I am God, and not man; the Holy One within thee (Hosea 11:9; BST).
Introduction
This blog was given to me in a single moment yesterday morning, just as I began to pray. All I had to do was write it down, and copy out the Bible references. It starts with a familiar, wonderful, and mysterious passage from the Bible:
John 3:4-7; New Living Translation
There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:4-7; NLT).
Born again
So, when Jesus speaks of being “Born again”, what does he mean?
To be born again is to experience the reality of God within us, and to make the all-important decision to commit ourselves and our lives to God. This profound spiritual rebirth takes place through the action of the Holy Spirit.
Background
It is helpful to see this how transformational process takes place in the context of life’s complete trajectory:
- From before conception to beyond death, we are forever indissolubly one with God.
- God is present at conception, giving each fertilised egg the potential to develop into an individual person. God forms us, and remains within us, as our soul.
- This means that God is already living within us at birth, and remains within us throughout our lives.
- As we grow older, our bodies, minds and hearts develop, until we become ready, able, and willing, to seek God within ourselves.
- When we encounter God personally, and choose to commit our lives to God, we are born again into a new life. This is when we receive the Holy Spirit as our inner Helper.
- Our spiritual rebirth marks the beginning of our conscious relationship with God.
- From this point onwards we have much to learn as we begin to follow Jesus, to change, develop, and grow more like him.
- There are many pitfalls along the way, but as we try to follow Christ’s example, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us.
- When we die our bodies return to the earth’s raw elements, but our souls forever continue to find their home in oneness with God.
Conclusion
To be born again is the greatest blessing we can receive. It marks an essential stage in our personal relationship with God, as we make our spiritual journey from oceanic oneness with God, through this earthly life, and back to total unity once more.
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
References
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7; NLT).
We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).
Christ lives within you (Romans 8:10; NLT).
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you (Romans 8:11; NLT).
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ (When he said ‘living water,’ he was speaking of the Spirit who had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory) (John 7:39; NLT).
God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21; NLT).
We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26; NLT).