Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 14 & 15; Revelation 4; Haggai 2; John 3
John 3:3 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.
Being raised in a good family will not get you to heaven. Being a teacher of the Bible will not get you into heaven. Being a person of prayer will not get you into heaven. Being a good person will not get you into heaven. This is the message that Jesus taught to Nicodemus and that every man, woman, boy and girl on earth needs to hear. Unless you are born again, you will not see God’s kingdom. Birth is a new life, is it not? Think of the birth of a baby. It is a brand new beginning and there is a definite point when that life starts and then comes into the world.
Many people think that their great need is to turn over a new leaf. They need a fresh start and so they decide to reform their life. They ‘get religious’ and start going to church more or something like that. But that is not what Jesus here says. He says that a new life is only possible through a new birth. How can a new birth happen? It happens when a person receives Jesus Christ by believing on him.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This new birth comes when a person hears the gospel of Jesus Christ and believes on him for salvation.
1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
Of course a new born baby loves its parents. A new believer will have a love for God and for his children because of the new birth in their lives. Birth is so important! Jesus was born in Bethlehem so that you and I can have a new birth and become the sons of God. Let’s be in the birthing business! Let’s preach the gospel and deliver some babies!
In Christ,
Rody
