1. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4. Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5. Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:1-6
According to the scripture above, a man must first be born of a woman to be born again (born from water in the womb). Because angels are not born, they do not encounter salvation. God's salvation is for all of mankind. Secondly, a man must be born of the Spirit. Jesus knew that Nicodemus didn't comprehend what it meant to be truly born of the Spirit.
8. 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.”
With this second illustration, our Lord Jesus illustrated the experience of being born of the Spirit.
14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15. that whoever believes in Him should [c]not perish but have eternal life
John 3: 8, 14-15
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, and the dying Israelites were made well. Getting bitten by the fiery serpents would have meant death and destruction for them. Since their healing was spiritual, they did not require any physical treatment. Seeing the snake lifted up by Moses was all they had to do.
When you were born into Adam, you were destined for death and destruction. Now that you believe in The Lord Jesus, you are saved (born again). You cannot ask for physical proof for salvation as it is spiritual. How then do you know you are saved? You know you are saved if you believe in the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ.
Now that you are recreated in Christ Jesus, you experience the harvest of Jesus' obedience on the cross for you. Similarly, salvation is to look to Jesus and be free from the death and corruption of the world. Your sins are forgiven, every curse is broken, and all forms of sicknesses are healed. There is an overflowing, abundant provision for your every need, and death has been replaced by eternal Life.
While sharing the gospel, we often tell people that all their problems will be solved. I experienced my skin completely heal on the very day I received Jesus. That skin ailment afflicted me for four years. To no effect, I had tried every medicine and various alternative remedies. The skin condition vanished completely when I attended a meeting and devoted my life to Christ. It was unquestionably a miracle. At the same time, I cannot say that I was free from all my other problems. Sometimes, not all problems are gone instantly after being saved, baptized, and anointed. So how do you deal with all your problems and concerns that don't disappear immediately?
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
In the New Testament, God asked you to fight only once, which is mentioned in the above verse. God does not want you to fight anywhere else. Because you know the outcome, God called this a good fight. The end has been determined already that you are victorious in all things. You get into this combat knowing you're going to win. Some people interpret this verse to mean that they will fight everyone for everything. You will find who you do not have to fight as you keep reading in the upcoming chapters.
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