W2D4 New Birth

READ THE BIBLE

John 3: 1

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’ Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are

born of water and the Spirit.’

REFLECT ON WHAT IT MEANS

There is a well-known story of a man who walked across Niagara falls in 1859 on a tightrope. The rope was 340m long (1,100 ft) and 49 m high (160 ft). The person’s name was Charles Blondin.

He also went across the same rope pushing a wheelbarrow with someone in it, blindfolded, on stilts, carrying a man on his back, stopping midway to cook and eat an omelette and balancing on one leg of a chair. How did he do it? Could I do it? Well Blondin had a secret that probably none of us have. He was born into it! His family were famous in France as circus acrobats and he could confidently walk on a tightrope by the age of 5. What we are born into makes a difference. It shapes everything we are and can do.

Jesus is making the same kind of point to a very well-respected religious leader of his day. This man was called Nicodemus. He had come to Jesus to see if he could get some help in finding out about who Jesus was and what he was teaching. But, straight away poor old Nicodemus was struggling to understand what Jesus was saying. It would be a bit like if you and I went to Charles Blondin and said, “Tell me what books to read so I can walk a tightrope like you.” Or, “What is the science behind your skill so I can learn how you do these things?” Blondin would probably say to us, “Well if anyone wants to do what I do, they really need to be born into it like I was.” This kind of thing isn’t theory, it has to be real in you, it has to be a part of you; it has to be you, and you have to be it!

Jesus is saying the same thing here about becoming a Christian. To be his friend and follower, you can’t just learn some facts or have a few, private beliefs. To become his follower is like changing your nationality. It’s like applying for a new country to live in and getting a new passport. This new country is called, “The Kingdom of God.” The only way to become a member or a citizen of the Kingdom of God is to be born into it.

Nicodemus wasn’t thinking at all like this and he was confused. He thought, “I’ve been born into one country (Israel) so I can’t be born another time into another country can I?” Jesus told him, “Yes you can, but this time your second birth is not physical but spiritual.” That’s one meaning of being “born of water” (from your mother, natural birth), and being born of the Spirit,” (a spiritual birth inside you, from God). God has to do a work inside you by his Spirit that turns you into a different person, with a new creation a new heart and new eyes. New everything in fact.

Notice the word, “unless” in verses 3 and 5. “Unless” means “no exceptions.” You must be born again by the Holy Spirit to become Jesus’ follower - there are no exceptions for anybody. Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, rich and poor, old and young, male and female, East and West, religious and un-religious, respectable and disrespected in life. Whoever you are, there is only one way into Jesus spiritual world or kingdom. You have to be spiritually born into it by the Holy Spirit sent from God to you.

RELATE IT TO YOUR LIFE

Do you know anyone who says the are “born-again?” If so, has their life changed? Because it should do. How about you, can you point to a moment or a time when you asked Jesus into your life? If you can that’s when Jesus and the Holy Spirit come to give us this “new birth.” If you’re not sure, talk to one of the helpers or ‘guides’ on Life Class about it. They will be delighted to answer your questions and help you.

RESPOND WITH A DECLARATION

“Unless ..[ your name here].. is born again ..[ your name here].. cannot enter into God’s spiritual Kingdom.”