Being Born Again

  Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” How can someone be born when they are old? Nicodemus asked. Surely they cannot enter a second times into their mother’s womb to be born!  Jesus answered, Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit, gives birth to the spirit.                                             John 3:1-6

Nicodemus conversation with Jesus started with his statement that one couldn’t help but be impressed by the signs and wonders that Jesus performed. Jesus’ answered was that the signs and wonders were not so important, the most important thing was the change in a person’s inner being, and that could only be described as a new birth. When Jesus said that one must be born again, Nicodemus misunderstood Him. Jesus meant that to be born again you had to undergo such a radical change that it looked like a new birth. The process is not only a human achievement but is brought about by the grace and omnipotence of God. 

This idea of rebirth runs through the entire New Testament 1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Romans 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus, and there are other Scriptures as well. This is exactly what happened when a heathen became converted to Judaism: He become a new person in all respects and therefore Jesus could assume that Nicodemus understood the concept.

So what does rebirth mean to us? It embraces a few important things: It concerns the kingdom of God that cannot be entered unless rebirth has taken place; the fact we cannot be God’s children without being born again; and the idea of being children of God as well as having eternal life.

Prayer: Lord Jesus

          I have accept you as my Lord and Savior, come into my heart to live forever and change me from the inside, out to become born of Water and Spirit. Your grace, Lord Jesus, is immeasurable; because of this sinners can become your children, and I thank you and Praise You Name, now and forever.                             Amen

Grace and Peace to You My Friends

The Father And I Are One

Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which  of these do you stone me?” We are not stoning you for any good work, ” they replied but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God. Jesus answered them, “is it not written in your law, ” I have said you are gods” If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came and Scripture cannot be set aside–what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why, then do you accuse me of blasphemy, because I said, “I am God’s Son?” Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even through you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.                 John 10:31-38

For most people, it’s what others do not say, that counts. When Jesus spoke He spoke with authority, but when the people asked Him who He was, He pointed them to the things He did. he asked them to take not of His deeds. These deeds were acts of compassion, healing and miracles. Jesus was far more than simply a traveling Teacher who spoke about God and His kingdom. Jesus didn’t perform miracles because He wanted to impress people. everything He did was God’s deeds. Christ was God’s man in action.

You and I are also called to do more than just talk. As a disciple of Christ you must be were the action is. Make no mistakes: it is good to talk about God and for God, but it is better more powerful and more impressive to do deeds that prove you are a God-directed person. Deeds done with compassion and kind-heartedness reflect Jesus deeds. Charity that cost you something is the way in which Christians disciples prove that they are God’s people in action. Don’t let your religion stagnate; do something and become a doer of the Word and not just an idle hearer, fooling yourself.

Grace and Peace to You My Friends