At the time when Jesus walked the earth, the religious leaders knew God’s law; but they had to learn how to live God’s way. As hard as it might seem to be, it didn’t come easy for them. They had misinterpreted much of the Scriptures. They needed to understand the spirit of the law. We all do.
One Jewish leader, Nicodemus, approached Jesus to learn more about Him. Regardless of his motives or what he had hoped to learn, Jesus addressed the key point he needed to know: he needed to receive a new measure of the grace of God—a heart renewed by the Spirit of God. He reminded Nicodemus of something he should have remembered from the writings of the prophets, Isaiah and Ezekiel, but had been too entrapped in the bondage of legalism. Jesus, therefore, spoke words of the Spirit to breathe new life into him.
“Yes, indeed, I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is spirit. Stop being amazed at my telling you that you must be born again from above! The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with everyone who has been born from the Spirit” (John 3:5-8 JNT).
RELEVANCE
Being “born again” is a gift of God’s grace. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, changing the disposition of one’s soul, inclining the heart to God. The “new nature” of this renewed heart has a new set of values and motivations, and is cultivated through a growth process that includes Bible study, prayer, meditation on God’s Word, fellowship, faithfulness and most importantly—a soft heart and willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit—worship in spirit and truth.
REFLECT AND RELATE
How are you cultivating and nurturing your new nature as a born again believer?
With whom do you fellowship to build yourself up in faith?
How are you ordering your time to include God in the equation of your life?
REFERENCES
John 3:5-8; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17