THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Unless you are born again”, Part 66

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 66

“Unless you are born again”

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again ^(b) he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The Words of Jesus, John 3:8.

“Unless a person is born again” can mean to be born again or to be born from above. The Greek word is purposely ambiguous, as this means both to be ‘born again’ and ‘from above’. (It is also interesting to note that Jesus is using the aorist tense of the word ‘be born’, which indicates a continuous action with no regard to past, present or future – i.e., unless one ‘continues to be born again’…)

 Apparently, Nicodemus misunderstood what Jesus meant. He took these words as being both literal and pragmatic because he next asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born (born again and to be born from above, i.e.,) of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ^(c) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You ^{(d )} must be born again.’ The wind ^(c) blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

I have read this, in the past, and simply passed over the significance on these words – they are just too mystifying. Of course, Nicodemus apparently had the same problem, although he was able to ask for clarification and the meaning.

I have read commentaries on these verses, (five through eight), and almost without exception, Bible teachers and theologians delve into either the pragmatism of these words, the illusory or the metaphorical. There is nothing in Jesus’ Words that would indicate they are anything but literal. Jesus is explaining a deep oracle of God, a deep truth, that is not easily understood by the natural mind and must be experienced to its fulfillment to gain any understanding at all.

These words not only compare the ‘flesh’, i.e., the physical to the spiritual, but tell us that BOTH are necessary realities in order to ‘enter the kingdom of God (which is also, a real place). Jesus begins this teaching and explanation with, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water AND the Spirit” – both!

Your reason for having been created by God and your raison d’être is not complete unless you have undergone both, being born in the flesh and having been born of the Spirit.

It is a harsh reality that if you die in this incomplete state, you will perish, having been rendered by your own choice, in a manner of speaking, as ‘no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet’.

If, on the other hand, you are truly born of water and of the Spirit, you will enter the Kingdom of heaven, both now at this time and in the age to come, eternal life. And at that time, whatever you ask of the Father in Jesus’ Name, He may give to you (see John 15:16) – and nothing will be impossible for you (see Matthew 17:20).

Don’t be arrogant or foolish. Complete your reason for being, and live!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS – These things do not come immediately, but only with steadfast prayer and submission to God. Even then, the way is not smooth, but is filled with trials, testing and tribulations, so that you may be made complete and your faith —which is more precious than gold, which perishes, when it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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