We are celebrating Trinity Sunday today as the first Sunday after Pentecost. In traditional Methodist usage, The Book of Worship provides the following prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the unity: We beseech thee to keep us steadfast in this faith and evermore defend us from all adversities who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.
Things go together in more ways than we know. We often think of the old and the new as separate, but when you know where to look you see how things go together. Being born again from above perhaps not a new concept.
Isaiah 6 is a chapter in the Old Testament that describes the prophet Isaiah's vision of God's holiness and his commission to be a prophet. While it does not explicitly mention the concept of being "born again" as described in the New Testament, there are thematic connections that can be drawn between Isaiah's experience and the idea of spiritual rebirth.
The prophet has a vision of the Lord sitting on a throne, high and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim are attending Him, proclaiming His holiness. Isaiah is struck by his own sinfulness and the sinfulness of his people, saying:
"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."
One of the seraphim then flies to Isaiah with a live coal taken from the altar. The seraph touches Isaiah's lips with the coal and says:
"See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
After this cleansing, Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord asking whom He should send. Isaiah responds, "Here am I. Send me!" God then commissions Isaiah to go and speak to the people, even though they will not understand or perceive the message fully.
The concept of being "born again" is prominently featured in the New Testament, particularly in Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:3-8, where Jesus says:
"Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
There are several thematic connections between Isaiah 6 and the idea of being born again:
Just as Isaiah acknowledges his own sinfulness ("I am a man of unclean lips"), the New Testament emphasizes the need for individuals to recognize their sinful state as a precursor to spiritual rebirth.
Cleansing and Atonement: The seraph touching Isaiah's lips with a live coal to atone for his sins symbolizes purification and forgiveness. Similarly, being born again involves a cleansing from sin, often associated with baptism and the acceptance of Jesus' atoning sacrifice.
Isaiah's vision is a profound encounter with God's holiness, leading to a transformative experience. In the New Testament, the process of being born again is described as a spiritual transformation initiated by an encounter with God's grace through Jesus Christ. After his cleansing, Isaiah is commissioned to go and deliver God's message. Those who are born again are often called to serve and witness to others about their faith.
While Isaiah 6 does not directly reference the New Testament concept of being born again, it shares themes of recognizing sin, experiencing divine cleansing, and receiving a commission to serve. These elements align with the spiritual transformation described as being born again in the New Testament. Isaiah's vision underscores the need for purification and readiness to respond to God's call, which are also key aspects of the born-again experience.
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw [in a vision] the Lord sitting on a throne, high and exalted, with the train of His royal robe filling the [most holy part of the] temple.
At his death the nation remembered Uzziah as their best and ablest ruler since King Solomon. Having King Uzziah on the throne meant peace and prosperity for the people. But Uzziah was dead, and it felt like it would be all downhill from there. Isaiah experienced a deep sense of loss and fear for his nation's future
“Woe is me! For I am ruined,
Because I am a man of [ceremonially] unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
His meeting was hardly face-to-face. Instead, the presence is “high and lifted up,” and Isaiah sees only the hem of the robe, which fills the temple. We have detailed descriptions of the beings that flew around this presence, but nothing of significance of what Isaiah actually saw of the Lord.
Whatever he saw was enough to shake him to his core. The burning hot coals to the lips came after this confession. Something about that Presence drove him to his knees. If it isn’t a threat, then what might it have been? Love. Isaiah is overwhelmed by the love of the Creator. The biblical witness tells us that the first experience in such an encounter is a profound feeling of unworthiness. “Woe is me,” proclaims the prophet.
There is a reason why he is here. Vocation, the calling of the prophet. – “I am a man of unclean lips” – . Something had to happen so that he could move beyond the feeling of unworthiness and be able to stand and say, “Here am I, send me!” To become familiar with and open to God’s all-consuming presence is a lifelong journey.
John 3 is directly connected to the concept of being "born again," which is central to the passage. This New Testament scripture recounts the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council, about the necessity of spiritual rebirth for entering the Kingdom of God.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, acknowledging that Jesus is a teacher who has come from God because of the miracles He performs. Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." Nicodemus asks how one can be born again when they are old. Jesus explains that one must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus contrasts physical birth and spiritual birth, emphasizing the necessity of being born of the Spirit to see the Kingdom of God.
