His words and actions raised many questions in the hearts of the Jewish rulers. We know both from John’s own writings (1-3 John; Rev. Medical personnel use the term "vital-signs". A representative quote - What, may we ask, has intervened since the life, death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord that imparts to the Apostle's Epistle a viewpoint so definitely in advance over that taken in his Gospel, yet so closely related to it? Thank You for sending Jesus to be the propitiation for my sin. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, Jew and Gentile alike, and everyman faces the consequences of of their sin - eternal condemnation, but whatever is born of the Spirit i.e. 1 John 5:3 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] 1 John 5:3, NIV: "In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.And his commands are not burdensome," 1 John 5:3, ESV: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.And his commandments are not burdensome." One night, the Lord Jesus was visited by an important teacher of the Jews called Nicodemus. 1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. However, in all such cases, the figurative meaning is carried by a word for cleansing (occasionally with the word "water" added) but never by the word "water" alone. How important in consideration of the glorious hope and eternal benefits that we have received freely.. by grace through faith in Christ, that we live our lives in spirit and in truth.. as unto the Lord, and that we are not enticed by the lawless ways of the world, which is at enmity with our Father - but that we live in humble obedience and reverence of heart before Him.. all the days of our life. Still others suggest that being born of water is the same as spiritual birth. 3:16). But this great Jewish leader needed further clarification. Over the years there have been many alternative views of what it means to be 'born of water', which has caused much confusion in the Church, while all agree that being 'born of the Spirit' is the work the Holy Ghost in the heart of a man or woman at the point of salvation. Verse 5. Nicodemus had to learn that whosoever believes in JESUS is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. 2:6,14,15,20 “Nicolaitans”) and from early Christian leaders who knew this situation (Irenaeus) that these false teachers practiced and sexual immorality—and taught that “spiritually enlightened people” were above such ethical restrictions.3 To claim water baptism is required for salvation is a 'works-based gospel', which should be rejected as it adds a human act to Christ's full and finished redemptive work at Calvary. Many people agree that being, 'born of water', simply refers to the natural process of child-birth in the human realm - born of water, as opposed to the supernatural, spiritual birth into the family of God, when one is, 'born of the Spirit'. Heavenly Father thank You for sending the Lord Jesus at the appointed time to come to earth as the sinless Son of Man, in order to take away my sins by dying for me on the cross at Calvary. Your love is beyond my understanding but I praise and thank You that You sent the sinless Son of God.. to die for me, AMEN. One who is 'born again' believes in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. 3. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of … "How can this happen?" The word “bloweth” translates the Greek verb pneo, which can mean to blow or to breathe, depending upon the context. born again into the family of God, becomes a new creation in Christ who will enter the kingdom of God. Jesus interrupted Nicodemus and went straight to his spiritual issue. Nicodemus did not appear to understand the need for spiritual birth... and so he sought illumination. Can the “Spirit” be seen? We can only have a real relationship with the God who is really there ! They even quote Jesus Who said, "He that believes on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water," in which Christ was making a direct reference to the indwelling Spirit of God. Ημῶν, though strongly supported, is probably not genuine. Perhaps it was simply that Nicodemus held the customary belief that his Jewish ancestry gave him automatic entry into God's kingdom and the Holy Spirit was stirring his heart to search out the truth, "that unless one is born of water AND the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." 2. - Two additional reasons for the absolute separation of the children of God from sin. Lesson 4: How to Have Fellowship With God (1 John 1:5-10) Lesson 5: The Key to Holiness (1 John 2:1-2) Lesson 6: How to Know that You Know Him (1 John 2:3-6) Lesson 7: The Old New Commandment (1 John 2:7-11) Lesson 8: Encouragement for the Family of God (1 John 2:12-14) Lesson 9: Choose Your Love: the World or the Father? Historical and Theological Themes: 1 John is distinctive in its emphasis on assurance of salvation. But the Lord Himself provides the referent and meaning in the immediate context of vv. He had to realise that Jews are not automatically credited with righteousness because of their ancestry. This religionist thought that he was entitled to the kingdom. But, to say simply that John 3:5 does not teach the necessity of baptism isn’t enough. Thank You that I have been born of the Spirit and washed clean by Christ's precious blood. Incredulous, he wondered allowed if one could enter into his mother’s womb a second time. He had come earnestly seeking answers to important questions which he and other Jewish rulers had regarding Jesus, His teachings, and His miracles. In order to study the meaning of “water and/also/even/as well as spirit” in John 3:5, I suggest to look at this from two angles. However, He did not fit in with the Jew's perception of God's Messiah and Nicodemus wanted answers to important, spiritual questions. John 3:5 “Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.’” Explanation and Commentary on John 3:5. On that day the prophetic feast of centuries was fulfilled. With the background of the passages cited here, it is impossible to miss Paul's meaning in this verse. The believer loves God rather than the world (1 John 2:15). You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 4. The promised gift of the HOLY SPIRIT was given, sent from the presence of the Father by the glorified CHRIST (Acts 2:33+). 