On Being Born Anew

This Trinity Sunday many churches will hear John 3:1-17 and the story of Nicodemus.

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind* blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Last Sunday we learned about the Pentecost which is often referred to as "the Church's birthday". This Sunday, we learn that individuals must have a second birthday in order to celebrate eternal life with God the three in one. Yes, we have to be born again. Born of water by baptism, and born of the Spirit which is the tricky part.

Not all of us experience a moment of religious conversion in which one is aware of the Holy Spirit washing over their soul, changing their lives forever. In fact, most of us who claim to have had such an experience are usually looked at as strange sort of ducks. I am guilty of sometimes thinking that when people say someone is full of the Spirit, they actually full of something else.

Similarly, when a denomination claims that the Holy Spirit is leading them to a new understanding of the Bible, how are we to know what they are full of?

I look around and see several denominations that are not going to have eternal life. Their numbers are falling, funerals outnumber baptisms, and their ministers are nothing more than attendants at a nursing home. These denominations hope for renewal, hold revivals, proclaim that they are the owners of the "Jesus Movement", but they refuse to admit that they have been baptized in the muddy waters of revisionism, and that they have been following an unholy spirit.

What do they need to do in order to "see the Kingdom of God" as Nicodemus desired?

Phony "Revivals" won't do it.

These denominations need to be born again. How is that possible?

Are they not teachers of Israel?

Yet they do not understand these things.