Is “Born Again” Just a Fancy Marketing Term?

Christ told Nicodemus to be born again (John 3). Was this just a fancy marketing term to intrigue Nicodemus?
 
Nicodemus was a Pharisee on the Jewish ruling council, suggesting he was a fervent, successful, and highly honored follower of Jewish law. Yet, Jesus told him to be born again. Starting all over again is not just a call for the wicked or the weak to improve, but even the most respected.
 
Let’s learn what born again means from 1 Peter 1:3-13, 23.
 
Born again gives us a living hope (v3). What we expect of the future directly shapes how we live today. Without a vibrant hope for something much bigger than ourselves, many of us live for nothing but selfish desire, which inevitably leads to a meaningless life that amounts to just fidgeting aimlessly while waiting for death.
 
Christ on the cross has given us a living hope of a wonderful salvation, with non-perishable inheritances in heaven (v3-5). With this hope, our joy and sadness are not dictated by our environment. This hope shifts us away from depending on our power, wealth, and other earthly things to rescue us (Psalm 33:17). With this hope, we can rest in Christ and His salvation.
 
On Earth, pain and suffering are common, but suffering should drive us deeper into the living hope, which can give us joy even in the midst of great pain (v6-7).
 
We cannot have this new hope or get this new birth through our effort. To be born again is to be brought on by Christ (v23).
 
We should trust in Christ to bring us a new beginning and give us a new hope. We will see the world through the lens of the Gospel, shifting our focus from worldly things to Christ. Then gradually, we will change and grow.

Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/hope-for-your-life-6024/



“重生”只是一个花哨的营销术语吗？
 
基督告诉尼哥德慕要重生（约翰福音3）。这只是花哨的营销术语来吸引尼哥德慕吗？
 
尼哥德慕是犹太统治公会里的法利赛人. 他是犹太法律的热情追随者，一位成功而极受尊敬的人。然而耶稣告诉他必须重生。这个重新开始不仅仅是对恶人或弱者改进的呼吁，即使最受尊敬的人也需要它。
 
彼得前书1：3-13,23中可以学习到重生的意义。
 
对未来的期待直接影响今天的生活。 重生给人活泼的盼望 (彼得前书1：3)。它是一种充满活力，远超越自己之事的盼望。许多人没有这种盼望，生活在自我的私欲中, 不可避免地过着毫无意义的生活，漫无目的而又坐立不安地等待死亡的到来。
 
基督在十架上赐下对于奇妙美好救恩的活泼盼望, 在天上有不会朽坏的基业为信徒存留 (彼得前书1：3-5)。
 
因为有了这属天的盼望，喜悦和悲伤就不由环境来决定。这盼望使人不再倚靠自我的力量、财富和其它属世之物来拯救自己 (诗篇33：17)，而是安息在基督和祂的救恩里面。
 
痛苦和患难在世上是常见的，但这一切应该驱使人更深入地理解和明白这活泼的盼望. 即使在巨大的痛苦中它也能给人带来喜乐 (彼得前书1：6-7)。
 
这个新盼望或新生命都不能靠个人的努力得到，重生是从基督而来 (彼得前书1：23) 。
 
应当相信基督会带来一个新开始和新盼望，透过福音的镜头来看世界，把焦点从世俗之物转移到基督身上。如此，我们将更新变换而逐渐地成长。