What Should Nicodemus Have Understood? John 3:3-5

Jesus stated that Nicodemus should have understood what being born of water and Spirit meant. (John 3:3-10) A study of the significance of Old Testament washings shines light on what Jesus was talking about.

Nicodemus should have been familiar with an OT washing that changed the status of a stranger (Gentile) into a Jewish child of God. The bible depicts such as proselytes. In order for an individual to be “born” into the Jewish community, the stranger/Gentile had to obey the OT law of circumcision and submit to a Mikveh/Mikvah. The Old Testament Mikveh/Mikvah parallels the New Testament water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Surely, Nicodemus was aware of John the Baptist’s message and Jesus approval of water baptism as evidenced by Jesus’ presence during baptisms. As a teacher of Jewish concepts, Nicodemus should have seen water and Spirit baptism (Acts 2:38) as the antitype that brings about an actual change of status in the NT believer as a born again child of God.

As Jesus stated everyone must be born of water and Spirit. The Spiritual rebirth is needful to both SEE (comprehend) the kingdom of God as well as ENTER into it. (John 3:3-5)

The following is an article about the Jewish Mikveh (Mikvah). The Mikveh was a construct that held a sufficient amount of water to accommodate total immersion. It is considered a “womb” according to myjewishlearning.com. Consider the principles of this foreshadow of the NT water baptism.

“The water of the mikveh is designed to ritually cleanse a person from deeds of the past. The convert is considered by Jewish law to be like a newborn child. By spiritually cleansing the convert, the mikveh water prepares him or her to confront God, life, and people with a fresh spirit and new eyes--it washes away the past, leaving only the future…

In a sense, it is nothing short of the spiritual drama of death and rebirth cast onto the canvas of the convert's soul. Submerging into waters over his/her head, he/she enters into an environment in which one cannot breathe and cannot live for more than moments. It is the death of all that has gone before. As he/she emerges from the gagging waters into the clear air, he/she begins to breathe anew and live anew--as a baby struggling to be born. If we take this graphic metaphor a step further, we can sense that the mikveh is a spiritual womb. The human fetus is surrounded by water. It does not yet live. The water breaks in a split second and the child emerges into a new world. "As soon as the convert immerses and emerges he/she is a Jew in every respect… The newborn Jew takes on a Hebrew name, but a given name only is not sufficient to locate a person within the Jewish tradition. When Jews sign legal documents or are called up to the Torah, their parents' names are appended to their Hebrew names to locate them in Jewish spiritual space. A convert traditionally adopts Abraham and Sarah as spiritual parents and in legal situations is referred to as "ben Avraham Avinu," "son of our Father, Abraham," or "bat Sarah Imenu," "daughter of our Mother, Sarah.

We had a discussion on this a few months back. I myself saw that Nicodemus was already a believer in Jesus when he appeared to him that night. For Nicodemus said: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” This story is not about salvation in my opinion. But the real question from Jesus is how we enter the Kingdom of God for we know flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God and first the physical then the spiritual. 1 Cor. 15 The Pharisees such a Nicodenus believed in the resurrection but Nicodemus could not grasp how it would happen and when he suggested , "can one enter into a womb a second time", and the Lord replied, are you not a teacher in all Israel and yet you do not understand.

[
amen same thing we should understand

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. ..

…Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38-39, 41‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus told Nicodemus that if one isn't born again of Water and the Spirit, they shall not enter the Kingdom of God.

In the New Testament, Baptism of Water and the Spirit follows a very clear pattern, beginning with John the Baptist and continuing to the present day.

John the Baptist clearly prophesizes/foretells that Jesus will 'Baptize with the Spirit. " Mark 1:8: I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Luke 3:16 16John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Also make no mistake that throughout the Old and New Testament, all Baptism is a ritual performed with water. All Christian baptism is performed with water.

And, as I said, immediately after Jesus conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus and the Apostles went on a mission of baptizing. John 3:22 Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people. And they were baptizing with water and the Spirit.

Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave His apostles a new commission, and their mission consisted of Baptizing with water and the Spirit:

Matthew 28:16-20 16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Water has always been an essential part of baptism.

And the baptisms continued after Jesus' ascension, with water and the Spirit: Acts 2:38 On the Day of Pentecost, Peter told the crowd, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). His command concerning baptism was that it be done “in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Paul is clear that through Baptism we die and are reborn in Christ, Romans 6:4; Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Baptism continues to this day, 2,000 years later, a baptism of water and the Spirit.

And, it is foolish to believe that Baptism is just a non essential ritual. Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His apostles, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. " Mark 16:16

Jesus and His Apostles/Disciples put a great importance on Baptism. It's not just a ritual.

