Nicodemus was one of the ruling Jews at Jesus time and one night he came to Jesus and admitted that the Pharisees knew he was a teacher sent by God. Notice he came to Jesus by night. I imagine in the dark of a moonless night Nicodemus snuck up to Jesus and whispered these words to him: John 3: 1-2 "Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it."
John 3: 3 Jesus said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to—to God's kingdom."
4 "How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born-from-above' talk?"
5-6 Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the 'wind-hovering-over-the-water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it's not possible to enter God's kingdom. When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.
7-8 "So don't be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be 'born from above'—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it's headed next. That's the way it is with everyone 'born from above' by the wind of God, the Spirit of God."
John 3: 3 Jesus said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to—to God's kingdom."
4 "How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born-from-above' talk?"
5-6 Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the 'wind-hovering-over-the-water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it's not possible to enter God's kingdom. When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.
7-8 "So don't be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be 'born from above'—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it's headed next. That's the way it is with everyone 'born from above' by the wind of God, the Spirit of God."
When we accept Jesus as our savior and receive the Holy Spirit we begin the process of being born again. Some of us experience a dramatic rebirth but some of us experience something that takes a lifetime. When I look at my own life I see God's hand in everything except for my sins of course. I see how the Holy Spirit has guided me and moved me a step here and there beyond the defects in my character. I have met other people who experienced this instantly but I do not believe that is the norm. God does use the dramatic but He also uses the gentle to transform us. The development of a human child occurs over a period of time and in most circumstances so does the development of a spiritual child.
Some of us are like a banana once the protective peeling is removed the real us is exposed but most of us are like an onion we have a thin layer protecting what our life experiences has done to us. With an onion once you get past the thin protective layer you find layers and some are thicker than others. Those of us like the onion have layers of life experiences and some have been hurtful and some good. Getting to the heart of the fruit requires cutting through these layers.
I am interested in hearing your story. How did God transform you? Did all of your sins just suddenly disappear? Did you become perfect in a day? or is God molding you as a potter does a piece of clay? His hands moving over the unfinished vase as he removes unwanted areas.
Some of us are like a banana once the protective peeling is removed the real us is exposed but most of us are like an onion we have a thin layer protecting what our life experiences has done to us. With an onion once you get past the thin protective layer you find layers and some are thicker than others. Those of us like the onion have layers of life experiences and some have been hurtful and some good. Getting to the heart of the fruit requires cutting through these layers.
I am interested in hearing your story. How did God transform you? Did all of your sins just suddenly disappear? Did you become perfect in a day? or is God molding you as a potter does a piece of clay? His hands moving over the unfinished vase as he removes unwanted areas.
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