LISTEN TO JESUS - BORN FROM ABOVE

LISTEN TO JESUS

BORN FROM ABOVE

John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Susie: Nicodemus pictures a grown man somehow going back into the womb to be “born again.” As we will see, this is not what Jesus meant at all. 

Susan: The phrase “born again” can literally be translated “born from above.” 

Susie: Jesus endeavors to explain this distinction in the next few verses.

John 3:5-8 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Susie: Since Nicodemus is obviously thinking of natural, physical birth, Jesus contrasts this with spiritual rebirth. He compares the Spirit with the wind. We do not see the wind, but we feel and see its effects. 

Susan: Therefore, Jesus is declaring to Nicodemus that he must receive transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Susie: We do not see the actual transaction of the Holy Spirit entering a life, but like the wind, we see the effect this has on the person’s attitudes and behaviors. 

Susan: We see the fruit of the Spirit in a consecrated life. 

Susie: Jesus is explaining that our own self-righteousness can never be good enough. We must be transformed by the power of the Lord through faith in order to approach a Holy God.

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·     We are all born into this world after months in our mother’s womb. We did not choose to be born.

·     When we are born of the Spirit, God has chosen us to be His adopted children (Galatians 4:4-5). Our only effort is to accept this free gift of grace and submit to Him as our Father.

·     Have you been born again?

·     If you have been born again, you will increasingly exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in your life (Galatians 5:22-23).