Why is Bearing the Light in Christ Jesus Essential for EVERY Believer?

Upon entering my room one day, I observed that the illumination therein had considerably dimmed compared to when I initially installed the light bulbs. Realizing it might be time for a change, I decided to take a stroll to the local hardware store to acquire new light bulbs. The crucial detail I had to bear in mind was that these were no ordinary light bulbs; they were the specific ½ dozen packs of incandescent chandelier bulbs, distinct from the typical round ones used for a nightstand lamp. As I headed to the hardware store, ensuring I selected the right type and size was imperative, given that you can't simply purchase any lightbulb and assume it will fit!

Returning home safely, I replaced the old, dimmed lightbulbs with the new ones. The contrast was stark – the old ones appeared dark, dirty, and unsuitable for further use. However, upon flicking the switch with the new bulbs, the room illuminated so brightly that it was hard to believe I had been studying in such darkness. This scenario parallels the narrative in John 3. In this chapter, we witness a dialogue between Nicodemus, identified as "a ruler of the Jews" (John 3:1), and Jesus Christ during his time in Jerusalem.

Jesus and Nicodemus having a conversation on being "born of the water and spirit"

Nicodemus: “...How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” (v 4)

Jesus: “...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (v 5-6)

If you're familiar with the concept of a conditional, it's when the sufficient condition—being born of water and the spirit—is entirely adequate for entering the kingdom to happen (though this exclusivity applies solely to this statement). Additionally, entering the kingdom is a necessary condition of being born of water and spirit, as we all aspire to gain entry into the kingdom!

Beyond this brief lesson in LSAT formal logic, Jesus imparts to us:

THEN

IF a person is born of water and the Spirit → They will gain access to the kingdom of God.

But what does it mean to be born of the water AND the spirit? Let's look at Acts 22. There we see that Paul, now healed from being blinded by God after persecuting his people, is instructed by Ananias to "...arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (v 16).

Seventh Day Adventists view baptism as their expression of being "born again," often referred to as "the watery grave." This symbolizes the death of sin and the resurrection into a new life in Christ. However, the journey of salvation in Christ doesn't end with baptism.

So being born of water must have to do with washing away sins? Let's go back to the conversation between Jesus Christ and Nicodemus. Verse 3 states "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." here, the phrase "born again" is translated to being born "from above". Throughout the four gospels, we see that Jesus Christ is instructing his followers and disciples to look upward to him as their savior, healer, etc., and to look forward to a new world where sin will reign no more.

Let's think of verses 13-15 of John 3 circumspectly:

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

Here Jesus is comparing the staff that Moses had used to part the Red Sea, to how God will be raised on the cross. However, what we should know about the event at Golgatha is that while it has a variety of interpretations, one of its main lessons is for his people to look upward. We should look to God who alone can ascend and descend from heaven, was also able to sacrifice his own life for our sins.

By the Father sending his only begotten son for our sins, the line that was once cut off by sin can be put back into service if we allow ourselves to cleanse ourselves from sin and allow God to work in and through us. Throughout the book of Genesis, even pre-Noah, evil was and grew greatly in the world. From the first Sin to the first murder and onward, man has decided to choose his ways above the Lord's way (John 14:6). However, Jesus Christ has called us to pay attention to the ultimate price for our sins, so that we can no longer fear the evil in this world, and so that we can truly be born again in HIS name, giving us the chance to have eternal life.

But what about being born of the spirit you say?

Clarity is essential when considering the concept of being born. While the common notion is birth, another perspective involves the innate abilities one possesses from the very beginning. From the moment a person is born of water, there is a higher likelihood that they will inherently possess the "natural ability" to be led by the spirit over time. A compelling illustration of this is seen in the life of Apollos.

"This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord..." - Acts 18:25

Apollos here, being led by the Lord after having submitted to being born "in the spirit" through "knowing only the baptism of John", is now able to be born of the spirit as well, which now allows for God to be made manifest in others, so that they may also look upward towards God to be born again. Isn't that wonderful?

By being born of water and the spirit, we align ourselves with Christ, becoming more like Him. As we surrender our plans to God, we can lead lives that impact others positively. The transformation is not just personal; it extends to shining God's light into the darkest corners of others' lives. It's akin to changing a lightbulb from a dirty and dim existence to a clean and bright life in Christ!

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