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BIRTHI) WHAT IS THE NEW BIRTH?
READ (JOHN 3.1-8)
Shortly after Jesus began His ministry, He attended the Passover during the spring of the year in Jerusalem. The Passover was followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread which lasted for a period of seven days following the day of Passover itself, so Jesus was in Jerusalem for at least a week. During that stay, He was visited by a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews whose name was Nicodemus.
The Pharisees were members of a religious sect of dedicated Jews that had originated in the second century B.C. They originally formed to counter the Godless Grecian culture of that time, by holding to the strict adherence of the Law of Moses and observance of Jewish ritual laws.
At the time of Jesus, the Pharisees enjoyed a good deal of popular support and occupied positions of influence in various governing bodies within the Jewish community. Many held seats in the Jewish Sanhedrin, the Jews' equivalent of a supreme court and legislative body. They also presided as rabbis over the synagogues, so they were considered to be men of authority and learning concerning the things of God.
Even beyond these notable credentials, Nicodemus was not just an average Pharisee; he was a member of that august seventy man Sanhedrin. His position itself would indicate that he was of high academic learning and respected for his wisdom. Therefore, it was surprising in itself that such a man would humble himself to consult with this lowly rabbi Jesus from Galilee, and probably explains why he came "by night". Nevertheless, Nicodemus was in for an unexpected eye-opener.
When he sincerely declared, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him", he must have been shocked by Jesus' response. Rather than acknowledging Nicodemus' superior position and scholastic achievements, Jesus bluntly replied,
"Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3.3)
When Nicodemus seemed to struggle with the meaning of the statement, Jesus continued immediately with another one still more profound.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born 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 (John 3.5-6)
"Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 5-8)
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
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At the conclusion of the exchange, Nicodemus seemed to be completely baffled by these declarations, but rather than letting him off the hook, Jesus pointedly graded his acuity in the Scriptures with a sharp rebuke,
"Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?" (John 3.10)
One well known Bible teacher who treated these texts concluded with the quip: "Nicodemus came to Jesus as an honorable member of the Sanhedrin and learned professor of the Old Testament, but he left as just plain Nicky". However it must be added quickly that Nicodemus was a man of real integrity and desire to know the truth of the matter, for he was among only a very few Pharisees who later became true believers in Jesus as the Messiah (John 19.38-42)
READ (JOEL 2.28-29)
READ (ZECHARIAH 12.10)
A POINT TO CONSIDER:
JESUS WAS NOT BEING UNDULY ABRUPT WITH NICODEMUS WHEN HE QUESTIONED HIS KNOWLEDGE AS A TEACHER, BECAUSE THE NEW BIRTH WAS CLEARLY DESCRIBED IN TEXTS LIKE THOSE ABOVE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, SO NICODEMUS AS A TEACHER WAS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS FAILURE TO ASSOCIATE SUCH TEXTS WITH THE SUBJECT AT HAND.
II) RECEIVING THE NEW BIRTH
READ (MATTHEW 1.21)
THE PRINCIPAL SUBJECT OF THESE VERSES IS JESUS CHRIST WHO IS REFERRED TO AS "THE WORD" AND "THE LIGHT".
"THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US", THEREFORE "THE WORD" WHO WAS WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING AND WAS GOD, BECAME A HUMAN BEING AND LIVED ON THIS EARTH.
GOD DESIRED TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO US; WE COULD NOT GO TO HIM SO HE CAME TO US IN THE FORM OF JESUS CHRIST.
JESUS WAS A JEW, BORN IN BETHLEHEM, OF THE SEED OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB.
THEREFORE, "HE CAME TO HIS OWN" AND HIS OWN DID NOT RECEIVE HIM", I.E. HE CAME INITIALLY TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL IN FULFILLMENT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES, BUT HIS OWN PEOPLE REJECTED HIM.
THE MATTHEW TEXT POINTS OUT THAT THE NAME "JESUS" MEANS "SAVIOR" OR "GOD SAVES".
QUESTIONS
TO PONDER:
Who may become a "child of God"?
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How may a person become a "child of God"?
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When a person "believes in His name", what is God's response to this declaration of FAITH?
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Based on this text, which of the following statements correctly relates the NEW BIRTH to the subject of FAITH?
It is unrelated _____
The NEW BIRTH is God's gracious response to true FAITH _____
FAITH motivates good deeds resulting in the NEW BIRTH _____
III) IMPORTANCE
Jesus indicated in His conversation with Nicodemus that the NEW BIRTH is essential if one is to see the Kingdom of God. If He was correct, this would mean that it is impossible to have a right relationship with God without the NEW BIRTH. Can this be true? Why can't anyone who is sincere in their faith simply pray to God and establish a relationship with Him? After all, He created all of us, and the Bible itself indicates that God loves the whole world. Many people in the world have never even heard of the NEW BIRTH, nor are they aware that the Bible says that it occurs when one "believes" in Jesus Christ. How can the Bible be so dogmatic to declare that the only way to enter the Kingdom of God is to have the NEW BIRTH?
