Christians Have Been Born Again (1)

Chuckle: A friend relayed to me something his boss told him prior to his getting married. He said, "look for a girl with biscuit dough on her axe handle!"

Good Quote: "The best way to control our thoughts is to offer the mind to God in complete surrender." --A. W. Tozer

CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN, Part 1

Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (John 3:3 NIV). I encourage you to read John 3:1-8, 14-16.

You may remember how President Jimmy Carter created quite a stir in the media when he declared himself a born again Christian. There are Certain characteristics that identify people as authentic Christians. The first of these is that they have been born again. Nicodemus was a religious leader in Israel, but needed spiritual birth. He was a Pharisee, the most devout, and a member of the ruling 70 member Jewish Sanhedrin. Jesus said to this man, who was morally good, you must be born again. You have been born once physically -- you need to be born spiritually.

It is essential that each of us understand what Jesus means by "spiritual birth." Our eternal destiny depends upon it. Jesus is clear, "You must be born again." You must have a spiritual birth to enter heaven. With spiritual birth and nothing else you can know God and enter heaven. With everything else and no spiritual birth you cannot.

Spiritual birth is as necessary for spiritual life as physical birth is to physical life. We know each of us has been born physically because we have physical life. Jesus said in verses 5-6, "No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water (flesh) and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." You know you have been born physically because you're alive. You will know you have been born spiritually because you are spiritually alive! You have spiritual inclinations - spiritual desires - spiritual interests.

Nicodemus said, "I don't understand - How can this be?" Even physical birth is a mystery, but spiritual birth is even more so. Someone else must birth us physically but God births us spiritually. A professor told a group of freshmen: "don't ever believe anything you don't understand." This is bad advice. There are many things I don't understand, but I believe them. I don't understand how a black cow can eat green grass and give white milk, but I know it happens.

It is beyond our understanding but God can birth a sinner into an eternal relationship with himself. Jesus was saying to Nicodemus, "it takes a miracle." It takes the supernatural to bring a sinner into a saving relationship with God. This new birth is necessary because "You were dead in your trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1 NIV) before you met Jesus. The physically dead, are lifeless -- no response. People who have not been born again are spiritually dead -- no spiritual response. Have you been born spiritually? Have you had two births? To be born into God's kingdom, a person must see his/her need of God. This is necessary to know God, receive forgiveness, and to experience heaven. (To be continued)

Love, Jerry & Dotse