#john 3:7

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

You Must Be Born Again

“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You have to be born from above.’ — John 3:7 | The Scriptures (ISR 1998) The Scriptures 1998 Copyright © 1998 Institute for Scripture Research. All Rights reserved. Cross References: John 3:6; John 3:8

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What does it mean to be a born again Christian?

[awideplace]

The Christian faith is ultimately not only a matter of doctrine or understanding or of intellect, it is a condition of the heart.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

[psalmonesermons]

The miracle of the new birth

Jesus explains it to Nicodemus

We are reading from the Gospel of John chapter 3

3:1-2 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.

This important man was probably part of the rich and powerful Gurion family. His name was Nicodemus, and he was highly influential Pharisee and religious leader you could say a top man in Israel. Nicodemus addresses Jesus with respect calling him ‘Rabbi or teacher’. Nicodemus thinks that because of the miracles Jesus had performed that God must be with him.

3:3 Jesus anticipates Nicodemus direction of conversation but cuts straight to the chase by saying ‘unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jesus is telling Nicodemus and in a sense all mankind that a second birth is necessary to enter all God’s ways , purposes, and blessings here on earth. The natural birth gives us the 5 senses and the second birth opens our spiritual senses of hearing, seeing, and sensing the things of God.

Without the new spiritual senses how can anyone experience the joys of God’s kingdom or God’s rule in our lives?

3:4 Nicodemus replies Jesus ‘How can a man be born when he is old, can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born’? The idea here is that Nicodemus is saying to Jesus surely you are not suggesting a second physical birth!

3:5 Jesus answered Truly, truly , I tell you that ‘Unless a man be born of water [1] and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God’. This means each person who is born in a natural biological and physical birth must also experience a second supernatural spiritual birth as to enable them to enter all the joy and blessings of life in God’s kingdom.

3:6 Jesus now describes the rules of natural and spiritual generation, that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Jesus is saying that the sinful human nature (the flesh) transmits its fallenness to each baby born through natural childbirth. However, the new spiritual nature can only be transmitted to a person by the Holy Spirit.

3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Jesus tells the puzzled Nicodemus, do not be amazed, or surprised or begin to wonder why it is that (Jesus insists) that he must be born again (born anew). As a religious leader Nicodemus was well acquainted with salvation through keeping the torah yet this person Jesus was clearly saying that it was mandatory to be born again to be able to enter God’s kingdom. Something had to happen via the Holy Spirit working on Nicodemus’ heart so that his eyes could open to the Kingdom of God.

3:8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but canst you cannot tell where it comes from, or where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Jesus now gives an illustration or metaphor to help Nicodemus understand what he means. We cannot see the wind, yet we are clearly aware of the effects of the wind. We can hear it and we can see its effects on leaves and trees and plants. In the same way when the wind of the Holy Spirit blows on your soul or mind, we cannot see it but are aware in hearts that new things are taking place. Maybe we can feel compassion or love as never before, or perhaps a new generosity of spirit. The Holy Spirit moves in and through the born-again hearts in a mysterious way as he wills. Nicodemus would be stunned to hear this as he was still focused on keeping the Law.

3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, how can these things be?

Yet again the stunned Nicodemus asks, ‘how can this be so’? It is clear he had not a clue about how God intended salvation to work. Perhaps his strict training in the Law immunized him to the Gospel?

We break off the story at this point to consider what does this mean to you and me? If you are a follower of Jesus, then this story is a good way to introduce Jesus in a conversation that could lead to that person coming to Christ.

If you are not yet a follower of Christ , you must realize that Jesus’ stark message to Nicodemus is that we must be born again to enter into God’s realm and enjoy all his wonderful benefits including forgiveness of all your sins.

But you say, how can I do it, The bible is clear (Romans 10) says 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

We now need to turn this belief into a prayer spoken from your heart.

You can find such a prayer in the link below

https://www.psalmonesermons.com/post/jesus-explains-the-new-birth

[thetruekyle]

Ok, But... but they don't. Spirits exist true enough.. and/but if they are not spirits of Light, spirits of God; the Almighty Creator of the heavens and the earth.. -then you're merely worshipping your own corruption unto sin; idolizing false entities that lie to you, and steal your efforts to usurously manipulate and impede your truly, God-given purpose.

