Title: Jesus Who Regenerates
Contents
The text is from John 3:1-15
Today's text is the most important thing you need to know when you are born and live in this world. How precious is it for a person to be born into this world? However, childbirth, which is encouraged by the state, ends when one lives for the rest of his life. Psalm 90:10 “Our years are seventy, and if we are strong, even eighty... We go quickly, and we fly away.” While we live on this earth, we live according to the flesh, doing the things of the flesh, living according to the thoughts of the flesh, and then we will go down the road of death. is it? Shall we have life and peace, thinking of the things of the Spirit according to the Spirit? Dear saints, May you enjoy life and peace.
Today's text is a conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus among the Pharisees. In this conversation lies the most important answer to life.
Verse 1 “There was a man called Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.” The original word for “Nicodemus” is “Nicodemos”. It is a compound word of “Nike” meaning victory and “Demos” meaning people. It means “a victorious people, conqueror of the people”. Nicodemus, as his name suggests, became the leader of the people. “ ρχων” (archon), translated “leader” or “ruler,” means “ruler, king,” and is also commonly used to refer to a person in power. In the Bible, they are variously translated as high priests (Acts 23:5), synagogue leaders (Matthew 9:18), members of the Sanhedrin (Luke 18:18), and judges (Luke 12:56). The author of this book, John, speaks of Nicodemus (a Pharisee well-versed in the law, a member of the Sanhedrin council, which was also the supreme judicial body and supreme court of Judea) as a powerful man. At the time of Jesus, Judea had a council of the Sanhedrin, chaired by 70 councilors and a high priest. They exercised not only policing but also arresting criminals (Acts 99:1-2), and exercised all powers except execution (John 18:31, Matthew 27:26). I came to Jesus. When Nicodemus came, he called Jesus.
Verse 2 “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher from God.” Generally, it means “Teacher”, but in the Bible, rabbi (ραββ ) is used as an honorific name for a prominent law teacher (John 1). :38; 1:49) A rabbi had to be over 40 years old, and had to have a formal education as a rabbi. When Nicodemus, a respected rabbi and well-educated, calls Jesus, who is about 30 years old, rabbi, rather than having an education, it shows how much he has respected Jesus. “No one can do these signs that you are doing.” In response to this, Jesus gets to the point without affirming, negating, praising, or rebuking him.
Verse 3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The original word for “truly, truly” is “Αμ ν μ ν (amen amen)” three times (verses 3, 5, Verse 11) is used repeatedly, and this shows how important today's text is. What is important? It is “to be born again.” “ νωθεν (ano sen)” translated “again” means “to be born from above, to be born again,” that is, to be born again, but to be born from above. The body is born and lives on the earth (below) and returns to the earth, and the soul comes from heaven (above) to live and return to God. “Lord! Let me be born again.” The spirit must live. The old man must die and be born again.
Verse 4 “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second mother’s womb and be born?” When Nicodemus, who was educated, had a position, and had faith, did not understand the spiritual story and asked the wrong question, Jesus said,
Verse 5, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” That is, “he cannot be saved, he cannot live forever, and he cannot live in the kingdom of heaven.” Even when the body dies, since man is a spiritual being, the soul in the body wears a spiritual body and lives forever. If a person is born again, it is heaven, and if he is not born again, it is hell. Because it is so important, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you must be born again.” You did. We must be born again of water and the Spirit. The traditional view is that “water” is generally referred to as baptism (1 Peter 3:21). “The Holy Spirit” refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). We must be baptized with the Holy Spirit as we were baptized with water. “πνευμα (pneuma)” usually means the Holy Spirit, but ghosts (δαιμον α) also use “πνευμα (pneuma)”. For example, “πνευμα τ γιον” (Pneuma to Hagion = Holy Spirit) πνευμα τ κ θαρτον (Pneuma to Akasarton = Unclean Spirit (ghost)).
Verse 15 “that everyone who believes in Jesus may have eternal life” It is Jesus who regenerates us, who gives us the Holy Spirit, and who gives us eternal life. Jesus is the savior of all mankind.