You Must be Born Again

Tuesday 11 August
READ: John 3: 1-18
MORE LESSON: John 1: 12-13

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? John 3:4. Not so many people are born again nor know what it means to be born again. “Born again” is not just a spiritual jagon, but refers to new birth by the Spirit and the Word of God. It is becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus. This can only be attained when we recognize that we were all born as sinners, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Rom. 3:23. It implies that until we consciously confess Jesus as our personal Saviour and repent of our sins, we are not yet born again.

Jesus said, Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again: Jn.3:7 It was Nicodemus who asked the first question Jesus was addressing here but it applies to everyone who fits into his class. He was the Hebrew equivalent of a college professor, a federal judge, and a bishop; all in-one. However, because he was born in sin, he needed a second birth – a spiritual birth. He needed to change the focus of his faith from religion to Jesus: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. Only Jesus Christ can provide forgiveness and eternal life. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:...but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous: Rom. 5:12-19.

If Nicodemus, the best that religion could produce, needed to be born again, then Jesus’ Word certainly applies to all of us. How can we know when we and others are saved? It is when our second birth is accompanied by a changed life (II Cor. 5:17), when we begin to live a holy life (Rom.6:4-11), when we practise righteousness (1 John 2: 29) when we are able to love others as Christ loves us (1 John 3: 10), and daily live a victorious life (1John 5:4). All these are made possible by the indwelling Spirit of God in the believer. Dearly beloved, have you been born again? You need to be!

Prayer/Action
* I reject the spirit of religion, and receive the Spirit of adoption through the Lord Jesus.
* I apply the blood of Jesus to my soul and heart today, in Jesus’ name.
* I receive the forgiveness of sin through our Lord Jesus Christ; I am born again.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I command every inherited disease, known and unknown to me, operating under any guise to get out of my life now, in Jesus’ name.