In this session, we talk about the very first step into the kingdom of God. Be born again!

Many believers have shared the good news of God with this statement: “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.”  This is what Jesus declared and promised, as found in John 3:16 of the bible.  It can be seen then, that what is required is for us to believe in Jesus.

To believe in Jesus, is to become like him in our values and perspectives.

To believe in Jesus, is to imitate him in his life.

To believe in Jesus, is to obey his teachings.

For example, a critically ill man, desperate for his life, will listen and follow carefully, all the instructions given him, by the doctor he believes in. In the same way, if we believe in Jesus, we will follow very carefully, all that he had taught us, and shown us from his life.

As we try to understand this crucial statement in the conversation that it was found in, we take a look at the beginning of John 3:1-5.  We discover that this dialogue started when a very prominent man looked for Jesus.  This man, Nicodemus, was well-versed in the word of God.  He was also a member of the local people’s ruling council.  He was a respected and influential leader of the community.

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.”  Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked.  “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”

Dear friends, believing in Jesus is a journey that can only begin when we are born again.  It is a relationship that totally transforms, and the new creation in Christ can only be described as ‘born again’.  Being born again is crucial and the secret into a living relationship with God!

Have you seen the life cycle of a butterfly?  It goes from an egg, to a caterpillar, to a pupa, then to a butterfly.

Imagine if we were caterpillars, and are surrounded by other caterpillars.  If we have not known any butterflies, we might think that this is how we will always look like; how we will always move; leaves are what we will always eat and long for.  We will never change, and might have come to accept and embrace our looks and lifestyle.  In fact, when we have grown to be the biggest, we may even have pride, as we feel like we are the kings of caterpillars, and may not want to move from that position.  It is only when we truly understand and know that we have to grow into a butterfly, may we desire to progress.  Then to discover that to be transformed, we have to go through a ‘dreadful’ pupa process—it looks like building ourselves a coffin, and dying.  It is only with faith, conviction and commitment that we are prepared to deny ourselves, carry our cross and follow Jesus.  After a few days of seeming death, we are reborn, totally transformed into a butterfly!

Similarly, a believer has to go through a process of continuous dying to his former desires and patterns of life that he can progress in transformation, and be totally changed.  A butterfly does not look at all like a caterpillar. 

It was once fat and dull, now it is light and colourful.  Neither does it move or eat like a caterpillar.  Instead of crawling and squirming, it now flies. 

Its appetite and diet have changed.  Instead of gorging on leaves, it now sips on nectar. 

Its values and mission are different.  Instead of ensuring its own survival, it now has a higher purpose of pollinating flowers, and adding beauty to the gardens, contributing to the world.

Likewise, a believer of Jesus enters the kingdom of God when he is born again.

He will be transformed, his mind will be renewed, and his values and desires will change from a focus on himself, to a focus on others.  His purpose will grow from his survival instincts to contribution to the world; from what he can get, to what he can give.

The whole process of consistent repentance, or of dying to what is against God, is what being born of water symbolizes.  It is not a one-time repentance for one-time ritual of baptism, but it is a lifetime of casting off what so easily entangles and entraps us.

The other process of being born of the Spirit, consists of a relentless pursuit of God and His glory.  It is a new life in the spirit, and that is what we are doing in this series—looking at the fundamentals of this spirit life.

Let’s look at Nicodemus’ response to Jesus’ revelation.  Nicodemus starts with a statement of believe in Jesus: “We know that you are teacher who has come from God.  For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”  Many of us also have this first step of believing in Jesus.

What comes next is a step of faith from this belief.  When we are required to take the next step of faith in obedience to God, will we also respond as how Nicodemus did then?

Do we think that we are too old?

Do we think that it might be impossible because we are born the way we are?

Or do we think that believing in Christ requires no steps of faith?  That no obedience, change, or faith, is required from us?

A living relationship with God is an exciting adventure in experiencing God’s love for us, and also His power to change us.

When we think that we are too old or too impossible to change, too hopeless for God to do anything, that would in fact be denying God’s power.

When we are reborn to live abundantly, the first step is to believe that God can change you.  Not just our surroundings, our situation or what we have or not have; but rather believe in God’s ability to change us, and from that change, our world will change.

As you journey with me through the next 11 sessions, we will discover insights into 11 fundamentals of life.

See you at the next session! Have a blessed day!