How is your sacred season of Lententide going thus far? Today is the 10th day of the 40 days of Lent this 2014. It is a holy season of spiritual renewal. It is secret that we are free to employ that which our Savior teaches us about in Matthew 6 (His three examples of spiritual piety): 1) giving to the poor (serving anyone in need); 2) prayer; and 3) fasting. If any of these are done, they are done in Christian freedom to the glory of Christ and to the benefit of our neighbor. Or you focus may simply to be more watchful, to be constantly in the Word of God…to be faithful, to live in the constant heartbeat of prayer. But regardless of how you walk during Lent, gathering to RECEIVE the Word and Sacrament is always a priority for God’s people. What compares to the forgiveness of sins and union with Jesus? Nothing does!

Tomorrow we expound on one of the most famous Scriptures of all: John 3…but what is this “born again” language about? What does it mean? How do we live it out? These immensely practical and vital questions will be answered.

ALSO: tomorrow is a great day of celebration: the Lord is leading us to receive 13 new adult members to our congregation, 7 of whom are being confirmed.

Pastor Mueller and I rejoice to serve you! We hope to enter into this holy day WITH YOU in worship to the Lord in Spirit and truth!

Here is an excerpt from tomorrow’s sermon:

“You Must Be Born Again”

John 3:1-17

Pastor Espinosa

 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. During the 1976 presidential election, Jimmy Carter mentioned in a very interesting interview — which included his admitting that he had lusted in his heart — that he was “born again.” When that particular magazine hit the newsstands, it seemed as though every other person in America wanted to know what in the world this Christian descriptor “born again” meant. Needless to say, people – even the most well-meaning Christians – get pretty creative with their definitions.

 

Frederick Dale Bruner in his outstanding contribution to the field of the study of the Holy Spirit  warned that the historical tendencies about “born again” have included…putting too much on individual remarkable experiences and subjectivism, and creating rigorous evidences that one has received such a status through strict spiritual obedience (Bruner, A Theology of the Holy Spirit, 258). So what does it mean to be “born again”?

If anything is clear in our Gospel text in John 3 it’s that the well-trained Pharisee, Nicodemus, was utterly clueless. Jesus said plainly at verse 3: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” To which (with his head spinning), Nicodemus complained in the form of a question, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (vs 4) Who could blame poor Nicodemus? Surely he was speaking for most people. Jesus seemed to be speaking in riddles.

 

It is, however, probably important to note under what circumstances Nicodemus had come to Jesus Christ. The text says at verse 2 that Nicodemus “came to Jesus by night”. By nature we are like Nicodemus. It isn’t cool to be too out in the open about our relationship with Jesus Christ. Furthermore – and let’s be honest – much of what He says as recorded in Scripture seems irrelevant, confusing, or at times just downright unreasonable or impossible! For example how can a person be “born again”?

 

Ok, so let’s take a closer look at what the Lord is saying here: The Greek word here at John 3:3 is anothen and can be legitimately translated as “from above”. Jesus’ message is quite simple. Just leave it to everyone else to make it overly-complicated:

1. “born again” means “born from above”…that is, we were all born in a physical sense, now we need to be born in a spiritual sense. Our earthly mother gave birth to us physically; God — who is “from above” — must give birth to us spiritually.

 

Jesus is saying that unless we are spiritually born by God, we “cannot see the kingdom of God.” (vs 3)

 2. The word “see” in this verse means “experience.” That is, we are not speaking of empirical observation, like you can “see” an altar in front of where you are sitting, but spiritual (or inward) experience. There is something indeed that we experience when the kingdom of God is our guide and it produces in us “another heart, mind, and natural desire.” (FC SD II 26)

a. God impacts our heart, that is, our choices about how to live.

b. God impacts our mind, that is, our thoughts that fill our mind.

c. God impacts our soul, that is, our desire and the things we strive for.

 

And thirdly,

3. What exactly do we mean by the “kingdom of God” itself? That means we experience the reign of God as our King and Leader

 

So here is the total translation (a theological one) of what Jesus said to Nicodemus who came in darkness according to the time of day, but who also came in spiritual darkness according to the condition of his soul (and Jesus spoke in all love and compassion): “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above/spiritually born from God, He cannot experience/truly know in his heart, mind and soul (impacting your choices, thoughts, and desires), the reign of God/the leading of God in their life.”

 

          That’s what Jesus said, but He didn’t leave us hanging there. He went on to explain “how” at verse 5: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” And in saying this, Jesus unlocked the door to heaven for every one of us! It is the door of the Lord’s Word and Sacraments (like Holy Baptism) which is how the Lord births, gives and sustains a new life in you!

In Jesus’ Love,

Pastor

p.s. this morning I served two of our fellow Christians in the hospital with the body and blood of Christ…I was inspired to see their thirst for the great blessing received through the Sacrament…may we emulate this thirst!