John 3:4-8 (NIVUK)
4 ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’
5 Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’
I’ve often heard the phrase ‘born-again Christian’. This is usually shorthand for a particular evangelical approach to Christianity, but isn’t what Jesus means. His point is that being a Christian involves a radical recreation or renewal of who we are by the Spirit, so that our outlook and deeds become aligned with God’s. Here, this is portrayed as a conversion experience, that moment of new birth when we decide for God and change our minds (the literal meaning of repentance). This isn’t however, a done and dusted deed, but the work of our whole lives – the wider text of scripture expands this to also include the gradual reorientation of our lives as we mature as Christians (our ‘sanctification’ to use theological jargon).
Father, we long to be more Christ-like, but we can’t do it on our own. Please, in your love and grace, transform our outlook and behaviour through your Spirit.
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