Redemption Comes From God

"Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

We typically take these words as a barrier to entry. We see this famous statement by Jesus as the ultimate gateway to heaven. Accomplish this, we say, and you will be in. Fail to accomplish this, and nothing else matters.

If you look at the context, Jesus is actually lifting a great burden from Nicodemus, the one to whom Jesus is responding. Nicodemus was suggesting that Jesus was like them only better. Jesus responds by saying that he's on the wrong track.

Redemption comes from God who is above. It's as out of your control as your coming into this world was. You cannot achieve it. You cannot will it into being. You must be born from God above. He must reach down and give you new life. You are helpless. And that is good news, really.

1. What are your thoughts about Jesus' statement? What did you think it meant?

2. Have you experienced this re-birth that Jesus describes? If not, what do you think that means for you?

3. If you have experienced the re-birth he describes, how often do you think about it?

-- Charlie