I can testify that there is One True God because first and foremost all signs point to YES in contrast to this world of lies -and because I have experienced God at work in my life firsthand, often. Daily, even...

You're not wrong for wanting civility between devout spiritualists and faithful servants.. but there is a natural truth to all things and simply put-

~In the beginning, God separated the darkness from the Light..

All that has followed has merely exemplified the fact that there is truly a marked difference between the darkness and the Light, and just how different our lives become when we worship one over the other . .

To wit- I was not always this enflamed for my Lord, but rather in my youth I was fiercely agnostic and even revelatious in my childish behaves.. But all that I was raised to be by this world has since led me to discover such blatant lies, callous deception, and illusory facade.. and at one point I honestly wanted to end it all, until Jesus himself plucked me out of my sorrow and despair to build in me a fiery hope and a love which continues to build within me, flowing abundantly to this day.

Even if you don't buy into all that Jesus taught and did for us all, millenia ago.. Know that I, yes even I am living proof that God can make all things new and restore the broken. He gave me life when I wished for death. He held me close when all my loved ones conspired against, and abandoned me. And He has just now inspired me to digest your post in its entirety, understand your sentiments and predisposed bias untoward one such as me, and subsequently respond in the Spirit of Truth anyway, that HIS love may be acknowledged and shown unto you, through me, even if just to say Jesus loves you and is waiting for you to ask Him to come home into your heart to bestow on you His finished work and to wash you clean.

The price has been paid already. The work is already done. This is Historical fact alone... but it is our faith in God, and earnest belief in His finished work that elevates us to walk in His love, and further elevate the frequencies of this world simply by existing in it in the embrace of the Holy Spirit.

You may not even read this because it's so long, but God is patient. God is good in all things.. and when you are ready to reclaim your purpose and step into your birthright granted to you by the Almighty, then your journey to the heart shall truly unfold in glorious and miraculous ways you couldn't have even imagined on your own.

Thus, I pray His many blessings and a hedge of protection & understanding upon you that you may grow in your own bountiful ways from this interact- by the authority vested in me by the Holy Spirit, and as always- in Jesus' mighty name, amen. 🙏

Hot take, apparently, but genuinely harassing or insulting anyone's religion is not ok.

Criticizing religious institutions, proselytizing, extremism, or horrible behaviors/beliefs done in the name of a religion? YES! Totally. That should be criticized.

Unpromptedly popping up on random posts by religious folks to say anything along the lines of "god isn't real", "the pagan gods are fake", "there is only one true religion", "[any religious group] are stupid/dangerous/barbaric" -- NO.

It's rude. It's unnecessary. And sometimes, especially in the case of minorities or oppressed groups, it's outright hateful. Theres nothing helpful, funny, or cool about randomly insulting one of the most personal aspects of a persons life. Unless it's invited or warranted, stfu.

[motherdanger]

since official lionsgate confirmed bi john kramer, had to make this

happy bi visibility month to our peepaw

[felsicveins]

I think John Dory should have 7 (evil) exes and you have to defeat all of them in order to date him.

Choose your fighter 💥💪

[abstractfrog]

The Lions Mane - an elaborate excuse to draw some fancy jellyfish

[doodle-with-alizard]

Small art study of some Kool kid

And doodle

[chrliekclly]

oh charlie kelly loose identity tied to emotions nd changing on a whim we're really in it now....

[raekiez]

Saw dump? Saw dump

[walkswithmyfather]

Chosen by God

John 1:12 (NLT). “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. ”

Galatians 4:7 (NIV). “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

1 John 3:1a (NIV). “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”

Matthew 5:9 (ESV). “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Romans 8:16 (NASB). “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”

Galatians 3:26 (NLT). “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

John 15:16 (NIV). “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

Jeremiah 1:5 (NET). “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you.Before you were born I set you apart.I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

[psalmonesermons]

Our identity is in Christ Part 5

Leaving the old identity and the old life behind

I remember well the joy of my own experience of being born again, the burden of my sin lifting off my shoulders, being cleansed in my heart, it felt like a sauna in that every pore of my heart was cleansed. Being delivered from swearing and bad language. My new life in Christ had begun. The selfishness, pride, greed and pleasing only myself had to come off under the water of baptism. Yet we need to keep the old man of the flesh crucified. He would like to get down of that cross, but we do not need to let him.

