There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Joh 3:1-3
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Joh 3:1-3
These verses begin a conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus that describes the work of salvation, and the work of the Holy Spirit that is involved in this miracle of redemption. When we admit we are sinners, in need of forgiveness, and confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe he is the Son of God, and risen from the dead and coming again-and this confession is coming from our mouth with sincere faith in Him, the Holy Spirit comes into us and dwells within us. Our sins are washed away, Jesus redeems us from the curse of the Law, and His shed blood covers us, and we stand cleansed in His righteousness. We are now a new creature in Christ, sinless and in right standing with the Father in heaven.
John chapter 3 is one Spurgeon advises the most, for the sinner in need of clear understanding on coming to salvation:
“If we were asked to read to a dying man who did not know the gospel, we should probably select this chapter as the most suitable one for such an occasion; and what is good for dying men is good for us all, for that is what we are; and how soon we may be actually at the gates of death, none of us can tell.” (Spurgeon)
When someone is born again, are there ways to be able to tell of it was a real new birth? Are there signs that can tell us that the Spirit of God has really entered into the person and now lives within them, and is working to transform them into the image of Christ, as Paul describes a believer in Jesus? Yes, as Jesus said:
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 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.
What was he saying in these verses? C.H. Spurgeon explains it well:
"The wind blows where it wishes: Jesus’ idea to Nicodemus was “You don’t understand everything about the wind, but you see its effects. That is just how it is with the birth of the Spirit.” Jesus wanted Nicodemus to know that he didn’t have to understand everything about the new birth before he experienced it.
Since we can’t control the Spirit, “It should lead us to be very tender and jealous in our conduct towards the Holy Ghost, so that we do not grieve him and cause him to depart from us.” (Spurgeon)
There are other changes we can observe:
Many of the things we once did and were bound to, we no longer want to do, our desires and tastes will change.
John chapter 3 is one Spurgeon advises the most, for the sinner in need of clear understanding on coming to salvation:
“If we were asked to read to a dying man who did not know the gospel, we should probably select this chapter as the most suitable one for such an occasion; and what is good for dying men is good for us all, for that is what we are; and how soon we may be actually at the gates of death, none of us can tell.” (Spurgeon)
When someone is born again, are there ways to be able to tell of it was a real new birth? Are there signs that can tell us that the Spirit of God has really entered into the person and now lives within them, and is working to transform them into the image of Christ, as Paul describes a believer in Jesus? Yes, as Jesus said:
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 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.
What was he saying in these verses? C.H. Spurgeon explains it well:
"The wind blows where it wishes: Jesus’ idea to Nicodemus was “You don’t understand everything about the wind, but you see its effects. That is just how it is with the birth of the Spirit.” Jesus wanted Nicodemus to know that he didn’t have to understand everything about the new birth before he experienced it.
Since we can’t control the Spirit, “It should lead us to be very tender and jealous in our conduct towards the Holy Ghost, so that we do not grieve him and cause him to depart from us.” (Spurgeon)
There are other changes we can observe:
Many of the things we once did and were bound to, we no longer want to do, our desires and tastes will change.
- Things we were a part of, and the people we associate with-we will begin to see things about them that have been a factor in our life of sin, and we'll not want to be around people who habitually live in darkness. We will not feel we fit in with them anymore.
- A hunger to know God, and read His word will come from within, there will be a longing to understand who God is, and what His will is for us. Our love for God will grow, and the desire for His presence.
- Our habits will change, the Holy Spirit will bring conviction to us of patterns in our lives, and things we allowed, that we need to be willing to stop, for our own well-being, and to keep in the abiding presence of God. Our manner of dress will change, and our purposes in life.
- You won't want to intentionally do something you know is a sin-and there will be ongoing testing's and temptations that will come throughout life. Paul describes this struggle well in Romans ch. 7, and the victory in ch. 8
- We will be drawn to associate, and fellowship with other's of like mind, the party spirit of the world will no longer attract you-it will repel you, and your relationships will begin to change.
- God will work with the person to help them desire to stop activities or habits that are destructive to them- such as smoking, drinking, going to events that have drinking, drugs and sexual enticement, such as taverns/bars, and social events that have this activity going on. If the Spirit of God is in them, they will avoid being in any situations like this.
- When the Spirit of God resides in a person, their manner of speech and behavior will change. They may experience times of deep oppression from weariness, from spiritual attacks from many directions-but, they will be honest in their struggles, and repentance will be evident. David, and Moses are examples of sincere people of God, who struggled and sometimes failed. God did not forsake them-He restored them.
NEW LIFE FROM ABOVE THE NEED OF ALL
A solemn question is suggested by Joh_2:24-25.
Joh 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Can Jesus trust Himself to us? We must show ourselves worthy of His trust. In Joh_3:1-36; Joh_4:1-54 we have two remarkable instances of the Lord’s intimate knowledge of the human heart.
Apparently Nicodemus had shrunk from identifying himself with John’s baptism. He was one of the richest men in Jerusalem, and our Lord addressed him as the teacher, Joh_2:10, R.V. He was willing to talk about systems of truth and schemes of philosophy; but the Master knew that more, much more, was necessary; there must be the emergence of His soul into the experience of an enlarged and fuller life. The phrase, “the new birth,” the Jews always used for Gentiles, and it greatly startled Nicodemus to learn that there was needed for himself the same change as was required by Gentiles before entering the Jewish commonwealth. In speaking of water, our Lord probably refers to the baptism of John, in which men confessed their sins and expressed their desire to leave the past behind and to enter a fuller experience of the life of God. The new life begotten by the Spirit of God is as mysterious as the wind. That Spirit, bearing the germ of a new life, rejoices to enter each open casement and to fill each vacuum, wherever one will. (F.B. Meyer)
Joh 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Can Jesus trust Himself to us? We must show ourselves worthy of His trust. In Joh_3:1-36; Joh_4:1-54 we have two remarkable instances of the Lord’s intimate knowledge of the human heart.
Apparently Nicodemus had shrunk from identifying himself with John’s baptism. He was one of the richest men in Jerusalem, and our Lord addressed him as the teacher, Joh_2:10, R.V. He was willing to talk about systems of truth and schemes of philosophy; but the Master knew that more, much more, was necessary; there must be the emergence of His soul into the experience of an enlarged and fuller life. The phrase, “the new birth,” the Jews always used for Gentiles, and it greatly startled Nicodemus to learn that there was needed for himself the same change as was required by Gentiles before entering the Jewish commonwealth. In speaking of water, our Lord probably refers to the baptism of John, in which men confessed their sins and expressed their desire to leave the past behind and to enter a fuller experience of the life of God. The new life begotten by the Spirit of God is as mysterious as the wind. That Spirit, bearing the germ of a new life, rejoices to enter each open casement and to fill each vacuum, wherever one will. (F.B. Meyer)
Born of the Spirit-United to Christ
"It is always a point that calls for reflection: we have to consider not only whether we have faith in Christ, but whether He has faith in us-not only whether we have committed ourselves to Him, but whether that committal is so genuine that He can build upon and trust it. Can He count upon us for all service, for fidelity in times when much is needed? Thoroughgoing confidence must always be reciprocal. The person you believe in so utterly that you are entirely his, believes in you and trusts himself to you-his reputation, his interests are safe in your keeping. So is it with Christ. Faith cannot be one-sided here any more than elsewhere. He gives Himself to those who give themselves to Him. They who so trust Him that He is sure they will follow Him even when they cannot see where He is going; they who trust Him, not in one or two matters which they see He can manage, but absolutely and in all things,-to these He will give Himself freely, sharing with them His work, His Spirit, His reward." (Expositor's Bible)
