Why Should I Read the Bible? How Can I Be Born Again?
When someone speaks about being "born again" we usually think of someone who has had a strong, often mystical religious experience, that they can they can testify to. Sometimes others who haven't had such an experience wonder if they are "really" born again?
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, presumably for fear of being seen with him. Jesus was not the most popular guy with the Jews at the time. Nicodemus addresses him as teacher/rabbi, and asks how he can perform the signs/miracles he does. Then Jesus tells him in order to participate in God's kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven, he must be born again. Nicodemus really doesn't know what Jesus is talking about, and asks how a person can be physically born a second time. Jesus lets him know this is a spiritual rebirth, not a natural one. Nicodemus still doesn't get it. At this point Jesus wonders if Nicodemus is a teacher why he doesn't know about the coming of the Holy Spirit. You see the Old Testament foresees the coming of the Spirit on all people In the books of Joel and Ezekiel.
What hit me was how important it is to have teachers who not only have a teaching gift, but also know the word of God. Just as you would want your your son or daughter to have a math teacher who knew math. You would want your bible teacher to know the bible. And not just the New Testament, but also the Old Testament. If someone only teaches in the New Testament, they miss the entire context of many of the signs, metaphors and history from which the New Testament emerged. Also all of Paul's letters are written with an eye to the inclusion of the Gentiles to the Church, and what that meant for the Jews. Obviously many of the Jewish rabbis did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, thus rejecting all the prophecies about him in the Old Testament.
So where are you getting your teaching? As a believer you should know your bible. You should read through it on an ongoing basis. You should be able to explain the basic message of the Gospel of Jesus if someone were to ask you, "(name), why are you a Christian? And we should understand two basic truths about the whole bible. One, the purpose of the bible, Old and New Testament, is to lead people to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Second, as we read, meditate and memorize the bible it is a faithful, reliable guide for all matters in life and faith. Most of our important decisions in life will be guided by the clear message and teaching of the bible. For instance, most issues related to morality are covered in the Ten Commandments. If we are looking for a clearer explanation of how God's kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven, and how we can lead a kingdom life, Jesus gives us the Sermon on the Mount. Finally, realize that our actions guided by God's a Word under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Good works don't earn us salvation, but they are inspired by it. Simply put, we are saved to serve and lead others to Christ.
In the end being "born again", is being "born of God". We are born of God when we believe and are baptized and receive the power of the Holy Spirit. We are "born again" when God adopts us as his sons and daughters. God chooses us before we chose Him. This is what Nicodemus was ultimately looking for, and fortunately he found it. I hope you find it to, if you are looking for it!
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d] 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, presumably for fear of being seen with him. Jesus was not the most popular guy with the Jews at the time. Nicodemus addresses him as teacher/rabbi, and asks how he can perform the signs/miracles he does. Then Jesus tells him in order to participate in God's kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven, he must be born again. Nicodemus really doesn't know what Jesus is talking about, and asks how a person can be physically born a second time. Jesus lets him know this is a spiritual rebirth, not a natural one. Nicodemus still doesn't get it. At this point Jesus wonders if Nicodemus is a teacher why he doesn't know about the coming of the Holy Spirit. You see the Old Testament foresees the coming of the Spirit on all people In the books of Joel and Ezekiel.
What hit me was how important it is to have teachers who not only have a teaching gift, but also know the word of God. Just as you would want your your son or daughter to have a math teacher who knew math. You would want your bible teacher to know the bible. And not just the New Testament, but also the Old Testament. If someone only teaches in the New Testament, they miss the entire context of many of the signs, metaphors and history from which the New Testament emerged. Also all of Paul's letters are written with an eye to the inclusion of the Gentiles to the Church, and what that meant for the Jews. Obviously many of the Jewish rabbis did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, thus rejecting all the prophecies about him in the Old Testament.
So where are you getting your teaching? As a believer you should know your bible. You should read through it on an ongoing basis. You should be able to explain the basic message of the Gospel of Jesus if someone were to ask you, "(name), why are you a Christian? And we should understand two basic truths about the whole bible. One, the purpose of the bible, Old and New Testament, is to lead people to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Second, as we read, meditate and memorize the bible it is a faithful, reliable guide for all matters in life and faith. Most of our important decisions in life will be guided by the clear message and teaching of the bible. For instance, most issues related to morality are covered in the Ten Commandments. If we are looking for a clearer explanation of how God's kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven, and how we can lead a kingdom life, Jesus gives us the Sermon on the Mount. Finally, realize that our actions guided by God's a Word under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Good works don't earn us salvation, but they are inspired by it. Simply put, we are saved to serve and lead others to Christ.
In the end being "born again", is being "born of God". We are born of God when we believe and are baptized and receive the power of the Holy Spirit. We are "born again" when God adopts us as his sons and daughters. God chooses us before we chose Him. This is what Nicodemus was ultimately looking for, and fortunately he found it. I hope you find it to, if you are looking for it!
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d] 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
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