João 3

3 Jesus answered and said to him,*He does not waste time with the compliment, although it was true enough, but goes directly to a serious theological question. "Most assuredly I say to you, unless someone is begotten from Above,*The basic meaning of the Greek word here, ανωθεν, is ‘from up/above’. A lot of people who say that they have been ‘born again’ have never been begotten from Above. ‘Begotten’ refers to the cause; ‘born’ refers to the result—I take it that the Lord is talking about the cause. he is not able to see*Is ‘see’ just a synonym for ‘enter’ in verse 5 below, or is a difference intended? the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus says to Him: "How can a man be begotten, being old? He can’t enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered: "Most assuredly I say to you, unless someone is begotten by water*Why ‘water’? Some have understood this to refer to water baptism, but it seems more likely to me that it refers to the Word (see Ephesians 5:26, John 15:3, John 17:17). As it says in Romans 10:17, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." and Spirit he is not able to enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which has been begotten by the flesh is flesh, and that which has been begotten by the Spirit is spirit.*In 1:13 it is "begotten by God", here "begotten by the Spirit", in 3:3 and 7 "begotten from Above"—I take it that the expressions are synonymous. Without God’s direct participation no one is saved. 7 Do not be perplexed that I said to you, ‘You (pl) need to be begotten from Above.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you (sg) hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who has been begotten by the Spirit."*Notice that the Lord is saying here that it is we who are to be unpredictable, like the wind, or the Spirit ("comes" and "goes" are in the present tense). If you are really under the control of the Spirit you will do unexpected things, just like He does. We all know of types of Christian that are rigid, totally predictable—the Lord Jesus Christ says that such ‘Christians’ have not been begotten by the Spirit. A word to the wise…