PIC source: New Anti-Semitism
It was said, perhaps in passing:
“Life’s most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
Life’s most urgent question
I think Nicodemus asked life’s most urgent question in John 3. And Jesus answered him, giving us the most urgently needed solution to the most urgent question of life.
His answer was to an inquiry by
“a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin) among the Jews, 2 who came to Jesus at night”
Is Jesus from God Almighty?
Nicodemus wanted to know if “God is with him“. Was Jesus really from God Almighty, or not?
Jesus turned it a bit, not merely stating the simple fact, “Yes.” He responded to a different question, a more important one:
How can anyone “see and experience the kingdom of God“?
3 Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”
When asked if God was with Him, Jesus shared with Nicodemus how he, Nicodemus, could be with God – actually BE WITH GOD.
Jesus was always looking-out for the needs of others. He was Creator, God of all that exists – and yet He was interested in the puny human life next to him:
Philippians 2:4 Expanded Bible
4 Do not ·be interested only in your own life [look out for your own interests], but ·be interested in the lives of others [look out for others’ interests].
Jesus answered the most urgent question on earth:
How can I be with God?
To enter “the kingdom of God“, the realm of God Almighty Himself, requires more than just being good, or wanting it your way, or living between two opinions. Jesus gave a most unique answer.
He was very pointed, accurate, with a calming way about Him, saying, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you….” When someone puts it that way, we know He is being very sincere and truthful.
His answer was the most unique teaching ever:
“…unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3 Option: See John 3:3 in other English translations
Here are several other translations of His words in John 3:3. Jesus warns all on earth that without His new born experience:
* he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
* it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom.”
* he is not able to see the kingdom of God”.
* you cannot ·be in [experience; L see] God’s kingdom.”
* verse 36 will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.”
Interesting, what this Expanded Bible version brings out of the Hebrew:
Jesus answered, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], unless you are born ·again [or from above; C this may be a play on words, meaning both “again” and “from above”], you cannot ·be in [experience; L see] God’s kingdom.” EXB version
you cannot ·be in
Here Jesus claims He is God, the One from Heaven itself.
verse 13 No one has gone up into heaven, but there is One who came down from heaven, the Son of Man [Himself—whose home is in heaven].
Jesus answers questions about being “born again”:
5 But Jesus answered, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you],
unless you are born from water and the Spirit [C equivalent to being born again (3:3); water could symbolize physical birth, but more likely symbolizes spiritual cleansing which brings renewal; Ezek. 36:25–27], 1
you cannot enter God’s kingdom. 6 ·Human life comes from human parents [L That which is born of the flesh is flesh; C flesh here means human nature], but ·spiritual life comes from the Spirit [L that which is born of the Spirit is spirit].
7 Don’t be ·surprised [amazed; astonished] when I tell you, ‘You [C plural, referring to the Jews or the Jewish leaders] must be born ·again [or from above; 3:3].’
What about you? Do you have the most urgent question settled? Are you born again?
What decides and settles your burning questions?
Are you asking questions? Really want to know? The most urgent question on earth is:
How can I be with God?
FOR MORE:
What decides and settles your MOST URGENT question? I think Jesus answered life’s most urgent question in John 3.
What decides and settles your burning questions?
Want it – to know it… God’s message to us
Living between two opinions Excerpt:
Are you living “between two opinions”? We know that “Wanting” is not the same as “Having”. Wanting is not having. The same is true of “salvation in Christ”:
“Wanting” the awesome rewards of eternal life with an extremely loving God who is good beyond measure — that is not the same as personally “having” God’s amazing forgiveness.
“If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” – 1 Kings 18:21
The Bible is “able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation”
It is what it is: The Bible Is God’s Word To Us
Being 100% given-over to Jesus
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 36:25-27 EXB
25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness [C ritual impurity] and your idols.
26 Also, I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new ·way of thinking [L spirit] inside you.
I will ·take out [remove from you] ·the stubborn hearts of stone from your bodies [L your heart of stone],
and I will give you ·obedient hearts [L a heart] of flesh.
27 I will put my ·Spirit [or spirit] ·inside you [or among you; C the pronoun is plural]
and ·help you [cause you to] ·live by [walk in] my ·rules [statutes] and carefully obey my ·laws [rules; judgments].
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