Bible Study - Never Alone (2) - Born Again by the Spirit - John 3:1-8, 14-17 - June 12, 2022

 Bible Study – Never Alone (2) – Born Again by the Spirit – June 12, 2022

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled, “Never Alone: The Holy Spirit in Our Lives.”

Our focus scripture is John 3:1-8, 14-17.

The Holy Spirit brings us into new life as we place our trust in JESUS.

In Luke 3:21-22, we read:

²¹ When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened, ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”

This occurred at the beginning of the earthly ministry of JESUS. JESUS set the example. Baptism is an earthly example of Spiritual conversion. It is dying to self and being raised to live according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual birth is a magnificent gift from GOD when a person places his or her faith in JESUS. JESUS is our example. JESUS lived as 100% human, yet, 100% GOD. HE could have called legions of angels to rescue HIM but HE trusted HIS FATHER, GOD. JESUS was subject to physical death. If HE had sinned, HE had no one to atone for HIS sin and GOD would not have raised HIM from the physically dead. But that is not the case!!!

JESUS is our hope, proof and guarantee of our bodily resurrection when we place our faith in JESUS and HIS atonement. It is the Holy Spirit that confirms our salvation and gives us HIS seal that we have been Spiritually born into GOD’S Family, never to be Spiritually unborn.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:16:

 ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

In 2 Corinthians 1:22, we read:

²² set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Some scholars believe that Nicodemus had a silent group along with him. Of course, there are other scholars who believe Nicodemus was alone. That is not the point. The point is that Nicodemus asked a very important and insightful question.

Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin and came to JESUS at night to ask a very important question.

The Sanhedrin was a 71-member political, legal, and religious body comprised of high priests, former high priests, scribes, Pharisees and Jewish nobility. Likely the who’s who in Israel.

Let’ read John 3:1-3:

Jesus and Nicodemus

3 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,^[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus was a leader in the Jewish religion. He was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He was a member of the Sanhedrin. He accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to help begin the preparation for the burial of JESUS as we read in John 19:38-40:

³⁸ After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so, he came and took his body away. ³⁹ Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds^[j] of myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.

Notice that Nicodemus addressed JESUS as “Rabbi” followed by “we know” “that you are a teacher who has come from GOD.” What had Nicodemus and other Jewish leaders observed about JESUS that led him and them to the conclusion that JESUS was a messenger from GOD? Nicodemus and other Jewish leaders had observed the ministry of JESUS and concluded, “for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.” It reveals that Nicodemus was seeking truth and JESUS wanted him (Nicodemus) to know how he could have GOD in him (Nicodemus) permanently.

It took courage for Nicodemus to go to JESUS. Often, it takes courage to seek truth.

JESUS knew the heart of Nicodemus and answered the question Nicodemus never asked. But JESUS knew the question Nicodemus needed to ask and HE knew the heart of Nicodemus.

³ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,^[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

When witnessing, often the counselor needs to guide the conversation.

WOW!!! Nicodemus most likely never saw that reply coming because Judaism was works oriented based upon knowing and keeping the Ten Commandments and its many laws. JESUS was telling Nicodemus that a person had to “be born-again.” The person seeking to have and be in the right relationship with GOD had to, in essence, start over. All the traditions that the Jews had must be replaced with a radical makeover, equivalent to starting life over by being “Born-again.”  

In 1 John 3:9, we read:
No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God. (Amplified)

Signed, sealed and delivered eternally by GOD when a person places his or her faith in JESUS because a person has been born Spiritually into GOD’S Family.

Let’s think back to the divine conception of JESUS. How did the divine conception of JESUS come about? We read in Luke 1:34-35:

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called^[b] the Son of God.

Mary provided the human egg and GOD provided the “Divine Sperm” or the Holy Spirit. Since life, as a human begins at conception, all humans have to be born a second time by the Divine Sperm of GOD, the Holy Spirit, to have eternal life. Why?

A Spiritual birth is required because of original sin. The original sin of Adam and Eve sentenced their offspring/all mankind to eternal death.

We read in Genesis 3:20, we read:

²⁰ The man named his wife Eve^[g] because she was the mother of all the living. 

In 1 Corinthians 15:47, we read:

⁴⁷ The first man [Adam] is from the earth, earthy [made of dust]; the second Man [Christ, the Lord] is from heaven. (Amplified)

JESUS willingly came to earth to pay the penalty for the original sin of Adam. Why just Adam? GOD put Adam in charge of the Garden. He should have stopped Eve from eating the forbidden fruit. What is the penalty for this original sin? Eternal death! But GOD had HIS redemptive plan to give humans an opportunity to escape the eternal death penalty and to have eternal life through faith in JESUS, the perfect, sinless second Adam. This is accomplished through the miracle of a person being born-again or born Spiritually.

How does Spiritual birth come about?

Natural birth is the union of the human sperm and human egg. Spiritual Birth is the union of the Divine Sperm/Holy Spirit and the Human spirit (egg). This union or Spiritual Conception results in a new Spiritually conceived person or Spirit-born person, who will never be Spiritually unborn. Like begets like e.g., flesh produces flesh and Spirit produces Spirit.

Spiritual birth is a miracle that can only take place when the sin barrier is removed. JESUS did that! JESUS removed the sin barrier when HE willingly gave HIS sinless life and shed HIS sinless blood to pay, in full, for the sin of mankind. Once the sin barrier was removed by JESUS, the path to GOD was open. However, every person must and now can approach Holy GOD and ask for forgiveness for his or her sin believing and accepting the atonement of JESUS for his or her sin. The instant a person asks for forgiveness, in faith and accepts JESUS, as Savior, the Holy Spirit instantly unites with that person’s spirit and he or she becomes GOD’S Child and has eternal life.

