BY CLIFFORD DENTON, D. PHIL.

For many of us, the rediscovery of the Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith is like a new beginning. This is not just a new beginning for each individual and family, but for the whole Church. It is also the time when the Lord is bringing new beginnings for Israel, both in their Land and, for many, in their spiritual life. Quite suddenly, all of Messianic belief is ready for pruning and correction, even in the words and phrases that are used and have been used for many years. One such phrase, "born again’, it itself associated with the idea of new beginnings.

This phrase is used too lightly by many Christians. It becomes like a badge worn to verify membership of the true Church, while what is seen in the lives of many, who wear this badge, far from verifies an understanding of what it means. Indeed, it can be a badge of spiritual pride and shallowness rather than a badge of humility and depth of relationship with God.

Our humbling encounter with the risen Lord should be regarded as no less awesome than that of Nicodemus (John 3). Perhaps we need to consider this carefully, as we seek to re-establish a fulfilled Torah perspective in the Church, particularly in these early days of restoration. What should it really mean for either a Jew or a Gentile to claim to be a "born again believer"?

First, let me say that we are referring to spiritual birth here, a birth that comes about through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, a birth that draws us near to our Father in Heaven with the intimacy that gives us the right to call Him Abba. This was surely, what Jesus was leading Nicodemus to desire, in that fascinating interaction between our Jewish Lord and Rabbi and that respected member of the Sanhedrin. Here was an expert in the contemporary understanding of Torah in a secret meeting with the One who fulfilled Torah. We must remember that this was a meeting on Jewish soil and must look behind what was being said to understand what was intended.

When Nicodemus asked, "How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!", he was not showing the ignorance that many have supposed. He was simply trying to get a further response from Jesus by posing a question that would, hopefully, bring an explanation of how this idea of rebirth was being applied. He would have already understood the concept of being born again. It was a figure of speech applied to a number of circumstances of life. Edersheim, in his "Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah", mentions a number of circumstances to which this applied. Proselytes to Judaism were considered newly born. So too were the bridegroom in his marriage, the Chief of the Academy on his promotion and the king on his enthronement. It was a term used to describe a new beginning in an important circumstance of life, where the person took a new role as a beginner, like a child, having to start at the bottom and learn a role in life all over again. Nicodemus would already have been "re-born" a number of times, including when he became a member of the Sanhedrin.

Rebirth into the Kingdom of Heaven was a completely new application to Nicodemus and one which went beyond physical experience. Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus chose to use this familiar simile, which would convey an accurate and understandable idea to Nicodemus. What might this have meant for him? It might have led to his spiritual rebirth, so that he could be a fulfillment of Matthew 13:52, a teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven, and who is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.

Is a "night-time" coming upon Israel, in which many, like Nicodemus, will seek an audience with Yeshua (Jesus)? If so, we can pray for deeper insights into fulfilled Torah to become known across the whole world. We are, perhaps, on the verge of something that the world and the Church have never seen, when Messianic Jews and Messianic believers from the nations will discover the true meaning of Torah together.

Meanwhile, for those of us who already claim rebirth, there is an important principle to consider from this story. This will prevent us from two errors. One has been prevalent in the Church already, as mentioned above, a shallow perception of what this term "born again" means. The second applies to those who have been reborn by the Spirit of God and are now considering what this means in regard to fulfilled Torah. To be born again means that we are like children. Like children, we can be hasty, presumptuous, and forceful when we should be teachable, careful listeners and slow to act hastily. To be born again into the Kingdom of Heaven is a spiritual experience, but it is also understandable in the way that Jesus used the idea with Nicodemus. Let us, in these days of new beginnings, not be too hasty to assume that we have understanding of all that God is doing in the Jewish Roots movement, or in the establishment of fulfilled Torah lifestyles. Like children, let us learn together and grow to maturity.