Born Again

Born Again

The text for our lesson is found in John 3:1-8

born again

You must be Born Again!

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 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.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (NKJV)

Jesus tells a Pharisee named Nicodemus that he must be born again.  Nicodemus is confused at this saying because this is something very new to those living under the law of Moses at that time in history.  Nicodemus knows that Jesus came from God because of the miracles He had been performing.  When Nicodemus heard Jesus say that he had to be born again, he naturally thought Jesus was talking about a physical rebirth which is impossible.  So he asks Jesus about that in verse 4 and then in verse 5 Jesus explains to him that the rebirth is not a physical one, but a spiritual one. One’s first birth is of the flesh, but the rebirth that Jesus is teaching about is of the spirit.   He compares this spiritual rebirth to the wind blowing.  It’s something that cannot be seen but it is real.

And we see in verse 5 that this spiritual rebirth is also associated with water.  In speaking about this rebirth, Jesus says it must be of water and spirit before one can enter the kingdom of God.  One’s first birth is a birth of the flesh.  But the rebirth Jesus is teaching is of water and spirit.  So we know from this text that the rebirth of water and spirit is a necessary condition for entrance into the kingdom of God.

Jesus used the term “born again” in this lesson.  This idea of being born again is found in elsewhere in scripture using different terms.  In Titus 3:4-7, Paul wrote, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Paul used the words “washing of regeneration”.  One who has been regenerated has been generated again.  Born again and generated again.  Both of these are terms which signify a new beginning.  That’s what it means to be spiritually born again, or regenerated.  We have a new beginning.   And in order to understand how this new beginning takes place, we need to take notice of the reference to “washing of regeneration”.   Washing is done with water.  The connection between washing and the rebirth of water and of the spirit cannot be ignored.   Water and washing are a part of the rebirth, regeneration, new beginning process.  And Jesus said that unless one is reborn he or she cannot enter the kingdom of God.

What about this washing?  How does one wash oneself?   In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul spoke of being washed when he wrote.  “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. ”  (NIV).

These Christians in Corinth were engaging in all kinds of sinful behavior but they were washed.  They had a new beginning.  So how were they washed?   We are given the answer to that in Acts 22:16, when Paul was setting out in his new beginning.  He had been persecuting Christians and was on his way to Damascus to find more of them and put them in prison when Jesus appeared to him and let him know that he was wrong to oppose Christianity.  Paul had been blinded during this and he was staying in Damascus when a Christian named Ananias came to him and told him how to wash his sins away, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord”.   Paul had a new beginning.  His former life was over and from that point in his life he was one of the most dedicated Christians that ever lived on earth.  “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins…“.   The Christians in Corinth had been washed and they stopped doing those things that would keep them out of the kingdom of God.

There is a connection between washing, the new beginning, water and baptism.  In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he explained this in detail.

Romans 6:1-4, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (NKJV)

Those who have been baptized are buried with Jesus into death. And when they are taken up out of the water of baptism, they are raised to walk in newness of life. This newness of life is the new beginning. The rebirth. This resurrection from the watery grave of baptism is the point at which one is born again. This is how one is born of the water and of the Spirit as Jesus explained to Nicodemus. It is not a physical rebirth. It is a spiritual rebirth where one’s sins are washed away and then they go on from there to walk a new life with a new beginning.

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Repentance by God?

“God is not a man . . . that He Should Repent” (Numbers 23:19)

When Israel was entering the east side of the Jordan River, King Balak solicited a prophet of God, Balaam, to utter a curse upon them.  In response to this request, God told Balaam to speak these words, “God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19).  God had already promised to bless Israel, and God does not go back on His promises as do men.  We conclude that there is a fundamental difference between God and man.  God’s nature is constant, enduring, and true.  Man’s nature, on the other hand, is fickle, mutable, and changing.

The fact of man’s mutable nature can be both good and bad.  It is bad because man is born into the world morally pure, and any change away from that state corrupts man and brings him into sin, a state in which he is separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  It is good because man need not remain in such a state.  He may change his life by repenting of his sin and living for God.  God, however, is not like this; God does not change moral states, and this is a good thing.  A god who changes his moral state every so often would never be reliable, and would always leave one wondering what actions are morally praiseworthy or blameworthy.  Only an immutable God can provide the foundation for truth and right behavior whereby man can know what actions are always morally right and wrong.

This means that any change that needs to occur in one’s relationship to God must be change that occurs on man’s side of the equation.  So how does one know what one needs to change within his life?  God has provided a standard of behavior for man whereby man may take advantage of God’s unchanging nature, and align his life with God’s immutable character.  Moreover, God has revealed that standard through the life of His Son, Jesus the Christ (John 1:18).  This standard tells us who God is so that we may make the changes in our life that are necessary for restoration with God.  The Bible, God’s word, records God’s standard for all men to read and know.  Like God, the life of His Son Jesus and the standard of behavior that he represents are immutable.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today yea and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 ASV).

