourselves,
in order that we may have everlasting and eternal life.

It isn't baptism that saves us because baptism is the outward expression of the
inward change. It isn't by works, because our righteousness is as filthy rags.

Westley's Explanatory Notes say:

This was the very design of God's love in sending Him (Jesus) into the

          world. Whosoever believeth on Him-with that faith in Him, which

          worketh by love, He gave His only son-truly and seriously, and the Son

          of God gave Himself.

What will we do with a man called Jesus?

 

 

 

LET IT GROW

 

In verse 30, John the Baptist says, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

 

In other words, Jesus, my Savior, Lord, and Master, must be greater than

me in my life. That sums it up, doesn't it?

 

 

LET IT GO

 

Thank You Lord for loving me, a sinner, and purchasing my salvation.

Thank You that heaven is awaiting us believers.

Thank You that it is through faith in You, not of works.