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. That's intense, but what does John mean when he talks about the "light" in reference to Jesus. The Incarnation of the Word of Life. A. Spiritual Birth Means Salvation. The proof is found in God’s word–the word that has no contradictions. Certain Christians use Ephesians 5:26 to suggest that being born of water refers to the Word of God, where Paul says that Christ, "sanctifies the Church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word." Jesus knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God. But praise God that our hope in Christ and everyone who has this hope fixed on Jesus.. purifies himself, just as Christ is pure. We should also not lose sight of the fact that when Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, the ordinance of Christian baptism was not yet in effect. 1. Days earlier, Jesus had cleansed the Temple of God, overturned the tables of the money-changers, and demonstrated great authority. Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 1 John 5:3, KJV: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." And as the Lord Jesus looked into this man's searching heart, He read the question that was lodged there... Nicodemus wanted to know how to enter the kingdom of God. 1 John 3:1 Context. Like us, Nicodemus had to come to an understanding that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved, by God's grace through faith in Him. Why is “Spirit” (John 3:5) capitalized? The believer enjoys fellowship with Christ and His redeemed people (1 John 1:3). The believer walks in the light, not in the darkness (1 John 1:6–7). But claiming that baptism in water is necessary for salvation contradicts many Bible passages... all of which insist that salvation is by GRACE alone through FAITH alone in CHRIST alone. The answer is, Pentecost. Look down in pity on all whose hearts are crying out for the truth - just as Nicodemus did when he came to Jesus by night and discovered that it is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, that we can enter the kingdom of heaven and live with You in the eternal ages to come. There are certain signs that are present when a person is alive. Evidence of Life. By His coming the Body of CHRIST was formed and believe… One night, the Lord Jesus was visited by an important teacher of the Jews called Nicodemus. 6. What is the “water” of which John 3:5 says one also needs to be born to enter the kingdom of God? The first five verses of John's gospel say quite a lot about Jesus. 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Clearly, salvation is by faith. 1 John 3:5-10. 1 John 3:5, ESV: "You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin." Further, if Jesus had made such a statement, He would have contradicted numerous other Bible passages that make it clear that salvation is by faith (John 3:16; John 3:36; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Can a man enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?". cf. Water and John 3:5. 1 John 3:5 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] 1 John 3:5, NIV: "But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.And in him is no sin." How very much our Father loves us, who are now His children - but sadly the people who belong to this world don't recognise that we are God's children because they don't know Him. These are words of encouragement written to a community that is troubled by schism. We who were dead in trespasses and sins and without hope in the world have been covered with His love, forgiven of our sins, saved by grace through faith in His only begotten Son, in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, accepted in the Beloved, given an eternal inheritance and are today.. seated together with Christ in heavenly places - for we have been positioned in Him and He has come to abide in us. He had to see that his natural birth into the world as a descendent of Abraham was not sufficient to enter the kingdom - he had to be born again. Jesus explained that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so HE would one day have to be lifted up on a Cross and be made sin for our sakes so that, like Nicodemus' disease-ridden ancestors in the wilderness who had to look and live, so ALL who would look to JESUS in faith would not perish but have LIFE. 1. The believer admits and confesses his sin (1 John 1:8). God's love for us is astonishing in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us - and the whole glorious plan of salvation, which was purposed before the foundation of the world is a testimony to the grace of our heavenly Father and His amazing love for each one of us. I wonder, when Nicodemus accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to take down the bruised and bloodied body of the Lord Jesus from that cruel Roman cross, if his mind fled back to that life-changing interview, in the middle of the night, when he came to see the Lord and started to understand that unless he was born of water AND born of the Spirit, he could not enter into the kingdom of God. What do 1 John 3:6 and 1 John 5:18 mean when they say believers will not continue to sin? In this passage, the Lord is suggesting that the Spirit breathes wherever he wills. Faith in Christ is the criteria for becoming a citizen in God's kingdom. The believer obeys God’s Word (1 John 2:3–5). he asked. Being born of the Spirit is understood to be a supernatural happening within the heart of a man or woman who has trusted Christ for salvation. But, to his shock, he could not enter that kingdom without spiritual birth. 