66. WE HAVE TO BE BORN AGAINA new heart is key to changing your fate, but how do you get it?
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There has been a lot of talk in the last few years about change. Perhaps the most discussed topic is climate change. Although change is sometimes hard, it is often necessary even bene cial. It brings new challenges, makes us think harder, and provides new opportunities to grow and learn.
The purpose of doing these lessons and studying the Bible is to learn if fate can be changed. We have come to the crossroads in determining the answer to that question. Although we won’t find all the answers in this lesson, some of our original questions will be answered. So get ready because you are about to read some very shocking truths!
Esat was a typical man. He worked hard, paid the bills, enjoyed sports, and cared greatly for his family. He always considered himself to be a good man. But he had an inner struggle that just wouldn’t end. It seemed like no matter how hard he tried, in the end he always did the things he didn’t want to do. For example, he didn’t want to get angry with people, yell at his kids, or be dishonest. But it always seemed to happen. It was like a bad habit that he just couldn’t kick, a battle raging in his mind and body that he had no control over. It was about to drive him insane.
One day Esat decided to talk with an older man in the village. He had always respected this man because he was honest, calm, humble, and wise. During his whole life Esat had never heard anyone say something bad about him. If anyone could help him, it would be the old man.
“Peace be upon you uncle,” Esat said.
“Peace be unto you my boy” He replied.
They spoke for a little while about the weather, the coming harvest, and the recent roadwork. The weather was hot and even though they were sitting in the shade, they periodically wiped the sweat from their foreheads. Then Esat started to open up.
“Uncle, I need some advice. I was hoping you could help me.”
“Ok, explain. I will do what I can.”
Esat then began to explain his struggles. He described his fits of anger, jealousy, dissatisfaction with life, and desire, but inability, to always be honest. He even illustrated his point with many examples. While Esat was talking the old man just nodded his head and listened. Then Esat stopped speaking and waited attentively for the old man’s wise words. This was his only hope for change. If this old man didn’t have the answers nobody would.
The old man just sat there in silence, looking off into the distance. Then he spoke just one sentence,
“You need a new heart!”
Esat was stunned and confused. He didn’t know what to say, so he just sat there and listened to the dialogue in his head.
“What does my heart have to do with this? I don’t smoke or drink alcohol. I am still young. Why would I need a new heart when the one I have is healthy?” He thought to himself.
“But then again, he is old and he must know what he is talking about. Maybe I am just confused.” He continued to think. “Yes, if the old man says so, he must be right.”
Then Esat broke the silence by asking the old man, “How do I get a new heart?”
“Son, you will need to talk to God about that.”
It was very hard for Esat to swallow what he had just been told. Perhaps he was looking for a solution that was more tangible or logical. Something he could do to change things. But sometimes there isn’t anything we can do because the problem is bigger than us.
Well there was a man about 2000 years ago who received similar advice on more than one occasion. His name was Nicodemus. Let’s start reading about his experience in John chapter 3 verses 1 and 2:
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Nicodemus was from a sect of Jews called the Pharisees. These were the same men that John the Baptist called “vipers”. They believed that a person could attain salvation by keeping the Law of God. In other words, if they lived a good life, in line with God’s laws, they would be guaranteed a place in heaven. But there was a fundamental problem with their logic. It was impossible for them to keep God’s law! Just like Esat, they couldn’t keep themselves from doing wrong.
It was for this reason, and the fact that they stubbornly refused to believe the truth much less teach it, that John the Baptist called them vipers and told them to repent. They, just like each one of us, needed to repent of their sins and ask for forgiveness. Unlike many of the Pharisees, Nicodemus understood this and wanting to know more he secretly visited Jesus at night. It is obvious Nicodemus had respect for Jesus because he called him “Rabbi” which means teacher. Let’s see how Jesus responded to him in John chapter 3 verse 3:
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
What? We can only guess how perplexed Nicodemus must have been. First, he was told by John the Baptist that being a descendant of Abraham wouldn’t get him into heaven. Then he was told that he wasn’t better than anyone else, he was a sinner who needed to repent and be baptized.38 Now this young teacher/prophet/miracle worker is telling him to be reborn! What would you have asked Jesus if you had been there? Probably the same thing Nicodemus asked in verse 4:
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Now if you were speaking on a physical level, those questions would be very logical. We can’t reverse time. We can’t change back into an unborn baby! But, as you probably already guessed, Jesus wasn’t talking about a physical change. He, like the old man in the village, was talking about a spiritual change, a spiritual rebirth. In fact, we can imply from Jesus’ declaration that if a person isn’t reborn they will not be in heaven. In other words, without spiritual rebirth our fate is eternal destruction! Let’s listen to Jesus’ words in John chapter 3 verses 5-8:
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the esh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
What a shock this must have been to Nicodemus. Jesus said that Nicodemus needed to be born again! Nicodemus was on the high court of Israel, a Pharisee, and Jesus was telling him that his position and "goodness" was not enough to enter heaven. If Nicodemus isn't good enough, who is?
