Important words

I was thinking this morning about Jesus telling us that we must be “Born Again”. Why do you suppose that He used those particular words, “Born Again”?

When you think about it Jesus was issuing His most sacred and vitally important command of His short stay on earth. He left His throne in heaven and lowered Himself to flesh and if that was not enough allowed people to spit on Him, curse Him, beat Him, and ultimately cruelly torture and put Him to death in order that we might be saved. All Christians realize that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected in order that we might live forever and be reunited with God, but have you ever wondered why He used the term “Born Again” to describe what we must do to follow Him. This is of the UTMOST importance to all of mankind. Why did He use those words instead of other words to describe it?

I am convinced that it was deliberate and not coincidence. I think God carefully chose those words in order that we might better understand what it means to follow God. My take on it is that babies are helpless and so are baby Christians. Initially all babies seem to know, aside from gurgling and smiling when they have gas, is to scream and crap in their diapers.

Loving parents care for them, change their diapers when they make a mess, feed them nurture them, care for them when they are sick, etc. Babies are helpless without loving parents and so are we. We are totally reliant on God and sometimes plain and simple we mess up, (particularly as a newborn Christian).

Don’t be overly discouraged if you mess up. I think God fully expects that we will make some mistakes, but like any loving parent He still loves us with all of His heart and if we are truly sorry for making that mistake, He is fully ready to forgive.

As our Christian life progresses we should become potty trained and God should not have to clean up so many of our messes. We learn to walk, eat, and fend for ourselves to an extent as we become more mature Christians.

There are other meanings for “Born Again” including meaning the origin of salvation in our lives for one. It is interesting to wonder why God chose those specific words though. Is it not?

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Most assuredly I say to you, unless
one is born again, he cannot
See the kingdom of God.”