Born of the Spirit

Post date: Dec 12, 2017 5:31:57 PM

The term born again is one that has been bandied about the Christian world for many years. Jesus first used this terminology to illustrate to a religious leader that his religious accomplishments alone would not save him from eternal damnation. In my opinion, the overuse of this term, particularly when it is applied with insufficient understanding, has diluted the spiritual significance of this passage.    

Matthew 13:44 Again the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; which a man found and hid, and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Nicodemus, a high ranking Jewish official, unlike his peers, was not intimidated by Jesus’ success. He being a natural man saw just a glimpse of the supernatural Kingdom of God through the ministry of Jesus. This vision compelled him to risk his own welfare, success and status to converse with Jesus. Nicodemus addressed Jesus by saying; “…Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no one can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 3:2)

John 3: 17 For God sent not his Son, into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  

Nicodemus was religiously accomplished. Jesus is spiritually accomplished. Jesus perceiving Nicodemus’ sincerity neither belittled nor condemned him but instead revealed some truths of His kingdom. Jesus said; “Except a man be born again he cannot see (perceive) the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Nicodemus was confused by this statement so he asked; “How can these things be?” Jesus continued, “It’s not enough that you are born naturally but you also need to be born spiritually to see and experience the spiritual.” John 3: 5 says, “Except a man be born of water (naturally) and of the Spirit (spiritually) he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus was still somewhat dumbfounded so Jesus used a natural example to make his point. He explained that one sees the effect of the wind not the wind itself so in like manner one can see the effect of the Holy Spirit in a person not the Spirit in that person. Nicodemus was slow to understand so Jesus said to him, “Art thou a master of Israel and knowest not these things.” (John 3:10)

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Unfazed by his lack of understanding Jesus continued to feed Nicodemus’s hungry spirit with the word. Jesus used Nicodemus’ knowledge of the scriptures to recall a past Jewish historical event in order to prophetically foretell his death by crucifixion. He said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent, in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ” (John 3: 14-18)

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

During their brief encounter Jesus challenged Nicodemus’ way of thinking, opened his eyes to the supernatural and gave him a platform for his faith. Nicodemus’s peers didn’t agree with his assessment of Jesus but this didn’t deter Nicodemus from exercising his reborn faith, despite their threat to eject him; “…for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he (Jesus) was the Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” (John 9:22)

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

What’s in a name? The apostle Peter wrote this about Jesus; “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men; whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)  The bible also teaches; “…by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:10) None of this could have been accomplished without Jesus having to endure the torture, humiliation and shame of the cross. Nicodemus trusted Jesus’ testimony before he saw its fulfillment.