Jesus said that two things were involved in the spiritual rebirth of a person: water and Spirit. Nicodemus had already learned the role of water while listening to John the Baptist. Although the water itself doesn’t actually “wash away” the sins of the person, it is a fitting symbol of God’s forgiving and forgetting the person’s sins. When a person repented and chose to be submerged in the water, it was as if their sin had washed off and oated away, never to be remembered again. It meant their status before God was changed. They went from being guilty and ashamed to forgiven. They went from de led and dirty to pure and clean.
It is clear in the scriptures that John didn’t want to baptize Jesus because he knew that Jesus had not sinned and there was no need for Him to repent. But Jesus insisted and after His baptism we witnessed something amazing. The Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a dove.39 It is this same Spirit that Jesus is referring to while talking with Nicodemus. If we want to be changed, we also need God’s Spirit. Let's read chapter 3 verse 8:
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
To say that Nicodemus was perplexed would be an understatement! It is hard enough for us, after 2000 years of debate, research, and experience, to understand what Jesus is saying here. But just as Jesus said, there are some things that are just too hard to comprehend. Even in our day we know a lot about weather, but we still can’t determine where every gust of air came from or where it will go. Naturally, Nicodemus had to ask,
“How can this be?”
Jesus’ answer was both harsh and astonishing! Let’s continue by reading what Jesus said in John chapter 3 verses 10-13:
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Jesus was reading Nicodemus’ heart. He could sense the pride mixed with confusion. In essence, He was saying,
“Wake up Nicodemus! Stop trying to gure this out with human logic. Don’t you remember what you have read in the Holy Scriptures?
How can you call yourself a teacher if you haven’t learned what is already there? Salvation is all about change. You have to be changed! And you can’t do it on your own.”
Then Jesus begins to explain how that change takes place by mentioning two stories that Nicodemus would have been familiar with. First he referenced the judgment scene depicted in the book of Daniel.40 In this vision, Daniel watched as someone approached God sitting in heaven. This person’s title was the Son of Man and it is clear from the scriptures that He was very important! In fact, God makes Him the ruler of an everlasting kingdom. When Jesus said “the Son of Man”, Nicodemus knew whom He was talking about. But more interesting was that Jesus said the “Son of Man” descended from heaven. Then Jesus reminded Nicodemus of an event shortly after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. Let’ read it in John chapter 3 verses 14 and 15:
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
After the Israelites left Egypt, they did a lot of complaining. On one occasion God punished them with snakes.41 The snakes were biting people and hundreds were dying. Obviously this caused people to cry out for help and God ordered Moses to make a brass serpent, hang it from a pole, and command the people to look at it. If they looked at it and believed, God would destroy the serpents and heal them. Basically, it was a test of faith.
With this story as the backdrop, Jesus told Nicodemus that the Son of Man who had come down from heaven had to be lifted up. And just as the Israelites who looked at the serpent and believed were saved, so would all those who looked at the Son of Man. Moreover, their salvation would last forever. In other words, those who look upon the Son of Man and believe, get baptized, and are lled with the Spirit of God will be in the kingdom of heaven! Not only will their fate be changed, their characters will begin to change. You can’t be lled with the Spirit of God and continue struggling with old habits. One by one, they will fall away because victory over sin is the evidence that God's spirit is working in a person.
Now brace yourselves because what Jesus said next is radical. He unlocked the true meaning behind all that He was saying and predicted the future to Nicodemus. Let’s continue in John chapter 3 verses 16-18:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus said the “Son of Man” is the “Son of God”! In others words, Jesus as the “Son of God” is the “Son of Man.” This means that Jesus was in heaven before he came to earth. Why did he come to earth? Jesus chose to come to earth as a man for one sole purpose. It wasn’t to judge the earth, but to save it. According to Jesus, all who look upon the Son of God (i.e., him) and believe will have eternal life.
