We Must Be Born Again
Chris Nwoke, Mantle of Hope Ministries
Dear Friend,
A man of the Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou are a teacher come from God, for no man 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. St. John 3: 3.
What Nicodemus heard from Jesus was totally strange to him. It was hard to understand from the human perspective. Jesus basically told Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God by admiration or religious practices only, but through a new birth – the spiritual deliverance from sin and death. The miracle of being born again is the glorious experience of having the Son of God born in you. This brings about newness of life, peace, joy and contentment. This mystery has been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest to his saints. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1: 26-27.
Nicodemus as a ruler of the Jews admired the works of God so much that he had to personally pay compliments to Jesus for the mighty works he had heard and seen. He poured out his heart, but Jesus was not impressed. Instead, Jesus told him the truth about what it takes to see the kingdom of God. You must be born again, he told him. Jesus is not impressed with words, religious practices or compliments alone. They must be rooted in the solid foundation of God’s plan. The plan and purpose of God requires a new birth which transforms a person from the sinful nature to the divine nature. This new birth is of the Spirit and will of God and not of man or the will of the flesh. God indeed has shown us his great love and mercy through Jesus Christ, our Savior, who died on Calvary’s Cross to pay our sin debt. Receive the love of God today. We receive it by being born again. Come to Jesus Christ in true repentance with a commitment to turn from your sins today. No matter your situation, invite him into your heart and life as Lord and Savior, so you can live for him all the days of your life with peace, joy and gladness and the hope of eternal life.
Nicodemus asked Jesus, 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 canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. St. John 3: 4-8.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Corinthians 5: 17. May God richly bless you.