"BORN OF GOD" DEVOTIONAL BOOK

To understand the term, Born of God, we must make a distinction between that which is physical and that which is spiritual.  Jesus makes a distinction between the physical and spiritual person  (body and soul)  , the physical and spiritual births  (born and born again)  and the physical and spiritual kingdoms  (kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God) .

Our study takes us back to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, apparently coming to Jesus for information  (John 3:1-8)  .  Nicodemus acknowledged Jesus was a teacher come from God and this was probably due to the miracles Jesus had performed.

John 3:3, "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  Please note the word "again".  When Jesus said, "Born again," the word "again" implies a previous birth.

John 3:4, "Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" 

Nicodemus did not comprehend the spiritual truth explained by Jesus.  He thought of the physical birth and knew it was not possible to be physically born a second time.  It is obvious Nicodemus could not make a distinction between physical and spiritual and, therefore, he could not understand.

John 3:5, "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into kingdom of God."

The focal point of this verse is, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit."  Some Bible Scholars believe the "water" of John 3:5 depicts the Holy Spirit or the water of the Word.  Other scholars believe Jesus continued to parallel the fleshly birth with the spiritual birth to enable Nicodemus to more easily understand the truth of being born again.  Inasmuch as Jesus used the fleshly birth to explain the spiritual birth, I believe the interpretation of "born of water" is more contextually correct as the water of the physical birth.  Fundamental Bible scholars agree that contextual continuity excludes baptism from being a possible interpretation for water in John 3:5.  The water in John 3:5 illustrates birth, not death, while baptism symbolizes a death, burial and resurrection, not birth:

"...Baptized into his death  (Romans 6:3)  ."

"...Buried with him in baptism  (Colossians 2:12)  ."

Water baptism is a physical act  (work)  and does not save, but is a picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:  his death, his burial and his resurrection  (I Corinthians 15:1-4).

The author believes the water in John 3:5 means water of the womb; it substantiates the thought of two births.  Mothers remember that event in the physical birth of their children:  the water breaks!  Water brings forth or ushers a baby into the kingdom of this world  (physical birth)  and beautifully illustrates the Holy Spirit bringing forth or ushering the believer into the kingdom of God.  (Spiritual birth).

John 3:6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

Again, Jesus differentiates between the physical and spiritual births.  If one is born of fleshly parents, that person would necessarily be flesh.  Also, that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Seed reproduces after its own kind. Our first birth is from the seed of our earthly father  (fleshly and corruptible). The second birth is from the seed of our heavenly father (spiritual and incorruptible). Both John 3:6 and I Peter 1:23 show the first (physical)  birth of the flesh and the second (spiritual)  birth of God.

I Peter 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."  Let us use columns to clarify:

John 3:7, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."  Our Lord uses "again" , referring to the second birth.

John 3:8, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and wither it goeth:  so is every  one that is born of the Spirit."  "Born of the Spirit" indicates the Holy Spirit or "Born of God."

We can see the teaching of Jesus to Nicodemus  (John 3:1-8)  by continuing the use of columns as follows:

The emphasis of being born of God  (the second birth)  is also very plain in the following verses:  John 1:12-13, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,  nor of the will of man, but of God."

We can, according to God's word, become sons of God.  However, this is a spiritual relationship of the spiritual man.  This relationship is gained through faith in Jesus Christ and is not earned.  One does not become a member of God's family through religious acts, good deeds or works, finances, baptism, church membership, or any thing "physical".   The new birth is spiritual.  We are born of God  (have a new beginning)  when we repent, turn from our unbelief and by faith receive Jesus Christ as Savior.

Let us use columns for John 1:13, showing the body and the soul.

The Bible makes a very plain distinction between those, whose only beginning  (birth)  is of earthly parents, and those who also have a beginning  (birth)  of God.  Only the inward, spiritual man can be born of God and secure eternal life with God.

CONCLUSION:  God's Word clearly teaches the necessity of being "Born of God".  If one doesn't have the second birth  (born of God), the second person  (the soul) will not see or enter into the second kingdom  (Kingdom of God).

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