(The following is a submission to The Recorder’s weekly column, “Faith Matters.” Each Saturday, a faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 265.)
In the third chapter of the gospel of John, a man by the name of Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night for a private meeting. Nicodemus is a respected member of the community, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish council. He shows great respect for Jesus by addressing Him as Rabbi, which means scholar or teacher. Nicodemus also acknowledges that Jesus must have a close relationship with God because of all the miraculous signs He has performed. For Nicodemus this was one scholar recognizing that another scholar may have some interesting new teaching that might help him in his quest for knowledge of God.
It is at this point that the story takes an unexpected turn: Before Nicodemus has a chance to ask a question, Jesus tells him he must be born again.
The term “born again” in the original language of the New Testament carries with it the idea of a complete radical change, a chance to start over, to begin again. To be born again also means to be born from above. Jesus tells Nicodemus unless he is born again, born from above, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus came to Jesus expecting to receive a new teaching on how to obtain a closer relationship to God. Instead of gaining some new insight to increase his knowledge, he is being told that he must begin a whole new life: Old things must be left behind and all things must be made new.
Jesus is telling Nicodemus he needs to be born anew spiritually. To know God more intimately, he must embrace completely and totally the teaching of Jesus. He must place himself under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul expresses this same sentiment in his letter to the Philippians when he wrote: “Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteous of my own from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.” Phil 3:7-9a (NIV)
The risen Lord Jesus invites us to become a part of the kingdom of God by being born again. We must surrender control of our lives to Him not in part but through complete and total submission to His Lordship.
The River Valley Christian Church is located at 345 West Leyden Road, Colrain, meeting in the East Colrain Chapel.
The church started as a Bible study in Shelburne with five families in June 2012. In October 2012, we began regular worship at 4 Conway St., in a storefront in Shelburne Falls. The church outgrew the storefront and began worshipping in East Colrain Chapel in June 2016. We now have 21 members with an average attendance of 35.
Our service is Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School is available during this time. We are a member of the Evangelical Free Church of America. For more information, please visit our Facebook page.