BORN AGAIN - WHAT JESUS MEANT 2:
(That Which Is Born of Flesh)
When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, he made this statement about people born of the flesh being flesh. Some folks interprete this to mean that after our natural birth, we need a second birth which is a spiritual one. But what did Jesus really mean by that? Paul helps us decipher the language of Jesus.
*[[Gal 4:22-23/KJV]]* 22. For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23. But he who was of the bondwoman was *BORN AFTER THE FLESH*; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Here we go again. We find the same expression of being born of/after the flesh in Paul's letter to the Galatians. Here, Paul uses the story of Abraham to drive home a very important subject - Covenants. He goes further to tell us that the bondwoman represents the Old Covenant and the nation Israel at the time of Jesus. Which, both symbolized slavery. See how he put it...
*[[Gal 4:24-25/KJV]]* 24. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Again, being born of the flesh is used in reference to the natural descendants of the first Adam...
*[[1Co 15:47-49/KJV]]* 47. The first man is of the earth, earthy:... As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy:...And as we have borne the image of the earthy,...
So you see, when Jesus was talking with Nicodemus in John 3, He was referring to covenants. He wasn't talking about something that a man had the power to do by himself. That's why He was surprised at Nicodemus. As a Jew and a rabbi, Jesus expected him to understand the metaphors He was using.
*[[Joh 3:9-10/T4T]]* 9. Nicodemus replied to him, “How can that happen?” 10. Jesus replied to him, “You are a well-known teacher among us Israelite people, so ◄I am surprised that you do not understand these things!/how is it that you do not understand these things?
Beloved, the Old Covenant was between God and Israel. Today, there is no one under the Old Covenant because it has been abolished. Also, there is no one today, who can be said to be a descendant of the First Adam because the whole Adam race died when Jesus died on the cross. In other words, no one can be said to be born after the flesh today. Selah!!!
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Afriyie Nyame Ministries
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Afriyie Nyame Ministries
©2018
+233545753330/+233509824556
If no one today is born after the flesh, why is there such a thing as fleshly desires?
ReplyDeleteBeing 'Born after the flesh' was a term that was used to mean someone born under the Old Covenant or after the likeness of the first Adam (before the cross). That has nothing to do with your desires. When one comes to the knowledge of what Christ accomplished on behalf of humanity, he/she begins to learn to live the spirit life. That is why there are some Christians who still yield to such desires sometimes.
DeleteHmmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteThen why do some Religious bodies still practice things of the old Testament?
i.e Sabbath day, Certain foods, sacrifices, etc.
Thought all those covenants and rules were specific for those ISRAELITES at the time and as you said
'Today, there is no one under the Old Covenant because it has been abolished. Also, there is no one today, who can be said to be a descendant of the First Adam because the whole Adam race died when Jesus died on the cross. In other words, no one can be said to be born after the flesh today'.
That some people are practicing something that is under the Old covenant does not mean that covenant exist.Paul told us the old was faulty that's why the new had to be established (Hebrews 8:6-8)
DeleteWhen Jesus died, the curtain in the Holy place was divided into 2 to demonstrate that God had 'left' that temple. But the priests sew it back.
Concerning offerings, Jesus made it known that God never delighted in sacrifices and offerings (Hebrews 10:5-6)
Finally, a covenant is between two parties. Hence if the superior terminates it, it doesn't matter how hard one tries to fulfill the terms of that covenant, it doesn't hold any longer. The old is gone and the greater and better one has come. Shalom!!!