Am I born again: The Kingdom of God - part 2:

Hello To All:

We begin this essay, with the last two paragraphs of the previous essay - Am I born again: The Kingdom of God. Please give careful consideration to the premise of the first sentence.

In the response of Jesus, to Nicodemus, we find the affirmation that Nicodemus was a believing Jew, looking for the coming of the Messiah.  We can also see, in the response of Jesus, the reality that Nicodemus was wondering if Jesus might be the Messiah, that all believing Jews, for all of their history, have been looking for, with great expectation. In the response of Jesus, we can see that Nicodemus was already converted to Jesus; because he was converted to Messiah.  Nicodemus was looking for the confirmation that Jesus was and is the Messiah. The affirmation of these truths is found in how Jesus uses the phrase "The Kingdom of God," and what that phrase means to a believing Jew who is looking, with expectation, for the Messiah.

When we next meet, we shall take a closer look at the meaning of the phrase: "The Kingdom of God." Once we understand  the meaning of the phrase - "The Kingdom of God" - to a believing Jew: we shall be in a much better position to understand the meaning of the phrase: "you must be born again."

As the writing instrument for this essay (and thus for this blog), I find myself in the midst of presenting material, that, in all of my years, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, I have never heard, in any prior teaching or preaching.  I am compelled to believe, that for many of you, this is also new material. The church, typically, and rightly so, resists new material.  Everything should and must be put to the test of the King's Book. But, I am also compelled to move forward, and complete this work. We shall look to the Book and to Jesus Christ, for the truth; for this true meaning of the text, must be laid before the church.

We cannot make progress, in our journey towards "victorious discipleship in Jesus Christ," by proclaiming something true, when it is not true.  If we are going to be set free from the bondage of unbelief (please see essay of 7/25/11, titled: "The Oppression of Unbelief"), then we must be willing to turn away from the precepts and teachings of men, claiming to speak the truth, when, in fact, they are merely presenting an entrenched institutional perspective, that is always related to preserving a man created system of thinking.

The truth of the King's Book, is not determined by men; nor can it be fully understood by men, seeking to preserve a system of thinking that has been created by men.  If we are to understand the truth of God's Word, then our full allegiance must be given to Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  If our allegiance is divided; if we have pledged ourselves to embrace some man created system of thinking, with regards to the meaning of the King's Book, then we have cut ourselves off from being able to comprehend the truth (please see essay of 12/31/09 titled: "God means what He says."  See also essay of 12/06/09 titled: "Let us repent of our sectarian ways").

We continue, then, in our search to know the Truth, by going back to two verses from our main text.

1. John 3:3: "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."
2. 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."

In these two verses, we have the essentials of the response of Jesus to Nicodemus. We find, in the response of Jesus, "the affirmation that Nicodemus was a believing Jew."  This is the premise that began this essay.  This is the premise that forms the foundation, for my position, that with regards to the text from John 3:1-10: I am not born again.

Take a close look at verse 3 and verse 5, of our text.  In verse 3, Jesus says: "he cannot see the kingdom of God."  In verse 5, Jesus says: "he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."  The kingdom of God, as it is referenced in this text, is capable of being seen. The kingdom of God, as it is referenced in this text,  is capable of being entered into. We see a room. We enter into a room. We see a house. We enter into a house. We see a city. We enter into a city.  Are we understanding the physical realities of seeing and entering, with regards to the physical realms that we live in: the same physical realms that was the living place for Nicodemus? Are we making the connection between the physical realms and the kingdom of God, as it is referenced in John 3:1-10?

We find confirmation for this physical realms interpretation, of the kingdom of God, with regards to Nicodemus, in verse twelve of John chapter three: "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?"  Earthly things should be rightly understood as referencing the physical realms.  Heavenly things should be rightly understood as referencing the spiritual realms.  Jesus was telling Nicodemus that He had been speaking to him with regards to the physical realms: "earthly things."

Now, some of you may be tempted to say: see you are wrong - Nicodemus did not believe - Jesus says exactly that.  It is true, that Jesus told Nicodemus: "ye believe not."  But, the question needs to be asked: Is Jesus telling Nicodemus that he does not believe in the Messiah?  If we hold to a position, that being "born again," references our personal conversion to Jesus Christ, then, we will be inclined to interpret the text in this way: and, in this interpretation, we would be in error.

I say, in error, because earlier, in verse 10, Jesus rebukes Nicodemus, for his failure to understand what Jesus has been telling him. We find written: Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" Nicodemus, as "a master of Israel," was expected to know the scriptures.  Jesus rebuked Nicodemus for his failure to recognize the connection between the "earthly things," that Jesus had spoke of, and the Old Testament Scriptures, that Nicodemus, "as a master of Israel," was expected to know and to understand and to be able to teach to others.

Nicodemus did not believe what Jesus spoke, because Nicodemus did not understand the meaning of the words that Jesus had spoken. This is why Jesus rebuked him by saying: "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?"  Thus, we should be able to conclude, that, Nicodemus not believing, was not related to his conversion to Messiah: but, rather, it was directly related to his ignorance of the connection between being "born again," and seeing and entering into the physical kingdom of God, so well known and so intensely looked for by all believing Jews: Nicodemus being one of those believing Jews.

If Nicodemus was not converted to Messiah, then Jesus would have been in error for rebuking him.  If Nicodemus was not converted to Messiah; and if Nicodemus was not expecting the return of Messiah to establish His Kingdom: then, he would not have had any sense of the physical realities of the kingdom of God.  Since we know and believe that Jesus Christ is the Truth, we also must recognize that He is without sin and without error. Thus, we are compelled to believe that all of the responses of Jesus to Nicodemus, including His rebuke of Nicodemus, testify to the truth that Nicodemus was a believer in Messiah; and thus, ultimately, a believer in Jesus Christ.

When next we gather, we shall look deeper into this physical kingdom of God; and we shall find additional confirmation that Nicodemus was a believing Jew, looking for the Messiah: Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus