John 3:3-9
Debbie and I have been blessed with four boys. Raising four boys was adventurous at times, including many “what were you thinking” moments. Our boys raised in the same home with the same set of values are different from one another. They have different interests, different personalities, and vastly different careers. The boys each look different and are different sizes. That being said, each has physical traits that they inherited from both Debbie and I. A couple of them smile like I do. A couple of them have Debbie’s eyes. When you look at a family portrait of us, you can see the resemblances. In our passage Jesus is teaching a religious leader, Nicodemus, the need for a spiritual rebirth. Nicodemus is confused because his religious focus is on works, doing good things so God will be pleased. Being of the right religious group and observing the law so everyone would know Nicodemus must be right with God. He’s wondering about these different teachings Jesus is saying.
Jesus challenges this lifestyle in verse 3. “Truly, truly. I say unto you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (ESV). Jesus’ goal is to get Nicodemus to realize that a transformation of his heart is needed. The spiritual needs to be tended to, just like the physical needs of the body. Nicodemus at first totally misses Jesus’ focus. Nicodemus is thinking literally rather than catching the deeper spiritual principle. Jesus wants Nicodemus to abandon his pursuit of religion and pursue a relationship with God. Jesus wants Nicodemus to put his trust in Him through belief (John 3:14-17), thus being born again. Nicodemus was born a Jew (God’s chosen people) and was a Pharisee. He assumed he had a pedigree that God would surely love. The reality is that Nicodemus was a sinner and in rebellion from God. Just like you and me. Social standing, religious standing, and who your birth parents were, make no difference in how God sees us. All of us need a spiritual rebirth that comes through belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Spiritual rebirth like a physical birth brings a new life. As my boys inherited traits and nature from Debbie and me, in the same way upon salvation I inherit a new nature from God that gives me a desire for the things of God. 2 Peter 1:4, “by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (ESV). This new desire to please God, pursue the things of God, should put me on a course to change the way I live my everyday life. This should include digging into God’s Word for guidance, regular prayer time, and holding myself accountable to be Christ-like in my actions. Take a little time today and assess how you can adjust your life to be more Christ-centered and less me-centered.
Jesus challenges this lifestyle in verse 3. “Truly, truly. I say unto you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (ESV). Jesus’ goal is to get Nicodemus to realize that a transformation of his heart is needed. The spiritual needs to be tended to, just like the physical needs of the body. Nicodemus at first totally misses Jesus’ focus. Nicodemus is thinking literally rather than catching the deeper spiritual principle. Jesus wants Nicodemus to abandon his pursuit of religion and pursue a relationship with God. Jesus wants Nicodemus to put his trust in Him through belief (John 3:14-17), thus being born again. Nicodemus was born a Jew (God’s chosen people) and was a Pharisee. He assumed he had a pedigree that God would surely love. The reality is that Nicodemus was a sinner and in rebellion from God. Just like you and me. Social standing, religious standing, and who your birth parents were, make no difference in how God sees us. All of us need a spiritual rebirth that comes through belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Spiritual rebirth like a physical birth brings a new life. As my boys inherited traits and nature from Debbie and me, in the same way upon salvation I inherit a new nature from God that gives me a desire for the things of God. 2 Peter 1:4, “by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (ESV). This new desire to please God, pursue the things of God, should put me on a course to change the way I live my everyday life. This should include digging into God’s Word for guidance, regular prayer time, and holding myself accountable to be Christ-like in my actions. Take a little time today and assess how you can adjust your life to be more Christ-centered and less me-centered.
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