If you have heard such arguments or can yourself identify with them, this portion of the study is especially for you.
READ (ISAIAH 59.1-3)
READ (JOHN 4.24)
READ (ROMANS 8.5-11)
BASED ON THE ABOVE TEXTS:
How do you think God is best described?
He is a lot like us, only much more powerful, loving, and smarter.
He loves us and is willing to cut us some slack when we disobey Him.
He loves us but is unwilling to compromise His justice and takes a dim view of those who disobey Him.
If one desires to communicate with God, in what form must that communication be transmitted?
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Is God obligated of even willing to accept our communication in any other form? Yes ___ No ___
Is it possible for any human being to communicate with God in the proper way without first being changed? Yes ___ No ___
If a change is required, what must happen in order to communicate with and please God?
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IV) ITS ELEMENTS
A) WE MUST BE "BORN OF WATER"
Since (John 3.5a) is often construed to mean water baptism,
READ (JOHN 4.1-14)
READ (JOHN 7.37-39)
READ (EPHESIANS 4.1-6)
THE MARK TEXT SPEAKS OF JOHN'S BAPTISM BY WATER TO ALL WHO CAME TO HIM, BUT HE INDICATED THAT ANOTHER TO COME AFTER HIM WOULD "BAPTIZE" WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE JOHN 4 TEXT SPEAKS OF TWO KINDS OF WATER, ONE PHYSICAL AND THE OTHER SPIRITUAL.
THE JOHN 7 TEXT AMPLIFIES JOHN 4 BY INDICATING THAT THE SPIRITUAL "WATER" COMES WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS RECEIVED.
THE EPHESIANS TEXT SPEAKS OF ONLY ONE BAPTISM IN CONNECTION WITH SALVATION.
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Based on the previous text, what do you believe is the purpose of water Baptism?
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B) WE MUST BE "BORN OF SPIRIT"
(TITUS 3.3) DESCRIBES THE SITUATION OF ANYONE OPERATING IN THEIR HUMAN NATURE, NEVER HAVING EXPERIENCED THE "NEW BIRTH".
(TITUS 3.4) MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WE DIDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TO GOD; HE "FIGURED OUT" HOW TO GET TO US IN THE FORM OF A MAN WHO BECAME THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
(TITUS 3.5) INDICATES THAT THIS SALVATION DOES NOT DEPEND ON WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO, I.E. PERFORMANCE, BUT RATHER DEPENDS ON THE MERCY HE GRACIOUSLY EXTENDED TOWARD US WHEN JESUS CHRIST DIED IN OUR PLACE, THEREBY FULFILLING THE PERFECT UNCOMPROMISING JUSTICE OF GOD.
WE EACH CAN BE THE RECIPIENT OF THAT GRACE WHEN WE CHOOSE TO FULLY ACCEPT BY FAITH THE PROVISIONS OF HIS SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM.
GOD'S RESPONSE TO OUR WILLINGNESS TO TRUST IN HIS COMPLETED PLAN IS THE "NEW BIRTH".
THE "NEW BIRTH" INVOLVES TWO ELEMENTS:
FIRST, IT IS "THE WASHING OF REGENERATION", A SPIRITUAL CLEANSING WITH THE ACCOMPANYING FORGIVENESS OF SIN.
SECOND, IT IS A RENEWAL BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, THE CREATION OF A NEW SPIRITUAL PERSON WITHIN US CONSTITUTING THE ON-GOING REALITY OF THE "NEW BIRTH", AND ENABLING US TO COMMUNICATE WITH AND RESPOND TO GOD ON HIS TERMS.
(TITUS 3.7) INDICATES THAT BY THESE ACTIONS, THOSE SO "JUSTIFIED", I.E. MADE RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM.
A QUESTION TO PONDER:
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V) "NEW BIRTH" RESULTS
Of course the future results of the NEW BIRTH will be with God in Heaven, but there are also immediate results here in this life.
READ (JOHN 14.25-26)
READ (ROMANS 8.16)
THE JOHN TEXTS INDICATE THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL,
BE A "HELPER" AND "COMFORTER" FOR THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES THE NEW BIRTH.
BE A "TEACHER" TO GUIDE THE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER INTO ALL TRUTH.
BRING INTO REMEMBRANCE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDFUL.
THE ROMANS TEXT PROMISES THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL CONFIRM TO THOSE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS LED BY THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY ARE "CHILDREN OF GOD".
VI) PERSONAL CONCLUSIONS
What is your personal situation with respect to the issue of the NEW BIRTH?
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Do you presently possess the kind of "Baptism" that will get you to Heaven? Yes ___ No ___ Don't know ___
If you think you have received the NEW BIRTH, has God told you and have you begun to experience the things promised in the preceding texts? Yes ___ No ___
If your answer is No, study the Basic Bible Studies on the subjects of REPENTANCE and FAITH.
Questions and/or Comments