Face to Face with New Life

Much of my life was not spent in living an abundant life in Christ. Sure, I thought that I had a life. Sure, I thought it was eternal. But I had never really sat face to face with Jesus. In fact, I had spent much of my time running in the opposite direction. New life wasn’t something I grasped.

The most well-known verse in the Bible, John 3:16, was something I could rattle off of my tongue in my sleep. But like the man Jesus was talking to in these verses, I didn’t quite grasp the love, the life eternal, and the new life that is offered by Jesus.

So There Was a Man

And there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. John 3:1 (BLB)

This man was not just any man of the synagogue, he was a ruler He was a Pharisee and a lawyer. If disputes are to be made among the rulers, these are the men that are gathered. We see Nicodemus appear later in requesting Jesus get due process of the law in John 7.

He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:2 (BSB)

I can completely relate to Nicodemus in the verses. Sadly, I lived much of my life ashamed to come out in the light of day to know Jesus. I think if we are honest, as believers, we often struggle with the people around us knowing we want to know Jesus more or even that we know Him at all.

Jesus is Personal

What I love about this interaction between Jesus and Nicodemus is that I can picture, Jesus, sitting right up close with someone who has to come in the cloak of darkness to Him more. Jesus seeks a personal intimate relationship with each of us and this man was no different.

Jesus got personal with Nicodemus. Nicodemus was not condemned for his late night covert operation. Jesus welcomed him into a conversation about who He truly is.

Nicodemus had one understanding of God at this point in his life. He knew access to God was limited through the vail. He most certainly would have known that God had not been present behind that vail for hundreds of years. To be up close and personal with someone who he believed was with God had to be astonishing.

Jesus’ signs and miracles were evidence of who He was. Nicodemus knew these signs pointed Him in the direction he wanted to understand more. Although Nicodemus came in the dark of the night, he had a purpose to understand his own soul. And without hesitation, he jumps right into this subject.

Born Again

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (NLT)

This is a very interesting statement. It baffles Nicodemus. What is Jesus talking about? Born again? How could he go back into his mother’s womb?

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. John  3:5 (NLT)

Jesus gives us all hope in this one phrase. He tells Nicodemus, “I assure you”. If you have ever questioned your faith, questioned if God is who He says, questioned Jesus and His authority. You can take ahold of verses such as this. Share on XChrist assures us. We can know whether we can enter the kingdom of God or not. Without believing in Christ and putting our trust in Him, repenting, and accepting his gift of salvation, we cannot enter heaven.

Born again does not mean we go back to being an infant in our mother’s womb. We know that is not happening. Jesus tells Nicodemus if you don’t understand earthly things (going back to your mother’s womb) how are you going to understand things of heaven.

Heavenly things — because Christ died for us on the cross, we can be born into new life with Him. the new life or new beginning is of the Spirit.

I Just Don’t Know

I have to be honest, there are somethings in my faith that I just don’t know and understand. That does not make them any less credible or believable. It just makes my trust in Christ stretch farther.

Although we would like a clear explanation of how the moving of the Spirit works, Jesus continues on in verse 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.” John 3:8 (NIV)

I cannot explain about the day I received Christ as Savior. Having come to the realization that I was a sinner in need of a Savior and to be with Jesus in heaven I needed to admit my sin, ask for forgiveness, and ask Jesus to come and live inside me.

I cannot explain the things that the Spirit was doing in me to make this decision. I don’t know how the Spirit operates in this manner. But I can be confident that He does. I can be assured of my Salvation as a result of Him breathing new life into me. And I can have blessed assurance that one day, I will get to see Jesus face to face.

Great Love

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)

This verse is a cornerstone in the Christian faith. Yet, it’s so drastic, that it seems unreal.

This is not a love that we know by any other name. Sacrificial, never-ending, unfailing love. That God would send His one and only Son, to save an undeserving sinful wretched soul such as myself. To take the punishment that I deserve and lay it on His Son so I can breath new life.

I can see why the Christian faith seems so unbelievable. This kind of love has its own name. It is the name Jesus.

Jesus went to the cross for my sins and yours. He was placed on heaven's alter and sacrificed in our place. Share on XI have to admit, I don’t know many people that I would take a punch for, let alone willingly lay down my life.

Yet some 2000 years ago, Jesus did exactly that.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

For my sins, He allowed Himself to be beaten, slapped in the face, and spit upon. A crown of glory that was meant to mock Him will one day bring me into glory. He was speared, nailed, and hung to die on a tree on Calvary’s Hill.

For me.

For you.

No, I can’t explain it but I can claim it. Christ assures us it is for us to take and when we do, we may enter the kingdom of God.

Choose New Life

Dear Friends, if you have not made the decision to accept Christ as your personal Savior, don’t hesitate. The Bible says one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord. The decision is not if but when. The decision has both immediate and eternal impact.

If you have not made that decision, I would love to talk with you further. I don’t want you to miss the breath of new life that can penetrate your soul. Life of the Spirit. One that can not be obtained by any human effort or achievement. One ordained only by God Himself.

If you would like to further learn how you can make a decision to accept Christ, here is a great resource. PeaceWithGod.net

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