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My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音）

My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音） 
Day 
Day 18

Puzzled Questions

Text: John 3:4-8

“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?’
Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
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.’”

John 3:4-8

PUZZLED QUESTIONS

Two questions were raised by Nicodemus as he thought about what Jesus had said about being “born again”.

1.How could an older person be born again?

2.How could he enter into his mother’s womb and be born once again?

WHAT THESE QUESTIONS REFLECTED

1.Nicodemus was obviously not “born again” or he would have understood Jesus readily.

2.This was a new teaching that he had never heard of before.

3.He did not have enough understanding to respond effectively to what Jesus had said.

THE EXPLANATION OF JESUS

1.Being “born again” is not about “physical birth” a second time.

2.It is a special work of the Spirit of God.

a. Water is a symbol of life.
b. The Spirit of God will give new life to the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

3.The work of the Spirit of God compared to the wind.

a. The wind cannot be seen but it can be felt.
b. The work of the Spirit of God is invisible but the effects of His activity will be obvious.

4.Entering the Kingdom of God.

a. Through being “born again” we enter into the Kingdom of God.
b. We are called children of God.
c. We are given a new nature, one that is capable of knowing and loving the Lord our God.

Thus, we can “see the kingdom of God”.

经文：约翰福音 3: 4-8

尼哥底母说：“人已经老了，如何能重生呢？岂能再进母腹生出来吗？”
耶稣说：“我实实在在地告诉你，人若不是从水和圣灵生的，就不能进神的国。从肉身生的，就是肉身；从灵生的，就是灵。
我说：‘你们必须重生’，你不要以为希奇。
风随着意思吹，你听见风的响声，却不晓得从哪里来，往哪里去；凡从圣灵生的，也是如此。”

约翰福音 3: 4-8

稀奇的问题

尼哥底母提问有关耶稣所说的 “重生”

1. 一个年长的人如何重生？

2. 难道他再进母腹生出来吗？

这些问题反映了什么？

1. 尼哥底母明显还未 “重生”，否者他应该明白耶稣

2. 这是他从未听过的教诲

3. 他没有足够的理解有效的回应耶稣的话

耶稣的解释

1. 这 “重生” 与在肉体上再次 “出生” 无关

2. 这是圣灵特别的事功

a. 水象征着生命
b.上帝的圣灵会给信靠主耶稣基督的人新生命

3. 圣灵的事功有如风一般

a. 看不见但感觉得到
b, 圣灵的事功是隐形的，但效应却很明显

4. 进入上帝的国度

a. 通过 “重生” 而进入上帝的国度
b. 我们被称为上帝的子民
c. 我们收到新的天性，一个能认识并且爱上帝的天性。我们因此能看见“上帝的国度”