ENTERING THE KINGDOM

ENTERING THE KINGDOM: A STUDY YOU CAN DO

John 3:1-5

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Him by night, and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Answer the following questions, based on the text above and on the other passages cited.

Can one see the kingdom of God without being born again?
Does "born again" refer to being "born of water and the Spirit"?
Must one be born of water and the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God?

"born of water . . . "

What references are there to water in John 1:31 (compare Mark 1:4), 2:6, 3:22-26, and 4:1-2?
In view of your answer to the previous question, when Jesus explained that entrance to the kingdom of God required being "born of water and the Spirit," would Nicodemus have had reason to think of literal water? editor's comments
If this passage teaches that water baptism is necessary for entrance into Christ's kingdom, is it consistent with other New Testament passages? (Consider Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12-13, Romans 6:1-5, Galatians 3:27, and 1 Peter 3:20-21.)

" . . . and the Spirit"

In 1 Peter 1:23, Peter wrote, "...for you have been born not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God." According to Peter, through what are we born again?
How did the men who wrote the word of God know what to write? (See 2 Peter 1:21, John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13)
If one responds to the written word of God, is he in effect responding to the Spirit of God?

What have you learned?

Must one be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God?
If one is baptized (i.e. immersed) in water simply because that's a good way to cool off on a hot day, does this constitute being born of water and the Spirit?
If one is baptized simply because his parents want him to be baptized, does this constitute being born of water and the Spirit?
If one submits to baptism simply because his church tells him to, does this constitute being born of water and the Spirit?
If one decides to mold his life according to the word of God revealed by the Spirit, and is baptized in water because the Spirit, through the word, teaches that he must be baptized, does this constitute being born of water and the Spirit?

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