Interviewed by Nicodemus

JOHN 3:1-11, 16, 17

GOLDEN TEXT: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”—John 3:3

NAMES sometimes become emblematic. For example, the name Judas suggests one who betrays another, while Thomas reminds us of one who doubts. The short story John gives us of Nicodemus and his interview with Jesus, associates this name with one who is over-influenced by public opinion. Nicodemus came to Jesus “by night,” and the supposition has always been that he did this in order that his friends would not know about it. He expressed his firm belief that Jesus was sent of God. Jesus’ miracles had convinced him of this, but apparently he lacked the necessary courage of his convictions to let his associates know what was in his mind.

Even though Nicodemus was a Master in Israel, the truths expressed to him by Jesus were beyond his comprehension. When he was told that he must be born again in order to participate in the kingdom of God, he was bewildered, and inquired if it were necessary for one to enter into his mother’s womb and to be born again in this literal sense.

It is not surprising that Nicodemus did not understand the matter properly. There were many things which Jesus’ own disciples did not understand concerning his teachings until the Holy Spirit was given to them at Pentecost. Even Jesus’ explanation of the new birth did not suffice to make the matter plain to Nicodemus, nor to others since, except those who have been blessed with the enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus explained that what he had reference to was a rebirth through water and the Spirit. While the footstep followers of Jesus are invited to symbolize their consecration to God by water immersion, it is doubtful if this is what Jesus had reference to as being so vitally associated with the new birth. Water is used in the Scriptures to symbolize the truth of God’s Word, and what Jesus evidently meant was that the power of the Word of God would be one of the contributing factors to the new birth.

God’s Spirit is his power. His power operates through his Word so far as the influence of his thoughts over our lives is concerned; but before Spirit birth can be complete a more direct exercise of divine power is necessary, for Spirit birth is complete only when “new creatures” in Christ Jesus are awakened from the sleep of death and exalted to “glory, honor, and immortality.” Jesus was put to death in the flesh and made alive in the Spirit, and it was this which constituted his being “born again.” Paul tells us of the mighty power of God which raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him above angels, principalities, and powers.—Eph. 1:19-21

Spirit birth has been grossly misunderstood by many, the erroneous supposition being that it has reference merely to a reformation of heart and life. The full text of what Jesus said to Nicodemus rules out this thought, for he explained that one who is born of the Spirit can come and go as the wind; that is, he is invisible to the human eye, and capable of exercising a powerful influence. Certainly mere reformation of one’s life does produce such a result.

However, this was true of Jesus, following his resurrection. He was with his disciples for forty days, yet they saw him only on a few brief occasions. He came and went invisibly, like the wind, and was powerful enough to enter a room when the door was locked, and to vanish suddenly and mysteriously. In this, the experiencing of the powers of the first resurrection, he is our forerunner. The promise is that if we die with him we shall live with him, and be like him, and see him as he is; all of which is included in the expression “born again.”

Much of the difficulty in understanding this subject properly is due to not recognizing the distinction between Spirit begettal and Spirit birth. The Greek word employed in the Scriptures denotes either or both, according to the sense of the passage in which it is used. In his talk with Nicodemus, Jesus evidently had reference to full Spirit birth in the resurrection, else he would not have used the illustration of the wind. His expression, “Born of water and the Spirit,” also denotes this. The power of the symbolic water of truth would be the begetting influence of the Spirit, this being followed by the direct use of God’s power in connection with the birth of the “new creature” in the resurrection.

It is to this high station that the followers of Jesus are invited. As Spirit-begotten, and finally Spirit-born sons of God on the divine plane, they will be partners with Jesus in dispensing life to all mankind. And it will be as an expression of God’s love, the love that caused him to give “his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him [of the world in their judgment day] should not perish” forever, “but have everlasting life”—not as a new creature reborn on the Spirit plane, but as regenerated human beings here on the earth.

QUESTIONS:

Why was it not possible for Nicodemus to understand what Jesus meant by Spirit birth?

Explain the difference between Spirit begettal and Spirit birth.

Will all the saved of mankind be born of the Spirit?

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