A Study of John's Gospel: Pt. 12 The New Birth is Essential for Heaven!
Good morning...
John 3: 5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
A Leader of the Pharisees comes to Jesus.
John 3:1-2 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
John 2 ends with a false profession of faith that caused Jesus not to commit Himself to those people. Chapter 3 is going to be a thorough discussion of being spiritually alive in contrast to being spiritually dead.
The first thing John wants us to know is that one of the leaders has come to see Christ. He was a Pharisee and a member of the council of 70 known as the Sanhedrin. This counsel was hostile toward Christ. John tells us his name was Nicodemus. His name means " a conqueror" and he is only mentioned in the gospel of John.
The Pharisees did believe in miracles and the resurrection. However, they also enforced rigid man made rules and imposed guidelines based upon their ability to do works that they thought gained God's favor.
Pharisees viewed tradition as higher than Scripture.
Matthew 15:1-6 1) Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2) Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3) But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4) For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5) But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6) And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Here is a specific example of how the Pharisees distorted the truth of God's Word. They had a man made rule about washing hands before eating bread and eating without washing was considered to be a sin. They were far more concerned with obeying the traditions of the elders handed down to each generation than they were to obeying the scriptures God gave.
Jesus rebuked them for creating a rule that exempted a son from caring for his elder parents. According to this rule a son could tell them that the resources needed to care for Mom and Dad were dedicated as a gift. This tradition made Exodus 20:12 & 21:17 of none effect.
Thus, when John tells us Nicodemus came to speak with Jesus it is because he is a Pharisee, one of the group that was hostile to Jesus. The fact that he came to Jesus at night is also important. It tells us that Nicodemus was afraid of condemnation by the Pharisees. Later in this gospel we will see that Nicodemus was no longer afraid of being connected with Christ.
Nicodemus must have been filled with doubts about obeying the traditions of the elders and he surely knew that he could not be made right with God by man made rules.
A religious man searching for truth.
Notice what Nicodemus said about Jesus: "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."
He acknowledged that some of the Pharisees recognized that Jesus must have been sent by God because of the miracles that He worked. Remember at this point John has only told us about one miracle of Christ but the apostle knew of many more miracles that Jesus did. Nicodemus and other Pharisees had witnessed some of Christ's mighty works.
It is also worth noting that Nicodemus said that no man could do what Jesus did except that God be with him. The name "Emmanuel" means "God with us." (See Matthew 1:23).
Christ commands "Ye must be born again!"
John 3:3-4 3)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. 4)Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered the comment Nicodemus made in verse 2. A man must be born again in order to see the Kingdom of God. This saying of Jesus is connected to John 1:12-13. Those who received Christ were given power to become the sons of God through faith in His name.
The new birth is an act of God in our hearts when we truly embrace Christ in repentant faith. The Greek word translated "born" refers to God making men His sons through faith in Christ's work on the cross.
The new birth is an absolute essential for eternal life with God in heaven. All people who are not born again will spend eternity in Hell. Remember, God's heart is that He wants all people everywhere to come to repentant faith in Christ. (2 Peter 3:8-10)
Jesus' answer seems to have perplexed Nicodemus for he asked how any person can be born again when he or she is old. He asked how anyone could enter the womb and be born a second time. Nicodemus was mired in the physical realities of life and the impossibility of being born from his mother a second time.
The new birth requires a new heart. It is spiritual life from God.
John 3:5-8 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. 6)That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Jesus used the word "verily" twice in answering Nicodemus. It means what Jesus is telling Nicodemus is absolute truth. The fact that the same word is repeated twice places a strong emphasis on Divine Truth being communicated to a man who is searching for answers.
Jesus amplifies what He said before by indicating a man must be born of water and the Spirit because it was imperative for Nicodemus to know spiritual realities related to the Kingdom of God. It is necessary for God to do a regenerating work in our hearts to equip us for kingdom work and eternal life with Him.
Jesus makes it clear for Nicodemus that He is speaking of a new birth that is a spiritual work in contrast to a normal birth. Nicodemus must have expressed surprise at what Jesus told him because the Lord said "Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again."
Water is a symbol of the Word of God and the Spirit of God (See Ephesians 5:26-27 & John 7:37-39).
Jesus then gives Nicodemus an example. The wind blows in whichever direction it blows. You can hear it blow and feel it with your body but you cannot see the direction it came from or the direction it is going. This is like a man or woman who is born again by the Spirit of God. You know something has happened in their heart but you cannot see the internal change that took place.
John 3:9-10 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Nicodemus struggled to understand these things and asked "How can these things be?" Jesus asked Nicodemus a question too. "How can you be a master of Israel and not know these things?" Jesus was not being hard on Nicodemus. Rather, He was showing this Pharisee that he was trusting in the traditions of man instead of knowing and trusting the scriptures.
We have to close this part of the dialogue between Christ and Nicodemus but I will leave us with the words of Ezekiel because Nicodemus should have known this prophecy. You see the connection of clean water, a new spirit and a new heart that is at the center of Jesus' instruction to Nicodemus on full display.
Ezekiel 36:24-27 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25) Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26) 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. 27) And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Thoughts to Ponder...
First, we see that mankind has a tendency to think that following some man made rules or doing some works somehow gains them favor with God. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Second, we see that mankind is mired in thinking only from an earthly perspective when a heavenly view is needed.
Third, not only is a new birth needed, it is an absolute requirement for entrance into eternity with God in heaven.
May I press you this day to think hard about these truths if you know you have never been born again? Once God regenerates your heart you will never be the same person again! (See 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Believer, if you are bogged down by overwhelming circumstances, won't you turn your heart and thoughts to Christ? Look to Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith who suffered all things in order to save us, and be encouraged to keep walking with Him who loves us so.
