Evangelizing the Dead

John 3:1-12
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. ’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”

There are three aspects to our being: spirit, soul (mind), and body. However, not all three are alive when we are brought into existence. Jesus explains to Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. ’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Jesus is basically saying that there are potentially two births when it comes to each individual, yet, not everyone is born twice.

When we are “born of water”, we are born with a soul and a body, but our spirit is yet dead. Such a person goes through life influenced solely by their soul’s reasoning and their body’s desires. Their spirit plays no role, it’s dead. In other words, we are born sinners. We are born without spiritual capabilities. Nothing in us, at such a point, can do anything which pleases God.

Again, why? Because, our spirit is dead. There is nothing in us which can lead us to embrace the truth, as long as our spirit is dead or unborn.

So, why evangelize if no one can respond due to a dead spirit?

1 Peter 4:6
“For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.”

Jesus explained to Nicodemus that, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” In other words, God births those He chooses to birth. We cannot birth ourselves, nor can we birth someone else. To be born a second time or to be “born again” is of God’s choosing only. Our job, brethren, is to proclaim who God is and what He did. Such is the means by which God births people spiritually:

Romans 10:14-17
“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Our job, brethren, is not to convert people. It is our job to provide what it is that the world should convert to. It is God’s prerogative as to who will convert to it.

Matthew 19:25-26
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Godspeed, to the brethren!

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