Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

John. 3:4 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?"

Why must a person be born again? If a new birth is required to enter into God's Kingdom how can a person born again themselves? These are fair and honest questions, none of us had control over our birth into this world, or who would be are parents? Being birthed into life has nothing to do with being fair, or even just, it is a process we have no control over.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
3:6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 3:7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Later as we age into adulthood we may lay hold of our family thinking we own them and fool ourselves into thinking that we are entitled because our parents have obtain to a certain statues within society. But in truth, we may have favor or even privilege, but if we had been born into another family we could have a life long struggle overcoming bad parenting.

Ecclesiastes 6:11 For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

The point birthing something into life is not a metaphor that Jesus is using here to impress Nicodemus a high ranking teacher of Israel. Christ instead state a truth that Nicodemus as a teacher had no choice or power in, it was beyond his intellect, it was beyond his powerful position, and Nicodemus understood that he was trying to catch the wind, by his understanding of scriptural truths, and he couldn't, it could not be contained by human power or even reason, so what was left?

Isa. 40:5 The glory of Yahweh shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it."
40:6 The voice of one saying, "Cry!" One said, "What shall I cry?" "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field.
40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh's breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever."

Faith! Now that was hard to judge by a teacher or even the entire system the God had set up over the Jewish religion. This is much like a man judging the wind to keep it from blowing thinking he or she has some power to put the wind into a box to fit into ones life style, how foolish?

Isa. 40:13 Who has directed the Spirit of Yahweh, or has taught him as his counselor?

But the question Nicodemus was faced with how could he be born again by works of law? What law could he keep and enforce upon others that placed him into the Kingdom of God, for that is the thinking of the fleshly mind. What merit had he gained? What could he present to God YHWH to buy himself into being born again, so he might obtain a position in the heavens over mankind? He found out by Christ statements, nothing! He was no better off than the lowest sinner, because he had no power to gain a new birth.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Rom.9:10 Not only so, but Rebecca also conceived by one, by our father Isaac. 9:11 For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls,
9:12 it was said to her, "The elder will serve the younger."{Genesis 25:23} 9:13 Even as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."{Malachi 1:2-3} 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be!

This is why its a birth, into a new life, a life God accounts sinless, who had a sinless life to birth us? Certainly not any person born into sin. Certainly not a perfect righteous law that we could not keep without atonement for our sins. What could Nicodemus bring before God, the merit of God's perfect law? What could he present before God to be birthed into a new life accounted sinless making him a son of God like Adam was before sinning?

Psalms 50:23 Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God's salvation to him."

Psalms 51:16 For you don't delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

Here Nicodemus needed to ask even an more important question that would face him in the near future, would he judge a sinless man guilty? Would he take the teaching from the holy writing trying to prove Christ had sinned that he was from the devil for stating we must be born again? Later after the outpouring of Holy Spirit many son's of God would be birthed into a new creation teaching and preaching the truth of Spirit, would he become a persecutor?

Ecclesiastes 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to God's house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don't know that they do evil.

Can a person judge such things? Many our eager, many impute personal feelings into others thinking they have a right by uses of God's word, the question remains did we have a choice in our birth, how do you judge?

Hebrews 13:15 Through him, then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God{Psalm 50:23} continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.

Romans 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Romans 14:22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves.

See also: www.nu-truth.com