“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.“ John 3:6-7
It is not enough to be born of the flesh — a birth resulting from the union of a man and woman. To be a part of God’s kingdom, one must be born again of God — of the gracious working of God’s Spirit through God’s saving Word and Baptism.
Thank You, O Holy Spirit, for raising me up from spiritual death to spiritual life through “the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26). Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5
The Pharisees rejected God’s will when they rejected John the Baptist’s call to repent and be baptized in the name of the coming Messiah and Savior (cf. Luke 7:29-30). Jesus told Nicodemus, a Pharisee, that one cannot enter the kingdom of God if he is not born again of water and the gracious working of the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls Baptism a “washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit. 3:5). It is “the washing of water by the word” through which God brings us into the new covenant established through the shedding of Jesus’ holy and precious blood on the cross. When we trust in Christ and are baptized into His name, God cleanses us from our sins and makes us His own dear children and heirs of eternal life (Eph. 5:26; cf. Gal. 3:26ff.).
Grant, O Lord, that I not neglect Your Word but take comfort in the Gospel promises of forgiveness and life, pledged to me by the Spirit through Your Word and the waters of Baptism in Jesus’ name. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28
A blessing and a curse are set before us today, as well. God promises us a great blessing when we repent of our sinful ways and look to Christ Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness, and then seek to walk according to God’s commandments. He promises a curse when we turn aside from His Word and continue on in our sinful ways, impenitent.
Grant that I hear and heed Your Word, O Lord, acknowledging my sinfulness and looking to You for mercy for the sake of Christ Jesus, my Savior. Teach me Your Word and lead me in the way everlasting. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Romans 8:19-21
All of God’s creation was placed under a curse when mankind fell into sin, and it awaits the day when those who have faith in Christ are raised up and glorified, for then it too will be set free from the curse of sin and partake of the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Keep us in the true faith, O God, that we may be raised up unto life eternal in the new heavens and earth which You will create, where there will be no more curse, no more sin, and no more death. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13
The LORD God has redeemed us from our evil and sinful ways by the death of His Son in our stead, and He has called us to Himself, to be His own special people. What does He require of us as His redeemed children? To honor and respect Him as our Maker and Redeemer, to walk in His ways, to serve Him with all our heart and soul, and to obey all that He commands us in His Word.
O LORD God, thank You for the gift of Your Son, for His holy life and innocent sufferings and death on the cross to redeem me from sin and death. Grant that I trust in Him and fear, love, and trust in You with all my heart and soul. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
