Nick
Something I never noticed before. In Jesus conversation with Nicodemus in John 3. The conversation about being "born again" (a metaphor for belief) revolves around seeing and entering into the kingdom.
So even in John's gospel with this well know passage about being "born again", and the passage that John 3:16 is written. The goal is seeing and entering into the kingdom of God. The way a person does that is through faith. Faith opens the door to the kingdom. Faith opens the door to eternal life (read life to the full . . . John uses this as something here and now in the world with implications throughout eternity). vs.15 "That everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
So I guess it would be pretty accurate to say that the goal isn't to be "born again," the goal is to see and enter the kingdom of God.
So even in John's gospel with this well know passage about being "born again", and the passage that John 3:16 is written. The goal is seeing and entering into the kingdom of God. The way a person does that is through faith. Faith opens the door to the kingdom. Faith opens the door to eternal life (read life to the full . . . John uses this as something here and now in the world with implications throughout eternity). vs.15 "That everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
So I guess it would be pretty accurate to say that the goal isn't to be "born again," the goal is to see and enter the kingdom of God.
posted by Jon Knapp at
8:13 AM
4 Comments:
Funny that a conversation about seeing should take place at night in the dark.
Cool. One of my profs. said that the Greek can also mean born from above, which fits into Jesus talking about Him being from above and Nick from below. It makes sense that because the Spirit is from above and we have to be born of the Spirit, that we must be born from above. Don't worry, the word still means born again.
But does that mean I should call my self a "Born from above Christian?"
;)
Was being "born again or born from above" really a metaphor? The text I would contend clearly states a rebirth or change. To a Jew of Nicks status the kingdom would have been understood in the present therefore to be born again would have clearly been intended to apply to the present. I am not sure the goal is to be born again later but now and in so doing usher in a life representative of the kingdom.
Was it a metaphor, yes . . . in that Nick did not have to literally climb into his mother's womb. Does a metaphor mean it isn't real? No. I agree, there is definately a real change that takes place . . . now! It is not only a spiritual change, but it actually implies a different way of living. Now, living in the way of Jesus and the kingdom, instead of our own normal way of life.
right on. Thanks for your comment.
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