BORN AGAIN

Jesus’ message in John 3 is simple: Being born again is the only way any of us will see the kingdom of God and the only way any one of us will receive eternal life. Jesus came to bring hope, and life and renewal, and this account with Nicodemus is what was part of the message that was on John’s heart. He wrote of why we must be born again; the evidence of being born again and the reason we can be born again.

Why we must be Born Again
It makes no difference how religious you are or how close to God you think you are, or how well you have kept God’s laws, how morally and ethically upright you’ve been or by being a lovely person. There is only one way that any/every human being can see and enter the Kingdom of God, and that, is through Jesus.

We might be physically living and breathing, but if we are outside of Christ we are spiritually dead and there is no hope of eternal life – this why we must be born again. In Christ, we are spiritually alive and there is certainty of eternal life. The new birth Jesus spoke of with Nicodemus can only take place when you embrace the new life he offers by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour (see Romans 10:9-10). New birth becomes a reality when Jesus is your Lord and Saviour.

The Evidence of being Born Again
…is that, though we remain sinful, life is now lived in worship and service to God (see Romans 6:17; 2 Corinthians 5:17) The event of being born again is a work of God, a work of his grace and mercy, it is a supernatural life exchange: the old life is gone, for a new life in Christ. The new birth is a not a renovation of our old nature, character, and values, rather it is the creation of a whole new human nature and character and value base. One has replaced the other. We are forgiven and purified; a work of the Holy Spirit. So the person who is born again, therefore, produces fruit as evidence of being born again, if in fact there has been true repentance and acceptance of Christ’s forgiveness.
The evidence of being born again is that our character is new and changed and changing; our values are Christ-directed and Christ-honouring; I’m being transformed by the renewing of my mind, my mind dwells and thinks on Jesus; sin is not my master, I master sin!

The Reason we can be Born Again
We are not required to understand the depths of how sinful and in need of God we are, only that we are sinful and in need of God and his grace and mercy. Knowing that we need him, begins with knowing we are completely and utterly lost without and outside of him. God’s love for us, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is the reason – the only way – we can be born again.
Our choices don’t change God’s love for us. Jesus did not come to condemn the world. Ultimately our choice to be born again or not determines our eternity.

What is our response to Jesus’ invitation today?