John 3:3 - You Must Be Born Again To Enter The Kingdom Of God.
John 3:3 (NLT) Jesus replied, I tell you
the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot
see the Kingdom of God.
COMMENTARY PEARLS
We need not wonder that there are some
mysteries in our holy faith, for there are mysteries
everywhere. In nature, and in our own bodies, there are
ten thousand things we do not understand. We
observe that the wind blows; we know it blows, for
we feel it, but where it comes from or where it
goes to we do not know. It is not remarkable,
therefore, that there should be mysteries in the
kingdom of God.
Yet Christ, by using the metaphor of the
wind, shows us that though the mystery is a matter
of fact, it can be turned to practical account,
for though we do not understand the wind, we can
make use of it. The wind, though not understood,
has been employed in a thousand ways in the
service of man. Similarly, it is altogether beyond
my powers to explain the mystery of the new
birth, how the Spirit of God transforms a sinner
into a new creature in Christ Jesus. But keep in
mind that it was the King of kings who said, "You
must be born again." This is a truth that cannot
be put aside, whether we feel we understand it
or not.
But what is it to be born again? While I
cannot explain its mystery, I can explain its
results. I know that the Holy Spirit usually operates
through the Word, through the proclamation of the
truth of the gospel. So far as we know, He works
upon the mind according to the laws of the mind
by first illuminating the understanding. He
then influences the will and changes the
affection, but over and above all that we can describe
there is a marvelous power that He exerts, which
must remain among the inscrutable mysteries of
this finite state. By this power, such a wondrous
effect is produced that a man becomes a new man as
much as if he had been born again in an
altogether higher sphere. A new nature is created
within him, a nature that hates what the old nature
loved and loves what the old nature hated, a
nature akin to the nature of God. That is a
wonderful phrase in Peter's second epistle: "that
through them you may participate in the divine
nature" (2 Peter 1:4). In his first epistle, he
writes that "you have been born again, not of
perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the
living and enduring word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).
The new birth is the creation within us of that
new, divine, immortal life that is a true miracle
of the Spirit of God. Charles Spurgeon [Day by
Day Through the Gospel of John by Lance
Wubbels]
While a man is in a mere natural state,
before he is born of God, he has, in a spiritual
sense, eyes and sees not; he has ears, but hears
not. His spiritual senses are all locked up: he
is in the same condition as if he did not have
them. Hence he has no communion with God. He has
no true knowledge of the things of God, either
of spiritual or eternal things; therefore,
though he is a living man, he is spiritually dead.
But as soon as he is born of God, there is a
total change in all these particulars. The "eyes
of your understanding" are opened (Ephesians
1:18 NKJV). His ears being opened, he is now
capable of hearing the inward voice of God, saying,
"Be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven"
(Matthew 9:2 NKJV). He is conscious of "the peace of
God, which surpasses all understanding"
(Philippians 4:7 NKJV). He many times feels such a joy in
God as is "inexpressible and full of glory" (1
Peter 1:8 NKJV). He knows "the love of God has
been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit"
(Romans 5:5 NKJV), and all his spiritual senses are
then exercised to discern spiritual good and
evil. He is alive to God through Jesus Christ.
Grace is descending into his heart, and prayer and
praise are ascending to heaven. And by this
communion between God and man, this fellowship with
the Father and the Son, the life of God in the
soul is sustained; and the child of God grows up,
till he comes "to the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13 NKJV).
The nature of the new birth is that great
change that God works in the soul when He brings it
into life; when He raises it from the death of
sin to the life of righteousness. It is the
change wrought in the whole soul by the almighty
Spirit of God when it is created anew in Christ
Jesus, when it is "renewed in knowledge according
to the image of Him who created him"
(Colossians 3:10 NKJV), when the love of the world is
changed into the love of God; pride into humility;
passion into meekness; hatred, envy, malice, into a
sincere, tender, unselfish love for all mankind. In a
word, it is that change whereby the earthly,
sensual, devilish mind is turned into the "mind. . .
which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5
NKJV). "So is everyone who is born of the Spirit"
(John 3:8 NKJV). John Wesley [Day by Day Through
the Gospel of John by Lance Wubbels]
ILLUSTRATION
Hearing Gods Music
Let's imagine that you want to learn to
dance. Being the rational, cerebral person you are,
you go to a bookstore and buy a book on dancing.
You take the book home and get to work.
Finally, you think youve got it, and
you invite your wife to come in and watch. You
hold the book open and follow the instructions
step by step. You even read the words aloud so
shell know that youve done your homework.
Lean with your right shoulder, and so you
lean. Now step with your right foot, and so
you step. Turn slowly to the left, and so
you do.
You continue to read, then dance, read,
then dance, until the dance is completed. You
plop exhausted on the couch, look at your wife,
and proclaim, I executed it perfectly.
You executed it, all right, she
sighs. You killed it.
What?
You forgot the most important part.
Where is the music?
Music?
You never thought about music. You
remembered the book. You learned the rules. You laid
out the pattern. But you forgot the music.
Do it again, she says, putting in a
CD. This time dont worry about the steps;
just follow the music.
She extends her hand and the music
begins. The next thing you know, you are dancing -
and you dont even have the book.
We Christians are prone to follow the
book while ignoring the music. We master the
doctrine, outline the chapters, memorize the
dispensations, debate the rules, and stiffly step down the
dance floor of life with no music in our hearts.
We measure each step, calibrate each turn, and
flop into bed each night exhausted from another
day of dancing by the book.
Dancing with no music is tough stuff.
Let God have you, and let God love you
- and dont be surprised if your heart
begins to hear music youve never heard and your
feet learn to dance as never before. [Max
Lucado Daily Devotional at maxlucado.com]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
John 3:3: You Must Be Born Again To Enter
The Kingdom Of God:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180715-1129.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