Nicodemus is confused, and Jesus rebukes him gently for not understanding these spiritual truths despite being a teacher of Israel. Jesus speaks of His authority and knowledge as the Son of Man. Jesus references Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21:8-9) as a foreshadowing of His own crucifixion, indicating that belief in Him leads to eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." It continues, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Jesus emphasizes that spiritual rebirth is essential to see and enter the Kingdom of God, just as Isaiah’s vision led to his spiritual cleansing and commissioning. Both passages highlight the transformative experience necessary for spiritual service and communion with God.
Jesus explains the need to be born of the Spirit, which can be seen as a parallel to Isaiah’s realization of his sinfulness and subsequent purification. Both experiences underscore the need for divine intervention for true spiritual renewal.
Jesus speaks of heavenly truths and His divine origin, paralleling Isaiah’s encounter with God’s holiness. Both involve a profound revelation of God’s nature and purpose.
Jesus’ reference to the bronze serpent and His own crucifixion emphasizes belief in Him as the path to eternal life, akin to Isaiah’s acceptance of his prophetic mission post-purification. Both illustrate the critical role of faith and acceptance of divine grace. Jesus’ mission to save the world parallels Isaiah’s commissioning to deliver God’s message. Both missions involve being sent by God to accomplish a divine purpose.
John 3:1-17 and Isaiah 6 share thematic connections, particularly around the concepts of spiritual rebirth, recognition of sin, divine encounters, and commissioning for service. While Isaiah’s vision and cleansing prepare him for his prophetic role, Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus underscores the necessity of spiritual rebirth through faith in Him for entry into the Kingdom of God. Both passages highlight the transformative power of encountering and accepting God’s truth and grace.
3 Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin) among the Jews, 2 who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), we know [without any doubt] that You have come from God as a teacher; ....”
16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.
The profound spiritual and theological implications of being "born again" and how this concept challenges conventional religious practices and beliefs.
Instead of viewing being "born again" as a symbolic or metaphorical change, see it is a literal transformation of identity. This implies that a person becomes a completely new being, with a new spiritual DNA, fundamentally different from their previous self. This radical view insists that the old self ceases to exist in every meaningful way, including desires, thoughts, and actions.
We might argue that Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus (a Pharisee) serves as a call to abandon rigid religious structures and legalistic practices. It suggests that traditional rituals, ceremonies, and laws are entirely insufficient for achieving salvation. Instead, salvation is only possible through a direct, personal, and transformative relationship with the divine.
The message of being born again transcends all cultural, social, and religious barriers. It radically includes everyone, regardless of their background or previous beliefs, in the possibility of entering God’s Kingdom. This can be seen as a revolutionary democratization of spiritual access, undermining hierarchical religious authorities and exclusive claims to divine favor.
We might see Jesus’ message as inherently subversive to earthly powers and authorities. By emphasizing a new birth into a heavenly kingdom, it calls for a radical allegiance shift away from earthly rulers and systems of power towards the divine authority of God. This could be interpreted as a call for resistance against oppressive regimes and unjust systems.
The traditional understanding of sin and redemption is too narrow. Being born again redefines sin not just as moral failings but as any form of separation from divine life. Consequently, salvation is seen not merely as forgiveness of sins but as a profound realignment with divine purposes and life.
Verses like John 3:16 are interpreted to emphasize radical inclusivity and unconditional love. This view holds that God’s love extends to all humanity without exception, fundamentally challenging any exclusionary religious practices and promoting a vision of universal salvation and acceptance. Being born again is a mystical experience of encountering and being transformed by the divine presence, which cannot be fully captured by words or theological formulations.
The concept of being "born again" as a call for a total and profound transformation of identity, a rejection of religious formalism, universal inclusivity, subversion of earthly authorities, a new understanding of sin and salvation, and an emphasis on mystical and experiential knowledge of God. This presents a deeply transformative and revolutionary vision of what it means to follow Jesus and enter the Kingdom of God.
Let Us Pray:
Eternal and Holy One,
As we stand in awe of Your majesty, we remember Isaiah's vision of Your glory filling the temple. We thank You for the boundless love revealed in John 3:16, offering eternal life to all who believe.
On this Trinity Sunday, we reflect on the mystery of the Triune God – Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Empower us to embrace the transformative power of being born anew and to be vessels of Your love and truth.
As we go forth, fill us with courage to proclaim Your holiness and love. Guide our steps, guard our hearts, and grant us wisdom to serve You and one another with joy.
May Your eternal light shine through us, drawing all people closer to Your divine presence.
In the name of the Holy Trinity, we pray.
Amen.
Benediction:
May the love of the Creator, the grace of the Redeemer, and the fellowship of the Sustainer be with you now and always. Go in peace to love and serve.
Amen.
NUMC 5-26-2024
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