The Good and the Best

Rev. Enoch Thompson | February 13, 2024 | John 3:1-3

KEY VERSE:

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

It is true that in the course of life, we often settle for the good when we can and should strive after the best. This is a fault and a failure in all aspects of life. It is a worse offence when it has to do with our approach to the matters touching our relationship with God, and the matters of our soul.

Nicodemus approached the Lord Jesus Christ with a nice citation, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." John 3:2 (NIV). Those were very true and beautiful things to say about the powerful preacher and miracle-worker from Galilee. But the response of the Lord to the praises Nicodemus showered shows how much we need to attend to the deeper matters of our soul issues.

In His response to Nicodemus the Lord Jesus introduces the theme and concept of the new birth; "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." The weightier matters of the new birth outweighed the religious flattery of the patting of the back of each other in a religious environment of the Jewish religion that had lost its intended power of transformation of the professing believers.

Today we are patting each other’s back on the sizes of our church buildings, the numbers in our congregations, our church attendance, our titles, and our positions, while much of Christianity has lost the vital transforming power of holiness and genuine love. Our spirits are dull to God and our hearts are dead to our fellows. The good must give way to better, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

What kind of Christianity are you practising, a dead formal, lifeless form of worship, or a vibrant walk with God which shows in godliness and true love for others? Are you a religionist without a personal faith in the saving grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ? "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

PRAYER:

Lord, please help me to see the best and the best in you only, to pursue it and to experience it. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

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DAILY word study: BORN AGAIN In John 3:3, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the concept of being "born again." This phrase has become central to Christian theology, representing a spiritual rebirth or transformation.

The Greek phrase used here is "γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν" (gennēthē anōthen), which can be translated as "born again" or "born from above." The word "γεννηθῇ" (gennēthē) is derived from the root word "γεννάω" (gennáō), which means "to be born" or "to be begotten." The term "ἄνωθεν" (anōthen) can mean both "again" and "from above," implying a spiritual birth that originates from heaven or God.

The concept of being born again is not unique to this passage but is found throughout the New Testament. It signifies a profound spiritual transformation experienced by individuals who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It involves repentance, faith, and the reception of the Holy Spirit, resulting in a new life characterized by righteousness and obedience to God's will. In 1 Peter 1:3, believers are described as being "born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." In Titus 3:5, Paul writes about the "washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit," indicating the spiritual rebirth that occurs through God's grace.

Being born again is not merely a metaphorical expression but a profound spiritual reality. It involves a radical change of heart and mind, a turning away from sin, and a surrender to God's will. It signifies a new beginning, a fresh start in one's relationship with God, and the beginning of a journey of spiritual growth and transformation.

Reflections:

Have you experienced the new birth that comes from believing in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? How has this spiritual transformation impacted your life and relationship with God?