Jesus said, “I testify of that which I know…” “I speak of the secrets of the kingdom of God.” “I do miracles.” “I always obey my Father.” “Why do you not believe me?”
The church leadership was threatened by the authority of Jesus. Jesus did not study in the yeshivas and did not minister the way the Pharisees anticipated Messiah would minister, i.e. within their established traditions and hierarchy. Yet, his relationship to YHVH God was undeniable.
In like manner, when we are born of the Spirit people will not understand what we are doing, where we are going, or how we are guided. Compromise, not syncretism via Constantine, has removed persecution from Christians.
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Chapter 7: (Part 3)
JESUS' WORDS TO NICODEMUS
One night a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus and said:
"Master, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."
Jesus answered:
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Perplexed by the answer, Nicodemus asked:
"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus replied:
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 'Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God'. That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, 'Ye must be born again.' The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth. So is everyone that is born of the Spirit.'"
Nicodemus asked:
"How can these things be?"
Jesus answered:
"Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 'We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.' If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to Heaven, but he that came down from Heaven, even the Son of man which is in Heaven.
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
"He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
