It Might Surprise You To Know #1
DISCLAIMER:
These explanations are not necessarily the views and opinions of all or even any on the Bold Grace Team other than myself. (Geo)
1. I believe: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again"
How were you taught that this happens? I was taught that the way a person is born again is they hear the message of the cross preached and they respond to it by saying some type of sinner’s prayer and accepting Jesus into their heart as personal Lord & Savior. Now while that may sound reasonable could anyone tell me where to look to find such a belief? Do you remember Jesus only explanation as to how to be “born again”? He said, “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." WHAT?!!!! Being “born again” is like the wind? Wait a minute Jesus I thought I had to accept you and make You my “personal Lord & Savior” in order to be born again? Also did Jesus say that unless you are born again you will not be redeemed and spend eternity with The Father and me? NO! Read it again, He said,
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” Let me ask you, “Do you see the kingdom of God today? If not then according to Jesus you have not been born again. If you are going to ask me, “Geo, do you see the kingdom of God on earth today?” My answer is a resounding YES! The whole earth screams of His Glory and Majesty on a daily basis. The wars, the killings, the rapes, the murders, the drunks, the prostitutes, the pimps, the abused, the abusers, the faithful, the faithless, the church, the Jews, the Muslims, the Christians, the Hindus, the lawless, the lawful, the Grace filled, the ungraceful, the hater, the lover, the mean, the kind, the black, the yellow, the white, the brown, the red, the poor, the rich, the powerless, the powerful, the smart, the not so smart (that’s me) the able bodied, the handicapped, death and life they all scream of His Glorious Redemption that is in Christ Jesus to me. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (Jn. 3) So again how is a person “born of the spirit” what must one do in order to be “born of the spirit”?
NOTHING! According to the Apostle Paul.
Paul said in his book to the Ephesians :
“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)—But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
Did you read that? HE made the two groups, Jews & Gentiles ONE by taking them into His body on the Cross. You may well ask, “Geo so what? What does that have to do with all being born of the Spirit”? It has EVERYTHING to do with being “born of the Spirit”! In God’s economy at the time Paul wrote that there were only two kinds of people, The Jews who represented Believing and The Gentiles who represented the Unbelieving. It says He, Jesus took both Jew (believer) and Gentile (unbeliever) into His body making the two groups ONE NEW MAN/WOMAN and abolishing in His own flesh the dividing wall of hostility. And when He died on the Cross ALL of mankind died. When He was put into the grave who was in His body according to the Apostle Paul? ALL of mankind both Jew (believer) and Gentile (unbeliever). And when He rose again who was in His body according to the Apostle Paul? Both Jew (believer) and Gentile (unbeliever) ALL of mankind. And when He ascended into Heaven who ascended into Heaven with Him according to the Apostle Paul? Both Jew (believer) and Gentile (unbeliever). And as He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven who sits with Him according to the Apostle Paul? Both Jew (believer) and Gentile (unbeliever). You see folks your belief or unbelief does not make something true or false. But your belief about something will have a cause and effect in your life here in this earthly realm. Your born again and all of creations born again experience happened 2008 years ago in the body of Jesus Christ. Again Paul refers to it in this way, “As in Adam ALL die, In Christ ALL Live”!
Enjoy The Kingdom Today
Peace
Geo
Well said, Geo!
I like to tell people, “Jesus said we must be born again, and you know what? WE WERE! We were all born again in the body of Christ! That is the power of the Cross! With Christ, we were all made dead with Him, and all made alive with Him (born again)! Unfortunately, some don’t realize what happened to all humanity on the Cross. They still think being ‘born again’ is something that happens because of something they do. How sad! But, ‘how glorious’ for those who do awaken to the fact that the work of the Cross of Christ benefited them greatly!… with new life!… forever!”
Good post. Jesus was most definitely speaking of the event of the cross when he was saying these words to Nicodemus. And the same way that Nicodemus couldn’t understand what He meant by those words, the “church” (or what the world calls the church) does not understand it either. It is not something we do but something that has been done already and all of mankind was included in the event as you plainly pointed out in your post. Looking forward to reading the rest of your views on “it might surprise you to know”
Roy
Bruce,
I wholeheartedly agree!
