Lesson 2636

(Lesson 2636)(03-12-19) John 2:1-7
    “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 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. 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 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, 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. 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.”

    Today’s lesson is a very, very important one. This lesson contains information, straight from the mouth of Jesus, that debunks the contention that water birth and water baptism are one in the same. It also debunks the idea that water baptism is, as per this text, required before one can be saved from sin.
    This lesson clearly establishes that a “water” birth is nothing more than the natural birth of the flesh. The birth of the Spirit is the birth that Jesus referrenced when He said, “Except a man be born again, He cannot see the kingdom of God”. The very important birth that saves the souls of mankind, the birth Jesus spoke of in the quote, was, without doubt, the birth of the Spirit. Jesus went further to clarify His remarks to Necodemus when He said, “that which is BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH” and that which is BORN OF THE SPIRIT, IS SPIRIT.” The first birth being that of the flesh, the second birth if of the Spirit.
    In order for Nicodemus to understand the term “reborn”, Jesus was compelled to put His remarks in simpler form. He did so by clarifying that Nicodemus would not be required to re-enter his mother’s womb to be physically born again, but rather, bey acceptance of Jesus as savior, he would be reborn in the Spirit of God to the point of remission of sin and eternal salvation.
    In order to receive everlasting life and frogiveness of all sin, a lost soul must indeed be “born again”; However that new birth, not the “water” birth, or the birth of the flesh, but rather, is an overwhelming by, and of, the Holy Spirit. ~