Songwriter Michael W Smith expressed these same sentiments when he wrote, “Ancient words ever true, / Changing me and changing you. / We have come with open hearts. / Oh let the ancient words impart.”  It is not God who must change; it is us, and we must permit His word to change our lives by observing His word faithfully (Deuteronomy 6:3).  This is what repentance truly means; repentance is not momentary regret (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).  Repentance is a change of mind that effects an ongoing transformation of life (Romans 12:2).  It is a life-long process of learning our sins and weaknesses, putting them to death, and allowing God and His word only to guide us along the way (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5, 16).

For an individual who has lived a life of sin, repentance is that point at which he initially turns from His sins and makes a commitment to following Christ.  This issue of the Christian Worker will look at various aspects of repentance as it relates to eternal salvation.  Second Peter 3:9 declares that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  God’s immutable nature enables us to transform our lives to His purposes.  This is the change that we need to effect in our lives.  In relationship to a loving and immutable God, may we ever seek to practice repentance.

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Death and Sleep

She is not Dead, but Sleepeth

Once, a ruler of a synagogue named Jairus (Luke 8:41) came wanting Jesus to heal his twelve-year-old daughter because she was sick to the point of death. Along the way, people surrounded Jesus, including a woman who touched His garment to be healed of an issue of blood. While Jesus was talking with her, a messenger came and told Jairus that his daughter had died and that there was no reason to bother Jesus any further (Mark 5:35). Jesus, knowing what was taking place, encouraged the man’s faith and went to his house with Peter, James and John. Minstrels playing and people making much noise filled the house (Matt. 9:23). Then, Jesus said, “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth” (Luke 8:52). When the crowd ridiculed Him with laughter, He put them out, went into the room where the girl was lying (Mark 5:40), and said in the Palestinian language, “Maid, arise” (Luke 8:54). Through inspiration, Luke records that “her spirit came again, and she arose straightway” (Luke 8:55).

death or sleeping

She is not Dead, but sleepeth.

As much as we do not like to think about it, we are all going to die (unless Jesus returns first). Solomon said, “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death” (Eccles. 8:8). Death is passed to all (Rom. 5:12), and each of us has an appointment with it (Heb. 9:27).

What is death? James lets us know: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (2:26). When the body dies, the spirit goes back to God (Eccles. 12:7). Therefore, Jairus’ daughter was dead.

Jesus returned her spirit to her, so she came back to life. Yet, He said that she was not dead, but sleeping. In other words, Jesus was saying she was not to be regarded as dead, but as if she was sleeping. He said the same thing about Lazarus (John 11:11-14), trying to explain death to His disciples.

Many passages call death a sleep. The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers” (Deut. 31:16). Job said, “…for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be” (Job 7:21). Paul said to the Corinthian brethren that “some are fallen asleep” who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection (1 Cor. 15:6). He even comforted the Thessalonians by writing,

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1 Thess. 4:13)

What the household of Jairus and others could not understand is that death is as sleep since Jesus is the conqueror of death. Prophets foretold it (Isa. 25:8; Ps. 16:10). He submitted to death for our sakes (1 Cor. 15:4), yet conquered it through His resurrection (Rom. 1:4). He possesses the keys of death (Rev. 1:18), and will destroy it in the end (1 Cor. 15:25-26).

Because of these things, the righteous especially has no need to fear of death (Ps. 23:4), being as sleep. The death of the righteous is precious (Ps. 116:15). “[The] righteous hath hope in his death” (Prov. 14:32). Through inspiration, Balaam said to Balak, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like this!” (Num. 23:10). It is one of triumph (Luke 16:22), great gain (Phil. 1:21), and a blessing (Rev. 14:13) brightened by faith (Heb. 11:13). Death is as sleep, but comes soundly to the souls of the Lord’s righteous ones.

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Gold Rush

Is Your Treasure Gold?

Matthew 13:44 – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

gold

Is Gold your Treasure?

Gold!  Treasure!  History records a great number of “gold rushes” throughout the world.  Americans experienced gold rushes in no less than Nevada, Alaska, Colorado, Washington, South Dakota, Wyoming, North Carolina, Georgia, Idaho, and California.  A number of people consider the gold rush to be something of the past.  However, a recent report on the Madre de Dios region of Peru shows gold rushes are modern too (1).  Whether in past or present, gold rushes not only exist as fascinating phenomena to study, but also good parallels to the life of a Christian.

