"You must be born again" - Jesus speaking with Nicodemus - John 3:7 - Shutterstock image - Used under license
The Bible verse quotations in this lesson are taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless noted otherwise (Ref. 1).
Consider. What does it mean to be "born again"? Why did Jesus say we must be born again?
1. Who is included in "You must be born again"?
The first "you" in John 3:7 is singular (Ref. 2), referring to Nicodemus. Jesus said, "Do not marvel that I said to you ..."
The second "you" in John 3:7 is plural, meaning you all (Ref. 2). Jesus said, "You [all] must be born again" (John 3:7). Nicodemus may have understood the plural you as referring to himself and the rulers and Pharisees (John 3:1). However, the plural "you" in "You must be born again" is universal and applies to all people because all need to be born again to see [spiritually perceive] the kingdom of God (John 3:3, Ref. 3). That includes all of us who are reading this message. 2. Why must we be born again?
"Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." (Romans 5:12)
Romans 5:12 tells us that because of Adam's sin, sin and death spread to all people (Greek anthrópos - all humans - men, women, and children) (Ref. 3; Genesis 2:16-17, 3:6-7). There are no exemptions. That is why we must be born again. 3. What does "born again" mean?
"Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:3)
"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'" (John 3:7) The words "born again" in John 3:3 and 3:7 in the Greek mean to be regenerated anew (Ref. 4, Ref. 5). The work of regenerating us anew spiritually is entirely the work of God's Holy Spirit, not our own works (Ezekiel 36:25-27, Titus 3:4-5). God's work of regenerating us anew spiritually (making us born of God) is different in nature and timing from our natural human birth (being born of earthly parents) (John 1:12-13, John 3:6). Becoming "born again" in John 3:3 and 3:7 is synonymous with becoming "born of God" in John 1:13. John, the disciple of Christ and the gospel writer says, "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:11-13). Further, John gives three characteristics of a person who is born of God:
In Ezekiel 36:25, God's action of cleansing us from sin (symbolized by water) is part of the inner transformation God does in us when God regenerates us anew and puts a new spirit within us (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Psalm 51:1-2, 10, Hebrews 10:22, 1 John 1:9). To sum up, becoming born again means being regenerated anew by God's Holy Spirit (John 3:3, 7). God cleanses us from our sin. God puts a new spirit -- the Holy Spirit -- within us, and transforms us into a new person, born of God (Ezekiel 36:25-27, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 John 5:1). 4. How do I become born again?
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13)
John says quite clearly that to be born of God, we are to "receive him" and "believe in his name." "Him" refers to Jesus Christ, the Word who became flesh, the only Son from the Father (John 1:1, 14, 17). To "receive" him means to accept him and not to reject him (John 1:11, Ref. 8, John 13:20). To "believe" in him means to have faith in him and to trust him (Ref. 9). The Lexical Summary in Ref. 9 adds that "believe" means to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ). Once you receive Jesus as your Savior and believe in (entrust your life to) him, the Holy Spirit will dwell in you to help you on an ongoing basis daily throughout the rest of your life (John 14:16-17, Colossians 1:27). The Holy Spirit will help you:
Prayer. Lord Jesus, I am sorry for my sins. Thank you for dying on the cross to forgive my sins. Come and live in my heart. I yield control of my life to you. Teach me, and make me into the person you want me to be. Help me to love you and to serve others in your name. Amen.
References
1. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/ 2. https://biblehub.com/interlinear/john/3-7.htm 3. https://biblehub.com/greek/3708.htm 4. https://biblehub.com/greek/1080.htm 5. https://biblehub.com/greek/509.htm 6. https://biblehub.com/greek/4160.htm 7. https://biblehub.com/greek/25.htm 8. https://biblehub.com/greek/2983.htm 9. https://biblehub.com/greek/4100.htm
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 Man praying at the cross - Mark 1:15 - Pixabay image - Used under license "Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'" (Mark 1:14-15) This article explains the meaning of Jesus' command, "Repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Consider. Have you repented of your sins and turned to God? Do you believe in God's Son, Jesus Christ? In his first public preaching message in the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus described the two requirements for entrance into God's kingdom. Jesus said we must "repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). 1. The word "repent" means to "change our mind" (Ref. 1). First, we are to change our mind about our sin, and turn from our sin to the ways of our heavenly Father. Repentance includes confession of our sins to God (1 John 1:9). Repentance goes beyond confession and is a commitment to change our behavior and align our life with God's will (Ref. 1). 2. Then, by faith (which is God's gift to us), we are to believe in the gospel (Ephesians 2:8, Ref. 2 - believe). The gospel is good news -- the good news of Jesus Christ, God's Son (Ref. 3 - gospel). God, at God's initiative, has given us his Son, Jesus Christ. Through the sacrificial death of Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins, we through faith in the resurrected Jesus receive forgiveness for our sins and receive God's gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9, Ref. 3). That is good news indeed. 3. Repentance from our sins and belief in Jesus Christ go together. Both are necessary (Mark 1:15). Without repentance, Jesus said we will perish (Luke 13:3). Without belief in him, Jesus said we will die in our sins (John 8:24). Apply. Turn away from your sin today. Tell God you are sorry for your sins, and ask God to help you live life that is pleasing to him and serves others. Put your trust completely in God's Son, Jesus Christ. Thank him for dying on the cross to forgive your sins. Ask Jesus to help you follow him faithfully each day.
