Born Again Again

One of the most beautiful books of the bible to read is the gospel of John, and one of the most enduring passages that I can read is the 3rd chapter of John. In it, I can place myself with the meeting of Jesus and Nicodemus. I sit and listen, and not just read for it seems like the meeting has taken place for me. Today, in my quiet time, I read it again, and am at once transferred to the seat of this meeting, listening and learning, and I believe that Jesus is touching Nicodemus’ heart, while the Pharisee listens. Enjoy the conversation with me once more: “There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Him at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.’ Jesus replied, ‘I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ ‘But how can anyone be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked Him. ‘Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?’ Jesus answered. ‘I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. ‘How can these things be?’ asked Nicodemus. ‘Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?’ Jesus replied. ‘I assure you: We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony. If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven?” John 3: 1-12 In the seventies, there was a use of the term “born again.” For some reason people used it for everything, but what it is intended for. This is the truth given to you and me. The need to have another birth, a birth from the Spirit of God. I can understand the physical birth, and now I can understand the Spiritual birth. Paul would write to the Roman church: “For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8: 5-6 Can’t you see the battle that rages within you? The flesh wants one thing, the Spirit another. We have to choose which one we will follow. Before we were born again, we only followed the flesh, for we did not have the Spirit. But now we live according to the Spirit. Yes, we often are pulled in the direction of the flesh, but the Spirit knows our weakness, and will be there if we only believe. I am dealing right now with this one person who “claimed” to be a believer through all of life, yet does not know how to live according to the Spirit. You see, the flesh has been the guiding force through life, even when the Spirit battles with the flesh. Is it because this person is not born again, or is it because this person chooses to let the flesh reign? I don’t know. But this I do know. Jesus came to give us life, and I can’t help but feel that on that night He gave Nicodemus life. For in the 19th Chapter we see this Nicodemus helping to prepare the body of Jesus when He was crucified. Have you truly been changed when you believed, or do you believe in the idea of Christ on the earth. He came, He lived, He died, and He resurrected to life and returned to Heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father. This Jesus, I now know lives, and He has not left us for one minute, for He has given us the Holy Spirit to continue where He left off. Now that you have sat with me during this meeting, don’t you feel the presence of the Spirit confirming this truth, this life in you? Thank You Jesus, for teaching us one more time about what true life is all about. Pastor Andy of