John 3:7 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.

Nicodemus was around 60-70 years old and had a lifetime of personal failures and character flaws behind him. Yet here was Jesus offering him a fresh start free from the old life of bondage. The picture here to a Jew like Nicodemus, is that of the Exodus, where the wind dried up the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to pass over on dry ground. The main point is that we need to leave the old life of bondage behind in Egypt and the old life of being under the circumstances. Being born again is the only way we can turn back the clock of our lives.

Summary

When we are born again, we are brought into all the victories of Jesus Christ

All our blessings and spiritual riches are In Christ

In Him we have a higher ranking than the angels

In Him we are more than conquerors

In Him we ought to be living in victory

In Him we ought to be behaving like overcomers

In Him we do not have to be under the circumstances

Final Thoughts

But you say sometimes God does require his people to go through suffering, and yes that is true sometimes. But the question is ‘What kind of suffering does God require us to go through?’

The humbling of our pride or reputation, or putting under our fleshly desires?

But does God require us to go through depression or live in constant defeat or fear, downtrodden, always be the tail and not the head?

The answer is an emphatic No!

Prayer and ministry

Brothers and Sisters, it is now time to reclaim your identity in Christ. Let us do it.

Let us pray and ask the Lord to help us leave our old identities behind

and move into our new victorious identities.

False identity/ vs True Identity in Christ

Defeated /Victorious

Depressed or Downtrodden/ Uplifted

Cursed or hate your life/Blessed/ or love your life

Lonely/ Part of his family

Sleepless/ Resting in Him

Empty/ Full

Worried or anxious/ Faith filled

Poor or lack/ Rich or plentiful

Hopeless or a Loser/ Hopeful or a Winner

Oppressed or addicted/ Set free

Panic attacks or under unhealthy pressure/ Peace of mind

Personal prayer

Amen

Printable copy of the full composite study and much more in 'related posts' below.

Footnotes from Parts 1-5

[1] From Ephesians 1:18

[2] Roger Price, Special Topic Series no. 11: The Glorified Man [mp3]. See Additional resources menu on last dropdown menu.

[3] Roger Price, Basic Bible Study no. 102: 37 Things which accompany salvation [mp3].

[4] Greek: metamorphoo (metamorphosis) same word as used in Jesus’ transfiguration, coal to diamond, caterpillar to butterfly etc.

[nheystyle]

the John Elway cake topper is a MUST

art by @nheyguys

[coffeebrownn]

i drew the whole wolf hound squad

[starlightvld]

Bait & Switch, pt. 2

<< Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 >>

Based on "I wasn't in that tunnel."

Call of Duty, implied soapghost cw: angst, hurt no comfort (yet), MWIII spoilers

---

When Johnny died, a black hole swallowed Ghost whole, bones and blood crushed into numbness by an all-encompassing gravity. Work, duty, life went on, but even spreading Johnny's ashes in Scotland — a place they'd talked about visiting together during those rare moments when exhaustion-induced delirium held the cold voice of reason at bay — even that couldn't counter the gravity holding him suspended in a single moment, knees crashing into blood-soaked concrete and a choked voice calling out to a man who would never answer.

The longer they chase Makarov through his little puppet show, though, the more the numbness gives way to other feelings — pain, despair, rage — that grow more potent every day they fail to bring the bastard to justice.

They've searched for years, yet they're always two steps behind. 

And this bloodbath of an op is no different.

If he has to focus his rage on someone other than Makarov, though, he's glad it's Makarov's dog, dubbed Agent Zero by the task force generals, stalking his team's steps today. The demon appeared six months after their failure in the Channel Tunnel and has hounded the 141 ever since, denying them victories, decimating their support squads, and nearly killing each of the core members at least once. 

Zero seems to have it out for Ghost in particular, though. The agent has put him on medical leave more than a dozen times already, and today will be no different.

If he can escape with his life, that is.

