重生
約翰福音三章1至8節
1有一個法利賽人,名叫尼哥底母,是猶太人的官。
2這人夜裡來見耶穌,說「拉比,我們知道你是由神那來作師傅的;因為你所行的神蹟,若沒有神同在,無人能行。」
3耶穌回答說:「我實實在在地告訴你,人若不重生,就不能見神的國。」
4尼哥底母說:「人已經老了,如何能重生呢?豈能再進母腹生出來嗎?」
5耶穌說:「我實實在在地告訴你,人若不是從水和聖靈生的,就不能進神的國。
6從肉身生的就是肉身;從靈生的就是靈。
7我說:『你們必須重生』,你不要以為希奇。
8風隨著意思吹,你聽見風的響聲,卻不曉得從那裡來,往那裡去;凡從聖靈生的,也是如此。」
信息分享
當人認同聖靈在他心中的說話,接受耶穌基督作為他的救主,他就得著重生,或可說是從靈生的。聖靈會將新生賜給他,他將永遠與基督聯合,且成為神家中的一分子。
當聖靈進入人生命的那一刻,聖靈就會住在人的心中。聖靈將一直與那人同在,直至他被接回榮耀的天家。
新約一再告訴我們,當我們接受基督的時候,我們就接受了父神。當我們接受基督,就等於相信父神。對聖靈而言也是一樣。我們接受基督,就等於接受聖靈。我們不可能將三位一體神分開。我們不可以只接受一位,而將其他兩位摒諸生命的門外。
這正是基督與尼哥底母談及的內容,但尼哥底母卻覺得很難理解。基督說聖靈的工作好像風的吹動。當聖靈工作的時候,就如無形的風在吹動一般,人雖然看不見,卻沒有人可以使之停止。
基督指出,人最初由母腹生出來,與後來藉聖靈重生,是兩件截然不同的事。一個真正的基督徒必須經過重生。
使人重生是聖靈的工作。聖靈首先使人知罪,並知道自己需要一位救主,然後祂便賜人新的生命,並永遠住在人的心中。
請記著基督在約翰福音十四章16節的話:「保惠師(即聖靈)必永遠與你們同在」。這是基督給我們的應許,而祂的應許是永不改變的。
反思:
聖靈已進入我的心中,且永遠與我同在。
BORN AGAIN
John 3:1-8
1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, 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.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Message
When a person agrees with what the Holy Spirit has been saying to his heart and accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour, he is born again, or born from above, by the Spirit of God. A new life is given to him by the Holy Spirit and he is eternally united with Christ. He also becomes a member of the family of God.
In that same moment the Holy Spirit comes into his body and from then on the Holy Spirit indwells that heart and life. He seals that life with his own presence and remains with that believer until he is taken home to glory.
In the New Testament we are repeatedly told that when we receive Christ, we receive the Father. When we believe in one, we believe in the other also. The same is true of the Holy Spirit. You cannot divide the Trinity. You cannot have one without the other two living in your life also.
Christ spoke to Nicodemus about all of this, but Nicodemus found it hard to understand. Christ said the action of the Holy Spirit is like the movement of the wind. It blows and you cannot stop it. When the Spirit of God works, silently and as invisible as the wind, no-one can stop him. Christ said there is a great difference between being born the first time and being born the second time by the Holy Spirit. A true Christian is one who has been born twice. This is the second work of the Spirit in a life. First he convicts of sin and the need of a Saviour, then he gives new life and enters that heart to stay forever.
Remember the words of Christ in John 14:16, The Comforter (the Holy Spirit) will abide with you forever. This is the promise of Christ and his words are always true.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The Comforter (helper) has come to my heart to remain with me always.

