The Necessity of the Rebirth
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
Read Ephesians 2:1-9
Perhaps you think the Lord Jesus’ reaction to Nicodemus was a little strange. What does the rebirth have to do with what Nicodemus had said to Jesus? Actually, everything! As we saw yesterday, Nicodemus did not understand that Jesus was God’s Son, the Saviour. Why not? Surely it was not due to ignorance, was it? He was a spiritual leader among the Jews.
The Lord Jesus reveals Nicodemus’ problem in our text. To truly understand His identity and His work as the Saviour, we must be born again. The rebirth means that the Lord makes dead hearts alive; He grants light to our darkened understanding. He renews our whole life through the power of his Word and Spirit, changing our self-willed nature so we follow after His will. When a child is born, he receives life. Through rebirth, sinners who lie dead in trespasses and sins are made alive unto God. They are given new life through the Holy Spirit. When this happens to you, then you see that the Lord Jesus is the King of heaven. You begin to understand that, because of your sin, you cannot enter into that Kingdom; you can only be saved through the Lord Jesus’ work. He alone is the way of salvation. Do not rest, therefore, until you know Him in His saving work!
Thought: Do you think it is necessary to know the hour of your rebirth?
Psalter 438:2,3 (based on Psalm 19) The fear of God is clean, A fountain of serene And everlasting bliss; The judgments of the Lord, Which purest light afford, Are truth and righteousness. More to be sought are they Than gold and silver, yea, More precious far than money; In sweetness they excel The sweetness that well From honey comb and honey. God’s law, a perfect whole, Is saving to the soul, And every secret tries. His testimony sure, Which ever shall endure, Will make the simple wise. His statutes, right and true, Rejoice the heart anew And show the Lord’s salvation; His pure commands have lent Mine eyes enlightenment In all my meditation.