You Must BE Born Again

John 3:7 do not be surprised when I say, You MUST BE Born Again

We know that.  It is foundational to our faith.  Being born again, doctrinally and positionally, is an event, a historical, even historic moment in the life of every believer.  It is a once in a lifetime event, once for all, and yet Jesus says … if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself take up his cross daily and follow me.

There must be an every day “birth”  that takes place, because every day I am potentially given to thinking worldly thoughts, feeling fleshly things.  Those things hep me relate to the world, but those things are in danger of separating my focus and my ministry, even the mundane things, from the new life.  Christ Jesus says to Nicodemus, “flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (V6)  What IS the flesh?  It is human, frail, deceitful, confused, it is dying, it is susceptible to sin, and it will, when left unchecked, give birth to the same things.  So we have to daily, moment by moment, surrender to our born again spirit to let it be free to manifest itself in our lives.  Being filled with the Spirit is allowing the Holy Spirit to be Himself in us.

V8 the wind blows wherever it pleases, you hear the sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from, or where it is going … so it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

I cannot create the move of the Holy Spirit.  I cannot summon it.  I simply can throw up my sail and ride surrendered to the wind of the Spirit.  Or, I can leave my sail down and flounder in the waves, or paddle under my own power.  These are heavenly things Jesus tells Nicodemus. Don’t try to control it or understand it with fleshly power or reasoning.  Spread out your flesh like a sail and let the Spirit be free to be Himself in you.

V13 says we have never been to Heaven so we can’t expect to comprehend it or bring it down, only Jesus, the One who came from Heaven can work it in us.  The Spirit is Christ in us, and that is the hope of God’s glorious reputation being manifest in us.

V15 that everyone who believes in him may HAVE eternal life

Yes, this is speaking of salvation and eternal position.  But also, in the day to day, it is only as we allow our new birth to be born in our thinking, doing, and living will eternal life be manifest in our mundane life.

You and I … We … must BE born again.

Could we pray today “Eternal Christ, Lord and Savior, the One who was born in me when I heard, believed, and received; the One who has given me Spirit and Life; be born in my living, fresh and new today.  Be born in my thinking.  Be born in my concerns.  Be born in my passions.  May I BE born again.  May I again be reborn this moment.  Amen”