Have you ever considered what it means?
Is it what we think it is?
Does it mean to give your heart to the Lord?
Or, does it mean that our kids have to attend those confirmation classes ... or some other religions rite of passage ...?
The pragmatic question born from a religious doctrine
There was once a Pharisee who became intensely aware of his own shortcomings when it came to upholding the law he was brought up with. He could see that his degree was not worth the paper it was written on.
His name was Nicodemus and he came to Jesus in the night … when the
other religious preachers wouldn’t notice.
Touched by Grace
Nicodemus’ conversation with Jesus is very relevant and speaks to our questions posed above. He saw Jesus performing awesome miracles, preaching the undiluted truth, fulfilling all the scriptural prophesies he knew and he saw Him loving the sinners with an unconditional love … as only a supernatural loving God can do.
Nicodemus’ conversation with Jesus is very relevant and speaks to our questions posed above. He saw Jesus performing awesome miracles, preaching the undiluted truth, fulfilling all the scriptural prophesies he knew and he saw Him loving the sinners with an unconditional love … as only a supernatural loving God can do.
So, he asked Jesus: Rabbi,
we know that you are a teacher from God because no man can do these miracles
that you do, except if God is with him.
The conversation starts with Jesus’ response to the observations
of this legalistic Jew, who now saw the true Messiah. Jesus goes into depth
explaining what it means to be born from above - the born-again-experience.
Born again ... or born from above?
Born again ... or born from above?
The term translated in our Bibles as born again originates from the Greek word gennaō with the
basic meaning to be born. It is used twice in the Bible with the preposition (ana) and in all other instances in conjunction
with another word, like the word Jesus used when He said to Nicodemus: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born again [gennaō anōthen], he cannot see the kingdom of God” John
3:3.
When Nicodemus heard these
words, he made the same mistake we make thinking that we, out of our own efforts need to do something to come to this born again state. Our own efforts would only take us right back into the law instead of receiving by Grace.
My born again state happily does not depend on my effort
My born again state happily does not depend on my effort
No! Jesus said: "gennaō anōthen" and
the latter word, anōthen, means: from above; from a
higher place; from heaven; from the beginning; from the first; as you were; anew.
So, when Nicodemus asked how it
can be possible for a man to be born a second time when he is old, Jesus
explained that a man should be born of
water and of the Spirit (above) to be able to enter the Kingdom of God instead of
being fleshly minded.
You must be BORN FROM ABOVE …
of the Spirit rather than born again!
How do you give birth to yourself ... again?
Jesus explains how that the
(His) Spirit goes where It wishes, no one knowing whence It came from or where
It goes. And so does everyone being born of the Spirit. He contrasts
law-thinking (born of the flesh) to spiritual (born from above) thinking and then in the next couple of verses refers to Himself who
came from above, His crucifixion and His ascension.
Jesus was born from above so
that we, by receiving Him, may be born from above!
But, what about sin?
But, what about sin?
After all, there remains only one sin ... John 16:9
Even Peter, the rebellious
disciple, later in his life writes: "Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten [anagennaō - born into the midst; anew; amidst] us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1Pe 1:3
And in 1 Peter 1:23:
"Being born again [anagennaō - born into the midst; anew; amidst], not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
Born by who?
The Word of God - Jesus!
Who
better to hear from than the one disciple who considered himself the one
that Jesus loved, John saying: Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born
of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is
begotten of him. 1Jn
5:1
Being born from above is being empowered
Being born of God places us in the right position to rule in this life and hereafter ...
Being born of God places us in the right position to rule in this life and hereafter ...
God's original plan for us to have dominion in His Kingdom!
The name Nicodemus means conqueror [Nikō s], from
the base Greek word to conquer.
It is only appropriate for John
to guide us further …
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh [nikaō or conquer] the world: and this is the victory [nikē Victory] that overcometh [nikaō or conquer] the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh [nikaō or conquer] the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1Jn 5:4-5