The Law, Religion, Life, It’s All Spiritual
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
John 3:7–12 ESV Read More
There is a point in the conversation about Christ, faith, religion, and life that we have to admit that there is more to existence than the interaction of chemicals. That sounds very simplistic to say about this conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, but it might be the modern day version.
In the Old Testament, people were saved by their faith just like they are in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the people were given a Law to follow, a way of life, and as they lived that life according to that law, they expressed their faith. Do you recognize that God created everything and rested? Then on the 7th day take a break from creating things for yourself and rest. Do you recognize that God brought you and your people out of slavery in Egypt? Then don’t be a slave to a carved idol that did nothing for you.
All of these laws were very good. They were a Bill of Rights for a new nation, a set of rules for a religion and a government, and a pattern of life for those that wanted to see God. That’s how David can say in the Psalms “Oh how I love Your Law!” It was a great way of life if you wanted to express your love to God.
Over time, however, we humans like to rely on what is on the outside instead of what is on the inside. People began to do the outward acts just for the sake of doing them and thinking that was what they were supposed to do. We are not that different today. Historically, people stood up in church to show their anxious anticipation of what they were about to receive. To stand up was to say “GIVE IT TO ME I NEEEEEED IT!!!” But now we mostly stand because someone says “Please stand.”
Nicodemus was so entrenched in that physical activity world that Jesus was having a hard time pulling him out. He had to talk in extreme spiritual examples to help Nic realize that God was spiritual and a new Way was coming.
God didn’t change the rules, He just made a way.
Pray to see God’s spiritual side today. He’s moving around doing stuff and He wants to draw that attention to Himself.
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