John
3 – 4
Verse 3:5 talks about the meaning of “born again”:
I tell you the truth, if someone
does not experience water and Spirit birth, there’s no chance he will make it
into God’s kingdom.
Life comes from inside the womb for life here on earth,
outside the world we know is a different kind of birth. The connection with God
is not physical, but rather through the spirit, hence why we need to be reborn
in a new spirit to gain this connection. I often read this and believe that the
baptism is necessary to gain life with God. Many believe it’s an option, but
this implies it may not be.
Now we can’t ignore verse 3:16 since that is a foundational
verse in Christianity:
For God expressed His love for the
world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will
not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life.
The Voice once again words this slightly different, but with
the same meaning and impact. God, a higher power, above all, gave his “first
born”, his “first fruit” to admonish the sins of all mankind. Think of how
powerful that statement alone is! God not only asks us to give our firsts to Him,
but He did that also. This is the one verse salvation story, just believe and
you are in.
Verse 4:14 has Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman offering
her eternal life:
I offer water that will become a
wellspring within you that gives life throughout eternity. You will never be
thirsty again.
First this conversation was a big deal then, the Jews did
not associate with the Samaritans in any way. Jesus talking to her startled her
and dropped her guard. She was offering water to quench ones immediate need,
where Jesus was offering her eternal life. Big difference.
Verses 4:22 – 24 talks about the changes that are happening
to everyone’s relationship with God:
21-24 Woman,
I tell you that neither is so. Believe this: a new day is coming—in
fact, it’s already here—when the importance will not be placed on the time and
place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshipers. You worship what you
don’t know while we worship what we do know, for God’s salvation is coming
through the Jews. The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose
worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether
you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then
you do not worship.
The question was, where does God want us to worship. Jesus
points out worship is in the heart and not in a place. Worship constantly!!
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