by Rev. Stanley Collins
THE
Spiritual BIRTH
O NE of the most moving accounts of our Lord’s earthly ministry concerns His experience with the Jewish leader, Nicodemus. This is found in John 3 and clearly shows the unmistakable importance of be ing born again. Perhaps no portion of Scripture is more explicit on the message of salvation, coupled with an outline of God’s love and grace in the sending of His only begotten Son to this earth for our redemption. Some preachers make the point that Nicodemus was a coward, based on the fact that he came to Jesus by night. This is not true. Our Lord was in Jerusalem at the feast day. There were many who already be lieved on Him. He was not easy to reach. Thousands of people were present. Nicodemus is really to be commended for taking the initiative. He was a member of the Sanhedrin which was the highest Jewish coun cil in the land. He had the correct religious upbringing from the time of his youth. He’d been educated in the best rabbinical schools. He knew all the fundamentals of his law. He was concerned about the things of God and had an inquiring mind. His mind was not closed to the subject of eternal things. He had decided to find out for himself what it was about Christ that had caused so much interest. So many people today sit in the background accepting second hand things as to what they are told about Christ. They’ve never both ered to find out for themselves. Nico demus is to be commended. His introduction was very polite and courteous. Jesus went right to the heart of Nicodemus’ needs, “Veri ly, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God.” Nicodemus never questioned that statement but rather wanted to know more. “How can a man be born when he is old? The only birth I know is a physical one. There is no retrogression in life, is there?” Jesus Christ clearly showed him that He was speaking of the spiritual birth, that of the Spirit. Without these two, no man will ever enter the kingdom of God. One is just as necessary as the other. The two births are not the same. One is not born of the Spirit the day he is born of the flesh. Christian baptism is not that of which our Saviour was speak ing. The water is not the ordinance we know today as baptism but rather refers to the Word of God. Here was a very religious, upright and honor able man. He was one to whom peo ple looked with respect and admira tion. You can imagine the surprise when Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Christ was pointing out that the new birth is a mystery and a miracle. While we may know the di rection in which the wind is coming, no one can actually see it. We know the day we are born into the kingdom of God, but we don’t know all the processes that have led to our own new birth. Our Lord not only said to Nicodemus, “You m u s t be bo rn again,” but He also declares the same to you. “Have you been bom again?” Unless you have, you will not see the kingdom of God. This does not depend upon religious observance, but rather your personal relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ. Come in surrender and repentance, ready to receive by faith into your heart the Saviour. This new birth is a miracle accomplished by God Himself. You can become a new creature, having
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