Christ Born Again on a Tuesday
Theology Thursday: Born from Above by the Spirit of Christ
Mark Kreitzer
Scripture speaks about being born from above in several passages. The best known is John iii, which records the Lord'south dialog with the Pharisee, Nicodemus. The other is one Peter i:3. Peter's discussion comes in the context of praise to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here, he uses the give-and-take "born once more," which is a Greek give-and-take made upwards of two parts– "once again" and "beget" or "be built-in."
Peter connects this with the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and our sure living hope of being raised upwardly with him. This seems to be Peter's commentary on Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus. Here, Jesus really uses a term with a double significant that tin either mean "built-in from above" or "exist born a second fourth dimension."
Nicodemus did not sympathize what Jesus was saying and idea he had to re-enter his mother'due south womb to be born a second time (John 3:four). Jesus gently corrected him every bit a "instructor of Israel" and went on to explain that he meant beingness born from in a higher place by the Spirit of the living God. Nicodemus should take connected the Messiah with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit promised in several places in the prophets, such as Ezekiel 36:25-27 and the vision of the resurrection of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37.
Brought from Decease to Life
Jesus was maxim that every person without the outpoured Spirit from to a higher place is spiritually expressionless similar the dry bones and cannot even see the Kingdom of God. In other words, a person without God's Holy Spirit is purely "mankind" and has no spiritual eyes, ears or heart to run into, hear and comprehend the bulletin that Jesus came to bring. The Lord told Nicodemus unequivocally, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). Only the Spirit of the living God can take dry bones, dead in trespasses and rebellion against God, and make them spiritually alive (Ephesians 2:1-v). The Spirit is like the air current that blows wherever he wishes (John 3:8), then we are admittedly dependent on the Holy Spirit to blow upon expressionless people to make them live.
Absolute Importance of Being Built-in Once more
Scripture is very articulate that the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit comes only through the hearing of the Gospel promises (Romans x:17). Only in the Gospel does the Spirit move to open up a person'due south eyes, ears and heart through the Father's gift of faith (Ephesians iii:viii-9). The result is what Paul terms "the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" (Titus iii:5 NASB). Overall, a person must be radically born again by the wind of the Holy Spirit and raised up from the dead in their inner person, similar the dry bones in Ezekiel'south vision. Without this radical transformation lived out until death, no one can enter the eternal Kingdom of God.
Want more than? Check out all the articles from Theology Thursday and render each week for a new mail service. Acquire more about the College of Theology and their degree programs by checking out our website or requesting more than information with the push button on this page.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and practice not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Thou Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate every bit of the publish appointment.
Source: https://www.gcu.edu/blog/theology-ministry/theology-thursday-born-above-spirit-christ
0 Response to "Christ Born Again on a Tuesday"
Post a Comment