Ghost controls his breathing and prepares for the coming fight the best he can with a bullet hole in his side. He's not bleeding out, so he'll take that as a win, even if the blood loss is making him woozy. Sunlight blazes down on him as he stands in the middle of the open area between warehouses and waits for Zero to catch up.

As if summoned, Zero stalks out from behind a building, thick body hidden behind layers of black tactical gear and a full helmet. Based on their build and the muffled growls he's heard in past confrontations, Ghost guesses Makarov's agent is a man, but the tinted glass of their helmet makes it impossible to know for sure.

It doesn't matter, though. Whoever they are, they have to die. The 141 will never catch Makarov while his dog is nipping at their heels.

The agent weaves through the detritus of dead Konni and SAS soldiers while scanning the area. Ghost has already ordered the remaining SAS support units to fall back, and all the Konni soldiers are dead, the last one lying at Ghost's feet, eyes staring unseeing at the blue sky.

It's just the two of them now.

Despite the sun's heat, a chill pebbles Ghost's skin. This will likely be the end for one of them. He hopes it's Zero, if only for his team's sake.

Ghost himself has nothing left to lose.

The pavement radiates the afternoon sunlight, the air blurred with shimmering waves. Sweat soaks into Ghost's mask and runs in rivulets down his back.

Zero's helmet turns his way.

The agent freezes for a split second... before breaking into a dead run, headed straight toward Ghost.

Feet pound on the pavement in time with Ghost's quickening heartbeat. And just like every other time they've clashed, a sinuous familiarity in the way Zero moves wraps around Ghost's senses, more an innate recognition of form than the identification of any specific action. He ponders the sensation as Zero barrels down on him, all terrifying focus and yet easy grace. If the agent weren't his sworn enemy, he thinks he could find beauty in those movements.

He waits until the last minute to dodge, using his own speed and Zero's momentum to push the agent away. Zero is expecting the move, however, and swings around to land a hard punch to Ghost's throat. Ghost twists, the blow glancing off his tac vest instead. They round on each other and dive in again. 

Attack. Deflect. Block.

So it goes for what seems like eternity, trading blows over blood-slick stones. And still, the movements haunt Ghost with that winding thread of familiarity.

A phantom ache builds in his chest, though he doesn't know why.

He dodges a fist to his injured side, and Zero pauses for a split second, helmet tipping down. Ghost uses the distraction to attempt a headlock but wheezes when an armored fist collides with his injury. In a haze of pain, Ghost grips Zero's neck harder, kicks the agent's feet out from under them, and slams them face-first into the ground. A crunching sound rings in Ghost's ears, and tempered glass fragments spill over the pavement.

The impact doesn't keep the devil down, though. Zero shoves Ghost away, using the momentum to scramble out of reach. Ghost lands on his back with a huff, the sharp pain in his side nearly blinding him.

He's getting too fucking old for this. 

Maybe tonight will prove it.

He lifts himself up on one elbow to get eyes on Zero, a little confused that he's not already fending off another attack. But... his enemy is standing stock still a few feet away.

More importantly, the broken visor leaves the helmet wide open to the sunny day, giving Ghost his first, full view of the person who's been terrorizing them for years.

A broken sound of confusion wheezes through Ghost's tight throat.

From inside the broken helmet, blue eyes flick down to meet his gaze — the exact same shade of blue that's haunted his dreams since the day he lost everything.

Or so he thought.

It can't be.

It can't.

And yet—

"Johnny?"

The name rips from his throat like a desperate prayer, mangled by panting breaths of overexertion. The man's glassy eyes go wide and... confused?

And then he drops the knife in his hand like it's burned him before falling to his knees at Ghost's side.

"Hells fuckin' bells, Lt. What happened? Are ye broken?"

Scars crisscross the man's face, puckered and vicious, but... Those eyes. That voice.

And yet—

Ghost scrambles back, his frozen body falling back on the familiarity of distrust. "Get the fuck away from me," he growls. "Dunno who you are, but... but you're not him. You can't be him."

"Lt..."

A note of sadness and desperation coats the word he's heard a thousand times from lips that look just like those. The man reaches out, but Ghost smacks his hand away.

"Don't touch me," he growls.

