Why We Need To Be Born AgainIn John 3:1-7, we read about a man by the name of Nicodemus, a ruler, who came to Jesus. He was a religious man who knew the Law of Moses. He possibly was a teacher himself, but he was searching for answers. Jesus answered him with these words, “ye must be born again or you can not enter the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said unto Jesus, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, “verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus was a bit confused; he was thinking in the terms of a natural birth, but Jesus was speaking of a Spiritual birth. Multitudes, just like Nicodemus, are searching for answers about the Spiritual birth today.
First of all let us look at our natural birth; a seed was planted in our mother’s womb and life began to grow. We were immersed in water and when we came out of the water our parents waited to hear the birth cry. The birth cry let them know we were alive. But there was a death sentence hanging over us, because of the sin of Adam, the first parents of the human race. We were children of wrath; sinners by nature, for we read, in Romans 5:12, “wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
There is good news! While man was in his sinful state, God manifested Himself in flesh; came and shed His precious blood to pay the price for sin. He purchased our salvation so we could have a new life in Him. In Romans 5:19, we read, “for as by one man’s (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made righteous.”
When we are born again we receive our spiritual birth. Let’s look at a spiritual birth and compare it with a natural; a seed of the Word is planted. Next, the immersion in water, just as a natural body is immersed in water. This takes place at baptism. Then after breaking the water we need to hear the birth cry to let us know we are alive. The Holy Ghost, with the evidence of tongues, is the spiritual birth cry to let us know we have been born again.
Now, when we are born again in the natural world nothing changes. However in the unseen realm of the Spirit we are positioned in heavenly places with Christ, for we read, in Ephesians 2:5-6, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
In Hebrews 10:14-16, we read, “for by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost is a witness to us….” The witness of His arrival in our lives is the baptism of the Holy Ghost with tongues.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, so He still says to us today; “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
If you have any questions please feel free to Email me at:
lilahmac@nb.sympatico.ca
