Born Again?
We all like the idea of changing, of becoming something different that what we presently are. Certainly, our culture is obsessed with change and self improvement.
Cosmetic surgery has become very popular lately. People go to cosmetic surgeons wanting to look like their favorite movie stars, or perhaps a younger version of themselves. Sadly, they sometimes come out looking like an altogether different person!
The problem is that all of these changes don’t get to the real issue: the issue of the heart. Because the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
The Bible tells the story of an elderly man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who came to Jesus one night, looking for answers and wanting to change his life. “Rabbi,” he said, “we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him” (John 3:2).
Jesus replied, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
What Jesus said was radical, revolutionary. Jesus immediately said to him, “You must be born again.”
But why did Jesus say that?
Jesus is not looking for admiration or even deep respect. He is looking for followers. He doesn’t say, “Admire me,” but rather “Follow me!”
Jesus wants more than our admiration. He wants our worship.
Jesus was saying, “Nicodemus, being religious and moral is not enough. Self improvement is not enough. No, you must be born all over again.”
But what does that mean?
To be born again means to be “born from above.” It is a radical heart change that only God can do. But it comes from above, not from self effort or from self improvement programs.
You might wonder, how does this actually happen?
There’s no better source than Chapter 3 from the Gospel of John.
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night and said unto him, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no one can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” Jesus answered and said unto him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus saith unto him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, “How can these things be?”
Jesus answered and said unto him, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:1-17)
===> Father God, I want a true heart change that can only be accomplished by You. Show me what it means to worship Jesus, truly worship Him.
Born Again? written by Greg Laurie http://www.harvest.org
Sphere: Related Content