Weekly Bible Study with Dr. Hardiman

COMMAND 1 - YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

I have chosen the commands of Jesus as the subject of these Bible studies. While most organizations profess a statement of faith, I believe this can be divisive to the body of Christ. Focusing on debatable doctrine to identify with a particular religious sect is not what Jesus emphasized. Neither should a statement of faith dictate a set of rules that could be interpreted as legalistic. Likewise to develop a creed using words of our own when the master has pontificated on all that we should believe and is both self ambitious and belittling to the Lord. Jesus did not come to establish different groups of people with different believes but called us to be his disciples. In so doing, he commanded us if we were to be his disciples to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow him. Hence, as followers of Jesus we should follow his commands. The first command I thought we could look at is one you are familiar with. John 3:3." Truly, truly I say unto you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" Here in chapter 3 of John, Jesus is speaking to a Pharisee of the ruling class, a wealthy religious man who is impeccable as a man by human standards. As a Pharisee he is expected to be an expert in both the written as well as spoken law. The written word would have been the Old Testament. This is why Jesus says He is astonished that Nicodemus is befuddled about what Jesus meant when he sys "you must be born again." Nicodemus did not understand the Lords reply but notice in his questioning in 3:4 that he did not ask why but was concerned about how one becomes born again. Jesus responds in verse 10, are you not the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Jesus was insinuating that if you indeed know the scriptures then you should know what I am talking about. You see God had promised His Jewish people a day when he would cause his people to be born again. Probably the clearest scripture is in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and here in John 3:5, Jesus is echoing the words in Ezekiel. Read it now. See how: born again: is described as birth from water and Spirit. Those 2 words are also linked in Ezekiel 36:25-27. God promises cleansing from sin and the gift of a new human spirit by the presence of His own Divine spirit. Jesus thinks Nicodemus should make the connection between his demand to be born again and Ezekiel’s promise of a new spirit and the gift of God's Spirit. But he does not. So, Jesus explains further by describing the role of God's spirit in bringing about this new spirit: That which is born of Spirit is spirit (JN 3:6) Please read the 3rd chapter of John, What is the role of the water in Ezekiel 36? What does He mean by that which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of Spirit is spirit (if you read Genesis chapter one and consider the dictum” after its kind it may help you along with Romans 5:12-21). Remember flesh is what we are by nature. It refers to ordinary humanity. By our first birth we are only flesh. This is how we experience life; it is spiritually lifeless and can only be experienced in the flesh. The fallen nature of the flesh has its own philosophy, dispositions, self interest and inclinations to sin. So also is Nicodemus despite being considered a perfect man in his society, who receives admiration from those around him. Also read Romans 6:23 and 1 Corinthians 1:18.