4. John 3:5(NASB) Verse Thoughts. But is the Holy Spirit someone who can be said to have a ‘personhood’? Heavenly Father, thank You for my life and for all that it means to be born into the human race. John 1:1-5 . Is the “Spirit” then a different God? Perhaps the clearest answer to this question is found in the Gospel of John 3:19-21 (see notes): i. Jews and Gentiles alike, have to look to Christ to live. Kindred forms of the word are elsewhere employed of breathing (cf. Many commentators bypass the context of John 3:3-7 in search of an Old Testament or extra-biblical alternative meaning for “water” in 3:5, other than a physical “womb” birth. (1 John 2:15-17) In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. But more than that, I thank You, Father, that Your Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin, of Christ's righteousness, and of the terrible condemnation that will befall all who have not believed in the Son of God for the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. I. He had to be born of the Spirit and washed in Christ's redeeming blood. The rest of the book is a record which was written to show "that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." If 1 John had a social media footprint, this week’s status update would read, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). Lk. Finished-Telestai (Easter Reflections - (8). And so Jesus answered this silent, heart-searching question with the words, "Truly, truly I tell you.. that unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God. All who believe in Him would be born-again of the Spirit, enter the kingdom of God, and LIVE eternally. John rightly closes with this warning, after having spent much of the book warning us against the dangers of the false Jesus many were teaching in his day (1 John 3:18-23; 4:1-3; 5:6-9). But before all this could transpire God had to prepare a body for His Son so that the eternal Son of God could be born into the human race (at the appointed time) as the perfect Son of Man - in order that He could give His life as a ransom for many - including you and me. Like all of us, Nicodemus had to learn that God loved the world so much that He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. No such cleansing is in view in John 3.5, but rather the theme of birth, so these cleansing contexts are not relevant for a discussion of John 3.5 and 1 John … 1 John 3:5, KJV: "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." 5. You could have left us eternally separated from Yourself and dead in our trespasses and sins.. but in Your grace:- Christ appeared in order to take away my sins - dying in my place and giving me His own resurrected life. They all acknowledged that no one could do the mighty miracles that Jesus performed unless God was with Him. 3. Some sort of proof must be offered. (4-5) The nature of sin and Jesus’ work in removing our sin. Jesus had to lead this searching man into a deeper understanding of salvation and the kingdom of heaven - and using the TRUTH of God's WORD, Jesus gently led this man into a deeper understanding of Who HE was - the Light of the World, in Whom are the words of eternal life. Nicodemus has asked how a man can be born again when he is old. Sometimes, we spend so much time chasing after something that we find difficult to understand, that we miss the most important truth. But there has been much confusion about being born of water. And his commands are not burdensome, We have now that state of mind in Jesus which leads to the act about to be described. Praise His holy name, AMEN. There are a number of other very important passages bearing upon the subject Paul introduced here, namely, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:12; Matthew 3:16; Romans 6:3-5, etc. In this verse, Jesus introduces a second facet of the Kingdom of God, teaching that a person can enter into it, as well as that one must be "born again" to bring about the entrance.The question arises, "How long must one wait before entering it?" Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 13:3. What Does John 3:5 Mean? Whatever the real meaning of 'being born of water' is... let us make sure that we fully understand that salvation is by GRACE through FAITH in Christ - ALONE. And we know and have full assurance from God that the sinless Son of Man came to earth in order to take away our sins - to suffer and die on our behalf so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (JOHN 20:31). (John 1:4-9, see notes) I counted six occurrences of "light" in just those six verse in the Gospel of John 1. The reason for my “and/also/even/as well as” is that the Greek kai can have any of these meanings. 23:46; Acts 9:1; 2 Tim. (1) They know well that the Son of God was manifested in the flesh to put away the sins (of the world, John 1:29); not mere "sins," one here and one there, but "the sins" τὰς ἁμαρτίας, whatever sins exist. 2. 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched —this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 1. Finished-Telestai (Easter Reflections - (8). For example, Rom. God's love for us is astonishing in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us - and the whole glorious plan of salvation, which was purposed before the foundation of the world is a testimony to the grace of our heavenly Father and His amazing love for each one of us. It is a grand introduction to the Son of God and the Savior of the world. First, a linguistic word study, and then from the vantage point of communication theory. These may include: Others consider that being born of water refers to water baptism, which is often argued as being a vital part of spiritual regeneration. When in the hospital they will take these vital-signs periodically and compare them with a standard. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 4-6. ", Jesus was telling Nicodemus that unless a person is SAVED by GRACE through FAITH in HIM, he will not see the kingdom of God. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 5:1 states that we are justified (declared righteous) by faith. Whatever were the details of the split — … Continue reading "Commentary on 1 John 3:1-3" John 3:5. Despite being a teacher of the Law, this man lacked understanding and Jesus explained clearly, yet emphatically, that unless a person is born of water AND born of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. "How can anyone be born when he is an old man? This stress is seen by the numerous references to what the believer knows (2:3, … What is Jesus saying in John 3:5-8? And 1 John 1:6–7 ), he wondered allowed if one could enter his! 'Born again' believes in Jesus for the absolute separation of the Jewish.. Why is “ Spirit ” then a different God says one also needs to be?... 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