I wonder sometimes if many of us realize the context or circumstances in which the most important Biblical text for Christians appears. Consider this text: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him” John 3:16-17.
A Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, comes to Jesus at night to talk to Jesus about who Jesus is. But Jesus takes over the entire conversation, telling Nicodemus that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born again. But Nicodemus doesn’t understand what being born again means, so Jesus clarifies what He means when He tells Nicodemus that “everyone who believes in Jesus may have eternal life” (v.15). To be born again means that you believe in Jesus Christ.
And then at this very moment in their nighttime conversation, before giving Nicodemus any more opportunity to wonder or challenge what Jesus is saying, Jesus says this: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Those who believe in Him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
Now in my lifetime I have come to believe that to be born again is not just a once in a lifetime moment or experience, rather it is a call, an invitation, to follow Christ every day, to be born again every day, day after day after day. I think most, but not all, can remember a specific moment or experience when God’s Spirit so filled their hearts and souls that they gave their lives to Him, and on that day and in that moment they were all born again. But my own sin has demanded of me that I turn to the Lord today to be born again as an expression of my repentance and recommitment to follow Christ! My love of God and experience of His most holy and loving presence has also called me and drawn me to be born again and again. My desire to believe in Him must be repeated time and time again, in every moment, in every thought, and in every day of my life.
So my invitation to you today is that you pray about these words and make these words the invitation, the call of Jesus Christ Himself to repent and return to Him. May you be born again this day.
6 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish
but may have eternal life.
17 Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world
to condemn the world but in order that the world
might be saved through Him”
John 3:16-17.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
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