Sorry -- third time is the charm. Hit spell check and the machine sent the message !!
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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Sent: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 18:54:49 -0400
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] John 3:3-21 A BETTER EXPLANATION
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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 16:23:44 -0400
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] John 3:3-21
Not all that well written, I know -- but maybe it wll help. Jd
pOST # 2. Please disregard the former posted message. This is still not great (except for the message itself) but it is a good substitute for the pathetic first post. God bless. JD
John 3:3 "... unless one is born again (from above) he cannot see the kingdom of God.
A statement of fact or a command statement --------------- could be either., but I think a statement of fact - not a command at all.
John 3:7,8 " you marvel that I said you must be born again (from above)? The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Christ tells his listeners that even as we are experiencing the blowing of the wind and hearing its sound, the wind does what it does without prediction. There remains a mystery to this very real phenomena. The same is true for this new birth in regards to the believer. Those of us who have been born of the Spirit do not fully understand the implications of kingdom rule -- but we will.
John 3:21 " ...... he who does (is doing) the truth comes (eventually) to the light that his deeds (this "doing the truth) maybe clearly seen (aroist sujunctive, master Bill) that they have been (all) done in God.
In this passage we have the doing of truth, THEN the coming to the light, THEN the realization, the knowing that all that has been accomplished anyone has been accomplished IN GOD. this knowledge that it is God at work in us both to will and to do His good pleasure comes as the result of a pursuit of truth - a doing of truth -- coupled with the eventual coming to the light.
V 3 without birth from above - we cannot see the kingdom.
v21 after coming to the light we clearly see the kingdom.
We believe than we understand.
The result of doing truth and coming into the light IS THE BIRTH FROM ABOVE -- that whch gives us the fact -- CLEARLY SEEN --- that all of our service, all of our journey HAS BEEN DONE IN GOD.......................................................GOD IS, IN REALITY, THE DOER OF THE DEED(S). IS THIS NOT HIS SOVEREIGN RULE AND AUTHORITY AT WORK? IS THIS NOT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IS IT NOT TRUE, THEN THAT WE CLEARLY SEE THIS KINGDOM OF GOD AFTER DOING OR PRACTICING THE TRUTH AND COMING TO THE LIGHT?
Think about it for a minute. How did Nicodemus respond to what Christ was saying? Well, we don't know, do we? But we do know this: when he questioned Christ about how this was to be - Jesus did not offer him a course of action (Well, Nicodemus, you must prayer this thing that will one day be called the sinners prayer and then BAM, this new birth will just happen.) He did not tell him to receive the laying on of hands -- no water baptism - no nothing!! Rather, Jesus begins an explanation!!! Practice the truth and the rest will happen !! You will come to the light and in that moment, you will clearly see God's rule in your life. The new birth is this rule of God in our lives. His (God's) sovereign rule will become undeniably clear to us and in that moment, the new birth is completed !!! So, let me co
rrect myself a bit -- the new birth is the rule of God in our lives AND THE (EVENTUAL) REALIZATION OF THAT BLESSED FACT. The birthing process is completed and we are now equipped (in the passion of substantive faith) to finish our lives serving Him. When does this happen? Certainly not in the beginning of our walk (for most). No - like the wind, the Spirit moves as He sees fit. And in the end -- we have no need for a teacher -- for each will know the Lord (Jere 31:34).
JD