All gold rushes begin with the same catalyst:  “Discovery!”  Multi-millions of individuals have dug holes in the dirt, a great number even hoping to find buried treasure.  For the great majority of these seekers, nothing is found.  When seeking uncovers a substance of value, discovery sparks joy as seen in Matthew 13:44.  It also sparks action.  Treasure found compels the seeker to engage in actions that assure he can claim it as his own.  Spiritually speaking, discovery occurs every time without fail for those who seek heavenly treasure (Matthew 7:7).  The value found in the treasure of salvation cannot be measured; what value can be put upon knowing one’s soul no longer carries the burden of sin (Matthew 16:26).

As a man acts to secure his treasure, others will take notice.  Observation declares an existing difference.  Why is this man selling all his possessions for a field?  Men become curious, even suspicious over the changes that occur.  One way or another, the truth frequently comes out.  “Gold! Gold! Gold from the American River!” Sam Brannon helped fuel the California Gold Rush as he proclaimed discovery on the streets of San Francisco in 1848.  At first men may not consider the truth they have heard or seen to be a reality:  “The Gold must be brotite (fool’s gold)” or “that guy could never make such a discovery”.  Yet, when the truth takes root, the rush takes hold.  The message may shoot around the world.  With the California Gold Rush, not only did Americans sell everything to get to California, but citizens of England, China, Germany, Canada, France, South America, Italy, and other countries did so as well.  They wanted to experience the California Dream.  “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” (Proverbs 25:25).  With the arrival of good news of the Gospel, Jesus found no place to rest his head (Matthew 8:20).  Continually, multitudes sought Him out desiring to acquire the treasure freely given in Christ (Romans 3:21-24).

A number of treasure seekers enjoy success.  I myself panned for gold and my eyes watched mercury swallow up flecks of gold in a pan to later release them into a little vial for safe keeping.  Using a sluice box in a river to search for gold also produced minor flecks.  As a young boy, joy encompassed me fully when I found a stream full of shiny “fool’s gold”.  Success, to a degree, depends on expectation.  A little boy seeking to find neat rocks in a stream has great success.  An individual seeking only a few flakes of gold instead of a fortune he can retire on also experiences occasional success.  .  Yet, remember, spiritual success always accompanies those seeking heavenly treasure (Matthew 6:33).

Hard work most frequently characterizes the search for treasure.  Gold miners certainly experienced their share of this.  Perhaps their initial success meant only picking up gold off of the ground.  Yet, later on, hours of continual panning, digging, washing, or rock busting followed each day.  Mining results in happy, frustrating, sad, exciting, and depressing moments.  It’s filthy, dirty, muddy, dusty work which dries, tears, and toughens the skin.  Gold miners do not sit in the shade waiting for gold to fall from trees.  If they didn’t engage in working, they likely would find themselves lacking the necessities to provide food to live on.  Paul expressed the need for work in the lives of the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).   He told them if they did not work, were not to be provided food.  Individuals cannot continually enjoy success unless they work.  Jesus and His apostles not only instructed Christians to engage in physical work, but goodness, benevolence, evangelism, visitation, and other actions which demonstrated their obedience to Him. Such work identifies those who love Christ (John 14:15); it also ensures reward (success) and not punishment (failure) (Matthew 25:14-30).

The proverb “The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends” (Proverbs 14:20) comes to life for the gold miner.  Truthfully, some folks may be honest faithful friends.  However, a great number of friends drawn by riches disappear with a changing of fortune.  Gold miners found themselves in the predicament of wondering who they should trust.  Would the shopkeeper cheat them?  Would someone rob their camp while they worked?  What about claim jumpers or robbers?  “Amen!” fuels the preacher, water attracts the thirsty, and gold draws corruption.  The treasure seeker finds persecution by the elements, strangers, enemies, or even his trusted friend (Psalm 41:9).  When Jesus walked the earth teaching and proclaiming the eternal kingdom of God, He knew anyone professing His teaching and the treasure by them would be persecuted (John 15:20). They might even need to separate themselves from their families due to the treasure (Matthew 10:34-36).

The final parallel exhibited in Christian lives seen in that of the Gold Rush is abandonment.  Most treasure seekers rushing off to find the joy of success abandon the cause after a period of time.  Perhaps, they would not do the work necessary or despite their work they quit for finding little to no success.  Again, they may quit the search for treasure due to abuses and persecution that arise from others.  “No treasure is worth such difficulty, there are better things!” might be reasoned in their minds.  Whatever the decision to walk away, the prize they desired fails to come to fruition.  Even a greater loss, some abandon hope of something better all together, their lives only characterized by futility.

