NICODEMUS

The NEW BIRTH

(The Jesus-Nicodemus Discourse)

John 3:1-15

Joh 3:1,2 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.

Nicodemus did not see Jesus "as God the Son" at this time but that he saw Him as one in whom God was with.

Joh 3:3 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.

Here we see right off the bat, that Jesus read the "mind" i.e. the heart of Nicodemus and knew what his issue, his question was before he even asked it. The issue Nicodemus was concerned about what "what does it take" to enter the Kingdom of God?

Joh 3:4 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?

Here is a good example of today's Christian Church members who superficially read the word of God. Even though they have the witness of the Lord Himself, they, for the most part, cannot discern the word of God, just as Nicodemus revealed to Jesus after He had already told him that the "rebirth" of the one who seeks Him "must take place" with the individual who wishes to enter the Kingdom of God.

Joh 3:5 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.

QUESTION: Was Jesus speaking here of "baptism" of both the water and the spirit? YES! ABSOLUTELY. Is there something here "unwritten" and unspoken verbally by Jesus that Jesus wished to draw the attention of Nicodemus too? The phrase Jesus used here "be born of water and of the Spirit" should take the mind to contemplate the "natural birth" of man who comes forth from water the fleshly man. This did take place for Nicodemus and that is why he replied: "can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus, however, was NOT speaking of the "natural birth" of man, He was speaking of the "spiritual rebirth" of all men who wish to be with Him in the Kingdom of God. This is just one of many examples in scripture where there are unspoken and unwritten truths of which the spiritual eyes must discern. I recently spoke to a man who believed that it was only what he could see with his eyes and read with his reading ability of the "written word" on the pages of scripture that he would believe. For him, there was nothing else. I suppose any reading is fine, but so many of God's people are lacking in their study because they read only what they see on the written page, and cannot perceive anything else that may be unspoken or unwritten. There re many truths in scripture that are "unwritten" and "unspoken" within the written record we call the Word of God.

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Now, Jesus has to clarify for Nicodemus that He is not speaking of the "natural birth" of man, but that of the required "spiritual rebirth" which first takes place in the "mind" of man. The spiritual renewal only takes place in the "mind i.e. the heart" of man, NOT in or within the flesh. There's nothing of the natural flesh of man that is redeemable, it must be either "translated at the Last Day or be destroyed" it is irredeemable. The "transformation" occurs through the knowledge of God's word and the acceptance of the provision made on the Cross of Christ. Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, [i.e. the MIND] in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Was Paul who was speaking to the Romans who were NOT Jews, telling those he spoke to that they had to become literal "Jews?" NO! Absolutely not. This is why he later stated in Romans: Rom 9:6-8 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. What was Paul saying here? Paul was simply eluding to the fact that it is through Jesus Christ alone that the redeemed "seed" or for a better term "saints of God" will be counted.

Just because one is a Jew i.e. Hebrew  descendant of Abram the Hebrew is NOT going to be considered or counted as the "seed", there's no such thing as "salvation by heredity" simply because one is of the "seed of Abraham." This is where Israel went off track and why they said: Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Nicodemus had this same mindset "We be Abraham's seed" and couldn't see past it during this discourse. Many of today's Christian church members themselves are stuck in a mindset of their own making because they can't see the truth, they too have the Nicodemus Syndrome wearing spiritual blinders of their own making.

Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Jesus used the example here of one of nature's other events since the mind of Nicodemus was contemplating the "natural birth" and still wasn't clear as to what He was speaking of. Jesus used the "invisible" wind to get His point across the self-righteous Pharisee. Nicodemus was to realize that the "spiritual rebirth" was the work of God within the spirit of man and that it's an invisible work that only the one who is affected can discern, yet is very real even though it cannot be seen just as the wind is real but cannot be seen with the eye.

Joh 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Still confused Nicodemus is flabbergasted at the revealed truth of the New Birth experience.

Joh 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Hey, you are a Doctor of the Law a scholar of Israel and you still don't know this truth?

Joh 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

Now Jesus changes the venue from this private discourse between them, to the public display of His and the disciple's ministry that they have ridiculed and made lite of, bringing the Pharisee's mind to the reality of truth right before his own eyes.

Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Then Jesus gives Nicodemus the truth of his own "unbelief" in what is being revealed to him through their ministry, and that what is taking place before him is from heaven. The New Birth experience Nicodemus is from heaven through the Spirit, it cannot be seen with the physical eyes but discerned within the Spirit, it's a heavenly thing. What I have told you, Nicodemus, is from heaven, just as you acknowledge me as "a teacher come from God."

Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Here, Jesus switches to an issue other than the New Birth question by Nicodemus. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection whereas the Sadducees did not. Jesus again was drawing the mind of Nicodemus to a heavenly truth he already knew. That of the state of the dead. That they are in their graves awaiting the resurrection at the last day. Then Jesus revealed another heavenly truth to the Pharisee that enforced his already held beliefs about the resurrection. That until the resurrection takes place "no man" will ascend up to heaven until that time. That the dead do NOT ascend to heaven when they die. Jesus shared with Nicodemus that "no man" in and of themselves has the capability to on their own "ascend into heaven" at their deaths.

The modern church teaches that the "dead saints" have the ability upon their death to "ascend immediately" to heaven, and Jesus was setting this Pharisee straight concerning the then held "correct" beliefs by the Pharisees that when one dies they go into the grave, not up to heaven. That He alone can ascend and descend at will, and NO man has that capability, which reinforced the Pharisee's beliefs on the resurrection and the state of those in the grave, and led his mind to believe in Jesus and the truth of the New Birth experience.

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Now, Jesus reveals to Nicodemus His real mission, that of offering life to those who would "look upon Him" and believe, just as those in the desert were only required to "look and live" Jesus drew the attention of the Pharisee to Himself as the "life-giver" that just as the "brazen serpent" made by Moses his forefather was designed to offer "life" to those who just looked upon it, Jesus was telling Nicodemus that the New Birth question that he had could only be obtained by "Seeing Him" for who He was the Son of God and not just one in whom God was with.

Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Nicodemus, you must believe if you want to live with me! Otherwise, you will PERISH!

The WATCHMAN !!!