Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ (John 3:1-9, NRSV)
This is an interesting passage of scripture that has caused all kinds of discussions. How can a person be born again?
Well if you read the passage above, you might be saying, “it doesn’t say born again…” And you would be right. It says in the above translation, “You must be born from above.” That is not much clearer, at least we are not trying to climb back into our mothers to be born again.
Jesus says “no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” We have to be born of water and of Spirit. For what is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of Spirit is spirit. I believe Jesus is saying here that we are all born a natural child birth, which any of you who have been through or witnessed happens with a lot of water. Born of water is when we were born into this world from our mothers. Even c-sections have lots of water. This is not baptism, then we are born of the Spirit, or from above, and that is how we enter the kingdom of heaven. As Lutherans we say that the one baptized is sealed by the Holy Spirit, and that is the birth from above.
It is not about being born again, but being sealed by the Holy Spirit, and being born from above.
So know you are marked with the cross of Christ forever!
aSacredRebel 