So, if I say call upon the name of the Lord (Yeshua/Jesus) and you will be saved- I am wrong????

Acts 2:
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 11:13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’

Acts 11: 15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

Acts 8:17 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

If one want to be baptized in water that is their choice. I myself have never been baptized in water but I know who lives within me.

Obviously you have difficulty in believing Jesus, Mark 16:16, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Just like Nicodemus, he was already a believer in Jesus. Lord was not teaching salvation but the resurrection. The spirt lives with us and we are sealed for the Kingdom of God which is yet to come. Now the Spirit was not given till Jesus was glorified, and that happened at Pentecost.

Sorry but you are wrong when you say that the Spirit was only given after Pentecost. Before Pentecost, at His ascension, Christ gave His apostles/followers a great commission, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19 Jesus didn't tell them to delay until the Pentecost.

Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Joh 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Joh 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?


The implication is that being born again was not a new teaching and "masters" of OT scripture should have known this already. That means being born again is found in the OT:


1Sa 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
1Sa 10:7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
1Sa 10:8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
1Sa 10:9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.


Eze_18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Is being a another man and having a another heart (new man and new heart) after receiving the Holy Spirit the same as being born again? I say yes!


2Co_5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Eph_4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.


Also, this is how one could inherit eternal life before the new covenant came into effect:

Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Luk 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.


The concept of regeneration is well known in the OT. Anyone that knows the bible knows that this is true:

Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Joh 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Joh 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?


Barnes:

John 3:10
A master of Israel - A “teacher” of Israel; the same word that in the second verse is translated “teacher.” As such a teacher he ought to have understood this doctrine. It was not new,” but was clearly taught in the Old Testament. See particularly Psa_51:10, Psa_51:16-17; Eze_11:19; Eze_36:26. It may seem surprising that a man whose business it was to teach the people should be a stranger to so plain and important a doctrine

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Eze 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

The commission you spoke of did not begin till the day of Pentecost.

I assume you understand in the story of Nicodemus that the words born again can mean born from above.

Amen John and the disciples baptized in water for remission of sins in his name , Jesus baptism is of the Holy Ghost from heaven

“I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Since this Mikvah immersion tradition seems to have started in the 1st century it would not make sense that Jesus was referring to this. It is far more likely that Jesus was telling Nicodemus that he should know the scriptures well enough to be able to think of some OT passages that prophesied the promise of the new birth such as Ezek 36:26 or Ezek 11:18 and there were some in Jeremiah as well.

We can be confident that Jesus was referring to something from scripture not from Jewish tradition because Jesus seem to steer his followers away from Jewish Tradition toward the scriptures and made it pretty clear that the religious leaders were in such a mess because they were bogged down in their made up traditions and had bypassed scripture. Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to look to the Jewish made up traditions of Mikvah of which immersion baths do not show up in archaeology or writings until the 1st century but rather was telling Nicodemus to look in the scriptures and he would find reference to prophecies that foretold the promise of a new spirit.

.
Nicodemus is a prime example of Bible teachers who have reached the point
where they themselves are unteachable.

Nico's head was full of rabbinical thought. It was necessary to nuke his brain
from orbit, so to speak, and rebuild his spiritual discernment from scratch.
_

The only problem is that you think that this water which Christ mentioned is the water of baptism. It is not. It is the "water" of the Word of God -- the Gospel.

1 PETER 1: THE GOSPEL (THE INCORRUPTIBLE SEED) IS THE "WATER" OF THE WORD OF GOD
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you.

Both the Holy Spirit and the Gospel are involved with the New Birth, which is a supernatural spiritual birth. Thus "water and the Spirit". Baptismal regeneration is false doctrine.

Calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus occurs during one's water baptism as witnessed in scripture. This truth is seen in Acts 2:38, 8, 10, 19. As well as in Acts 22:16, when Ananias told Paul to be baptized and wash away his sins calling on the name of the Lord.

It is important to be obedient to the commands given in association with Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. (Acts 2:38) The word states that those who know Jesus actually keep His commandments. Jesus' own water baptism is given as an example for all to follow.

1 John 2:3-6
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Jesus told the apostles that repentance and remission of sins (water baptism) would be preached in his name beginning at Jerusalem. And to wait, as well, for the promise of the Holy Ghost in Jerusalem. This occurred on the Day of Pentecost.

Luke 24:47-49
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these things.
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
KJV

All of the scriptures you reference point to what takes place via obedience to the NT command to repent, be water baptized in Jesus' name and receive the Holy Ghost. As Hebrews 5:9 indicates Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all them who obey Him.