There is no doubt that as we read scripture, we always come across the core principle of what a Christian is. To have faith in, to live by, to surrender all things to God without exception, and most importantly to have the spirit of God within us. Then as we discover in our journey that indeed without Christ we have nothing, we all are in need of growth. Theologian Karl Barth once stated “All Christians, no matter how wise and mature, retain their amateur status.” In other words, none of us ever gets to be so knowledgeable about Christ that we have no need to start over, go back to square one, and be born again.
John Sala who resided in Miami, Fl, had reached the end of the line. Twenty-two arrests in his life that included everything from assault to theft, and eventually to murder. Theres no doubt John had very little to live for. While being sent to prison, he learned from a prison chaplain about the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As time progressed, John surrendered his life to God while still behind iron bars. Every opportunity John had to learn about Christ he took it. He listened to every bible teacher the prison allowed, read every book and bible verse, and he even gained the trust of the warden to organize cassette tapes with recordings of the messages of hope that help change his life so other could learn as well. John stated in an interview, “God was birthing something new in me. Before I wanted to take, now I want to give, love, encourage and nurture.” In 1983, John served his time and was released from prison while declaring he would never return again. Driven by this new birthing spirit of Christ, John married his new wife Eileen and they started a ministry called Little Lambs with the sole mission of loving inmates into the family of God. It gave prisoners hope along with family connections while helping to satisfy their agonizing souls. John wrote a book called “I’m not coming back!” which thousands of copies are in the hands of inmates around the country, and even though John knew their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual pain, John’s testimony was nothing less than inspiring while stating “With this new birthing spirit, I have no reason to go back!”
The subject of our spirit is a very a serious business. As we re-read the scripture lesson of a conversation that took place between Jesus and a very prominent and well-educated religious leader, Nicodemus, I would like for you to ask yourself this question. As a Christian, am I growing, or am I just getting by?
Starting at verse 3. Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again [reborn] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
No doubt, Jesus’s words are very mysterious and cryptic to Nicodemus, even though, Nicodemus was well versed in scripture. Nicodemus had the desire to learn and grow more in God. He ultimately feared to be seen talking to Jesus which may explain why he went in the cover of darkness to talk to Jesus. Why did he seek Jesus out? You see friends, our birthing spirit that we are seeing in this event tells us when God’s spirit is involved in our lives, even when our knowledge is lacking and our faith is slim, God is always working. Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.” This implies that no matter what, God is always behind the scenes of those who seek, believe, serve and call God their personal savior. IF we have been born of the spirit, the Holy Spirit, we shall experience the effects of God in his most honorable and miraculous ways! In verse 3 Jesus simply implies here that unless you are born again [reborn], you will not enter or see the kingdom of God. This friends is what I want to focus on this morning. Can you call yourself a growing Christian, or are you just getting by? Are you flourishing or stagnant? Nobody here, including me, ever gets too knowledgeable about faith, so adept at living by faith, that we are no longer depending upon the Holy spirit to give us faith, no longer have need to be born again, turned upside down, inside out, from top to bottom. We are to be born again! The word again used here in Greek, anothen, means again or from above, born again, born from above! Nicodemus, like us today, has to be willing for our entire presumptive world to be overturned if we are to inherit Gods free gift of eternal life. Without a new birth, born again spirit, we have no chance! None! Quite literally we would be dead men and women walking around the earth without any hope! 2 Corinthians 5 tells us “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
The born-again spirit means there has been a genuine change, a genuine growth in Christ. This is where our baptism comes in. Our baptism that we take with an external expression as a result of an internal decision displays for all to see and witness to, God has indeed saved us! Romans 6 tells us “ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” 1 Peter, “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Being born again friends is a serious business, not to be ignored. Now I know your asking yourselves this morning the question, how can this be so important, yet so hard to do and understand? How can I live a righteous life, be changed spiritually, become more tuned to God, change my sinful ways, even though I’m possibly living in Sin and not even realizing it; thinking how much I would have to give up doing it! What family or friends I will have to lose because of my decision to follow Christ! Let me first say we cannot fully understand God and His ways because it cannot be understood, it must be believed. We would not have any confidence in any god, let alone Jesus the Christ if we fully understood it all and all His ways. How can we live a righteous life? It’s all done by doing and living with belief and faith! Our spirit is not designed to just survive in sin, but to thrive in God’s likeness; Gods spirit—to grow and be nurtured. In this we quickly learn that to follow Christ, comes at a cost! Stepping outside our comfort zone with faith! Our salvation wasn’t free as we were bought for a price.
Inclosing, I want you to try and regard these words this morning friends as being so vitally important that if you even have a whisper of doubt that you are not sure about your salvation, not sure that you are truly born again, not sure that God has saved you, not sure if the life you are living is of Sin or of God, you cannot afford to wait! It can be taken care of right at this very moment! The prophet Ezekiel tells us I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and follow My ordinances. Yes, it is possible for God to deliver us from our sins! Christ has already done it on the Cross. What we have to do, is accept it by faith and be born-again! Follow Christ, accept Him openly and genuinely. Romans tells us “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
I am reminded from the prophet Isaiah where God was searching and seeking someone out to do His work in spreading Gods words of life, love and salvation. “I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said, Here am I, send me!” This is God’s spirit working in the life of a believer! We are Christs and Christ lives in us! When God out and asks, “who can I send? We most assuredly could step up and say, “Here am I, send me!”
Is there a nagging emotion, feeling or pain that is just lingering on and on about your faith, your life with Christ? A scratch that cannot be satisfied? You do not have to wait any longer! Come to Christ this morning, just where you are! Surrender all things to Christ! His promise is everlasting, and our life shall be eternal in heaven.
I have no plans to embarrass anyone of you, but I tell you this, Jesus tells us in Luke, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels.” [James Play] In your seat, where you are seated, if you desire, if you seek Christ like Nicodemus did, if you want a new birthing spirit of growth, bow your heads, close your eyes and silently pray this prayer with me.
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that Christ did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in your holy presence. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, only with your strength, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank you that I can face death now that you are my Savior. Help me make my old ways be gone, and create in me a new spirit. If I am living a life of sin, give me strength to change. If I am not where I need to be, guide me to the new pastures. Let this be my solemn obligation, my genuine effort of repentance and trust, to whom I owe everything too, that is in Christ Jesus my Risen Lord and personal savior, as I will always know and remember, you will walk with me through the deepest valleys. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
As you remain seated, open to the Hymn Just AS I am, first and last verse! IF you desire to come forward and pray, please come, I will pray with you! Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel, your Lord and Savior. SO let us sing…