John 3:1-15
Jesus teaches Nicodemus
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Like Nicodemus, I am confused with the term born again...Born again can mean to be born from above...Born again is a phrase that many believe is to describe the phenomenon of gaining faith in Jesus...It is an experience when everything they have been taught as Christians becomes real, and they develop a direct and personal relationship with God....
Nicodemus came to Jesus with questions, and as he spoke to Jesus he had more questions...And Jesus brings up the term born again to him...To be born again and get a new birth as Nicodemus questioned is an act of God where born again is eternal life that comes from faith...And being born again in faith means when our new birth, our rebirth happens, we are now children of God...And St. John tells us that to all who did receive Jesus and believe in His name, He gives us the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God...
Dwight L. Moody, an American evangelist, wrote this about being born again: “Christ said to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”...You may see many countries; but there is one country—the land of Beulah, which John Bunyan saw in vision—you shall never behold, unless you are born again—regenerated by Christ...You can look abroad and see many beautiful trees; but the tree of life, you shall never behold, unless your eyes are made clear by faith in the Saviour...You may see the beautiful rivers of the earth—you may ride upon their bosoms; but bear in mind that your eye will never rest upon the river which bursts out from the Throne of God and flows through the upper Kingdom, unless you are born again...God has said it; and not man...You will never see the kingdom of God except you are born again...You may see the kings and lords of the earth; but the King of Kings and LORD of LORDs you will never see except you are born again...When you are in London you may go to the Tower and see the crown of England, which is worth thousands of dollars, and is guarded there by soldiers; but bear in mind that your eye will never rest upon the crown of life except you are born again.”...