Because it's a trick. It has to be a trick. He's not this lucky. His life is made of tragedy, the highs only there to ensure a longer drop when everything crumbles to dust. Maybe that's what this is, then? A trick to raise him up so high that the drop finally shatters him?

Maybe he's lost his mind. Or maybe he's delirious from excessive blood loss. Regardless, he won't fall for whatever game Makarov is playing now.

He attempts to stand, but it seems his body has chosen this moment to finally betray him. He groans and presses a hand into his side. A vicious hiss leaves the man's mouth as blood seeps into Ghost's glove, turning the white paint red.

"Shite. Tha's bad. Ye need to call for med evac. Are the others here?"

"Wouldn't you like to know. Makarov got you doing his interrogatin' now?"

"What? No, I'd never—"

"Never hunt the 141 for years on end. Never fuck up our missions right and left? Never ruthlessly kill soldiers without a hint of remorse? No. My Johnny would never. You, though? You've killed half of the people lying around us. Saw you do it with my scope. Now you expect me to believe you're... you're him?" Ghost shakes his head and bites back another groan of pain. "No. Johnny is dead. You're just one of Makarov's tricks."

The man's face twists into something close to panic. "Fuck. Ghost, I swear to ye... I don't... I don't remember any of tha'. What I can tell ye is I was never in tha' tunnel. Konni bastards grabbed me in Sibera and sent the 141 back with... some kind of replacement. Makarov would come see me and talk about a serum that did too good a job making them into me. Last thing I remember, I was tied to a chair in some backwater base being shot full of..."

The man trails off as he seems to realize the implications of what he's saying. All Ghost can think, though, is that even if the man is lying, the fact that he looks and sounds like Johnny means Makarov has access to far more advanced biotech than any of them suspected. 

As if to underscore the realization, a faint hiss reaches his ears as his breathing regulates. He grabs the man's vest and pulls him closer, turning his ear toward the helmet.

The hissing gets louder.

The man seems to realize what Ghost is doing and tries to pull off the helmet, but it's locked down. Zero's movements become more violent the longer he struggles, a low growl starting up deep in his chest. Ghost leans up—

And then hisses in pain as his side reminds him why that's a bad idea. His reaction seems to distract the man, though.

"Med evac, Ghost. Call it in. Ye've got nothing to fear from me."

As much as he hates to admit it, the man is right. His team is long gone with the exfil helo, so he's going to need to call in his own evac. With a shaking hand, Ghost flips on his comms.

"Ghost to Watcher-1 actual."

"Ghost, this is Watcher-1. Send traffic."

Laswell's voice soothes the frayed edges of Ghost's rapidly declining confidence in his sanity. He takes a deep breath.

"Agent Zero was waiting for us. Need med evac immediately."

"Shit. You broken?"

"Affirmative."

"Med evac already inbound. Price's doing. Hot zone?"

"Negative. All clear."

"Mission sitrep?"

"Mission FUBAR but..."

Ghost trails off, unsure of how to explain. He glances at Jo— at the man with Johnny's face and clicks off the comms.

"If you want me to believe you're Johnny," he growls, "you'll come with me and prove it."

"'Course I will, Simon," the man says in a sad tone so like Johnny's that Ghost seizes up.

Laswell's voice breaks him out of it. "Ghost, how copy?"

He clicks back into the comms and explains to Laswell that he's bringing an asset with him, the faint sound of helo blades echoing in the distance as he signs off. He stares at the man with Johnny's face, waiting for an attack. Waiting for the agent to reveal his game.

But the attack never comes. As the helo appears on the horizon, Makarov's agent just stares into space, his expression reminiscent of someone slipping into a dissociative state.

Ghost's heart makes itself known for the first time in years. Yearning, sharp as a dagger slipped between ribs, suffuses his chest. 

A stab in the back might be worth it just to feel the familiar weight in his arms, to let himself believe for a few precious seconds that his Johnny is back.

Ghost shakes away the feeling.

He can't afford to trust. Can't afford to believe.

Not yet.

<< Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 >>

[felsicveins]

Does JD have any different terrible tattoos that he’s embarrassed by? I could see him getting a new shitty tattoo every time he gets drunk with a new partner because he convinces himself that this time is absolutely the time it works out.

Send more asks and I'll give him more tattoos