Born Of The Spirit

Born Of The Spirit

Jesus replied, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don’t be surprised at my statement that you must be born again.” –John 3:5-7

In the late 1970s, the label “born again” became popular. I still occasionally hear people refer to a certain “type” of Christian as “born again.” I’m not exactly sure, but I sense they mean a category of believers who are a little more radical about Jesus than those who simply want to go to church and follow Christ’s moral teachings. To them, a “born-again” Christian is different from a “regular” Christian. Without saying it, they reveal their belief that something as radical as being born a second time by the power of the Holy Spirit is not only difficult to understand, it is unnecessary.

But Jesus said that being born again was not just an optional addition or a form of saving faith; it is the only form of saving faith. He said that “no one can enter the Kingdom of God” without it (John 3:5, emphasis added). Not your pastor. Not the Pope. Not your grandmother. Not your neighbor. Not you.

Before we go any further in this book, I must ask you: Have you been born again? Or are you like the religious person Jesus was speaking to, confident that your religious background is enough or that your sincere search for God is enough or that you’ve suffered enough? Maybe you are looking for ways to improve yourself so you’ll be acceptable to God. But you can’t generate new and eternal life through your own efforts. It requires a supernatural washing and rebirth that happens only when you ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse you and give you new life, in full recognition of your inability to generate life or goodness on your own.

When we hear that we must be born again, like Nicodemus we want to point out that it is impossible to become a baby and be born all over again. That would require a miracle. More than that, it would require that we surrender ourselves to a spiritual mystery, and that makes us incredibly uncomfortable. But at the same time, the suggestion that we could start all over again is such a relief. That is what Jesus offers. Being “born again” is more than a label. It is the Holy Spirit at work in you; it is a fresh start on a whole new way of life.

Life Giver, I cannot be religious enough or righteous enough to deserve to enter your Kingdom. I need a miracle of rebirth only you can provide.

DIGGING DEEPER