John 3 – 4
Verses 3:5 – 6 really sum up the “born again” experience:
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
This becomes difficult to get because often we look at these bodies we are in as a unit. Like the flesh has many integrated parts our “minds” are the same.The “mind” aspect of one’s being can actually be parsed into three different levels: the mind, the soul and the spirit. All work together, but are different in function.
The mind controls ones basic operation throughout the day, processing the environment and reacting to it. The soul takes these experiences and processes them on a deeper level, considered the “higher mind”. The spirit is the connection to God and the energy he offers. This is where Paul is trying to get us in understanding. Our souls are “images” of the spirit of God.
Verses 3:16 – 17 are the root verses of Christianity:
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16 is one of those “verses” that if you have been a Christian long enough you have memorized it. One can spend days parsing out what this really means, but the reality of it is simple. We just need to believe Christ was real and believe what He said and did. In most basic of explanations it’s as simple as your “ABC’s”. ‘A’ccept Jesus into your heart and make Him the “Lord” of your life. ‘B’elieve that Jesus is who He said He is and walked this earth. ‘C’onfess your sins before God and be forgiven.
Verse 3:17 often gets ignored as Christians often feel they need to condemn this world. We should really leave the judgment part to God and just love on people to show them what God has to offer. Non-believers seem to look at living with God as more a lack than an excess. You “have” to give up promiscuous sex, drinking and partying. You “have” to be honest and manage your affairs properly. When we “condemn” the world we tend to turn more away than to the love of God.
Verse 3:30 says it all in a nutshell:
He must increase, but I must decrease.
That is so simple to say and so difficult to do!
Verse 4:24 ties into much of the real connection Jesus is trying to make for us:
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
We often try to connect with God through works or fancy prayers and lose the real connection with Him. Sure helping others and prayers are necessary, but they key is to know the motivation. Is it out of love and obedience or is it just to earn “brownie points”? We need to all learn that “works” and “prayer” led by the “spirit” are more of what God is looking for that the actual acts. This is the “sticky” part of Christianity that people need to understand to gain a more full life with God. If we can connect in spirit, than we know God personally.