SATURDAY May 25, 2024

You Must Be Born Again

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3

Remember, the Church is not a building. The true church is made up of people. In fact, you do not join the Church; you are born into it. This is the great difference between religion and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Nicodemus was a religious man––a Pharisee––a ruler of the Jews. He came secretly at night to speak with Jesus. He perceived that He was a teacher come from God, for no man could do the signs He performed unless God was with him (John 3:2). Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus misunderstood; he wrestled with thoughts of having to go through natural birth again (John 3:4).

Jesus clarified this spiritual truth to Nicodemus, saying, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”  (John 3:5). Jesus was not speaking of water baptism. Throughout the Scriptures, water is used as an analogy of the Word of God. Just as water breaks forth when a child is born, a person becomes born again of the Word of God, which happens when they accept Jesus by faith, and, right at that moment, the Spirit of God dwells within them.

The meaning of the phrase “born again” simply means that regeneration has taken place in a person’s life: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When a person becomes born again of the Holy Spirit, they become a part of the Church. The Church is made up of people who have become born again of the Holy Spirit from around the entire world!

No new Christian is born in a vacuum. He is delivered into the fellowship of the Church. He is baptized by the one Spirit into the body of Christ. He joins the society of the saints.
~Arthur Skevington Wood~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!