You Must Be Born Again
- Christianity
- Dr Eliezer Gonzalez
- Eternal Life
- Faith
- Freedom
- Gospel
- Grace
- Hope
- Jesus
- Justification
- Kingdom of God
- New Testament
- Resurrection
- Righteousness
- Salvation
Jan 22, 2018 2617
Think about the implications of Jesus’ statement, “You must be born again” (John 3:7).
One of the most striking things about what Jesus said is not what he said, but who he said it to. Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish ruling council and the leading theologian of his religion (John 3:1,9; “Israel’s teacher.”) Jesus was talking to a man who had multiple PhD’s in theology, and who was revered by the nation for this position, knowledge, and achievements.
Nicodemus’ approach to Jesus, extremely loosely paraphrased is along the lines of,
“You know, we’ve been watching you. We have evaluated your theology and your ministry, and we consider that you could be one of us.”
But when Jesus responds to Nicodemus with, “You must be born again,” what he is basically telling Nicodemus is basically,
“I appreciate your sincerity. However, when you are in my presence, everything you have done from the day of your birth until today – and I mean absolutely everything – means absolutely nothing.”
Nicodemus must have been totally shocked when he heard this. But that’s what a new birth is. It means that whatever life you had before is gone, and only your new life counts.
What about you? Have you realised that your whatever you have done or achieved before you were born again in Christ means nothing? This has two sides to it means that your disadvantages, failures and sins don’t count against you anymore. However it also means that all of your advantages, achievements, education and reasons for boasting are gone when you are born again in Jesus.
Being born again means that there is nothing in your past that can condemn you and nothing in your future that can hinder you.
The apostle Paul said:
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done (Phil 3:7, NLT).
The born-again life is one in which there is no longer anything in our past that can stop us being everyone’s brother and sister in the Kingdom of God. The born-again person’s life is marked by a deep sense of humility and dependence on God for everything, whether they be spiritual or material things.
This new birth is so real, that we can even know the day on which we died, and when we were born again. Of course, we all know the day on which that we gave our lives to Jesus, or on which we were baptised, but this wasn’t the real day on which we were born again. The day on which we made our decision for Jesus only points us back to the day that he made his decision for us: the day of Calvary. That’s when our old selves died, and with his resurrection, we were born again in him. Jesus in his conversation with Nicodemus repeatedly refers back to the Cross as the basis of the new birth.
You must be born again. It’s a scary thought at first, I know, but think of the upside – eternal life! It means a new life in which your past means nothing, and Jesus means everything. – Eliezer Gonzalez
Eliezer Gonzalez
Jan 30, 2018
Dear Brother Shawahl How glad am I to hear of your courage and joy in the Lord! I am also glad that your mother said to you that Allah had brought peace into her heart with your decision to follow Christ. It may well be that the Spirit of Jesus (the Holy Spirit) gave her this peace, so that she might know that it is the will of God. It was a revelation that God gave her. But then, if she listens to other voices which are not from the true God, then she will indeed persecute you. Be encouraged! Only a true follower of Christ will understand this saying: "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him" (Phil 1:29). Are you able to tell me how you came to know about GNU and how we have helped you in any way?
Shawahl Moses
Jan 30, 2018
Hi Eliezer, I greet you in in the Most wonderful name of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Being a born Muslim, converting to Christianity and becoming a born again Christian for me has not been an easy path , but a path worth taking. As Paul said , 'For me to live is Christ , and for me to die is gain'. How amazing as it is almost as if we have options, but the best for me thus far has been giving my life to Christ. To acknowledge His presence in my life always. I am blessed and fortunate to have Christ in my life, and never did I think that I would feel this much joy. I have been mocked yes ,I have been persecuted for my faith change even by my own family. First of all , I would want to share with you that on the day I went to my mother telling her about my faith change , she said that Allah has brought peace into her heart with the decision I have made. Now she is singing a totally different story, but a week ago I read in James 3, that bitter water and sweet water cannot come from the same mouth. So how does that explain now what she said to me at that time was only to say the things that she knew I wanted to hear. She has indeed the other night persecuted me on my faith once again, but in it all I still remain in Christ as I want to live for His Will. Today I can say I am not where I need to be, but I can thank God I am not where I use to be. All praises to Him.
Mercy
Jan 29, 2018
Till this day i lived for satan.from this minute to mx death i will live for jesus only.god want to help me with my own strength i cant. My desire is jesus,my destiny is jesus,my goal is jesus.my everybreathing is jesus.lord i want you.
Eliezer Gonzalez
Jan 29, 2018
These are the spiritual results, the transformation that begins with in us through the power of the Spirit of God, when we have been born again.
David Clark
Jan 28, 2018
It is more than that. It is being born again into the heart, mind and Love of Jesus Christ. It means the old sinful man is dead with Jesus, and that the new creature is in Christ. Jesus was sent to reconcile us to the Father. Sin separated us from the Father, the wages of sin is death. We were without hope, we were dead, even while we were living, because we were without God, because of sin, we were serving sin. Jesus died to free us from serving sin. We must turn to Jesus and live in His example, born again into His heart and mind, living in His Love, serving Him in all that we think, say and do. This should only be a mystery to those who are living in death, serving sin. To those prefer sin. It is our choice to live in sin or repent and live in Christ. Romans 8:29 KJV "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." Romans 12:2 KJV "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." As children of God, we have received the Holy Spirit, who guides us into the truth. His objective is to teach us to Live in Jesus Christ. Follow Him with all your heart and mind, with your all.
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