The story of Jesus and Nicodemus reinforces John’s themes that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God and that He came to offer salvation to all who would believe. Jesus’ ability to know men’s hearts points to an unmistakable evidence of His deity. Jesus also presented God the Father’s ordained plan of salvation to Nicodemus, showing that He was God’s messenger, whose redemptive work would bring about the promised salvation to his people. Being born is first a matter of the physical. Being born again is most definitely a matter of the spiritual. The new birth must be appropriated by an act of believing faith. This is more than mere intellectual assent to the claims of the Gospel. It includes trust and commitment to Christ as Lord and Savior, which will result in a new nature that produces a change of heart and mind and will result in obedience to the Lord. After you are born physically, you have to be born again spiritually. If not, you will not only die physically (which we all will), but you will also die spiritually in a place called hell. God is rich in mercy and desires to forgive, but He will not force your hand. Come today to the living water of Jesus Christ and drink deeply. He always satisfies!
Questions for further thought: 1. How can I know for sure I have been born again? 2. When will I confess and forsake my sin and put my trust in Christ alone as the basis for my forgiveness? Challenge: Seek God’s guidance in this matter and He will give you clarity of thought. Our God is a God of order and not the author of confusion.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorThis devotional is written every week by Hillcrest members. Archives
November 2024
Receive this devotional in your inbox every Monday - Friday.
|