Zao is life
Well-Known Member
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
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.
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?
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 the kingdom of God.
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
To see the kingdom of God a man must be born again.
The kingdom being spoken of is the prophetic Davidic kingdom on earth, in which, Christ will reign along with the believing remnant, the Israel of God (Exodus 19:5-6 Luke 12:32 Psalm 22:28 Galatians 6:16).
To enter into the kingdom a man must be born of water and of the Spirit. Israel had to believe on the name of Jesus; believe he was the Messiah, the Son of God (John 20:31 1 John 5:13). Jesus is saying that Israel had to repent and confess their sins as a nation and each one be water baptized and receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
The Holy Spirit, under the fulfillment of the new covenant, will cleanse Israel with water and put a new spirit in them; he will cause them to walk in his statutes, keep his judgments, and do them (Ezekiel 36:24-28).
Jesus in saying "Ye must be born again" speaks of the nation of Israel.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The Spirit breathes where He desires, and you hear His voice, but you do not know from where He comes, and where He goes; so is every one who is born of the Spirit.
Jesus' words imply individuals must be born again.
There never was a time when they all belonged to Israel who were descended from Jacob (Romans 9:6). It was always a remnant. Notice how Romans 9:6 refers to Israel (Jacob) but the very next verse refers to Abraham, and then Paul uses a second example of what he is talking about - that of the seed of Isaac (Esau and Jacob).
Ishmael was Abraham's genetic seed.
Esau was Abraham's genetic seed.
Neither inherited the promise.
Why?
It's because Paul is telling us that Ishmael - the seed of Abraham - was not God's elect because he was not the seed of the promise, and Esau was not God's elect
and this is because the promise - and the choice of which seed would inherit the promise - depends on God, therefore salvation in Christ depends on God's mercy and grace, and not on genetic ancestry:
Isaiah also cries concerning Israel, "Though the number of the sons of Israel is as the sands of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. (Romans 9:27).
Which remnant? It's the remnant who receive grace and mercy through faith in Christ:
And to Abraham and to his Seed the promises were spoken. It does not say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, "And to your Seed," which is Christ. Galatians 3:16.
30 What shall we say then? That the nations, who did not follow after righteousness have taken on righteousness, but a righteousness of faith.
31 But Israel, who followed after a law of righteousness did not arrive at a law of righteousness.
32 Why? Because it was not of faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. For they stumbled at that Stumbling-stone;
33 as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a Stumbling-stone and a Rock-of-offense, and everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."
It will always only be a remnant - from among the genetic descendants as well as from among the nations - that will inherit the promise. Because the promise is in Christ and without faith in Christ there is no inheritance.
Which means that individuals must be born again. There will never be a time when every single individual in an entire nation is born again.Jesus' words imply individuals must be born again.
There never was a time when they all belonged to Israel who were descended from Jacob (Romans 9:6). It was always a remnant. Notice how Romans 9:6 refers to Israel (Jacob) but the very next verse refers to Abraham, and then Paul uses a second example of what he is talking about - that of the seed of Isaac (Esau and Jacob).
Ishmael was Abraham's genetic seed.
Esau was Abraham's genetic seed.
Neither inherited the promise.
Why?
It's because Paul is telling us that Ishmael - the seed of Abraham - was not God's elect because he was not the seed of the promise, and Esau was not God's elect
and this is because the promise - and the choice of which seed would inherit the promise - depends on God, therefore salvation in Christ depends on God's mercy and grace, and not on genetic ancestry:
Isaiah also cries concerning Israel, "Though the number of the sons of Israel is as the sands of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. (Romans 9:27).
Which remnant? It's the remnant who receive grace and mercy through faith in Christ:
And to Abraham and to his Seed the promises were spoken. It does not say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, "And to your Seed," which is Christ. Galatians 3:16.
30 What shall we say then? That the nations, who did not follow after righteousness have taken on righteousness, but a righteousness of faith.
31 But Israel, who followed after a law of righteousness did not arrive at a law of righteousness.
32 Why? Because it was not of faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. For they stumbled at that Stumbling-stone;
33 as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a Stumbling-stone and a Rock-of-offense, and everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."
It will always only be a remnant - from among the genetic descendants as well as from among the nations - that will inherit the promise. Because the promise is in Christ and without faith in Christ there is no inheritance.