Following the Unseen God

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is 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’” (John 3:5-7).

We were not designed to function independent of God, but we keep trying to do what cannot be done. We are not omniscient or omnipotent, but we still try to determine our own destiny.  There is only one infinite Creator, but we try to be God in our own lives. This desire to usurp the throne that rightly belongs to our Creator underlies all sin and is the reason we must be born again. 

When Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again He was preparing to fulfill a prophecy of the Prophet Ezekiel through whom God had said: “… I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws (Ezek 36:27). When God gave this prophecy through Ezekiel He was talking to the Israelites who were under the Mosaic Law. But Jesus gave the spirit of the Law when He said, "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Math. 22: 37-40).  At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came in power and now indwells every believer, fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy. God has put His Spirit in us and is moving and empowering us to follow Jesus in obedience to these two simple commandments.