Trinity Sunday (15 June 2025)

Today, we are celebrating Trinity Sunday. The reading that we heard from the Gospel according to St. John chapter 3 is a familiar passage to us. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night and praised Jesus. But Jesus’s reply was not relevant to his praise. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. Nicodemus could not understand Jesus’s response. He asked Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” In verse 5, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”. Today, I would like to meditate on Jesus’s response to Nicodemus.

What does it mean to be ‘born again’? 

In Ephesians 4:22–24 we read what it means to be born again: “put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”. Here, St. Paul talks about putting off the old man and putting on the new man. Our old sinful man should die and we should live as a new righteous and holy man. This is regeneration or rebirth. We also read in II Corinthians 5:17, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. When we receive Christ, our old man is dead and we become a new creature. In John 1: 12 and 13 read, “as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Also, when we receive Him, we become His children. When the new man lives in righteousness and true holiness, we will be living a life born again in Jesus. 

When are we born again?  

We read about rebirth or regeneration in the Old Testament. In Ezekiel 36:25&26 we read: “I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh”. When we repent and turn to our Lord and ask for His forgiveness, the blood of Jesus is sprinkled on us and we will be made clean from our sinful life. We will be given a new heart and spirit. Our stony heart will be taken away and we will be given a heart of flesh. When all of this happens, we will be reborn.  

What does it mean to be ‘born of water and spirit’? 

Baptism is the symbolic representation or witness of being born again in water and spirit. Rebirth or regeneration is symbolised during baptism. In Romans 6:4 Paul said, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”. Some choose immersion baptism which symbolises the old person being buried and a new person coming out of the water. Others follow child baptism and then confirmation where they confess they will be living their lives as witnesses as the new man. Either way, the focus is to witness to those around us. We say we have been reborn and will live for righteousness and holiness with a pure heart. The event of baptism or confirmation itself does not give us salvation or rebirth. The real change of heart that leads to regeneration or rebirth is more important than the methodology of baptism.  

Once we are born again, what’s next? 

Paul asked the same question in Romans 6:1: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” He answers his own question in verse 2: “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Once we are born again, we are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. We are separated as the Lord’s children. We are His chosen people. It is true that we are weak and our Lord knows we are weak. But that is not a reason to resurrect the sinful man who was dead. We cannot continue to sin because we have the provision of God’s grace. When we are dead to our sins, we are alive in Christ. When we are alive in Christ, we cannot live a sinful life. Titus 3:5 says we are saved “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy” “by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”. Regeneration and renewing is not by our works of righteousness but by the mercy of our Saviour Jesus Christ. We cannot take this mercy and grace for granted.  

On Trinity Sunday, let us understand the relationship between Trinity and Salvation or rebirth. 

According to our Christian faith, Trinity is God in three persons. We confess our faith in Trinity when we say the Apostle’s creed every Sunday. The roles of our triune God are interlinked. The Almighty God was present in the three different forms since creation. The Almighty God created everything and us humans. When we fell into sin, the Almighty Father sent His only begotten son. God the Father sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to save every one of us. The Son came in human form to lay down His life as a sacrificial Passover Lamb. The Son Jesus Christ died on the cross and sacrificed His life for redeeming us. He shed His blood on the cross to redeem us and fulfil the Almighty Father’s will. His innocent blood was shed to give us rebirth and save us from death. On the third day, He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. Jesus Christ promised to send us the Holy Spirit to guide us in the right path. As He had promised, He sent the comforter Holy Spirit to us on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit also helps our infirmities and intercedes for us.

When creating the world, the Triune God showed Himself as the Almighty Father. When He came into this world for the remission of our sins, He showed Himself as Jesus Christ. When cautioning and guiding the people in the right path, He reveals Himself as Holy Spirit. We believe God is in three persons and celebrate the triune God on Trinity Sunday. Romans 8:34 says Jesus intercedes to the Father for us. In the Old Testament we read the prophets prophesised by the spirit of God. They prophesised to guide or caution the people and to redirect them to walk in the right path. Today, all of us have to receive the Holy Spirit whose role is to caution, guide and strengthen us to be witnesses and disciples. 

Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”. Jesus said we need to be born again to inherit the kingdom of heaven. When we are born from our mother’s womb, it is our first birth. If we accept Jesus as our personal saviour, we are born again in Jesus and experience second birth. Jesus expects us to experience this second birth to inherit the kingdom of heaven. We need the anointing of the Holy Spirit to walk in the right way that is narrow. When our life in this world ends, we will face our first death. If our name is not written in the book of life, we will be cast into the lake of fire and will experience second death. The first birth and first death are not in our hands. But it is our choice to choose second birth and second death. We have the opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit to guide us to live a life pleasing in the Lord’s sight. The Holy Spirit will lead us in the right path to inherit eternal life. 

I pray we experience second birth to escape second death. I pray we all find the narrow way and inherit eternal life with Jesus Christ. Amen!