The New Birth

Scripture

John 3:3-7

  Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God."

       "What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"

     Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can produce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'

Observation

Jesus is telling us that, to become children of God, you must be born again. Just like I had to be born to come into this world, I have to be born spiritually to enter God's world, which is heaven. 3 years ago, I became born again, and I didn't know what was happening to me. All I knew was that I was so sick of myself and that I had no power to change the fact that I was a sinner headed for hell! Our life on this earth began when we were born physically, and our life with God will begin when we are born spiritually.

John 1:12-13 says: 

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn- not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

Even though Nicodemus is a religious leader, he can't understand this concept of the new birth. What blows me away is that God himself, Jesus Christ in the flesh, is sitting right in front of him, and Nicodemus doesn't even realize it. Nicodemus wanted religion more than God. He was not ready to drop all his religious accomplishments and titles to follow this man Jesus.

Application

It is amazing to me, to think that I have been born of God. God is so rich in grace and mercy, that he would take a sinner who is wicked, and transform him into a brand new creation. I think a lot of people just think the term "Born Again" is just a figure of speech or a title. They don't realize that being born again is something that actually  happens to someone, resulting in a totally different person. Someone who has become child of God, and someone who is not a child of God will lead totally different lifestyles.

Being born again doesn't mean that we have become perfect, it means we have become people who want Jesus more than anything else. It means we treasure Christ more than sin, more than the things of the world, more than relationships and money and success. It means that when we sin we are repentant, we seek after righteousness and holiness. I once was blind and couldn't see Jesus, but now I see Him for who he truly is, Amazing Grace!

1 Peter 1:23

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

Romans 8:15-16

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.

Prayer

Dear God, Thank you for the wonderful gift of eternal life, thank you for making me a child of God, thank you for sending Jesus Christ ti die on the cross for my sins. I pray for those who are not born again, I pray for anyone who does not know Jesus, I pray that you would open their eyes. Help me Lord, to live in a way that glorifies your name. In Jesus Christ name, Amen