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4th. Sunday in Lent 26th.
March
2006
email:fvamw@tm.net.my
Dear Friends
Greetings in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus says, "You must be born again"
During Lent, we focus on the life of Jesus Christ
and how He has affected our life.
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 perform the miraculous signs you
are doing if God were not with him."
In reply
Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one
can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again".
"How
can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he
cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born again!"
J esus
answered , "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of
God unless he is born of the water and the Spirit. Flesh
gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You
must not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again. The
wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but cannot tell
where it comes from or where it going. So is it with everyone born
of the spirit." (John.3:1-8)
"No one has ever gone into
heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. Just as
Moses lifted up, the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be
lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life"
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. (John. 3:13- 18)
Read the above words of Jesus a few times to
understand what Jesus is telling Nicodemus. In this portion of the
scripture, Jesus is telling him of God’s love towards man as well as
God’s plan that man should not perish but gain eternal life through
Him.
Is there any human being who is not concerned
about his relationship with God? Is there any one who does not
desire eternal life? All of us desire it; no doubt about it.
What a great assurance we have that God loves us
as we are and calls us to believe in Him. He does not condemn us.
Just as Jesus told Nicodemus then, He is telling us today
that He hung on the cross, died on our behalf for the sins we have
committed and rose from the grave to give us victory over death and
sin as well as eternal life with Him. When we turn from our own ways
and turn to Jesus, the Holy Spirit enables us to be born again to
see the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit dwells in us to guide us
through life. Jesus came not to condemn us but to save us. Thanks be
to God for this great gift of eternal life through Jesus.
The following questions may help you in
your reflection.
1. Do I believe that Jesus died on my
behalf for my sins?
2. Do I believe He is my Lord and Savior?
3. How is my belief in Jesus shown in my
daily life?
(This is sent out by email once a week. If
you have just come across this for the first time, and would like to
receive it, please send email. Your comments and views on this are
most welcome. If this sharing could be of help to a friend of yours,
you are welcome to pass it on.)
With regards,
Fred.
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