Many people believe that Jesus is the Messiah and a great prophet. Many believe that he was born of a virgin and sinless. But Jesus isn't talking about this kind of belief. He was saying that salvation could only be found in him. When the Israelites were in the desert dying from snakebites, Moses made a bronze serpent and placed it on a staff. God told them to look at the snake and they would be healed. When they looked at the bronze serpent, it was an act of faith that God would save them. Likewise, Jesus is saying,
"If you look at me, you will be saved!"
Salvation is achieved when we act on our belief. Of course it is imperative that you believe in the right thing!
Let's see what Jesus said next in John chapter 3 verses 19-21:
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Jesus loved to teach in parables and He followed up his astonishing remarks with an excellent illustration. The Son of Man/God is like a light that comes from afar to brighten a dark world. Do you remember when we rst started studying and looked at the Creation of the world? At that time the earth was with out form and lifeless.
There was a darkness that covered the planet. What was the first thing God did? He said,
“Let there be light!”42
He exposed the world for what it was. Even so, God sent another light, the Son of Man, into the world to expose the darkness in people’s hearts and the evil intentions of Satan. So why don’t they approach the light? Simply, they like the darkness of ignorance, stubbornness, and selfishness. They don’t want to be told that they are bad. They don’t want to change! And until they choose to look at the light and believe, their fate is eternal destruction.
Mevlana Rumi wrote an amazing poem about change. Here are three stanzas from “Seeking the Source”:
A voice out of this world calls on our souls not to wait anymore, get ready to move to the original home.
You've been tied up, your feet in the mud, your body roped to a log. Break loose your ties. Get ready for the final ight.
You may not like what I'm going to tell you. You are stuck. Now you must seek nothing but the source.43
You are being called. But the choice is yours. Will you choose to stay in the darkness and stuck in the mud? Or will you look to the light and be freed? Will you choose eternal life or destruction? Will you choose to be changed or stay the same? Will you look to Jesus the “Son of God” or will you look away? Fate, the choice is yours!
Discussion Questions
1. Do you think that you are good enough to earn God’s forgiveness?
2. Are there things in your life that you want to change? Have you tried and tried without success?
3. Which part of this lesson lls you with hope?
4. Who is the Son of Man? What does it mean for Him to be lifted up?
5. How do we get a “new heart”?
38 The baptism of John symbolically represented the washing away of sins.
39 John 1:32
40 Daniel 7
41 Numbers 21
42 Genesis 1:3
43 http://www.poetry chaikhana.com/R/RumiMevlanaJ/Seeking Source.htm.
The purpose of doing these lessons and studying the Bible is to learn if fate can be changed. We have come to the crossroads in determining the answer to that question. Although we won’t find all the answers in this lesson, some of our original questions will be answered. So get ready because you are about to read some very shocking truths!
Esat was a typical man. He worked hard, paid the bills, enjoyed sports, and cared greatly for his family. He always considered himself to be a good man. But he had an inner struggle that just wouldn’t end. It seemed like no matter how hard he tried, in the end he always did the things he didn’t want to do. For example, he didn’t want to get angry with people, yell at his kids, or be dishonest. But it always seemed to happen. It was like a bad habit that he just couldn’t kick, a battle raging in his mind and body that he had no control over. It was about to drive him insane.
One day Esat decided to talk with an older man in the village. He had always respected this man because he was honest, calm, humble, and wise. During his whole life Esat had never heard anyone say something bad about him. If anyone could help him, it would be the old man.
“Peace be upon you uncle,” Esat said.
“Peace be unto you my boy” He replied.
They spoke for a little while about the weather, the coming harvest, and the recent roadwork. The weather was hot and even though they were sitting in the shade, they periodically wiped the sweat from their foreheads. Then Esat started to open up.
“Uncle, I need some advice. I was hoping you could help me.”
“Ok, explain. I will do what I can.”
Esat then began to explain his struggles. He described his fits of anger, jealousy, dissatisfaction with life, and desire, but inability, to always be honest. He even illustrated his point with many examples. While Esat was talking the old man just nodded his head and listened. Then Esat stopped speaking and waited attentively for the old man’s wise words. This was his only hope for change. If this old man didn’t have the answers nobody would.
The old man just sat there in silence, looking off into the distance. Then he spoke just one sentence,
“You need a new heart!”
Esat was stunned and confused. He didn’t know what to say, so he just sat there and listened to the dialogue in his head.
“What does my heart have to do with this? I don’t smoke or drink alcohol. I am still young. Why would I need a new heart when the one I have is healthy?” He thought to himself.
