You must be born again.

seekeroftruth

Well-Known Member
John 3:1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
This is an important lesson. It's way over my head.

Is it possible there are preachers who are like Nicodemus?

Is it possible there are preachers who work with people every day in the Name of the Lord, who never got this message?

Is it possible that Nicodemus didn't understand the principle of "Spirit of God".

Is it possible there are preachers, elders, teachers, and priests who never got the message but graduated from Seminary anyway?

I have read and heard; everyone can go to Heaven. I have read and heard; it doesn't matter if you believe in Jesus.... it only matters if you are a "good" person.

How many "good" things do you have to do to be considered a "good" person in God's eyes?

What if you die one "good" thing short? Do you get to go anyway?

God's Son was hung on the cross at the urgent request of the Temple priests. What makes us think we don't have to believe in Jesus to have eternal life?

The Pharisees didn't believe, but they worked in the church their whole life! You mean they weren't "good" enough for Heaven, after all those years of service, they don't get in because they don't buy Jesus was actually the Son of God?

Yep!

God loved the World so much.... and people think that doesn't matter, I guess.

It doesn't matter humans sent God's Son home with holes in His hands, feet, and chest?

I guess it's ok if God's own Temple Priests had Him hung on the Roman Cross. Just as long as you do enough "good" things, God will reconsider the whole plan and let you in.

It's ok.... you've been so "special" and "good" the whole "Salvation" plan doesn't have to apply to you.

Yeah right!


You must be born again!

:coffee:
 

stgislander

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
Besides Jesus obviously, I think Nicodemus is the person in the Bible that intrigues me the most. Did he visit Jesus to gather info for the Pharisees, or did he realize there was something was different this man. The Pharisees were so mired in the minutia of the Law that they forgot the reason behind it. Was Nicodemus beginning to get a whiff of what that was? I'd want to think so.
 

seekeroftruth

Well-Known Member
Besides Jesus obviously, I think Nicodemus is the person in the Bible that intrigues me the most. Did he visit Jesus to gather info for the Pharisees, or did he realize there was something was different this man. The Pharisees were so mired in the minutia of the Law that they forgot the reason behind it. Was Nicodemus beginning to get a whiff of what that was? I'd want to think so.
I wondered the same thing. But.... Nicodemus went to see Jesus on the sly. It was at night. Night 2000 years ago was a lot darker and meaner than it is now that we have electricity.

I think Nicodemus either wanted the secret to drawing that crowd or he was indeed a follower.

He wasn't a politician. He was a church leader. The people were already "required" to come to him.

I think he was indeed a follower. I don't think he was interested in drawing a huge crowd.

I like him too!

:coffee:
 
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