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Hi, again. I’m about to miss my deadline for getting this uploaded, so let’s go straight to the good stuff… and quick!

Last Week’s Work

REPETITION

This week, I noticed eight repeated concepts in the passage, but I wanted to stay focused on the personal treasure I chose last week: the requirement to be born again before entering the kingdom of God. John mentions born or born again in vv3-8 as follows:

• Being born again [per ESV footnote born from above] is required to see the kingdom of God (v3).
• Nicodemus questioned how one could be born again (v4).
• Jesus clarified, one must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God (v5).
• Jesus also said, what’s born of flesh is flesh; what’s born of Spirit is spirit (v6).
• Everyone who is born of the Spirit is like the wind [spirit] that blows where it wishes: it’s heard, but where it starts and ends no one knows (v8). This comparison is related to being born of the Spirit (which seems to be part of being born again), so I want to better understand it.

The kingdom of God is mentioned twice: first, as something seen by those born again (v3). Then, as a place no one can enter unless they are born of water and the Spirit (v5).

Finally, I noticed Jesus repeating, Truly, truly, I say to you three times (vv3, 5, and 11). I think this repetition underscores the importance of these statements:

• Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (v3).
• Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (v5).
• We [Jesus and others] speak of what we know and … what we have seen, but you [Nicodemus and others] don’t receive our testimony (v11).

SPECIAL STATEMENTS

The only special statements I noticed this week were promises related to my treasure verses and the importance of belief:

• One cannot see the kingdom of God unless one is born again (v3).
• One cannot enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit (v5).
• Whoever believes in the Son of Man (lifted up) may have eternal life (vv14-15).
• Whoever believes in God’s only Son will not perish but have eternal life (vv16).
• Whoever believes in [God’s only Son] is not condemned; whoever does not believe is condemned already (v18).

LISTS

The only list I could come up with (and I feel like I might be stretching this!), is the Three Requirements to See & Enter God’s Kingdom. They are:

1. One has to be “born again” to see the kingdom
2. One has to be born of water, and
3. One has to be born of the Spirit to get into the kingdom.

As I write this, I am impressed at the difference here: it seems some people can see the kingdom, but they can’t get into it.

This reminded me of the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31. Jesus told this story to his disciples within earshot of the Pharisees: Lazarus was a poor, sick beggar who was left at the rich man’s doorstep. In time, they both died; Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham’s side, but the rich man ended up in Hades, where he was tormented. There, he could see Lazarus hanging out with Abraham, and he cried out, asking for Lazarus to come give him some relief. Abraham refused the request and noted “a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” In this story, the rich man could see the kingdom where Lazarus had gone, but he could not enter it. Luke even mentions the kingdom of God a few verses before the story begins. Jesus says, “[since John], the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it (Luke 16:16, emphasis mine).

Dig-In Challenges

Next week, we’ll wrap up Step 3 by:

1. PRAYING: As always, start with the prayer we wrote for Step 1.
2. MINING: Read through the passage again looking for comparisons in or related to your focus verses. Look for similarities using like or as, quantitative/qualitative comparisons using more or less, and/or contrasts.
3. MINING: Next, look for causes or motives by focusing on key words or phrases I call cause connectors.
   • In this chapter, look for the connectors for, that, to, in order that, because, lest, and so that.
   • Then check the text surrounding the connector for an action and the reason for that action.
     For example: I went to the store because I was out of milk:
     the action = I went to the store             because        the reason = I was out of milk.
     NOTE A: for, that, and to don’t always connect an action and a reason. To determine if they do in this passage, read the sentences containing these words replacing for with because, that with so that or in order that, and to with in order to. If the new sentence makes sense and means the same as the original, make a note of the action and its cause.
     NOTE B: Most often the action will occur before the cause connector and the reason will follow it (like the example above). If you have questions about this or any other part of the study, please reach out to me at [email protected]!
4. MINING: Finally, look for conditions or methods the author describes. For example, does the text say if or when a certain condition is met, some outcome will happen (e.g., whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith (Matthew 21:22)? Or does the author describe a particular method by which something happens—for example, specific steps taken to achieve something, or more generally by or through attributes or actions (e.g., saved by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8)? Does he use any adverbs (-ly words) that describe how action was accomplished?

These exercises are more involved, I know, but I’m confident you can do this with the Holy Spirit! Don’t forget to check your How to Dig Into Scripture Ourselves guide, and you can always reach out to me at [email protected] if you have questions.