Let's Try That Again

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and 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" [John 3:5-6].

I remember a kindly old soul in a church I once pastored. She told me she didn't need to be born again. I showed her Jesus' words. Her reply, "Oh, that's just for the wicked people, like skid row winos. I've been a good person all my life, so I don't need to be born again."

Here's the thing. Jesus spoke those words to Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin in Jesus' day, the ruling council in Israel. He was also a very upstanding member of the community. He wasn't a hypocrite nor a self-righteous religio. And he never joined sides with those who rejected Jesus.

In fine, Nicodemus was one of the most God-fearing and righteous people of his day. He sincerely wanted to belong to the Lord and do right by Him. He walked as best he knew how, according to the available light from the Scriptures at that time. And he sought out Jesus because he wanted more light. Yes, Nicodemus was a pillar in the "church" back in the day, not a skid row wino by any stretch.

Notwithstanding all this, Nicodemus still was required to be born again, if he was to enter the Kingdom of God. The reason why is that the flesh begets the flesh. It cannot give birth to the Spirit. Permit me to make a pitch for my book Volume 1: Genesis at this time, available from Amazon and Amazon Kindle.

We discuss this issue in Genesis 1. God made all things to reproduce after their own kind. Ergo, the flesh perforce must beget the flesh. We cannot fetch drinking water from salty water, nor grapes from thistles. It just doesn't happen that way because God ordained that each thing reproduces after its own kind.

The contrast Jesus made was between the natural order of things ("born") and the spiritual order ("born again"). All of physical creation fell under the tyranny of sin when Adam sinned. Every person born is now conceived in sin and born with a sin nature, i.e., a predilection for disobeying the Word of God. All of us want to eat from the kogae tree instead of from the life tree, if for no other reason than that the Lord said not to! Sin...

Consequently we are not fit to live with the Lord in heaven. If we would be fit, we must be rid of our sin nature. The problem is that man cannot accomplish this on his own. The reason why is a subject for another day. Suffice it to say that the Lord Jesus did accomplish this by His death on the cross to pay the penalty for all mankind's sins. His resurrection out of death was the sign that His payment was accepted by our heavenly Father.

When a person accepts Jesus' finished work on his/her behalf, he/she is born again. We accept Him by grace through faith. God freely offers His new life to us (i.e., grace). We take Him at His Word and act accordingly by requesting that He bestow His new life to us (i.e., faith).

Any takers? Go ahead. Take Him up on His offer and cheer the heart of the Lord.
There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance [Luke 15:7].