I often receive inquiries by private mail. This one I thought I should share...
1 John 5:1, 9-12 and John 1:12-13 & Romans 4:25 are excellent scriptures for the encouragement of the already converted who have been preconditioned to the message.
I don't perceive them as much use in bringing a non-christian to an understanding of what it means to be "born again" within the context of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus.
Isaiah 53:6...
Scriptures like this, used in an evangelical context, assume a wealth of pre-knowledge about the tenants of Christianity, so are of little use in your context.
Jeremiah 31:34 (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17)...
Go back one verse (Jer 31:33 = Heb 8:10). Now we are getting closer to the mark. The operative clause being "I will put my laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts".
Consider the promise of God delivered by Ezekiel...
Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh".
Ezekiel 11:19 "I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
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The key to understanding (and explaining) John 3:5-7 is found in vs10 & 11.
At this point, a comprehensive understanding of Hebrew prophetic history would be benefitial...but not absolutely necessary...
It has all got to do with a change of heart & renewal of spirit...
John 3:6...
This is a code breaker verse.
Jesus is specifically saying he is not talking about physical things but that which is of greater philosophical importance.
There is a useful Buddhist (Hindu?) term that would come in handy at this point, but it escapes me at the moment.
The idea encapsulates the concepts of what is illusion (flesh) and what is reality (spirit).
Originally posted by An Inquirer
I don't perceive them as much use in bringing a non-christian to an understanding of what it means to be "born again" within the context of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus.
Isaiah 53:6...
Scriptures like this, used in an evangelical context, assume a wealth of pre-knowledge about the tenants of Christianity, so are of little use in your context.
Jeremiah 31:34 (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17)...
Go back one verse (Jer 31:33 = Heb 8:10). Now we are getting closer to the mark. The operative clause being "I will put my laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts".
Consider the promise of God delivered by Ezekiel...
Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh".
Ezekiel 11:19 "I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
--------------------
The key to understanding (and explaining) John 3:5-7 is found in vs10 & 11.
"Jesus answered [Nicodemus]and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak what we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness"
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak what we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness"
At this point, a comprehensive understanding of Hebrew prophetic history would be benefitial...but not absolutely necessary...
It has all got to do with a change of heart & renewal of spirit...
John 3:6...
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit"
This is a code breaker verse.
Jesus is specifically saying he is not talking about physical things but that which is of greater philosophical importance.
There is a useful Buddhist (Hindu?) term that would come in handy at this point, but it escapes me at the moment.
The idea encapsulates the concepts of what is illusion (flesh) and what is reality (spirit).
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