Birth Right

Born of Water and Spirit Lesson 4.4: New Birth Is By Grace – Love, Even Through Pain

I’m a good person.

For the most part, I obey the rules. I don’t get in trouble. I try not to upset people or cause any kind of conflict.

I mean, I try to be nice to strangers, patient with other drivers on the road, cordial to my landlord, considerate to my roommates.

I’m certainly not a bad person – I’m not a murderer or an adulteress. I don’t steal or cheat. I’m not a traitor. I’m just your average good person, trying my best to make it in the world.

The thing about the gospel is, it doesn’t matter that I’m a good person. I could be the best person, and it wouldn’t amount to anything. The thing about the gospel is that I’m a sinner. The truth is that

“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.

I’ve sinned. So have you. I’ve sinned against God, just the same as your best friend, your sweet old grandmother, and your worst enemy. Sin makes us the same. In a way, sin makes us equal. As far as God’s glory is above us, we’re in the same boat — a bunch of sinking sinners trying hopelessly to survive, flailing around so as not to drown and inevitably smacking each other around in the pitiful process.

Because remember, as typical and downright normal as it is to be a good person these days, it’s hard to be like Jesus. It’s hard to practice forgiveness toward those who hurt you, as Born of Water and Spirit says:

This is grace: blessing instead of cursing such murderers (BWS 4.4).

It’s easy to be a ‘good person,’ but it’s impossible to be righteous on our own. Without the saving grace of Jesus, we’d all be goners. Without the empowering presence of the Spirit of Christ, we’d be doomed to the miserable existence of a ‘good person’ bound for hell! Instead, we have the right to become the very children of God! It’s better than being a good person – it’s being an heir with Christ, a member of the family of righteousness, a participant in God’s kingdom come in which all is on earth as it is in heaven.

Well I am a good Midwestern boy
I give an honest day’s work if I can get it
I don’t cheat on my taxes, I don’t cheat on my girl
I’ve got values that would make the White House jealous

Well I do get a little much over-impressed
‘Til I think of Peter and Paul and the apostles
I don’t stack up too well against them I guess
But by the standards ’round here I ain’t doing that awful

Lord it’s hard to turn the other cheek
Hard to bless when others curse you
Oh Lord it’s hard to be a man of peace…
You know it’s hard to be like Jesus…

And it’s hard to step out on them waves
Hard to walk beyond your vision
Oh Lord it’s hard to be a man of faith…
Oh Lord it’s hard to be like Jesus…

And it’s hard when your soul had been stripped bare
Hard to lift your eyes toward Heaven
Oh Lord it’s hard to be a man of prayer…
You know it’s hard to be like Jesus…

– from “Hard,” by Rich Mullins

May God teach all of us his children how to be like Jesus.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council (John 3:1).

When I first started reading the Bible, I didn’t understand who the Pharisees were nor what their significance was in the story of Jesus. In fact, I didn’t really know the difference in the apostles and the disciples and the “followers” of Jesus. So, I hope this little explanation of the Pharisees will help you as you study.

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the Pharisees were a group of Jewish men representing the religious views, practices, and hopes of Jewish people around the time of Jesus. They were considered to be the keepers-of-The-Law, the ones who rightly upheld the “Law of Moses” given to the Jewish nation. According to tradition, the Law of Moses was interpreted for the Pharisees by another group of Jewish men called the “scribes.” They are akin to lawyers today. Many times as you read the Bible, you will see the “scribes and the Pharisees” mentioned in the same context because they were so closely related.

The Pharisees were thought to be men of high moral character and piety. They called for Jewish people to follow their examples of righteous living according to the Law of Moses and keep away from persons or things impure, in order to attain the degree of holiness and righteousness required in those who would commune with God.

So, you can imagine the amazement the common Jewish people must have felt when they heard Jesus say things like:

For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20).

You can probably also understand why there was conflict between the Pharisees and scribes, and Jesus. They did not like Jesus and His teachings – especially those directed against the Pharisees and what they believed necessary to bring forth holy living:

When He [Jesus] left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile and to question Him closely on many subjects… (Luke 11:53).

The Pharisees were like a brotherhood organization, admitting only those who, in the presence of three members, pledged to strictly follow the Law, to the avoidance of closer association with “the ignorant and careless boor,” to the scrupulous payment of tithes, and to be conscientious in regard to vows. They called their members “brothers.” Through many generations, the Pharisees succeeded in infusing their own views and principles into the political and religious life of the Jewish people we read about in time of Jesus.

So, as John chapter 3 begins, it is quite interesting that Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to talk to Jesus. Nicodemus is not like the other Pharisees who had seen the miracles Jesus has done. Nicodemus has a respect for Jesus and a willingness to learn.

The challenge for me is to set aside my traditional understanding and replace it with a willingness to learn at the feet of Jesus, like Nicodemus. Will you accept the challenge, too?

As I start reading the “Born of Water and Spirit” course, I read the section called, “My Personal Journey Toward God” and started thinking about the concept of “self evaluation”.

Most of the time self-evaluation focuses attention on performance, causing me to ask the question, “How well am I doing?” at this or that.  Sometimes my judgment is too harsh.  I am critical because of some guilt in my life.  At other times I am too lenient, justifying my behaviors with all kinds of excuses.

Then there are the times when I judge my performance based on others around me. “Am I doing better than him?” Yet, it is not a good to “measure myself” by looking at others.

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

I guess this might be where Nicodemus finds himself at the beginning of this course.  He has come to Jesus to ask some questions, and he probably feels he is doing ok.  He is a religious teacher, and a part of the religious ruling council.  He was probably a pretty good guy by most religious standards.  But, instead of looking at how Nicodemus is “doing”.  Jesus challenges Nicodemus, and me, to look at how we are “being”. God looks at the heart.

The Bible has a lot to say about our hearts and minds and how they determine the kind of persons are.

King David warned his son Solomon about “being” the kind of man who follows God completely. “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9

So here I sit evaluating myself. How will I measure myself? I will focus attention on my whole heart. I’ll examine to see whether or not I am truly seeking God.  And, I’ll consider if I have a willing mind that chooses to listen to God’s word.

May God bless us all, and may we seek Him with our whole heart.

Music has always been an important part of my life. I’m one of those people who can instantly be taken back to a once-familiar time and place upon hearing a song. Lyrics, harmonies, rhythms, fill my yesterdays and my todays.

In my Christian life, music has been my faithful companion.  Some days it lifts my sinking spirits. On others a song can convict me or challenge me when I least expect it.

As I began to read “Born of Water and Spirit,” and John chapter 3, I remembered a song by a popular American Christian artist, Nicole Nordeman.  She wrote a song called “To Know You” which told of her struggles to find answers to some of her questions.  She struggled with doubt. She struggled with understanding.  One verse of her song stands out to me.  Here are the words…

Nicodemus
Could not understand how You could
Truly free us
He struggled with the image
Of a grown man born again
We might have been good friends
Cuz sometimes I still question, too
How easily we come to You

Everytime I hear the song, I nod in agreement with Nicole.  I think I too might have been good friends with Nicodemus. We would have had some things in common.  I can imagine myself coming to Jesus and not fully understanding His message.

I’m glad it is today, when you and I live in a time where the Message of Jesus is complete.  We have an advantage over Nicodemus.  We live on the other side of the cross – the side that has seen Jesus death, His burial and also His resurrection. We can understand what it means to be born again – to be born of water and of Spirit.

So, bring your Bible, your questions and even your doubts, and together we’ll sit at the feet of Jesus through the study of God’s Word, and learn just like Nicodemus.

Oh, and if you want to share a song, we’ll  enjoy it together along the way.