Roy,
Good to see you! This thing of the completed work being done has the power to change all of the world. And I am so glad we have you as a friend that understands Roy!
Peace
Geo
Hi Geo! I appreciate your taking the time to explain this so clearly to me/us. I am rather methodical by nature, and it is helpful to have things discussed in a point-by-point fashion like this. Makes it more understandable for me.
Hi Connie
I am never sure if what I write makes sense to others as my ability to write what I think is poor. I just hope it is coherent? I know I tend to ramble and get off point in my writing and in my thoughts.
Thanks again for staying around and for all of your thoughts and comments here on Bold Grace.
Peace
Geo
“being born again is like the wind”
I love this phrase, having freed my mind from literalizing the scriptures I can embrace these words of the fully human Jesus in a brand new way, naturally being “born of the flesh” (you know its funny how religion looks at this so negatively) is simply that, a coming into this world through the seeds of mother and father (the traditional line of thinking is that the fathers seed is “planted” into the womb and the child is simply “housed” there, modern understanding accepts the fact the child is as much a product of the mother as is the father - the DNA of the child is from both mother and father, what I love about this is the barrier this breaks in the understanding of Jesus himself - he is a product of his birth mother as much as he was to his birth father)
As we consider Jesus’ words of being born again, and that in order to see the kingdom of God one must go through this process - very relative term here, the spiritual birth he is referring to here is quite amazing really, especially in the context to the listeners of his day, their lives were ruled by the Torah (do good get good do bad get beat- Mike Williams phrase), the understanding of the Jews as Gods chosen so on and so forth, here is this “new thinker” Jesus from Nazareth talking about loving others and expressing this through ones life, think of the good Samaritan, remember is was the common way, the law even, for Jews to totally have nothing to do with these “half breed abominations”, here is Jesus breaking the rules and telling stories of “good” Samaritans in the same broad stroke exposing the religiously minded self righteousness of some of his own (Jews)
Powerful stuff in context, and this is just one of many. I have come to understand the new birth as an experience, a very profound experience, enough so Jesus uses the term “one must be born again” to express it, he was simply calling out to those who would listen to experience the kingdom of God in a whole new way - one void of tribal identity, one void of considering oneself better than others or as “Gods chosen”, one willing to love wastefully (the good Samaritan). Man I get all excited when I think about this stuff.
Peace out,
Don
Geo, All I can say to this is THANKYOU. It is such a blessing to have you in my life and know we both enjoy such an unbelievable peace together. I’m glad God has shown us both our brotherhood.
I was taught that the way a person is born again is they hear the message of the cross preached and they respond to it by saying some type of sinner’s prayer and accepting Jesus into their heart as personal Lord & Savior. Now while that may sound reasonable could anyone tell me where to look to find such a belief?
So was I. Yet, of course, there is NOTHING in the Bible that says you have to do such a thing. That’s something traditional Christianity conjured up for some reason. His grace and faith already did that.
Born again
Id rather just Live……………
Geo wrote:
“Geo, do you see the kingdom of God on earth today?” My answer is a resounding YES! The whole earth screams of His Glory and Majesty on a daily basis.”
OK, I am with you here first off, because I would say yes I agree, but in agreeing I would be thinking of a sunrise, a sunset, a snowcapped mountain, a new born baby, the joy of falling in love, cultural diversity, people caring for one another etc…
BUT
What do you mean when you say His Glory and Majesty is seen in the wars, the killings, the rapes, the murders?
I don’t get it.
Julia
Just this, that The Bold Grace of God even reaches into those places and Redeemed those people without their belief or Good Works and to me it displays His Majesty in doing do. It displays an AL POWERFUL God who can do what NO MAN would EVER TO!
Peace
Geo
Also Julia saying that only the nice and good things you mention are the only things that display His Majesty is doing what Adam did in the garden. It is eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Man was never suppose to know the difference. ALL declares His Glory both the things you mentioned and the things I mentioned.
Peace
Geo
As Paul said, “world without end, AMEN!”
Good Post!