Bright Thursday
Acts 2:38-43; John 3:1-15
No fasting or abstention from foods
Read John 3:1-15
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
As we continue to bask in the beauty and light of our resurrected Saviour today we hear our Lord speak to Nicode’mus about how to live in the kingdom: we must be being born anew or born from (gennethe anothen) on high. This conversation and teaching is commonly translated by Evangelical Christians as ‘born again.’ They then emphasize that unless one has been born again through a spiritual experience one cannot abide in the kingdom.
What does Jesus mean when He says, gennethe anothen? The key to understanding these words is to read them in the context of the rest of the conversation. Jesus continues and says, ’Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’ When the Lord says, ‘Truly, truly…’ this means what ‘I’m about to say, is not negotiable, but my final word. Remember the evangelical imperative in Matthew 28:18-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you“. The Lord desires that we be baptized, with water, and receive the Holy Spirit. The Church has always understood the Lord’s words as instructions for Baptism and Chrismation (Confirmation). This is the way of entry into new life in the kingdom.
This was the practice of the early Church and continues until today.
Justin Martyr (c.100-165):
As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, “Except ye be born again, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (First Apology LXI).
Irenaeus of Lyons (c.130-202AD):
And inasmuch as man, with respect to that formation which, was after Adam, having fallen into transgression, needed the laver of regeneration, [the Lord] said to him [upon whom He had conferred sight], after He had smeared his eyes with the clay, “Go to Siloam, and wash;” thus restoring to him both [his perfect] confirmation, and that regeneration which takes place by means of the laver. (Against Heresies 5.15.3).
Baptism and Chrismation are not magic and are not an assurance of salvation. Each of us still must ‘work out our salvation with fear and trembling…’ (Phil 2:12). In order to grow in the grace of the kingdom, we must align our life with the life of Christ. We must live the life of virtue, purity, faith and most importantly love. This is the way of the kingdom and eternal life.