Spiritually, abandonment is demonstrated well in the parable of the sowers (Matthew 13:3-23).  Abandonment from seeking God occurs by those not interested in seeking, ones who cannot handle the persecution, and still more who become distracted with other worldly dreams.  Common sense dictates that if you can do your best to find treasure and still fail, abandonment should be considered.  However, when one desires to serve God, truly seek, and endure in their service of him until their end, not abandoning their efforts, nor giving up hope, they always receive the treasure they searched to find.  Abandonment in this case should not be considered!  A spiritual gold rush should always be encouraged.  For all who choose to seek the treasure of heaven neither lack nor limit of success exists.  There is no next best alternative (Proverbs 15:6).

Gold Rush!  Discovery, joy, action, spreading of good news, success, hard work, persecution, and even abandonment can be expected in the search for treasure.  However, man should not abandon the heavenly for the earthly (Colossians 3:2, Luke 12:16-21, Proverbs 8:10).  The effort put forth toward seeking God despite enduring much trials proves more valuable than gold (I Peter 1:7).  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)  As when Mary sat listening to Jesus, despite the activities of Martha, let treasure seekers choose the “good part” which is everlasting (Luke 10:38-42) and that which moth and rust will not decay (Mark 6:19-20).

Footnote:

(1)   Steve Sapienza; “In Peru, Gold Rush Leads to Mercury Contamination Concerns”; PBS.ORG; December 27, 2011

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Only God is Good

The Scariest Verse in the Bible

Humanism can be defined as a system of thought that rejects religious beliefs and centers on humans, their values, capacities, and worth. It is a belief system that places humans at the top. In a “politically correct” era when people demand a “separation of church and state,” humanism has become the backbone for most modern-day textbooks. History is not taught in terms of God being the founder of the world, but rather, our children learning about the Big Bang and Neanderthal man. The complexity and purposeful design of nature is ignored—as it would demand a designer. Instead our children are indoctrinated by evolutionary theory and naturalism.

god is good

God is Good, but man continually seeks himself.

But these theories in-and-of-themselves are not the whole problem. For you see, a steady diet of humanism causes individuals to think more highly of themselves—after all, humanism teaches we are at the top. This has resulted in a generation of “self” oriented young people who believe they and their opinions are extremely important (e.g., sharing their every move on Facebook, Twitter). It has also resulted in an overabundance of narcissists.

This humanistic attitude has even crept into the church. We throw labels around like “righteous” and “godly” on individuals without really considering what we are saying. We use the label “sinners” with such ease that we don’t really even feel any discomfort. After all, we’re not that bad, right?

Here’s what I intend to teach my children about the scariest verse in the Bible.

The Bible is filled with all kinds of fighting action and gruesome deaths. But I want to take a moment to share with you what I hope you will remember as the scariest verse in the Bible. In Mark 10:18 we read, “So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” Not exactly what you were expecting was it? But look at that passage again. God is good! And still you say, “Yeah, what’s the problem?”

The problem is you are not good. In Isaiah 64:6 we read, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Paul put it this way in his letter to the church at Rome: “As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; (Romans 3:10). In 1 John the Bible says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

Let me point it out again: God is good. But we are not. So the question you should be asking yourself is: What does a good God do with us? This is where the term “good news” comes into play. This is the essence of the Gospel message. Sadly, because of our affection for humanism and “self” the good news isn’t viewed as all that good anymore. After all, we really aren’t that bad…right?

In Exodus 34:6-7 God gives us a picture of Himself. (Anytime you want to know more about God it is always a good thing to go to Scripture rather than man!) The Bible says, “And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.’” Those words are tremendous and comforting!

We learn God is merciful and gracious. But the passage does not stop there. It continues by saying: “by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7). How can that be? How can He be merciful and forgiving, but then not clear the guilty?

I want you to think about this dilemma for just a moment. We expect judges to be fair and to deliver penalties according to the crime. And yet, we don’t want God to hold us responsible for all of the sin we have committed. How can a good God overlook our sin? Paul explains this in Romans 3. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, (Romans 3:23-25).

Paul then goes on to use a very special phrase to describe God, continuing this passage by saying, “to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (v. 26). Look at that phrase just a moment: just and justifier. If God was only just, then every human would be punished in eternity for all the sins they have committed—as He is holy and cannot have anything to do with sin. But the text says He was also the justifier. That was Jesus Christ—and that is GREAT news!

The next time you think highly of yourself take a moment to ask yourself who are you comparing yourself too? Are you comparing yourself with an ungodly world, or with a holy God? Never ever forget that without the blood of Jesus Christ—the spotless sacrifice—you are nothing. Only God is good …

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