YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

PROCLAMATION

“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 spirit.  You should not be surprised at My saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ” John 3:5-7 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John records the conversation between Jesus, The Christ, and a Pharisee and Jewish leader named Nicodemus. (John 3:1-2)  He questioned Jesus because he wanted to know how a man can be born again when he is old? (John 3:3-4)  Jesus answered him by saying that a man must be born twice, first be born of water, physical birth, and then born spiritually by The Holy Spirit of God. (John 3:5)  Nicodemus still did not understand what Jesus told him. (John 3:9)  The Apostle John then records the lengthy explanation that Jesus gave to Nicodemus which includes the most frequently quoted verse in The Bible, John 3:16.

 

APPLICATION

Being “a good person” or being “religious” is not enough to enter the kingdom of God.  We must be a born again believer.  We must be spiritually born of The Holy spirit of God.  When we accept Christ as our personal Savior, we immediately receive the indwelling of The Holy Spirit. (Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:27)  At that moment we become a new creature, a new person, (2 Corinthians 5:17) we are born again.  To convert someone from their unbelief, The Word of God, delivered by a man of God, is used by The Holy Spirit of God to change their heart. (Ezekiel 36:26)  Baptism by water does not save anyone.  It is just an outward demonstration of an inner transformation.  One must believe in their heart that Jesus, The Christ, is The Son of God and He was raised from the dead in order to be saved. (Romans 10:9)  Do you remember your spiritual birthday?