1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus[a] 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." 3Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4Nicodemus 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?" 5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, 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.[c] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You[d] must be born again.' 8 The wind[e] 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."
Christ here tells us an extraordinary truth. He says, "unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." This truth makes it necessary for a person to be born again in order to see God's kingdom. Being born again then is of the utmost importance. The question is then how can we be born again? Christ answer seems vague. He claims first that the new birth must be spiritual and that the Spirit blows where it will. What does this mean. Christ seems to be saying that we are not in control of the Spirit's moving but God is. The new birth is a supernatural and spiritual event that we cannot control.
The question then is whether or not the fact that we are not in control of our birth is comforting or disconcerting. Are we free to trust that God is in control of our salvation or do we feel the need to do something to take matters into your own hand and cause our own birth?
Easter Greetings, exuses and updates!
16 years ago