As we read on, we see that the term JESUS used, born-again. The term was somewhat confusing to Nicodemus. However, Nicodemus continued to probe JESUS to understand what HE was telling him---

Let’s read John 3:4-8:

⁴ “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. ⁸ The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus continued to probe JESUS for clarification and understanding.

The physical is one thing but the Spiritual is another. First, humans are born of water and then they can be Spirit-born when they accept JESUS as their Savior. This brings up the question of still born children, aborted children or children in general. There is no clearcut answer but I believe GOD has made provision for them e.g., if they have never been born, they are not accountable to GOD because they have never sinned. Those who abort them are accountable. The reason why a child is aborted is important. Children born and die later in life are covered by a term titled, “Age of accountability.” Enough for now. Back to the miracle of Spiritual Birth ----

⁹ “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.

¹⁰ “Are you a teacher^[b] of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. ¹¹ “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. ¹² If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven —the Son of Man.^[c]

It is interesting that JESUS used the word, “we.” I believe HE was referring to the other two persons of the Trinity.

Also, JESUS used the term “Son of Man.” This reference reflects back to the scripture in Daniel 10 about the end times. We are in spiritual warfare, especially as we get closer to end times. We get closer with every passing day. But physical death may get us to heaven before the end comes. We must keep in our minds that “greater is HE (JESUS) that is in us than he that is in the world (Satan, who has been judged.)

JESUS moved on to scripture that would be familiar to Nicodemus to help him draw his attention to the promised Messiah ---

Let’s read John 3:14-17:

¹⁴ “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ so that everyone who believes in him may^[d] have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will 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.

JESUS was reminding Nicodemus of Biblical history, which he would or should have known, that was recorded in Number 21:4-9:

⁴ Then they set out from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to bypass the land of Edom, but the people became impatient because of the journey. ⁵ The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” ⁶ Then the Lord sent poisonous^[b] snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died.

⁷ The people then came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede with the Lord so that he will take the snakes away from us.” And Moses interceded for the people.

⁸ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.

This was a foreshadow of JESUS being lifted up on the cross and giving HIS sinless life to atonement for sin. It was a teaching moment for Nicodemus. The crucifixion of JESUS would tie back to this Moses scripture. All who will place their faith in JESUS will receive forgiveness for their sin, be healed from the consequence of their sin, eternal death, and receive eternal life through the miracle of Spiritual birth.

Just as snake venom kills a person when he or she is bitten, the original sin committed by Adam and Eve condemned all of mankind to eternal death. Sin kills a person eternally. The cure for eternal death from sin is faith in JESUS. JESUS died upon the cross and all who accept the atoning sacrifice of JESUS will be Spiritually born into GOD’S Family. This is the miracle of Spiritual birth that restores eternal life to all who place their faith in JESUS. Thus, the term “born-again,” not physically born again but Spiritually born into the Family of GOD.

JESUS continued to explain that the function of the Spirit could be illustrated by the function of the wind. A person cannot see the wind but he or she can feel the wind and see the effects of the wind. The source and path of wind is not determined by man. The same is true of the Holy Spirit.

GOD’S desire is for all who are Spiritually-born to be lead and guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit knows the mind of GOD and so orders the steps of those Spiritually born.

JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life for all people who place their faith in HIM to receive eternal life. Why? It is because HE so loved the people of earth who are without hope, unless they are Spiritually born into GOD’S eternal Family. JESUS’ passion opened the path to eternal salvation by removing the sin barrier. Once the sin barrier is removed, all people have direct access to GOD but each person must accept JESUS as his or her Savior.

Salvation is one thing but there is another step a Spirit-born person can take and that is to make JESUS the LORD of his or her life. Here I am, LORD JESUS, I desire to be YOUR SON or DAUGHTER doing YOUR will.

Thank YOU, JESUS!!! May all who read this be blessed by being born-again.

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:16:

 ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

In 2 Corinthians 1:22, we read:

²² set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

 

John 19:38-40:

³⁸ After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so, he came and took his body away. ³⁹ Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds^[j] of myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.

We read in Genesis 3:20, we read:

²⁰ The man named his wife Eve^[g] because she was the mother of all the living. 

In 1 Corinthians 15:47, we read:

⁴⁷ The first man [Adam] is from the earth, earthy [made of dust]; the second Man [Christ, the Lord] is from heaven. (Amplified)

 

 

 

In 1 John 3:9, we read:
No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God. (Amplified)

Let’s think back to the divine conception of JESUS. How did the divine conception of JESUS come about? We read in Luke 1:34-35:

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called^[b] the Son of God.

We read in Genesis 3:20, we read:

²⁰ The man named his wife Eve^[g] because she was the mother of all the living. 

In 1 Corinthians 15:47, we read:

⁴⁷ The first man [Adam] is from the earth, earthy [made of dust]; the second Man [Christ, the Lord] is from heaven. (Amplified)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number 21:4-9:

⁴ Then they set out from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to bypass the land of Edom, but the people became impatient because of the journey. ⁵ The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” ⁶ Then the Lord sent poisonous^[b] snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died.

⁷ The people then came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede with the Lord so that he will take the snakes away from us.” And Moses interceded for the people.

⁸ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.