Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Gardoe Cephas on John 3 - 3 years ago
    1. Can you tell me what Jesus meant when He told Nicodemus you must be born again?

    2. is this new birth different from Roman's 10:9?

    3. Being born of the Spirit could mean being baptized with the Holy Spirit but what does it means to be born of water?
  • Chris - In Reply on John 3 - 3 years ago
    1. Nicodemus, a Pharisee (a Jewish religious leader) was confused by Jesus' expression 'that a man must be born again before he can see the Kingdom of God'. To the natural mind, a birth/re-birth can only be a physical event, making any other meaning confusing & laughable. Yet, Jesus explained that He wasn't talking about a physical birth but a spiritual birth (something that the Pharisee knew nothing about). He knew something about God's Spirit but that the Spirit could do such a work in man was unthinkable. When a person, a sinner, confesses his sinful condition to God & asks for forgiveness, God does forgive him based on the death & resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. As Jesus, the sinless Sacrifice of God, gave up His Life as our substitute (since sinful man cannot atone for his own sins), God accepted that Sacrifice, thus allowing all who come to Him through Jesus might be completely forgiven. As soon as that happens, the sinner is saved from the penalty of his sins & given God's Spirit to indwell Him making him a new person. This transaction: giving of oneself over to God as God then gives Himself to indwell the new person, is what is termed 'being born again': being born anew by the Power & Presence of God.

    2. Romans 10:9 speaks of what a sinner's action before God, i.e. "confessing the Lord Jesus" (acknowledging both Jesus' divinity & humanity & that the Sacrifice is all the sinner needs to be saved) & "believing in the heart that God indeed raised Jesus from the grave". When one looks at these aspects, there are not many who can truly acknowledge these Truths. Whereas the new birth in John 3 speaks of God's action in the sinner by making him new & giving of His Spirit to indwell.

    3. True, spiritual rebirth is synonymous with Spirit baptism. But to be born of water, I understand to mean a reference to one's physical birth. As Nicodemus spoke of the physical birth, Jesus said that both the physical ( Jn 3:6) & spiritual births are necessary to be saved.



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