The Holy Spirit in Conversion: Part 2
Memory Passage
For what the law was powerless to do in
that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in
the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in
sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully
met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the
Spirit.
Romans 8:3-4
Scripture Reading: John 3:1-21
Please refer to your Bible.
Insights
"Jesus then states, 'Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again."
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell
where it comes from or where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the
Spirit.' ...This reality is emphasized when Christ says, 'So is everyone who is
born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus cannot believe such a thing is true. He says,
'How can these things be?'.Jesus answered and said to Him, 'Are you the
teacher of Israel and you do not understand these things?' .Nicodemus should
be intimately aware of concepts as simple as salvation if he is a true teacher of
Israel; but Nicodemus did not." -C. Matthew McMahon, "John 3:1-10, and The
Regeneration of the Spirit"
Consider this!
Nicodemus questions the reality of what Christ tells him about being "born
again." Hear his questions as you read John 3:1-21. They are legitimate
questions if a person is thinking in natural terms. Often even believers think
only in natural terms and do not understand the depths of God. God's Word
tells us that "we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is
from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God." (1
Corinthians 2:8-16)
Personal Reflection
- Being "born again" means being born of the Spirit. In your own words, what
does "born again" mean to you, both by definition and experientially?
- If someone came to you and asked the same questions that Nicodemus asked
Jesus, what would your answers be?
Prayer
Lord God, my heart rejoices in my salvation. Surely what you have done for me
in the moment of my new birth is too wonderful for me to understand. Grant to
me all that is mine in Christ Jesus so that I may grow in the knowledge of Christ.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, who has given His people salvation in Him.
Amen.
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