“But then again, he is old and he must know what he is talking about. Maybe I am just confused.” He continued to think. “Yes, if the old man says so, he must be right.”
Then Esat broke the silence by asking the old man, “How do I get a new heart?”
“Son, you will need to talk to God about that.”
It was very hard for Esat to swallow what he had just been told. Perhaps he was looking for a solution that was more tangible or logical. Something he could do to change things. But sometimes there isn’t anything we can do because the problem is bigger than us.
Well there was a man about 2000 years ago who received similar advice on more than one occasion. His name was Nicodemus. Let’s start reading about his experience in John chapter 3 verses 1 and 2:
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Nicodemus was from a sect of Jews called the Pharisees. These were the same men that John the Baptist called “vipers”. They believed that a person could attain salvation by keeping the Law of God. In other words, if they lived a good life, in line with God’s laws, they would be guaranteed a place in heaven. But there was a fundamental problem with their logic. It was impossible for them to keep God’s law! Just like Esat, they couldn’t keep themselves from doing wrong.
It was for this reason, and the fact that they stubbornly refused to believe the truth much less teach it, that John the Baptist called them vipers and told them to repent. They, just like each one of us, needed to repent of their sins and ask for forgiveness. Unlike many of the Pharisees, Nicodemus understood this and wanting to know more he secretly visited Jesus at night. It is obvious Nicodemus had respect for Jesus because he called him “Rabbi” which means teacher. Let’s see how Jesus responded to him in John chapter 3 verse 3:
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
What? We can only guess how perplexed Nicodemus must have been. First, he was told by John the Baptist that being a descendant of Abraham wouldn’t get him into heaven. Then he was told that he wasn’t better than anyone else, he was a sinner who needed to repent and be baptized.38 Now this young teacher/prophet/miracle worker is telling him to be reborn! What would you have asked Jesus if you had been there? Probably the same thing Nicodemus asked in verse 4:
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Now if you were speaking on a physical level, those questions would be very logical. We can’t reverse time. We can’t change back into an unborn baby! But, as you probably already guessed, Jesus wasn’t talking about a physical change. He, like the old man in the village, was talking about a spiritual change, a spiritual rebirth. In fact, we can imply from Jesus’ declaration that if a person isn’t reborn they will not be in heaven. In other words, without spiritual rebirth our fate is eternal destruction! Let’s listen to Jesus’ words in John chapter 3 verses 5-8:
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the esh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
What a shock this must have been to Nicodemus. Jesus said that Nicodemus needed to be born again! Nicodemus was on the high court of Israel, a Pharisee, and Jesus was telling him that his position and "goodness" was not enough to enter heaven. If Nicodemus isn't good enough, who is?
Jesus said that two things were involved in the spiritual rebirth of a person: water and Spirit. Nicodemus had already learned the role of water while listening to John the Baptist. Although the water itself doesn’t actually “wash away” the sins of the person, it is a fitting symbol of God’s forgiving and forgetting the person’s sins. When a person repented and chose to be submerged in the water, it was as if their sin had washed off and oated away, never to be remembered again. It meant their status before God was changed. They went from being guilty and ashamed to forgiven. They went from de led and dirty to pure and clean.
It is clear in the scriptures that John didn’t want to baptize Jesus because he knew that Jesus had not sinned and there was no need for Him to repent. But Jesus insisted and after His baptism we witnessed something amazing. The Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a dove.39 It is this same Spirit that Jesus is referring to while talking with Nicodemus. If we want to be changed, we also need God’s Spirit. Let's read chapter 3 verse 8:
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
To say that Nicodemus was perplexed would be an understatement! It is hard enough for us, after 2000 years of debate, research, and experience, to understand what Jesus is saying here. But just as Jesus said, there are some things that are just too hard to comprehend. Even in our day we know a lot about weather, but we still can’t determine where every gust of air came from or where it will go. Naturally, Nicodemus had to ask,
“How can this be?”
Jesus’ answer was both harsh and astonishing! Let’s continue by reading what Jesus said in John chapter 3 verses 10-13:
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Jesus was reading Nicodemus’ heart. He could sense the pride mixed with confusion. In essence, He was saying,
“Wake up Nicodemus! Stop trying to gure this out with human logic. Don’t you remember what you have read in the Holy Scriptures?
How can you call yourself a teacher if you haven’t learned what is already there? Salvation is all about change. You have to be changed! And you can’t do it on your own.”