Bob
John 3: 5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
A Leader of the Pharisees comes to Jesus.
John 3:1-2 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
John 2 ends with a false profession of faith that caused Jesus not to commit Himself to those people. Chapter 3 is going to be a thorough discussion of being spiritually alive in contrast to being spiritually dead.
The first thing John wants us to know is that one of the leaders has come to see Christ. He was a Pharisee and a member of the council of 70 known as the Sanhedrin. This counsel was hostile toward Christ. John tells us his name was Nicodemus. His name means " a conqueror" and he is only mentioned in the gospel of John.
The Pharisees did believe in miracles and the resurrection. However, they also enforced rigid man made rules and imposed guidelines based upon their ability to do works that they thought gained God's favor.
Pharisees viewed tradition as higher than Scripture.
Matthew 15:1-6 1) Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2) Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3) But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4) For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5) But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6) And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Here is a specific example of how the Pharisees distorted the truth of God's Word. They had a man made rule about washing hands before eating bread and eating without washing was considered to be a sin. They were far more concerned with obeying the traditions of the elders handed down to each generation than they were to obeying the scriptures God gave.
Jesus rebuked them for creating a rule that exempted a son from caring for his elder parents. According to this rule a son could tell them that the resources needed to care for Mom and Dad were dedicated as a gift. This tradition made Exodus 20:12 & 21:17 of none effect.
Thus, when John tells us Nicodemus came to speak with Jesus it is because he is a Pharisee, one of the group that was hostile to Jesus. The fact that he came to Jesus at night is also important. It tells us that Nicodemus was afraid of condemnation by the Pharisees. Later in this gospel we will see that Nicodemus was no longer afraid of being connected with Christ.
Nicodemus must have been filled with doubts about obeying the traditions of the elders and he surely knew that he could not be made right with God by man made rules.
A religious man searching for truth.
Notice what Nicodemus said about Jesus: "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."
He acknowledged that some of the Pharisees recognized that Jesus must have been sent by God because of the miracles that He worked. Remember at this point John has only told us about one miracle of Christ but the apostle knew of many more miracles that Jesus did. Nicodemus and other Pharisees had witnessed some of Christ's mighty works.
It is also worth noting that Nicodemus said that no man could do what Jesus did except that God be with him. The name "Emmanuel" means "God with us." (See Matthew 1:23).
Christ commands "Ye must be born again!"
John 3:3-4 3)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. 4)Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered the comment Nicodemus made in verse 2. A man must be born again in order to see the Kingdom of God. This saying of Jesus is connected to John 1:12-13. Those who received Christ were given power to become the sons of God through faith in His name.
The new birth is an act of God in our hearts when we truly embrace Christ in repentant faith. The Greek word translated "born" refers to God making men His sons through faith in Christ's work on the cross.
The new birth is an absolute essential for eternal life with God in heaven. All people who are not born again will spend eternity in Hell. Remember, God's heart is that He wants all people everywhere to come to repentant faith in Christ. (2 Peter 3:8-10)
Jesus' answer seems to have perplexed Nicodemus for he asked how any person can be born again when he or she is old. He asked how anyone could enter the womb and be born a second time. Nicodemus was mired in the physical realities of life and the impossibility of being born from his mother a second time.
The new birth requires a new heart. It is spiritual life from God.
John 3:5-8 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. 6)That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Jesus used the word "verily" twice in answering Nicodemus. It means what Jesus is telling Nicodemus is absolute truth. The fact that the same word is repeated twice places a strong emphasis on Divine Truth being communicated to a man who is searching for answers.
Jesus amplifies what He said before by indicating a man must be born of water and the Spirit because it was imperative for Nicodemus to know spiritual realities related to the Kingdom of God. It is necessary for God to do a regenerating work in our hearts to equip us for kingdom work and eternal life with Him.
Jesus makes it clear for Nicodemus that He is speaking of a new birth that is a spiritual work in contrast to a normal birth. Nicodemus must have expressed surprise at what Jesus told him because the Lord said "Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again."
Water is a symbol of the Word of God and the Spirit of God (See Ephesians 5:26-27 & John 7:37-39).
Jesus then gives Nicodemus an example. The wind blows in whichever direction it blows. You can hear it blow and feel it with your body but you cannot see the direction it came from or the direction it is going. This is like a man or woman who is born again by the Spirit of God. You know something has happened in their heart but you cannot see the internal change that took place.
John 3:9-10 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Nicodemus struggled to understand these things and asked "How can these things be?" Jesus asked Nicodemus a question too. "How can you be a master of Israel and not know these things?" Jesus was not being hard on Nicodemus. Rather, He was showing this Pharisee that he was trusting in the traditions of man instead of knowing and trusting the scriptures.
We have to close this part of the dialogue between Christ and Nicodemus but I will leave us with the words of Ezekiel because Nicodemus should have known this prophecy. You see the connection of clean water, a new spirit and a new heart that is at the center of Jesus' instruction to Nicodemus on full display.
Ezekiel 36:24-27 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25) Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26) 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. 27) And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Thoughts to Ponder...
First, we see that mankind has a tendency to think that following some man made rules or doing some works somehow gains them favor with God. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Second, we see that mankind is mired in thinking only from an earthly perspective when a heavenly view is needed.
Third, not only is a new birth needed, it is an absolute requirement for entrance into eternity with God in heaven.
May I press you this day to think hard about these truths if you know you have never been born again? Once God regenerates your heart you will never be the same person again! (See 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Believer, if you are bogged down by overwhelming circumstances, won't you turn your heart and thoughts to Christ? Look to Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith who suffered all things in order to save us, and be encouraged to keep walking with Him who loves us so.
Bob
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