Lesson 6

Key Text

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of

God’ ” John 3.3

Nicodemus felt drawn to

Christ but dared not visit

Him openly. He greeted

Jesus politely, acknowle-

dging Him as a teacher

from God. The Master

knew that behind this

courteous greeting was

a seeker of truth; there-

fore, wasting no time, He

told Nicodemus that he

did not need theoretical

knowledge as much as he

needed spiritual regenera-

tion, a new birth.

This concept was hard for Nicodemus to grasp. Because of his

descent from Abraham, he was sure he had a place in God’s kingdom;

in addition, as a strict Pharisee, he surely deserved the favor of God,

right? So, why did he need such a radical change?

Patiently Jesus explained

that spiritual transformation

is a super-natural work

produced by the Holy Spirit.

Though we cannot see or

understand how it happens,

we can perceive the results.

We call it conversion, a new

life in Christ.

Though we should always

remember how the Lord

called us and converted us,

our challenge is to

steadfastly abide in Him

daily so that He can

transform us more and

more into His image.

“Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’” (John 3:5)

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”(Ezekiel 36:26)

Baptism is the external sign of our life change. However, when we are born in the Spirit, the Spirit transforms our heart and makes us new creatures.

There are similarities between physical and spiritual births. Both mark the

beginning of a new life. Also, we produce neither birth ourselves; it’s done for

us. But there is also an important difference between them: we were unable to

choose if we wanted to be born physically; we can, however, choose to be born

spiritually. Only those who freely decide to allow the Holy Spirit to generate a

new spiritual self within them are born again. God respects our freedom and,

although eager to transform us, He does not change us by force.

Think about the way in which the Lord

produced your conversion.

It does not matter if it was through

dramatic circumstances or through a long

and imperceptible process of

transformation.

How have you experienced the new birth?

REFLECTION

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

To be born again involves beginning a new life.

Although the work of the Spirit is invisible–like the wind is–, his effects in us are visible to those around us.

To be born again is not an instantaneous action. A newborn baby must grow up until he or she becomes an adult. We must gradually grow up until we are made perfect, “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)

He awakens our conscience.

He changes our mind.

He subdues every unholy desire.

He fills us with the sweet peace

of heaven.

What does the Spirit do

in us?

The New Life in Christ

Being born again is

possible only through the

work of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus made use of the fact

that the Greek word

pneuma means both

“Spirit” and “wind” in

order to illustrate the

process of conversion

(John 3:8). The wind blows;

none of us can start it,

direct it, nor stop it. Its

great power is beyond

human control. We can

only react to it, either

resisting it or using its

potential for our benefit.

Likewise, the Holy Spirit is constantly working upon the

heart of every human being, drawing him or her to Christ.

No one has control over its great saving and transforming

power. We can resist it or yield to it. When we surrender

ourselves to His convicting influence, the Holy Spirit

produces a new life in us.

Is there any way to know if we have experienced the new

birth? Yes. The Spirit works invisibly, but the results of His

activity are visible. Those around us will know that Jesus

created a new heart in us.

The Spirit always produces an outward demonstration of

the inward transformation He makes in us. As Jesus said, “

‘by their fruits you will know them’ ” (Matt. 7:20, NKJV).

The new life in Christ is not a patched-up life with a few

external reformations.

It is not a modification or improvement of the old life but a

complete transformation.

Meditate on your life during the last 24

hours.

To what degree did those who relate with

you perceive Christ in your words,

attitudes, and actions?

Pray about those traits of character that

still need to be modeled by the Holy

Spirit.

REFLECTION

“It is not a casual touch with Christ that is needed, but it is to abide with

Him. He called you to abide with Him. He does not propose to you a short-

lived blessedness that is realized occasionally through earnest seeking of the

Lord and passes away as you engage in the common duties of life. Your

abiding with Christ makes every necessary duty light, for He bears the

weight of every burden. He has prepared for you to abide with Him. This

means that you are to be conscious of an abiding Christ, that you are

continually with Christ, where your mind is encouraged and strengthened.”E.G.W. (In Heavenly Places, February 18)

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

What two main things must we do to spiritually grow up and abide in Christ?

• If we want to abide in Christ, we must know His will and live according to it. We can only do so by constantly studying His Word.

• We learn to empty our self and to totally depend on Him through prayer.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

According to Jesus, which conditions must our prayers meet to be answered?

We need to believe that God can answer us (Matthew 21:22)

An attitude of forgiveness toward our neighbor is required (Mark 11:25)

Our will should always be subordinated to the Father’s will (Matthew 6:10; Luke 22:42)

If the answer is “delayed”, we should not be discouraged. On the contrary, we must “pray and not lose.” (Luke 18:1)

One of the most deceitful

traps is to try to live the

Christian life independen-

tly from the Lord. “ ‘With-

out Me you can do noth-

ing’ ” (John 15:5, NKJV).

Without Him we cannot

resist even one temptation,

overcome one sin, or

develop a character in His

likeness. The new spiritual

life can grow only by

means of an uninterrupted

communion with Christ.

By reading the Word and meditating on it, we are nourished and strengthe-

ned. “ ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life,’ ” Jesus

said (John 6:63, NKJV). Treasured in our hearts and minds, these words will

inspire our prayers in order to keep us in contact with the Lord. Though it’s

easy to be distracted by “ ‘the cares of this world’ ” (Mark 4:19, NKJV), we

must make a concentrated effort to abide in Jesus.

“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” (Luke 9:23)

What does taking up our cross mean?

E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, page 651; The Faith I Live By, May 25)

To take up our cross means to deny ourselves daily. Not just once in a while but every day; not just a part of us but our entire being.

“All are now being tested and

proved. We have been baptized into

Christ, and if we will act our part by

separating from everything that

would drag us down and make us

what we ought not to be, there will

be given us strength to grow up into

Christ, who is our living head, and

we shall see the salvation of God.”

E.G.W. (Counsels for the Church, cp. 42, pg. 236)

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