“The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell from where it is coming, and where it is going: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
Dear Ones:
If ever there was a passage of Scripture that puts man in his helpless and hopeless position with regard to “saving himself,” it is in Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus. How does Jesus deal with this man, this “teacher of Israel?” Quite frankly, He puts him at the base of an insurmountable and impenetrable wall, which keeps him from Everlasting Life. He does this by declaring to Nicodemus that there is NOTHING in and of himself, in which he might be inclined to trust, that can enable him to climb that wall. And yet, if he does not climb the wall, he “cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (v.5) What is that wall? Of all things, it is a birth, the creation of a new person. This “newness” is by virtue of the Life of the Spirit of God (…who is ALWAYS new…), placing one in living union with Jesus Christ by whom he or she will truly live…and that, forever. It is an act by which not only are sins dealt with completely, but where the perfection of Christ is attributed to the soul. We call it righteousness, that perfect “rightness” of Christ, no fault, no sin, no blemish…only pure and total perfection. This is the basis and precursor for God speaking life into the dead. Where we were “dead” in our trespasses and sins, He (Christ) has made us to live. “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, has set us free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2) What then must Nicodemus do? The Lord Jesus lays it clearly out before him by calling his attention to two things that are essential.
The first of these two things is not only the recognition of WHO Jesus truly is, a grasping of this essential prerequisite for receiving the eternal Life promised. With regard to the identity of Christ, Nicodemus addressed Jesus as being “…a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou do, except God be with him.” (John 3:2) It must be understood here that a “teacher” cannot forgive sin, or save the sinner…only God can. If faith is to be given to Nicodemus to truly believe in God for the miracle of the new birth, he must be brought to the point of seeing the Lord Jesus as the One who has come down FROM heaven, the “Son of man who is IN heaven.” (v.13) This One before whom Nicodemus is standing is the Divine Savior of the world, God in the flesh, and the only One who can bring about a new birth by the Spirit. The second thing that Nicodemus must grasp is that it is ONLY by FAITH that a man or woman, boy or girl, can receive the “gift,” not only of the righteousness of Christ, but the eternal LIFE by the Spirit. Only by faith in Christ as the Son of God, the “only begotten of God,” can Nicodemus surmount the insurmountable. It is not enough to “receive” someone in Jesus’ name, even a teacher from God. There must be the reception of the Son of God, who possesses all power and authority in heaven and earth to bring about the miracle of the new birth.
John wrote: “But as many as received Him (Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: 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) From beginning to end, salvation is a miracle of God, not only with regard to the new birth, but also with respect to walking IN and WITH Christ.
Dear Father, give us grace to see Thy Son as He IS, able to save, lead, deliver, guide, provide. And strengthen our hearts to trust Him and Him alone for the full out-working of His will, His way, for His purposes. Then we shall “see” the glory of God revealed in human hearts. We thank and praise Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad