Lesson 1824

(Lesson 1824)(10-15-16) John 3:1-6

"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."

In today's quote, Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to see the kingdom of God, one must be born again. Nicodemus, in his failure to understand what Jesus meant, asked how can an old man reenter his mothers womb to be reborn. Jesus then explained that the rebirth He was referring to is a spiritual birth achieved by acceptance, by faith, of God's new plan of eternal salvation. Namely, Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, except a man be born of water, (water in this context means flesh) AND of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Many of today's religious isms contend that Jesus' reference to the "water" birth, is a reference to water baptism (immersion). In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. There is NO evidence, anywhere to be found, either in bible text or in any other ancient Hebrew or Greek writings, confirming that the water birth referred to in this text is implicative of a water immersion rather than a natural birth.

It is clear to those who carefully study this lesson, in its true context, that the two births Jesus referenced herein are first, a natural birth accomplished by ones mother, and secondly, a spiritual rebirth accomplished by faith in God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.~