The Light Shines in the Darkness - John 1:5 - iStock photo used under license
Consider. What does this verse (John 1:5) mean to you? How would you explain "The Light shines in the darkness" to an inquisitive believer or to a person who does not know Christ?
Scriptures in this lesson are taken from the 1995 New American Standard Bible (NASB) on the Bible Gateway website (Ref. 1) unless indicated otherwise.
1. The Light shines in the darknessa. What is "The Light"?
Throughout the New Testament, "light" figuratively denotes truth and knowledge together with spiritual purity (Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Ref. 2). In John 1:5, the "Light" is God's divine illumination to reveal and impart life through Jesus Christ. The Light that shines in the darkness is the life-giving, saving truth embodied in Christ and by his love and effort imparted to mankind (Ref. 2).
b. Was the "Light" only in the past or is it ongoing?
The Light of Christ is perpetual. It always shines, and it never ceases. The life-giving, saving truth of Christ shining in the darkness was an on-going truth for the Apostle John and is an ongoing truth for us today -- not only for us, but also for us to share with others.
The verb "shines" in John 1:5 is in the present tense (Englishman's Concordance, Ref. 3). A Greek verb in the present tense means a present, continued action that is an actual fact (Ref. 4). The Greek verb for "shines" is phainó and means to shed light or appear (Strong's Concordance, Ref. 3). John uses the same word in 1 John 2:8. c. In John and 1 John, what is the "darkness"?
In John 1:5 the Greek word for "darkness" is skotia (pronounced skot-ee'-ah) (Ref. 5). Skotia [darkness] figuratively means ignorance (lack of knowledge) of divine things, wickedness, and the resultant misery (Ref. 5).
John uses skotia figuratively for "darkness" in John 1:5, John 8:12, John 12:35, John 12:46, 1 John 1:5, as well as 1 John 2:8, 9, and 11. For example, Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life" (John 8:12). Skotia also has a literal meaning -- dark because of the absence of daylight (John 6:17, John 20:1). d. How does a person get out of the "darkness"?Believe in Jesus
Jesus tells us how we (or any person) can get out of spiritual darkness. Jesus said, "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness" (John 12:46). The key for getting out of the darkness and into the light is to believe in Jesus. The Greek word for "believe" in John 12:46 is pisteuó (pronounced pist-yoo'-o). Pisteuó means trust in, have faith in, and put confidence in (Ref. 6). A person who believes in Jesus trusts in, has faith in, and puts their confidence in Jesus.
2. And the darkness did not comprehend it or overcome it
The Greek verb translated as "comprehend" or "overcome" in John 1:5 is katalambanó (pronounced kat-al-am-ban'-o) (HELPS Word-studies, Ref. 7). Katalambanó means:
Let us rejoice! The Light of Jesus Christ is perpetual and is victorious over the darkness. The Light of Christ shining in the darkness gives us hope. As disciples of Christ, let us seek ways we can help provide the Light of Christ to others, to help them "see the Light" so that they will not remain in darkness.
Summary. In John 1:5, the "Light" is God's divine illumination to reveal and impart life through Jesus Christ to mankind. The Light shines perpetually, and it never ceases. Because of ignorance and wickedness, the darkness has not perceived or understood the Light. The darkness has not overcome the Light nor will it ever overcome the Light. As Christ's disciples, we have hope because Christ and his light are victorious over the darkness.
Apply. Think for a moment. In your own words, how would you describe the meaning of "The Light shines in the darkness"? How can you share the Light of Christ with others?
References
1. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A5&version=NASB1995 2. https://biblehub.com/greek/5457.htm 3. https://biblehub.com/greek/5316.htm 4. https://ezraproject.com/greek-tenses-explained/ 5. https://biblehub.com/greek/4653.htm 6. https://biblehub.com/greek/4100.htm 7. https://biblehub.com/greek/2638.htm |
Daily Bible Verse(Published on my Bluesky account) AuthorMr. Whitney V. Myers. Christian. For more information, please visit the Author Page. Posting ScheduleI plan to provide new postings about once a month. Planned Topics(subject to change) Recent Posts(most recent three publications) Popular Posts(top 10) Categories
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