We see in Genesis 3:21 that God sacrificed an animal in order to cover man's nakedness. A real symbol of the covering sacrifice of blood for sin. Sin was represented in the nakedness of man. Blood is representative of life. Life is in the blood.The skin of the sacrificed animal represents covering. The flesh was revealed through man's disobedience and it wasn't pretty. The flesh is selfish and self serving. It's all about "me" and what "I" want. A temporary covering was all God provided at this time in history. The shedding of blood was instituted at this point and we see this blood requirement throughout the Old Testament (Old Covenant) in the sacrifices in the Temple. I've been in the ministry for 28 years. I have served as a youth minister, Children's Director, Christian coffee house barista, Pastor, Women's Ministry leader. I have traveled to a few countries overseas to minister. I've worn numerous other hats and I've been around a lot of people. We have bailed people out of jail, kept a few out of jail, been praised and hated. When it all sifts down, all people deal with the same temptations. Ecclesiastes tells us there is nothing new under the sun. The devil has the same tricks. He uses his only tool - pride. I've seen so many prideful people in various degrees. Pride sits and judges. We are not called to judge but to serve. That's it. Those that do serve - with no strings attached - find themselves in the most blessed of situations. These are the ones who just do the job. No gossip, tale bearing...just serving God through serving others. You know, God looks at the heart. These are those I love to serve with. These are the ones who get the work done. I remember when I was a barista in our church's first coffee house. For three years I read the Bible to a gentleman who came in every day. He was uneducated, just a few teeth and definitely from a poor background. We had some wonderful discussions about God. Many times, he had much better insight into God's Word than the "educated" people I knew. People used to ask me why I was reading to this man. They said I could have Bible studies with others - you know educated people! Well, after those three years, this man hooked us up with the the young boy we ended up adopting. Be careful how you judge. Are you "bigger" than the one God wants you to minister to? Are the "least of these" Jesus refers to too least for you? If so, you're missing an opportunity to minister to Christ Himself. Careful of that pride - it might bite you in the end - and you know what end I am referring to!
“Have you been born again?” the Fundamentalist at the door asks the unsuspecting Catholic.
ReplyDeleteYes, they believe in Jesus. And yes, they try to live Christian lives. They probably have some vague awareness that Fundamentalists think being “born again” involves a religious experience or “accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savoir.”
The Catholic Church has always held, being “born of water and the Spirit” refers to baptism, and then it follows that being “born again” or “born from above” means being baptized.
Clearly, the context implies that born of “water and the Spirit” refers to baptism. The Evangelist tells us that immediately after talking with Nicodemus, Jesus took his disciples into the wilderness where they baptized people (John 3:22).