Post by foxjj on Sept 30, 2021 7:12:58 GMT
Born Again To A Living Hope
Whilst seeking after understanding in the claims of Christianity I would often hear the saying ‘you must be born again.’ Confused about such a term, I was directed to the Gospel of John where I read that a Jewish leader was also confused:
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:1-8)
From the Gospel of John I came to the understanding that Jesus was speaking of something very important, so important in fact, that it affects our eternal life. After praying for understanding, it soon became apparent that Jesus was not speaking of our natural life, but our spiritual life, which starts in the here and now going on for eternity. The passage in John is similar to Ezekiel 36:25-27 where God said: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
As a confirmation of this understanding, I came upon a passage titled ‘Born Again to a Living Hope’ which read: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
It is passages like those above that led me - along with numerous others - to seek a personal relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ who came among us offering new life to all who seek redemption. For one to experience forgiveness and new life in Jesus, is the most awesome of experiences because, one has personally experienced the love of God as Paul states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Today, let us give praise for our salvation.
John Joseph Fox.
Whilst seeking after understanding in the claims of Christianity I would often hear the saying ‘you must be born again.’ Confused about such a term, I was directed to the Gospel of John where I read that a Jewish leader was also confused:
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:1-8)
From the Gospel of John I came to the understanding that Jesus was speaking of something very important, so important in fact, that it affects our eternal life. After praying for understanding, it soon became apparent that Jesus was not speaking of our natural life, but our spiritual life, which starts in the here and now going on for eternity. The passage in John is similar to Ezekiel 36:25-27 where God said: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
As a confirmation of this understanding, I came upon a passage titled ‘Born Again to a Living Hope’ which read: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
It is passages like those above that led me - along with numerous others - to seek a personal relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ who came among us offering new life to all who seek redemption. For one to experience forgiveness and new life in Jesus, is the most awesome of experiences because, one has personally experienced the love of God as Paul states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Today, let us give praise for our salvation.
John Joseph Fox.