Then Jesus begins to explain how that change takes place by mentioning two stories that Nicodemus would have been familiar with. First he referenced the judgment scene depicted in the book of Daniel.40 In this vision, Daniel watched as someone approached God sitting in heaven. This person’s title was the Son of Man and it is clear from the scriptures that He was very important! In fact, God makes Him the ruler of an everlasting kingdom. When Jesus said “the Son of Man”, Nicodemus knew whom He was talking about. But more interesting was that Jesus said the “Son of Man” descended from heaven. Then Jesus reminded Nicodemus of an event shortly after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. Let’ read it in John chapter 3 verses 14 and 15:
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
After the Israelites left Egypt, they did a lot of complaining. On one occasion God punished them with snakes.41 The snakes were biting people and hundreds were dying. Obviously this caused people to cry out for help and God ordered Moses to make a brass serpent, hang it from a pole, and command the people to look at it. If they looked at it and believed, God would destroy the serpents and heal them. Basically, it was a test of faith.
With this story as the backdrop, Jesus told Nicodemus that the Son of Man who had come down from heaven had to be lifted up. And just as the Israelites who looked at the serpent and believed were saved, so would all those who looked at the Son of Man. Moreover, their salvation would last forever. In other words, those who look upon the Son of Man and believe, get baptized, and are lled with the Spirit of God will be in the kingdom of heaven! Not only will their fate be changed, their characters will begin to change. You can’t be lled with the Spirit of God and continue struggling with old habits. One by one, they will fall away because victory over sin is the evidence that God's spirit is working in a person.
Now brace yourselves because what Jesus said next is radical. He unlocked the true meaning behind all that He was saying and predicted the future to Nicodemus. Let’s continue in John chapter 3 verses 16-18:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus said the “Son of Man” is the “Son of God”! In others words, Jesus as the “Son of God” is the “Son of Man.” This means that Jesus was in heaven before he came to earth. Why did he come to earth? Jesus chose to come to earth as a man for one sole purpose. It wasn’t to judge the earth, but to save it. According to Jesus, all who look upon the Son of God (i.e., him) and believe will have eternal life.
Many people believe that Jesus is the Messiah and a great prophet. Many believe that he was born of a virgin and sinless. But Jesus isn't talking about this kind of belief. He was saying that salvation could only be found in him. When the Israelites were in the desert dying from snakebites, Moses made a bronze serpent and placed it on a staff. God told them to look at the snake and they would be healed. When they looked at the bronze serpent, it was an act of faith that God would save them. Likewise, Jesus is saying,
"If you look at me, you will be saved!"
Salvation is achieved when we act on our belief. Of course it is imperative that you believe in the right thing!
Let's see what Jesus said next in John chapter 3 verses 19-21:
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Jesus loved to teach in parables and He followed up his astonishing remarks with an excellent illustration. The Son of Man/God is like a light that comes from afar to brighten a dark world. Do you remember when we rst started studying and looked at the Creation of the world? At that time the earth was with out form and lifeless.
There was a darkness that covered the planet. What was the first thing God did? He said,
“Let there be light!”42
He exposed the world for what it was. Even so, God sent another light, the Son of Man, into the world to expose the darkness in people’s hearts and the evil intentions of Satan. So why don’t they approach the light? Simply, they like the darkness of ignorance, stubbornness, and selfishness. They don’t want to be told that they are bad. They don’t want to change! And until they choose to look at the light and believe, their fate is eternal destruction.
Mevlana Rumi wrote an amazing poem about change. Here are three stanzas from “Seeking the Source”:
A voice out of this world calls on our souls not to wait anymore, get ready to move to the original home.
You've been tied up, your feet in the mud, your body roped to a log. Break loose your ties. Get ready for the final ight.
You may not like what I'm going to tell you. You are stuck. Now you must seek nothing but the source.43
You are being called. But the choice is yours. Will you choose to stay in the darkness and stuck in the mud? Or will you look to the light and be freed? Will you choose eternal life or destruction? Will you choose to be changed or stay the same? Will you look to Jesus the “Son of God” or will you look away? Fate, the choice is yours!
Discussion Questions
1. Do you think that you are good enough to earn God’s forgiveness?
2. Are there things in your life that you want to change? Have you tried and tried without success?
3. Which part of this lesson lls you with hope?
4. Who is the Son of Man? What does it mean for Him to be lifted up?
5. How do we get a “new heart”?
38 The baptism of John symbolically represented the washing away of sins.
39 John 1:32
40 Daniel 7
41 Numbers 21
42 Genesis 1:3
43 http://www.poetry chaikhana.com/R/RumiMevlanaJ/Seeking Source.htm.