John 3:1-12
3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
All who believe in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins are children of God. All believers look forward to the day Christ our elder brother is revealed—the day of His glorious appearing to judge the living the dead. For as much as Scripture doesn’t tell us about everlasting life, we know “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” On that day we will be made like Christ. The image of God which Adam and Eve lost for mankind—the true knowledge of God, righteousness, and holiness—will be entirely renewed. Looking forward to this completed restoration, the children of God purify themselves with the power the Holy Spirit gives.
The children of God purify themselves by abiding in Christ. Abiding in Christ by faith, they do not sin. This does not mean that the children of God never sin. It means they do not willfully sin. The children of God know and believe the gospel that Christ “was manifest to take away our sins.” Since Christ came to take away sins, those who have been born of God through Holy Baptism and faith practice righteousness each day even as Christ is righteous. If we choose to sin we willfully reject the rebirth God has worked in us and align ourselves with the devil who chose to sin from the beginning.
Children of God still have the sinful flesh with its wicked passions and evil desires, but they put these to death each by living in the gospel. They know that God forgives their sins for Jesus’ sake. They know they are righteous in God’s sight, covered with Jesus’ perfect righteousness. They also believe that the purpose the Son of God was manifested was “that He might destroy the works of the devil” in them. Jesus destroys the devil’s work in us, not by the coercion of the law, but by the gospel which reminds us each day that we are children of God, sins forgiven, and temples of of the Holy Spirit. As children of God we purify ourselves, resist temptation, and practice righteousness by loving one another.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, as You have made us Your children in Holy Baptism, grant that we may practice righteousness today in the joy of Your gospel. Amen.
