How does John 1:13 connect with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3? Setting the Stage: Two Passages, One Theme • John 1:13: “children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.” • John 3:3: “Jesus replied, ‘Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’” Both texts introduce the same reality: new birth is God-initiated, supernatural, and essential for entering His kingdom. John 1:13 — Birth Explained Negatively • “Not of blood” – Spiritual life does not come through family lineage, ethnic heritage, or religious pedigree. • “Nor of the desire…of man” – No human passion, plan, or decision can produce spiritual birth. • “But born of God” – Regeneration is a divine act. God alone gives the right to become His children (John 1:12). John 3 — Birth Explained Positively • “Born again” / “born from above” (vv. 3, 7) – Same concept as “born of God.” It is heavenly in origin. • “Born of water and the Spirit” (v. 5) – Echoes Ezekiel 36:25-27 where God promises cleansing (water) and a new Spirit-given heart. • “The wind blows where it wishes” (v. 8) – Regeneration, like wind, is sovereign, invisible, and unmistakable in its effects. Key Parallels • Source: Both passages place the origin of new birth squarely in God’s hands. • Necessity: John 1 describes the right to become God’s children; John 3 says one cannot even see the kingdom without it. • Contrast with human effort: Each text denies any role for ancestry, merit, or human will in producing new life. Theological Implications 1. Salvation is not inherited—Nicodemus’s pedigree could not save him (Philippians 3:4-7). 2. Salvation is not achieved—good works cannot manufacture new birth (Titus 3:5). 3. Salvation is received—God grants life through the Word and Spirit (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). Living It Out • Rest in God’s initiative: your new life is His work from start to finish (Ephesians 2:4-9). • Proclaim the gospel confidently: the same Spirit who gives life to dead hearts still moves like the wind (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). • Celebrate adoption: being “born of God” means full family privileges—access, love, and inheritance (Romans 8:15-17). |
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