Salvation c.

“The Gospel is Ours to Proclaim, Not to Edit”

Dr. James White

He was the chief Rabbi of Israel during the time of Jesus. He knew more about the Scriptures than any one and even taught the Scriptures. He came to Jesus at a convenient time and Jesus spoke these words to Him:

John 3:3 (NASB)
3Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly,

I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot

see the kingdom of God.”

Jesus makes it very plain that the “New Birth” is essential to being a part of the work God is doing in the building of His, God’s, Kingdom. Nicodemus understood this very clearly. He did not understand what Jesus meant but he understood that something had to take place in his life:

John 3:4 (NASB)
4Nicodemus said* to Him, “How can a man be

born when he is old? He cannot enter a second

time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

Jesus then gives Nicodemus the most essential news that any man can receive:

John 3:5-8 (NASB)
5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he

cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7“Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

There is a difference between the “Natural birth” and the “Spiritual birth.” One must be born of “water” and of the “Spirit.” Water here is not baptism in any of the forms you may be thinking, it is our birth into this world, that birth is a water birth. Salvation is for those who have been born into this world. For those so born there is a necessity, they must be “born again.” Jesus gives the reason, “That which is born of the flesh is fleshly.” We are born into this world with a sinful or fleshly nature. We dealt with that above. Scripture states:

Prayer Requests Cont.