I must admit, I am out of the habit. When I began my blog I was excited to share my thoughts but that seems to have quickly faded. For that I apologize. At Hill N’ Dale we have been trying to emphasize our theme for the New Year, “A Fresh Start.” So with my blog, why should it be any different? Here is my Fresh Start:
As I work from home on this “Ice Day” here in Lexington I find myself reflecting on the study that my home group began just a week ago. We are studying Max Lucado’s book based on John 3:16. A truly incredible study on the most well known but probably taken for granted passages in God’s word, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
I am quickly reminded that this conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus began with the following words from John 3: 1-7.
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”
”How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’
As we learned from our study that Nicodemus, a good man who was well studied in the scriptures struggled as many of us do with the concept of being ‘Born Again.’ The salvation that God extends is deeply rooted in the fact that one must believe to receive that salvation, not work for it. The working part comes later in realizing that ‘I believe in Him therefore in response I will obey his commands.’ Therefore, we ‘believe and be baptized.’
Max Lucado eloquently explains it this way. When a child is brought into this world, does anyone say “Good job little one!” No, they congratulate the mother. She is the one who did all the work and went through the pain of childbirth. As it is with God, He loves us so much that in order for you to be born again, he experienced separation from His “one and only” son as He died on the cross for you and me. Through his death, burial and resurrection God full filled his plan and restored all “that believe in Him.” Accept and embrace His gift and in return obey all that He has commanded us to do.