Am I born again: Who is the audience?

Hello To All:

Please take a moment to take a second look at the following text from the Bible, the King's Book. I say second look, because this text, was cited in the previous essay titled: "Am I born again?"

It is written, at John 3:1-5:

1.  "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:"
2.  "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."
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."
4.  "Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
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."

The time is at hand, for me to offer a defense, regarding my position, on the question posed by the previous essay.  (If you have not read that essay, I encourage you to do so.)   For the sake of clarity, let me emphatically state, that based on the above text, I am not born again!  Now, empowered by Jesus Christ, let me tell you why.

Let us begin, by identifying the audience, that our Lord Jesus Christ is speaking to.  An understanding of who the audience is - is an essential part of understanding the meaning of any given portion of the King's Book.  Who the audience is - is related to the context of any given text.  Understanding the context of any given text, is the essential first step in understanding the meaning of the text.  Are you all with me in this? Let me state this principal in a slightly different way.  If we do not have a right understanding of the context and a right understanding of the audience: then, we cannot possibly have a right understanding of the message of any given text from the King's Book.

The audience is clearly identified in verse one: a man - a Pharisee - named Nicodemus - a ruler of the Jews. The Holy Spirit of God, who is the inspirational force behind all of the Bible, has seen fit to identify Nicodemus in some very specific ways.  He is not identified, just as a man named Nicodemus.  Such an identification would have presented us with an audience that could be anyone or even everyone.  But, God is not a God of confusion.  Thus, the Holy Spirit gives us a very specific identification, regarding the audience.  There should not be any doubt in anyone's mind, that Jesus is having a conversation in a very Jewish context, with a very Jewish audience.  Nicodemus is identified as a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews: both characteristics being very Jewish.

Jesus was born a Jew; and thus, a member of the chosen people of God - the people of Israel.  Nicodemus acknowledges the Jewish heritage of Jesus, when he addresses him as Rabbi in verse two: giving us further evidence of the Jewish context, of this conversation.  But, there is additional evidence, regarding the nature of the audience and thus the nature of the context.  In verse ten, we find written: "Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?"  Thus, we are compelled, by the text, to conclude, that all of the conversation, up to and including verse ten, is in a Jewish context with a Jewish audience.

Having identified the audience; and thus, having arrived at a place of some insight into the context of this conversation between two Jews - one of them being the Jewish Messiah, our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ - it is time to take a look at the meaning of the phrase: "kingdom of God."  But, that is going to have to wait until our next meeting.  Between here and there, please give some consideration, to the following text from the King's Book, written at John 18:36:

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."

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

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus