Embracing God's Love: A Journey of Faith and Rebirth

Spiritual Rebirth 

Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, approached Jesus at night to converse privately, likely due to concerns about public perception. During their dialogue, Jesus introduced deep theological concepts, such as the need for spiritual rebirth to enter the Kingdom of God. Initially, Nicodemus did not fully comprehend this concept. He questioned how an adult could re-enter their mother's womb to be born again. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that being "born again" refers to a spiritual rebirth through water and the Spirit, not a physical one. According to Jesus, those born of flesh remain flesh, while those born of the Spirit become spirit. Continuing with the verse, Jesus elucidates that no one can ascend to heaven except the one who descended from heaven, namely the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be exalted, so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life (Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:1-17, Bible Gateway). 

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God's Love and Sacrifice 

This indicates that Jesus Christ has the authority to speak about heavenly matters since He came from Heaven and is both the Son of Man and the Son of God (Staples, 2017). The most significant message that Jesus Christ conveyed to Nicodemus is encapsulated in the well-known phrase frequently mentioned in sermons during the Advent season: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, [Jesus Christ], so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, Bible Gateway)” God sent Jesus to the world with the purpose of offering salvation and eternal life to those who believe in Him.  

Moral Guidance 

Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for our sins to demonstrate God's immense love for us. Do you recognize the magnitude of God's actions? Express your gratitude by showing compassion to others. My family and I attended the second evening of Simbang Gabi last December 16, also known as Night Mass, which is a Filipino Christmas tradition involving a series of nine nightly masses leading up to Christmas Eve. Fr. Nady, the presiding priest, emphasizes in his sermons: "Observe what is right, do what is just, and avoid evil things.”  

Living Faith 

We can demonstrate our appreciation for God's profound love and kindness by extending goodwill to others. As Fr. Nady Meren, OSM, mentioned, it is essential to discern what is right. This understanding comes from the ability to differentiate between what is right and what is simply good. It is important to acknowledge that while certain things may be good, they are not necessarily right. However, everything that is right is invariably beneficial for us.  

Now, let us proceed to his second point. It is imperative for individuals to prioritise fairness and justice towards others as well as themselves. There is an adage that states: justice must prevail. We should earnestly endeavour to be righteous in the sight of God. Although we are not perfect beings and only God embodies perfection, He does not demand perfection from us. Rather, God values our sincere efforts to follow His will, which holds greater importance than achieving perfection. 

And the third and final note he gave that night was that we must make an extra effort to avoid evil. As Catholic Christians, it is not enough to simply turn away from sins; we must do our very best to avoid them. As the Bible says, 'If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it' (Genesis 4:7, NIV). 'Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour' (1 Peter 5:8, NIV). We must diligently guard our doors to prevent them from opening, for once inside, these beasts will not hesitate to enter our hearts and inflict fear upon us. 

To avoid committing sins, it is essential to ensure that you do not engage in activities that may lead to sinful behavior from the outset. It is important to be mindful of your thoughts, speech, and emotions to prevent making mistakes. Avoid entertaining thoughts that may lead to sinful actions. If you are angry, refrain from contemplating or planning any form of retaliation against others for their actions towards you. Avoid spreading rumors about others. Use considerate language and refrain from using harsh words that may affect the feelings and emotions of others. In all interactions with others, it is important to respond to inquiries without reacting emotionally. Often, reactions can provoke anger in the person you are speaking with. Depending on the context, reactions can have positive or negative effects on your interaction with another individual. The Bible advises, "Be as gentle as a dove, and as wise as a serpent" (Matthew 10:16, NIV). The dove is often used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. To invite the Holy Spirit to reside in one's heart, it is essential to cultivate humility and gentleness, akin to the demeanor of a white dove. 

God loves all of humanity, and the Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed His life to redeem us from our sins. He endured pain and insults so that we would not have to experience them ourselves. He took on all suffering for our salvation. In recognition of His sacrifices, it is imperative that we strive to follow and obey God's will diligently. Mere belief in Jesus Christ is insufficient; we must possess a living faith in Him—faith that manifests through actions (James 2:17, NIV) and is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of our faith in Jesus (Francis, 2024). 

 

References for Further Reading: 

New International Version (NIV). Retrieved from [Bible Gateway]  

Francis. (2024, September 7). Faith in Action: Unlocking the Meaning of James 2:17 for Today’s Believers. Retrieved from [Study Bible]  

Tim Staples. (2017, September 12). The Truth About Biblical Authority. Retrieved from [Catholic.com]