Hawkeye
Active member
O.K. I'll put it in my own words.......How could it be more clear?
3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is begotten FROM ABOVE he cannot see the kingdom of God.....
31 “He who comes FROM ABOVE is over all
Nicodemus was a wise Pharisee (member of the ruling council) thoroughly trained in the Law of the Hebrews. He knew that Yeshua was a special teacher and of course Yeshua already knew what he was to ask.
Yeshua explained that in order to see the Kingdom of Yahweh he must be born from above.
Now Nicodemus did not comprehend what Yeshua had said as the word "Born" implicated entering his mother's womb again for the process....and he knew that was not possible....so he questioned the Savior some more. He wanted to know how he (as an old man) could be born again?
Yeshua explained that "unless Man is born of water.....and the spirit (notice two different births announced by Yeshua) he can not enter Yahweh's Kingdom." He said....."flesh give birth to flesh....but spirit give birth to spirit.....so don't be surprised that I say you must be born from above."
Now....this is crucial to understanding;
Yeshua said, "You cannot see the wind....it blows where it blows. You can hear it.....but you cannot tell where it comes from....or where it is going. So it is the same with everyone born of the Spirit!"
Again.....Nicodemus says....."How can this be"? He still did not understand.....and was rebuked by Yeshua for being a teacher of Hebrew Law.....and still not getting it.
[Romans 8:29] because whom He did foreknow, He also did fore-appoint, conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be first-born among many brethren;
Yeshua WAS TO BE the first born. Was He? Of course.....at His resurrection He was born again of the spirit as had been explained to Nicodemus.
[I Corinthians 15:20-23] And now, Christ hath risen out of the dead — the first-fruits of those sleeping he became, for since through man [is] the death, also through man [is] a rising again of the dead, for even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive, and each in his proper order, a first-fruit Christ, afterwards those who are the Christ’s, in his presence,
Notice that this is the resurrection chapter (context is important)