Born Again

 John 3: 7b-15

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.”

⁹ “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

¹⁰ “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? ¹¹ Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹² I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. ¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

As we celebrate the newly baptized and our own renewed baptismal promises, it is fitting that we return to this conversation with Nicodemus about being "born again."  He did not get it at first and because of his questions, we have a better understanding of what new standing our baptism gives us.  We now have a "second: life", one that is in Christ and one which will endure for all eternity.  The second life is better than the first, but would not be possible unless we were born in the first place. But once we are born as a child of God through baptism, the doors to grace and eternity are open to us. For this second birth, we cannot thank God enough.   "Let us rejoice and be glad. Alleluia!". 

Bro. Rene