Born Again

“Born again” is not a term that is bandied about often in the Bible. In fact, it is only used twice in the New Testament, only once by Jesus. The first is In John 3, in a discussion with a man called Nicodemus.
“Nicodemus” is probably an alias. It means “ruler of the people.” He was one of the most powerful religious and social leaders in Israel, visited Jesus alone by night. He visited by night, because he did not want anyone to see him going to Jesus. He was an honest man, but not a brave one. He began with a startling admission. “We know you are from God, for no one can do the miracles you do if you were not from God.”
Notice he says “we” not “I.” Today, we would call him a whistle-blower. Some on the Sanhedrin secretly believed Jesus was from God—at least a prophet, possibly the Messiah.
Nicodemus did not ask for anything. Perhaps he was letting Jesus know that he could be of use. Nicodemus’ power and influence could keep Jesus out of trouble. It’s always helpful to have friends in high places.
Jesus is not impressed. Instead, he said, “You must be born again.” Jesus does not care that he is a ruler of the people. He does not care that he believed He was from God. Not even belief is enough unless we are born again.
People want change, but how much change do we really want? When a person sets out to change his or her life, there are three levels of change.
First, there is refocus and redirection. They don’t want to change much, just change a little. Most everything remains the same. They say, “You know, maybe I should pray more
or “Maybe I should start back to church,” or “maybe I should straighten up a bit.”
That’s how most people see religion--just cleaning what is already there. They get rid of their worst traits, treat each other nicer, clean up their language and kick nasty habits, but they don’t change much beyond that.
Or maybe it’s reformation we need—to reform or and rearrange. We rearrange the furniture of our lives, and things look new. But we are still made from the same stuff we’ve always been.
I knew a man once who had been a radical in the Sixties. He marched in the peace marches, demonstrated against the war, wore long hair and love beads—the whole hippy scene. Then he changed and became a conservative. He marched in antiabortion marches, demonstrated against high taxes, and wore short hair and a necktie. But he had not changed. He was the same radical he always was. He took the same pieces and reformed them into a different shape.
But Jesus did not talk about redirection or reformation. He talked about regeneration--a life change so complete that you are not the same person.
“Born again” was not a new term to the Jews. It was used for a Gentile but wanted to become a Jew.
Maimonedes, the twelfth century Jewish philosopher, summarized what the ancient rabbis said about this process.
“By three things did Israel enter into the Covenant: by circumcision, and baptism and sacrifice. When a gentile is willing to enter the covenant…He must be circumcised and be baptized and bring a sacrifice…And at this time when there is no sacrifice, they must be circumcised and be baptized; and when the Temple shall be built, they are to bring a sacrifice…The gentile that is made a proselyte and the slave that is made free, behold he is like a child new born."
There were three steps—circumcision, baptism, and sacrifice. It was only done to the male head of the family. He was baptized in the nude. Every hair of his head was shaved off. Then he was given a new name, to indicate he had become a new person.
John the Baptist redefined this Jewish ritual. He made Jews do it. John was saying that you can be religious and rotten at the same time. You must start all over again as a new person.
Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to be baptized, but to be born again. If he had asked Nicodemus to be baptized he would probably have done it. But it would just be one more expression of his “superior” piety. Jesus didn’t want him to simply be baptized a new person. He actually wanted him to be a new person.
What does it mean to be born again?
It means that we don’t want our old lives any more.
We are creatures of habit. We like things to remain the same. Old habits give us a sense of control. We like to know what’s coming. It makes us feel we are in control.
Because we like regularity, we learn to live with imperfection. If our lives are not what they once thought they should be, we don’t let it bother us. If our lives are less than perfect, we on’t care, as long as they are steady and predictable.
In the old days, when chickens were taken to the market, they tied their legs together. When they cut the chickens loose, they would lay on the ground as if their legs were still tied. They may not have liked having their legs tied, but once they got used to it, they thought itw as always supposed to be that way. Like those chickens, we have settled into habits and mindsets that do us no good. They may in fact be killing us, but as long as they are predictable, we don’t care.
It means we give up control to the Spirit.
When we are born again, the first thing to go is our sense of control. We have to rely on someone else to save us. We revert to being babies before God, A baby does not mind being controlled by others, as long that that other is a loving mother and father. We start over, nurtured by a new parental figure—God.
The enemy of our salvation is not the Devil but ourselves. True faith ends when we try harder or work harder, trying to master our own fate.
If someone asks you if you are a Christian, or if you are born again, how do you answer? Some say “I try to be,” Have you ever tried to be a puppy? You either are one or you aren’t-- trying has nothing to do with it. We must be born that way. Just so, you must be born again as a Christian, It is not something you aspire to. It is something that comes when we cease to try, and allow God full control.
Nicodemus could not understand this “How can a man be born again when he is old?” He took Jesus literally instead of figuratively. But Jesus corrected him
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth,no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'
We are born of water--the waters of birth. We come out of our mother’s womb wet. When we are born again we are born in the Spirit. We come out wet with the Spirit.
Baptism is an act of the flesh, not the Spirit. Joining a church, quitting smoking and drinking, keeping ourselves pure are all good, but they are not the Spirit. They are byproducts of it. We need new birth in the Holy Spirit.
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."
We are reborn like a feather on the wind. We do not control, we are controlled by Him. We cannot tell the reasons why God puts us here—where the wind came from. Neither can we tell our destination—where the wind goes to. We ride the Spirit like a surfer on a wave or a gull on the air.
It is to be enfolded into the life of Christ.
"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?
1 tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven — the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
We die in Christ. This seems harsh, but we must understand. We are not the first to die. Jesus died before us. He went to the cross on our behalf. He lost his will, his power, his blood so that our birth might be possible.
Because we live, we can live with him.
When Jesus uses an illustration that he new Nicodemus would know. He referred to an Old Testament story—Num 21:4-9. The Israelites complained about the uncertainty and the quality of their food. God punished them by sending snakes to bite them. But as soon as the presented the illness, He also presented the cure. If they would only look up one more time at a bronze serpent on the pole, they would live. Some refused to look and died. But for every one who looked up, they were given a new life.
Jesus said He is the serpent on the pole. His own death would be the sign.
This is a difficult treacherous world. It is too treacherous, in fact for us to walk through u unguarded. We will all fall. In fact, we have all fallen. We are like pigs in a pig trough None of us can boast that there is no mud on us.
But if we look at Jesus, there is a cure. In Him, we can have new life, not be caught in an old one. He is the answer to all our needs and our longings. He is the bronze serpent put on a pole to remind us of the one who made the serpent.
But it is not a serpent on a pole. This a man on at cross. Our sins became His sins. His death became our death. His resurrection became our invitation to be born again. Jesus represented us in death so that He could represent us in live. In this ultimate act of sacrifice. He became our Savior and we became born again.