WRITING:
John 3:7 «Do not be surprised that I said to you, »You must be born again.’”
SUPPORTING VERSES:
John 1:12-13, Ezekiel 36:26-27, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Titus 3:5
MEDITATION
He arrives at church. He's well-dressed. He knows the etiquette, the vocabulary, the hymns. He can quote verses, sometimes even long passages. He grew up in the church. He has always been serious. And yet, with time, a troubling reality emerges: he doesn't have a living relationship with God. He is religious, but he is not born again.
This situation is neither rare nor marginal; it is increasingly visible today. Many people attend evangelical churches without having experienced a true conversion. Some are outwardly very committed but are not converted. Two thousand years after the cross, it is still possible to be deeply religious without truly knowing God.
Nicodemus perfectly embodies this reality for the time of Jesus. A doctor of the law, a pious and respected man, he thought he knew the truth. Yet, when he met Jesus, he discovered that he was missing something essential. He came to see Jesus at night, no doubt out of caution, but also because he felt an inner challenge. Unlike other religious leaders, he sensed that this young rabbi possessed an authority and a truth that still eluded him. But he did not expect what he was about to hear.
Even before Nicodemus could ask his real question, Jesus discerned his deepest need and announced a radical truth to him: «You must be born again.» This expression can also be translated as «born from above.» Nicodemus didn't understand. He reasoned naturally, instinctively. How could a man return to his mother's womb to be born a second time?
Jesus then explained to him that whoever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whoever is born of the Spirit is spirit. There are two distinct births. The first is physical. The second is spiritual. The first brings us into this world. The second brings us into the kingdom of God. It is a passage from death to life, a regeneration brought about by the Spirit of God.
Since then, this truth has had to be explained, again and again. It concerns the “Christians” who, like Nicodemus, confuse religion with a living relationship with God. It also concerns those who mock God, who have rejected the faith, or who live without spiritual guidance.
The Greek word dei, used by Jesus, expresses an absolute necessity. It is neither an option nor an optional step. It is a divine imperative. Every man and woman who wants to know God must undergo the new birth.
When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, our spirit, previously dead, is restored to life. Jesus, who presented himself as the way and the life, imparts his own life to those who believe. The life of God enters us. We become a new creation. This work is complete, inward, supernatural, accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Without this new birth, it is impossible to see or enter the kingdom of God.
Jesus wasn't speaking only to Nicodemus. By using the plural, He was addressing all of humanity. No amount of impeccable morality, sincere piety, or human righteousness can grant access to the kingdom of God. Jesus remains indispensable. The new birth is the direct consequence of faith in Him and in His sacrifice on the cross. It cannot be bypassed or replaced.
The prophet Ezekiel had foretold it centuries before:
«I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you… I will put my Spirit in you.»
Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, should have recognized this promise. That is why Jesus said to him, «You are a teacher of Israel, and you do not understand these things?»
The apostles confirmed this truth. Peter spoke of regeneration through the Word (1 Peter 1:23). John affirmed that those who believe become children of God (John 1:12-13). Paul spoke of the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). All testified to this same reality: without being born again, there is no salvation.
Some will say, «I am a good person; I do no harm to anyone.» But Scripture declares that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Others will say, «I am sincere; I pray; I believe in God.» Nicodemus was also sincere. Yet it was not enough. Even the demons believe—and tremble! Saving faith brings about new birth.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE LOST
They must understand that there is no alternative path. Religious practices, however respectable, do not save. Without the new birth, man remains separated from God, regardless of his apparent sincerity.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US
We must proclaim this truth clearly and courageously, without being intimidated by the religiosity or moral reputation of some individuals. Bringing someone to church is not enough if that person is not born again.
A special message is addressed to parents: it is not enough for children to attend church. It is essential to ensure that they have personally encountered Christ and experienced the new birth.
Let's be clear and faithful: man cannot save himself. Only God, through the new birth, can do so.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
- Identify three people who rely on their goodness or their religion. Write down their names and a simple phrase you could say to them this week to introduce the concept of the new birth.
- What would you say to someone who asks you why and how to be born again? Write down your answer and revise it for simplicity and clarity.
- What personally convinced you that you were born again?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for the new birth you have brought about in me. Thank you for changing my heart and giving me life through your Spirit.
I am once again aware of the importance of the new birth, and I will announce it to everyone. Give me the right words to proclaim this truth with love and clarity, without compromise.
May I see more and more lives transformed, hearts regenerated, and men and women born again through the power of Your Spirit. In the name of Jesus, who is life. Amen.
CONFESSION OF THE DAY
«"The new birth is essential. Religion does not save. I will proclaim this truth with faithfulness and love."»
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