Here I Am, World!

1. Born of the Father to believe in the Son
2. Born of the Spirit to believe in the Son

It is quite obvious that we have had lots of little babies born and baptized at Christ the Lord the last few years. What kind of reaction would there be at the baptism of one of those little babies if one of those little babies interrupted the pastor and asked for permission to say a few words to the congregation? That would cause a little stir all by itself, I’m sure, but what kind of bewilderment would there if that little baby went on to say, “It took a lot of hard work, but I convinced my parents that it would be a good thing to have a baby. So, here I am, world! I am the one totally responsible for me being here today.”

We know as God’s people that the one responsible for us being here today or on any day is not us, but our heavenly Father — the Creator of the world and the Preserver of all things. And even though many people are confused about that or don’t agree with that – similar in a sense to how that man named Nicodemus was confused at first about exactly what Jesus meant in his talking about the kingdom of God and being born with water and the Spirit – still it remains clear from God’s Word that God our Father in heaven has caused our entry into this world. And it is further clear from what Jesus here says to Nicodemus that we are born of the Father to believe in the Son. That is the purpose for which God placed everyone on this earth. He wants every single person on this earth to believe in Jesus and be saved. “For God so loved the world,” Jesus told Nicodemus, “that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,” Jesus went on to say, “but to save the world through him.”