Thursday, October 13, 2011

The Holy Spirit

We have been talking about the Holy Spirit in our church services for the last couple of weeks.  It is interesting that Jesus told Nicodemus he must be "born from above" to see the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus went on to call the experience, "Born of water and of the Spirit."

What do you suppose that means?  How are we "born of water?"  How are we "born of the Spirit?"  If this is being "born from above," what part do we play in the whole thing?

I would suggest that baptism with water is a more important part of beginning a relationship with Jesus than we Wesleyans sometimes treat it.

I would also add that being born of the Spirit is not taught very well or addressed very much in our salvation messages.  We talk about believing, but Jesus said we will not enter the Kingdom of God without being "born of the Spirit."  How does that happen?  Do our churches reflect an understanding or experience of life-change that evidences a "New Birth" in our people?