John 3:3, “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’”
Man is a spiritual being with a soul that lives in a body. What makes man so special is that unlike angels, man has a body with five senses. And unlike animals, man has a self-conscious soul (mind, will and emotions) that connects him both to the spiritual and physical world. Mankind’s unique nature is called the “image of God” or in Latin, the “imago dei.”
Moses wrote in Genesis 1:27, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” The image of God in mankind thus is three-fold, (1) Mankind (both male and female) was created to have dominion over the physical world, like how God has dominion in the spiritual world (Genesis 1:28), (2) Mankind was created to be fruitful and multiply in procreation, like how God multiplies in creation (Genesis 1:28) and (3) Mankind was created to have self-awareness and free will as God himself has freedom of choice and self-awareness (Genesis 2:17).
When Adam sinned and brought spiritual death to the world, Jesus came to be the “Second Adam,” born without sin, to die for the sins of mankind (1 Corinthians 15:45). As a result, when Jesus said to Nicodemus in today’s passage, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again,” He was referring to mankind being restored to the fullness of God’s image in their spiritual soul. Charles Hodge wrote, “The proximate result of obedience to God is inward conformity to the Divine image.”
The Spirit-filled life starts when someone is born again in his or her spirit, restored to the image of God and then their soul is filled to overflowing with God’s power.
Though the body will not be made perfect until the resurrection, the spiritual soul (mind, will and emotions) is made perfect at rebirth. The author of Hebrews wrote, “For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy” (Hebrews 10:14 ESV). We don’t have to wait until heaven to receive our new soul; we can have it now once we are born again by the Holy Spirit. Peter said, “for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:9).
Remember, since we are spiritual beings that need to be born again in our spirits, and renewed in our souls, the Holy Spirit is the only one that can do such a miracle. Jesus said in John 3:6, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” By God’s grace, mankind can procreate fleshly bodies, but only God can recreate spiritual souls. Therefore, if you haven’t been born again, make the decision today. Then join with all of Jesus’ disciples and ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit!
Reflection
Action
- Place your faith in Jesus to save you and make you new.
- If you are born again ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
- Get ready to live a Spirit-filled life!
