In the Holy Bible, King James Version and in the Gospel of John 3: 1 – 7, it’s my opinion this is one of the most vital chapter’s in the Bible warning people valuable information about how “they” can become a child of God and to live an eternal life; and the necessary criteria to become God’s child.
In the Gospel of John when Jesus met Nicodemus, a man of the Pharisees, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, people know that you are a teacher derived from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.
Jesus answered Nicodemus and said unto him, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus says unto Jesus, “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 answers Nicodemus saying, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again.
It’s my opinion Jesus is giving people the accurate instructions in the Gospel of John that people are required to hear they must be born again or they will not see the kingdom of God; and they must be born of water and of the Spirit or they cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
It also reminds people in the Gospel of John 3: 36, “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son will not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.”
People who believe in Jesus will have an everlasting life; and those who do not believe in him not see life. It’s an honor to say, “I believe in God’s word and I believe through God we do have an everlasting life with him in heaven.” It’s sad when I think of the little children who are not offered the privilege of knowing about God’s word because of negligence on the part of a parent’s own disregard.
Children must be taught the word of God at an early age to build their foundation in life and to make a choice; and when they’re not provided a chance to know God’s word they’re deprived of an important experience that they should be given to consider, and if they’re not given this opportunity, they’re going to be unresponsive to believe in God and his word.
I’m a firm believer what parents teach their children, rewards are reaped in many avenues of a child’s life and if they miss out on God’s word, they live a life of not knowing about God.
Shouldn’t it be a child’s right to at least been given permission to learn about God and to make their own decisions from there? When God is withheld from children, they will grow up confused and unsure about any sort of a religious belief in life.
When Jesus had a conversation with Nicodemus, it reminds me of the lone Samaritan woman’s conversation with Jesus at Jacob’s well as she came for water. She didn’t have an opportunity to hear about Jesus or any other news because no-one would talk with her. Her own people looked down on her as an outcast and she came alone to the well to draw water. This was a gathering place for people to chat and socialize but no-one would talk with her because she was ostracized and marked as immoral, and an unmarried woman living openly with a fifth series of men.
Jesus told the woman he could give her “living water” so that she would never thirst again. Jesus used the words “living water” to refer to eternal life, the gift that would satisfy her soul’s desire which is only available through him. At first, the Samaritan woman did not fully understand Jesus’ meaning.
It’s my opinion this is sort of similar to a child whose parents won’t offer them a chance to hear about God and his word either and they are then illiterate about him; and so was the Samaritan woman.
Without knowing about God children probably will fit into a diverse group similar to the Samaritan woman who was looked down upon by her own people. She always came alone to the well to draw water where most people met to chat and socialize but being the outcast she was she had to come alone. This woman was actually ostracized and marked as immoral, an unmarried woman living openly with a fifth series of men.
The woman was a Samaritan which is a race of people that Jews despised as having “no” claim on their God.
Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman’s meetings with Jesus were similar to a degree but Jesus unveiled grace to them in a different manner. Nicodemus had to see himself as a sinner in order to understand grace; and the Samaritan woman who “knew” she was a sinner, needed to see herself as a person with some worth and value in life.
Can you see the similarities between Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and a young child who is prohibited from learning and hearing about God and his word; thus, to prevent being a sinner? A child must be given the opportunity to choose between God and another life and it should be up to the parent to grant them this opportunity. It’s a matter of an everlasting life with God in heaven or to face an eternal hell and children should be made to understand this.
God seeks to provide all humans with his offer of love and a life eternal and to be denied this would be an injustice to all children.
Barbara Kasey Smith is the writer of this article and it was taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version and the Gospel of John and as stated in the article.