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“We Must Be Born Again”
The most frightening aspect of Christ’s words, “You must be born again” (John 3:7) was the character of the person to whom he spoke them.
Christ spoke these words to a nocturnal visitor two thousand years ago. On other occasions he expressed the same thought in the following way: “Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3 AKJV). These “excepts” stand between every person and eternal life.
Consider the most frightening aspect of Christ’s words, “You must be born again”; namely, the character of the person to whom he spoke them. It was not to Mary Magdalene, a lady of the night. . It was not to Zacchaeus, a cheat and thief.
Christ’s words were addressed to a man of spotless reputation who spoke Sabbath by Sabbath at one of the leading metropolitan churches: Nicodemus, the teacher of Israel. (See John 3:10, RV.)
Which of us would claim a character as lofty as his, or a mind as enlightened as his? Yet even Nicodemus needed to be born again. No wonder that when Wesley was asked why he preached so often on the text “You must be born again,” his reply was, “Because you must be born again.’”
We must be born again, and this is an experience we must revisit daily. “I die daily,” says the Apostle Paul. Do you die daily? Really? What can you do in your experience with Jesus, to make sure that you do?
By Dr Desmond Ford
The most frightening aspect of Christ’s words, “You must be born again” (John 3:7) was the character of the person to whom he spoke them.
Christ spoke these words to a nocturnal visitor two thousand years ago. On other occasions he expressed the same thought in the following way: “Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3 AKJV). These “excepts” stand between every person and eternal life.
Consider the most frightening aspect of Christ’s words, “You must be born again”; namely, the character of the person to whom he spoke them. It was not to Mary Magdalene, a lady of the night. . It was not to Zacchaeus, a cheat and thief.
Christ’s words were addressed to a man of spotless reputation who spoke Sabbath by Sabbath at one of the leading metropolitan churches: Nicodemus, the teacher of Israel. (See John 3:10, RV.)
Which of us would claim a character as lofty as his, or a mind as enlightened as his? Yet even Nicodemus needed to be born again. No wonder that when Wesley was asked why he preached so often on the text “You must be born again,” his reply was, “Because you must be born again.’”
We must be born again, and this is an experience we must revisit daily. “I die daily,” says the Apostle Paul. Do you die daily? Really? What can you do in your experience with Jesus, to make sure that you do?
By Dr Desmond Ford
About this Plan
This Unlimited Kingdom reading plan will inspire you with what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and your part both in his kingdom and in the world. Jesus spoke more about the Kingdom of Heaven than anything else. This reading plan goes to the very heart of the teachings of our Lord, and answers some of the most important questions of life: What is the Kingdom of Heaven, and what does it mean for me to live within it?
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