Study 14: 2nd - 8th October

Readings from the Gospel of John
Reading – John Chapter Ch 3:1-4.

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could do the miraculous signs you are doing unless God were not with him.” In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God”. “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter into his mothers womb a second time and be born!”(John Chapter 3 verses 1 to 4 (New International Version).

One of the interesting things about golf is how many jokes and stories there are about golf and heaven. The most common one I hear is about whether there is golf in heaven and the answer given is the good news there is and the bad news is you are teeing off tomorrow.

What interests me is how many assume the good news that they will be there in heaven as if it is our right or somehow we earn it. When I have asked further about the basis of this confidence, the answers are less sure.

Sometimes you hear people use the phrase “Born again Christians” as if there are some who are born again and others who are not. This is false. There is only one type of Christian and they have all been born again.

In our reading today Jesus says that unless one is born again (or from above) that person cannot see the Kingdom of God, let alone enter into it. Every Christian is one has been born again because this is the gift of God to all who believe and follow Jesus. (see John Chapter 3 verse16).

One of the fundamental truths about life is that we have no life within ourselves. We are on the road towards death and there is nothing we can do to stop this.
Being born again that Jesus speaks of happens in this life. It is required to enter the Kingdom or life that God gives. Nicodemus failed to understand Jesus’ words asking how can one enter again into his mother’s womb and be born. Sometimes we need to look beyond the literal and obvious with the words of Jesus.

Jesus is talking about a spiritual birth that happens when we turn from our sin and receive Jesus as the Light and Life of the world. We have no more ability to claim this for ourselves than does an ant who wants to take over the world.

When we align ourselves with Jesus and call him our Lord, Messiah, Saviour, then God gives us the right to be his children through Jesus. We are born from above when we receive Jesus, given God’s Spirit and are declared his children.
Just like when new Australians are welcomed as citizens of our country, so when we receive Jesus, he give us the access to be born from above as God’s children who are citizens of heaven. Born again Christians is just another phrase that refers to followers of Jesus.

What I find missing when golfers talk about playing golf in heaven, is their confidence in Jesus who makes it all possible.

I certainly would not like to try to get there without him, because God says without him on our side, we will certainly not find ourselves not on the timesheet.

Prayer.
Heavenly Father, We acknowledge that we are dependant upon you for life and you give us this gift through Jesus. Thank you that we can be being born again and know for certain that we have life after death. All of this is possible because of Jesus. Help us to value our life and to share this new life through Jesus with others. Amen.

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