[Jesus said,] "So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'"
— John 3:7
We sometimes fail to realize that Nicodemus is the ultimate good guy — he is the best of the best. He is a religious leader and teacher. He has come to Jesus out of darkness to find light. He has noticed what Jesus has said and done and believes the only way Jesus could do those things is that he has come from God. But knowing and saying the right things about Jesus are not what makes a person a true follower of Jesus, a disciple, a real Christian.
If Nicodemus, the best of the best, has to be "born again," then so do all the rest of us! Being born again is a great essential, a great "have to," that we all must experience. So where are you? Have you been "born of water and the Spirit" (John 3:5)? Have you been born of God? Have you been born again?
Romans 6:14
“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
As we called on Jesus name in baptism and trusted him to be our Savior, we died to sin. In this death, we die to dying and pass from death to life because of our faith in Jesus and in God's power (John 5:24; Col. 2:12). Our life is joined to Jesus, and his glorious future becomes our own (Col. 3:1-4). We are not under law, but grace.
Let's respond to the gift of grace with passion and with zeal to be holy. Let's open ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, who changes us to be like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). We are grace-children. We are not in bondage to sin, but liberated by grace to be all that God ha! s made us to be — his craftmanship (Eph. 2:1-10). Sin will not be our master!
Evangelism
If baptizing into the Holy Spirit is His work, what does it mean? It means that everything to do with Him and with the Gospel should be characterized by fire. It should burn.
Jesus
Many know His name but don’t know Him.
Quote
"Satan watches for those vessels that sail without convoy." - George Swimnock
[Message No: 6484]
— John 3:7
We sometimes fail to realize that Nicodemus is the ultimate good guy — he is the best of the best. He is a religious leader and teacher. He has come to Jesus out of darkness to find light. He has noticed what Jesus has said and done and believes the only way Jesus could do those things is that he has come from God. But knowing and saying the right things about Jesus are not what makes a person a true follower of Jesus, a disciple, a real Christian.
If Nicodemus, the best of the best, has to be "born again," then so do all the rest of us! Being born again is a great essential, a great "have to," that we all must experience. So where are you? Have you been "born of water and the Spirit" (John 3:5)? Have you been born of God? Have you been born again?
Romans 6:14
“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
As we called on Jesus name in baptism and trusted him to be our Savior, we died to sin. In this death, we die to dying and pass from death to life because of our faith in Jesus and in God's power (John 5:24; Col. 2:12). Our life is joined to Jesus, and his glorious future becomes our own (Col. 3:1-4). We are not under law, but grace.
Let's respond to the gift of grace with passion and with zeal to be holy. Let's open ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, who changes us to be like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). We are grace-children. We are not in bondage to sin, but liberated by grace to be all that God ha! s made us to be — his craftmanship (Eph. 2:1-10). Sin will not be our master!
Evangelism
If baptizing into the Holy Spirit is His work, what does it mean? It means that everything to do with Him and with the Gospel should be characterized by fire. It should burn.
Jesus
Many know His name but don’t know Him.
Quote
"Satan watches for those vessels that sail without convoy." - George Swimnock
[Message No: 6484]
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