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Become As Little Children

"Truly, I say to you, if you do not turn and become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of God."1

This word for turn is from, strephó, properly, to turn (transition), often translated as convert. Some have used this as to define repentance, but in context this idea of turn has absolutely no meaning in and by itself, turn to what? and it is a conditional statement; "turn And become as little children." Now little children sin, yes, terrible twos, so to turn from sin would not suffice. To say to become simple, like a child, I like the idea. But, to transition and become as a little child, born again, this has much more meaning. The word for become is ginomai, and signifies a change of condition, it means I come into being, am born. So it would suffice to say it means to become converted, born as a little child, or as Jesus states later, "You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'"2

"Truly truly, I say to you, if anyone is not to be born of water and of Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God"3 This word for born is gennaó, properly means begotten. Begotten of the Spirit and Water. "The water that I give to him will become in him a spring of water welling up into life eternal."4 Jesus says to the woman at the well, there will come a day when the Jew will neither on the mountain nor in Jerusalem worship the Father, this salvation of the Jew, she knows not how to worship, but the day is coming when she will know, for there will be another way to salvation, for the True worshipers of God will worship in Spirit and Truth. This is how God seeks those to worship him.4 She left the water and pot and went away telling all, come see a man who has told me all things can this be the Christ? His disciples marvel that he speaks with her, and they ask him to eat, but he says he has food eternal, they are thinking earthly, they do not understand, He says my food is to do his will, look at the harvest, it is ripe.

The one reaping an eternal reward gathers fruit into life eternal, that with the one sowing together they might rejoice, one is sowing and one is reaping. The disciples were sent to reap what others had toiled for and they had entered into their labor. "And many of the Samaritans believe because of the testimony of the woman at the well." This sowing of the seed was brought about by those who prepared the way, they had labored for that which was eternal. The disciples were reaping the rewards but God was requiring the disciples to enter into the spiritual, to labor in to that which was eternal. This eternal food and water, this turning from the requirements of the Law whereby the righteous requirement of God was met, into the worshiping of God in Spirit and Truth. This is the way God desires those to worship Him and Jesus would make clear it is by faith one comes into the spiritual and it is this believing that is the work of God, by His divine persuasion, but we must labor into it, by our reasoning, thinking.

Now, Jesus came proclaiming the good news and said, Repent and believe, indeed for the Kingdom of God has drawn near.3 This word for repent is metanoeó, (from metá, "changed after being with" and noiéō, "think"). Jesus said turn and become born like a child. But I can not, can I convert myself? here is the distinction of Christianity. I am converted or changed after being with Jesus, I think differently afterwards. I am born again. Obviously change comes after hearing the Word of God, and believing, a meaning of faith is to be persuaded. It is through faith I am saved. Jesus is the author of Faith therefore it is after being with Jesus that I repent, am persuaded. Repentance is to be persuaded by Christ, he brings about my conversion through hearing the Word of God. "You must be born again, from above"7 This comes from the Spirit, it is by truth, the Word of God, and by Spirit. Having been born of the Spirit is like the wind, we might have some evidence of its presence but where it came from or where it goes you know not. It is truly the work of God, not what I say, do, nor feel, it is not earthly but spiritual. The work of God through His Spirit brings conversion, my part is to labor into that which is eternal, thinking, to be persuaded, faith.

Jesus performed an amazing miracle of feeding 5000 people with a few loaves of bread and a few fish and the people wanted to carry him away to be king, but he escapes into the mountain to pray, and the disciples go across the sea where Jesus meets them. The people had seen the disciples leave in boats so they went on land, and eventually met up with them. They see Jesus and ask, How did you get here? Of course we know he walked on water but quickly they forgot this and the miracle feeding of five thousand. Jesus says to them they follow him because they were filled in their bellies. Again, he is telling them to quit thinking earthly, to labor into belief, into that which was eternal, into the bread God sent from heaven. what work must we do to believe?  “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”9

What signs will you shows us, so we may see and believe?  The people point to the signs of Moses, Jesus responds with such. Like the serpent Moses lifted up in the wilderness I have been lifted up, all you have to do is look unto me, "everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will lift them up at the last day."9 Like your ancestors ate the manna, so eat the bread from heaven."I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” And then they grumble, again thinking earthly, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?" Eat his flesh, what?  "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will lift them up at the last day."10  

“This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” and on hearing it, many of his disciples walked away. But not Peter, "You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."11 Believing is not a simple prayer, it is a divine persuasion, a laboring into belief. Jesus said to them, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will lift them up at the last day" And "It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’"12 Believing is two part; it is the work of God, faith created by its author Jesus, Word of God, and our part, that we must labor in our mind and hearts into that which is eternal, we must think, believe, be persuaded. Jesus told them, "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”14

God desires those who worship Him in Spirit and Truth. "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things."16 Yes, the people said, give us this bread! "Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life." Oh, such a hard teaching, these were not words of earthly understanding, but to those who looked unto Him, unto Jesus who was lifted up, they were saved, to those who ate of this bread that came down from heaven, and to those who drank from this living water, to these the words were eternal life. Like the wind the Spirit is, blowing here and there, So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.17
 

Come Alive

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