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Jesus answered him: “I tell you this truth: Unless anyone is born from water and Pneuma he cannot enter1 into the Kingdom of The God.”
| 1 | Unless anyone is born from water and Pneuma he cannot enter: Here Jesus uses “enter” for “see” of the parallel statement. Most view the “water” as that of baptism and the Pneuma as that force of God’s Mind which brings about an awareness of being God-born. [John 1:12, 13; Romans 8:14-16; 1 Peter 1:23] Jesus taught that baptism must be included if one is “to fulfill all that is righteous.” [Matthew 3:15] Water baptism is part of the saving process. [Acts 2:38, 47; 16:31, -33; 1 Peter 3:19] Without baptism one cannot receive the spiritual regeneration required to become a member of the Body of Christ. [1 Corinthians 12:12, 13] Nicodemas may have been a secret “disciple” but he could not later gain membership within the Son’s Realm without being baptized and receiving the Holy Pneuma. |
Dear Friends of the Nazarene,
We choose John 3:5 as the theme verse of chapter three, though some will prefer verse 16 – Born Again Faith and Speech. Jesus speaks with Nicodemas about rebirth and God’s Kingdom. [1-8] The Nazarene says we speak what we know. [9-15] He then teaches about a loving God’s basis for judgment. [16-21]
Jesus’ disciples baptize in the area where John baptized. [22-24] Discussing John the Baptist Jesus uses the analogy of the friend of the bridegroom. [25-30] The beloved apostle himself comments on faith and life, as well as the need of obedience to the Son. [31-36]
Abba our Father bless those who have experienced a rebirth.
[23 November 2002]
Jesus does not reply directly to the question of Nicodemus, but proceeds to give a more explicit statement concerning the new birth. One must be born of water and of the Spirit. Whatever this may mean, it will be admitted by all (1) that no one is a member of the kingdom of God until he is born again; (2) that the Savior declares the impossibility of one entering who is not born of water and of the Spirit. All agree that the birth of the Spirit refers to the inward, or spiritual change that takes place, and all candid authorities agree that born of water refers to baptism. So Alford, Wesley, Abbott, Whitby, Olshausen, Tholuck, Prof. Wm. Milligan, the Episcopal Prayer Book, the Westminister Confession, the M. E. Discipline, and M. E. Doctrinal Tracts, and also the writers of the early Church all declare. Alford says: “All attempts to get rid of this have sprung from doctrinal prejudices.” Abbott says: “We are to understand Christ as he expected his auditor to understand him. John the Baptist baptized both Jew and Gentile as a sign of purification by repentance from past sins. Nicodemus would then have certainly understood by the expression, ‘born of water,’ a reference to this rite of baptism.”
