"Retronyms"

Read: John 3:1-17

Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again." --- John 3:7

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 32-33
Hebrews 1

What do regular coffee, acoustic guitars, and black-and-white television have in common? All are what journalist Frank Mankiewicz calls "retronyms" --- words or phrases created because a familiar word needs to be distinguished from a term that refers to a new development or invention.

Once, all coffee was regular, all guitars were acoustic, and all TVs were black and white. Not so today, thus the need for a growing list of retronyms, including decaf mocha java, electric guitar, and high-def television.

It could be said that Jesus turned the phrase physical birth into a retronym when He told an inquiring man named Nicodemus, "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" [John 3:3].

Nicodemus was a religious person who didn't grasp the idea of second birth. "How can an man be born when he is old?" he asked Jesus. "Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" [v.4]. Jesus further explained the difference between being bong of the flesh and being born of the Spirit, then concluded, "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again'" [v.7].

Our Christian life begins when we invite Jesus to live within us. It's a miracle! We're born again. --- David McCasland

Rejoice, O soul, the debt is paid,
For all our sins on Christ were laid;
We've been redeemed, we're justified ---
And all because the Savior died. --- D. De Haan

NATURAL LIFE CAME BY GOD'S BREATH; ETERNAL LIFE COMES BY CHRIST'S DEATH.