BORN AGAIN
A born again Christian recognizes that he has been born in spiritual corruption -- that by nature all people are born spiritually blind, dead, and enemies of God. Without help, there is no hope. As St. Paul says in Philippians, "our destiny is destruction."
Nicodemus came to Jesus so that he might secretly to ask Him questions. And when he does, Jesus teaches Nicodemus that God wants to offer everyone this help by enabling them to be connected to His Messiah. This connection comes not because of our own goodness, power, or initiative. It comes because "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."
The method of our connection to Christ is designed to show the wonderful nature of such grace. A child is brought before God -- a child who has not the rational capacity nor the human initiative to choose God. And, by God's initiative, using the simple elements of water and the Word, God comes to this child and makes him His own. He creates faith. He offers the gift of the Holy Spirit.
God's initiative, not ours. God's grace, not our decision.
Many view Baptism as something we do for God -- a sign of our decision to follow Him. But Jesus' words to Nicodemus remind us again that we are utterly dependent on God for our heavenly future. Our faith is His work. Our future is based on His gift.
And so, to be born again doesn't require some special second experience with God beyond our baptism. It means simply that God creates and sustains faith through His Holy Spirit -- that He makes a covenant with us to be our Father, through Jesus Christ, and to offer us eternity.
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