Born Again. What does it mean?

 

Lately, I’ve been listening to Tim Keller’s podcasts. He is a wonderful speaker for God. He brings things out of the Bible that I’ve never known because he has studied the culture of those times and explains the meaning of words from the Hebrew and Greek.

Today, he told a story of a woman who had become a Christian as a teenager. But through her life she tried to find peace and joy through men, work and volunteering. Finally, she saw that the love of God for her was what she had been seeking all along.

Her story is my story. I did the same things she did. When I realized no one could ever love me enough; no one could love me in the exact way I wanted to be loved, that is when I moved closer to God and found that love.

I will say, I still struggle with believing God loves me. When you have been through a rough childhood, it is hard to believe anyone loves you. But I know the feelings of not being loved by God are wrong and just feelings. He does love me, just as I am.

Here is a link to Tim Keller’s sermon. It is inspiring how he talks about being born again, how it happens and what it does.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Gm9zlAPYtlZ5A9Ll9eQvj?si=rAQA6OjBR4myJyhABJggRQ&utm_source=native-share-menu

Born into A New Family.

Who am I?

Someone who was born into a second family with a new father and brother.

Jesus said:

"Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15

Children are teachable and curious; they begin asking questions as soon as they can speak. They usually trust and love their parents. They have a need for love and attention. They are innocent of the evil in the world. They are teachable, open to new experiences and simply lovely to be around.

A ruler of the Jews came to visit Jesus and asked some questions.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ”

A new born child has to rely completely on her parents. She cannot do anything for herself. She would die if left alone. We need God, like a baby needs her parents.

“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!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 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...”

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." 

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."  John 3:3-21

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 1John 5:1

Who Is God?

Someone who wants us to be his child.