PART TWO
It is obvious that Nicodemus had no trouble seeing the Kingdom of God in Jesus because he was a God-fearing man, honestly believing in the existence of God, trusting his spirit, which was born again as a believer through his Jewish religion.
Therefore we can be certain that all who earnestly believe and have a fear of God, regardless from which doctrine their faith was born, has the capability of seeing the Kingdom of God. (Remember the Roman centurion, Matthew 8:10 and the Canaanite woman, Matthew 15:27 - 28.)
Now to understand the transitional meaning of being “born of water and the spirit”, one has to consider that the Lord is telling us that a conversion of our beliefs and attitude has to take place through our immersion in the water of the word, and to live our lives according to our new understanding of godliness which comes from that word. That is to say, this conversion has to move us from a faith based on religions doctrines to a lifestyle of godliness so that we might eventually share His Divine character.
However we should recognise also, that the faith based on religious doctrines has the capability of developing into two vastly different kinds of faiths, for Jesus said in John 3:6, “That faith which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that faith which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” We can see the difference between these two faiths if we are able to compare the faiths of Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob. (Or see the different attitude in the faith of the apostle Paul before and after his conversion to Christianity.)
Those who have a religious worldly faith but do not have godliness, do not see or understand the divine nature of the Kingdom, nor do they see the need to be converted to the truth of the grace of God, for those believers do not practice goodness. As it is written in John 3:20-21: “For everyone who is a hypocrite hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practises the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
In Matthew 18:3 there is a confirmation of the necessary action to be taken by sincere religious people who seek to enter the grace of the Kingdom, for Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
So we now know also that the expressions “born again, renewal, converted, become like children, repentance,” are all saying the same thing, and that we are meant to mature in His life, which is clearly confirmed in Ephesians 4:23-24, for it says: “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the New Self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
This conversion, or entrance into the kingdom can be dramatic as it was in Paul’s case; keeping in mind that Paul’s zealous Jewish faith was extremely honest. That zealous and honest faith is the reason for which the Lord converted him from being a faithful violent person to a faithful loving person in such a dramatic way. Or the conversion can take some time, as we read in 2Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as the Lord allows the spirit.”
Therefore, if we see the kingdom of Christ and earnestly desire to enter into the freedom and blessings of that kingdom, we should follow the advice of 2Peter 1:5-11, because these scriptures are very specific about how we should progress from faith to love, for we read: “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, you will acquire knowledge; and in your knowledge, supply self-control, and in your self-control, you will acquire perseverance, and in your perseverance, you will also acquire godliness; and in your godliness, supply brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, you will acquire love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practise these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”
So we should all examine and ask ourselves, who are we like? Are we like Nicodemus, the Roman centurion, or the Canaanite woman, whose religious faith was praised by Jesus. Or are we on a holy journey by following 2Peter 1:5-11? As a consequence of that,we are doing Cornelius’s love deeds (Acts 10:1-2), not because we want to be saved, but because we are living in the spirit and true character of the children of God.
I believe and hope that the above article clarifies for you the myths and ambiguities about being born again. But even if you have only now learned of the existing differences between seeing and entering the Kingdom of God, take courage, you are already half way there.
Glory to God
