articlesforchristians

Jesus Teaches the New Birth

• Jesus received mixed reactions to His Ministry.
• The common people heard Him gladly.
• He came preaching to the poor.
• The “learned” people did not always receive Him.
• Many among the chief rulers also believed on Jesus but would not confess Him for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.
  • Mark 12:37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
  • Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
  • Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
  • John 12:42-43 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

JESUS AND NICODEMUS

• Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night and said to him:
• John 3:1-3 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. 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.
  • Nicodemus did not come questioning: he came to Jesus with a compliment; but Jesus brought the conversation to a more important matter: how can a person see God’s kingdom and enter into it?
• Ye Must be Born Again
  • Jesus said that the only way a person can see and enter the kingdom is to be born
    again.
  • Nicodemus could only associate it with a natural birth.
    • John 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
      • Water and Spirit
        • Being “Born Again” consists of two elements; water and Spirit.
        • Water refers to baptism in water and the Spirit to the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

THE PROMISE TO ALL BELIEVERS

• Jesus went to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Tabernacles.
  • There He made a dramatic and most significant statement.
    • John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying. If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
  • Some observations:
    • The promise is to any person
      • The qualifying factor is that a person must thirst
    • Must come to Jesus
      • To receive this promise must believe in Jesus
    • The rivers of living water that will flow out of the believer are the Spirit (The Holy
      Ghost)
      • At that time, the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
        • Jesus has now been glorified, and the Holy Ghost is given.
        • From the Day of Pentecost, even to this day, the promise has been for all who
          believe.