Born Again

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Born Again

Isaiah 6:1-8

Psalm 29

Romans 8:12-17

John 3:1-17

The birth of a child is one of the most amazing events in life. Waiting 9 months for this child to develop from the beginnings of just 46 chromosomes coming together to then produce this new life. It is nothing short of miraculous and it is like a fresh start and new beginning to shape and mold this child into someone great in the world. How we live our lives may shape how this child will choose to live their life as well. In the end that child will be out on their own in the world to decide for themselves what kind of person that they are going to be. Whether this child is born with a rich or poor upbringing, or one of love or one of fear and anger, there is one truth that applies to all of us. In order for anyone to see the kingdom of God they must be born again.

John 3 starts us off with a visitor at night. Nicodemus was a very important person as he was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He was a teacher of teachers. The fact that his name is even mentioned in the scriptures also refers to his importance to the writers of the gospels. There could be several reasons for why he comes at night but it seems that Nicodemus does not want to be seen with Jesus. It could be that because of his popularity he tends to have a following and so he wanted to be able to meet Jesus in private. He most likely also did not want the other members of the Sanhedrin to see him with Jesus as this could ruin his reputation. When he comes to Jesus, he starts out by explaining that he knows that Jesus comes from God because of all of the signs and miracles that he performs. Jesus seems to blow him off about this comment of flattery as he seems to see those who believe only in the signs to have a more superficial faith. Jesus gets right to the point and tells Nicodemus that now can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Jesus is speaking figuratively while Nicodemus is understanding him literally. Jesus then explains more that no one will see the kingdom unless they are born of water and Spirit. He says, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”

Jesus is not talking about a change in the body but a change of the heart and spirit. He tells to Nicodemus that he should not be surprised by these words and compares the Spirit to the wind. The wind comes and blows where ever it pleases. We cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going but we know that it is there because we can feel it. We cannot see it other than seeing the effects it has on the trees or grass and water and this is how we know it is there. The same is with the Spirit. We cannot see it but we can feel it.

Nicodemus seems to still be confused by Jesus’ words. Jesus comments that he is Israel’s teacher and yet he can not understand these things. Jesus is speaking to him about earthly things to help him understand heavenly things but he is so focused on the literal and tangible things that he does not understand the concept that Jesus is sharing.

Jesus was trying to explain to Nicodemus what Paul shares with the Romans in Chapter 8 starting at verse 12. “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” Jesus was trying to explain to Nicodemus that in order to see the Kingdom of God then one must put to death the misdeeds and desires of the flesh or the nature of sin and be reborn in Spirit to do the things that the Spirit desires. This is living according to the Spirit. If we live according to the Spirit, we are reborn as Children of God. We are rebirthed and adopted into sonship. As children of God, we therefore live our lives and make our choices in obedience to what the Father desires. We do this because the Spirit lives in us. However, if we live according to our flesh as the world lives then this is the reason we have wars, greed, murder, and theft. For these are the desires of the flesh and if we remain in the flesh we will also die in the flesh. For this reason, Jesus says that we must be born again. Not in the literal sense but put to death the misdeeds of the flesh and bring to life the deeds and desires of the Spirit.

In our opening scripture from Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah is witnessing the glory of God on the throne and suddenly he is filled with guilt and fear and throws himself to the ground. He realizes that he is sinful and has spoken impure words from his mouth and that he lives among people who do the same. Isaiah needs to be purified and his lips need to be born again. One of the angels takes a hot coal from the altar and presses it up to Isaiahs lips to purify him. Isaiah is born again if you will so that now his words speak only the things of God. He was chosen for this reason to be the prophet of the Lord and speak of the things from the Spirit. He was born again for this purpose.

Jesus performed many miracles and helped many to help build faith our faith in God so that we might choose the Spirit over our flesh. However, his desire was not for us to believe only because of the miracles and the signs because once those are gone then what do we have. He desires for us to have a rebirth and transformation so that our faith will not end and will not waver. There have been many around the world who are truly born again and live through persecution unto death. Yet they are unwavering in their faith because they are children of God and not children of the flesh. What if today everything changed in this country and it became illegal for us to worship the Lord? What if Christianity became illegal? Would you remain in your faith and continue to worship the Lord? Or would you give in to fear and go back to living according to the flesh as the world lives? My hope for you is that you be truly born again and that the Holy Spirit lives in you and that you will know that there is life even in death. That you put away the misdeeds of the flesh and live according to the Spirit. Are you truly born again?