“I
declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” [1 Corinthians 15:50]
Born Again-Born of the SPIRIT
Now
there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the
Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we
know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could
perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Nicodemus was recognized a s a teacher among his people. The Bible does not say why Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. The most obvious explanation is that he would have been embarrassed to be seen going to Jesus, since the Lord had by n o means been accepted by the majority of the Jewish people.
Nicodemus acknowledge the Lord to be a teacher sent by God, since no one could perform such miracles without the direct help of God. In spite of all his learning, Nicodemus did not recognize the Lord as God manifest in the flesh. He was like so many today who say that Jesus was a great man, a wonderful teacher, an outstanding example. All of these statements fall very far short of the full truth. Jesus was and is God.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus longed for the time when the Messiah would set up His kingdom on earth, when the Jewish people would be chief among the nations, and when all their enemies would be destroyed.
Now the Lord informed Nicodemus that in order to enter this kingdom, a man must be born again. Just as the first birth is necessary for physical life, so a second birth is necessary for divine life (The expression born again may also mean "born from above" or "divine"). In other words, Christ's kingdom can only be entered by those whose lives have been changed.
Unless one is born of water, even the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. This spiritual birth is produced by the Holy Spirit of God when a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you believe in the Lord Jesus as your personal savior, that he died for your sins on the cross? Are you born of the SPIRIT? If not, "now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
Nicodemus was recognized a s a teacher among his people. The Bible does not say why Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. The most obvious explanation is that he would have been embarrassed to be seen going to Jesus, since the Lord had by n o means been accepted by the majority of the Jewish people.
Nicodemus acknowledge the Lord to be a teacher sent by God, since no one could perform such miracles without the direct help of God. In spite of all his learning, Nicodemus did not recognize the Lord as God manifest in the flesh. He was like so many today who say that Jesus was a great man, a wonderful teacher, an outstanding example. All of these statements fall very far short of the full truth. Jesus was and is God.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus longed for the time when the Messiah would set up His kingdom on earth, when the Jewish people would be chief among the nations, and when all their enemies would be destroyed.
Now the Lord informed Nicodemus that in order to enter this kingdom, a man must be born again. Just as the first birth is necessary for physical life, so a second birth is necessary for divine life (The expression born again may also mean "born from above" or "divine"). In other words, Christ's kingdom can only be entered by those whose lives have been changed.
Unless one is born of water, even the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. This spiritual birth is produced by the Holy Spirit of God when a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you believe in the Lord Jesus as your personal savior, that he died for your sins on the cross? Are you born of the SPIRIT? If not, "now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
"Why,
you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You
are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:14
Born of the SPIRIT
“Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” [John 3:5]
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