572. 人若不重生, 就不能进神的国, 这是主在约翰福音里的教导, 经文如下:
耶稣对尼哥底母说: “我实实在在地告诉你: 人若不重生, 就不能见神的国。 ”又: “我实实在在地告诉你: 人若不是从水和圣灵生的, 就不能进神的国。 从肉身生的, 就是肉身; 从灵生的, 就是灵。 (约翰福音3:3, 5-6)
“神的国”表天堂和教会, 因为教会是神在地上的国。 其它经文中提到的“神的国”也是这个意思 (如在马太福音11:11; 12:25; 21:43;路加福音4:43; 6:20; 8:1, 10; 9:11, 60, 62; 17:21等等)。 “从水和圣灵生的”表从信之真理和照此的生活重生。 “水”表真理, 从启示录可以看出 (n。50, 614, 615, 685, 632), “灵”表与神圣真理相一致的生活, 从主在约翰福音中的话明显可知 (约翰福音6:63)。 “实实在在”或“阿们阿们”, 表示这就是真理, 主如此频繁地提及这个词, 是因为祂就是真理本身。 祂自己也被称为“阿们” (启示录3:14)。 在圣言中, 重生被称为“神的儿子”, “由神生的”, 并被描述为“新心与新灵”。
572. Unless We Are Born Again and Created Anew, So to Speak, We Cannot Enter the Kingdom of God
The Lord teaches in John that if we are not born again we cannot enter the kingdom of God: "Jesus said to Nicodemus, 'Truly, truly I say to you, unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God'" (John 3:3). And again, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless you have been born of water and the spirit you cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of spirit is spirit" (John 3:5-6). The kingdom of God here means both heaven and the church, because the church is the kingdom of God on earth. The same is true in other passages in the Word where the kingdom of God is mentioned; see, for example, Matthew 11:12; 12:28; 21:43; Luke 4:43; 6:20; 8:1, 10; 9:11, 60, 62; 17:21; and elsewhere. To be born of water and the spirit means to be born of truths related to faith and of a life lived by those truths. For truth as the meaning of water, see Revelation Unveiled 50, 614, 615, 685, 932. The fact that spirit means living our lives by divine truths is clear from the Lord's words in John 6:63. Truly, truly means that this is the truth. Because the Lord was truth itself, Scripture frequently says Amen [or Truly]. The Lord himself is called Amen (Revelation 3:14). In the Word, those who are regenerated are referred to as children of God and those born of God; and regeneration is expressed as our having a new heart and a new spirit.
572. I. Unless a person is born again and as it were created anew, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Unless a person is born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God; this is what the Lord teaches in John, where this passage occurs:
Jesus said to Nicodemus, Amen, amen 1 , I say to you, unless a person is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. And again, Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a person is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the spirit is spirit, John 3:3, 5-6.
The kingdom of God means both heaven and the church, for the kingdom of God on earth is the church. It is the same in other places where the kingdom of God is named; as Matthew 11:11; 12:28; 21:43; Luke 4:43; 6:20; 8:1, 10; 9:11, 60, 62; 17:21, and elsewhere. To be born by water and the spirit means by the truths of faith and by living by them. For water meaning truths, see Apocalypse Revealed 50, 614-615, 685, 932. Spirit means living by Divine truths, as is plain from the Lord's words in John (John 6:63). Amen, amen means that it is the truth; and because the Lord was the truth itself, that is why He said it so often. He is also called the Amen (Revelation 3:14). Those who are regenerated are called in the Word sons of God and born of God; regeneration is described by a new heart and a new spirit.
Footnotes:
1. Or: verily, verily.
572. I. UNLESS A MAN IS BORN AGAIN, AND, AS IT WERE, CREATED ANEW, HE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
That unless a man is born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of God, is the Lord's doctrine in the following passages from John:
Jesus said to Nicodemus, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God; and again, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God; That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of spirit is spirit (John 3:3, 5-6).
"The kingdom of God" means both heaven and the church, for the church is the kingdom of God on earth. So in other places, where the kingdom of God is mentioned (as in Matthew 11:11; 12:25; 21:43; Luke 4:43; 6:20; 8:1, 10; 9:11, 60, 62; 17:21 and elsewhere).
"To be born of water and the spirit" signifies to be born by means of truths of faith and a life in accordance with them. That "water" signifies truths, may be seen in the Apocalypse Revealed (n. 50, 614-615, 685, 632); that "spirit" signifies a life in accordance with Divine truths is clear from the Lord's Words in John (6:63). "Verily, verily" [or "Amen, amen"], signifies that this is the truth; and the Lord used that expression so frequently because He was the truth itself. He Himself is also called "the Amen" (Revelation 3:14). In the Word the regenerate are called "Sons of God" and "born of God," and regeneration is described by "a new heart and a new spirit."
572. I. UNLESS A MAN IS BORN AGAIN AND, AS IT WERE, CREATED ANEW, HE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
That a man cannot enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again, is the teaching of the Lord in John, where He said to Nicodemus:
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God;"
and again:
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 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" John 3:3, 5-6.
The kingdom of God signifies both heaven and the Church; for the kingdom of God on earth is the Church. The same is meant in other passages where the kingdom of God is mentioned,
as in Matthew 11:11; 12:28; 21:43; Luke 4:43; 6:20; 8:1, 10; 9:11, 60, 62; 17:21; and elsewhere.
To be born of water and the Spirit, signifies by means of the truths of faith and a life in conformity with them. Water signifies truths, as may be seen in The Apocalypse Revealed 50, 614-615, 885, 932. Spirit signifies a life in agreement with Divine truths, as is evident from the Lord's words in John 6:63. "Verily, verily," signifies that it is the truth; and because the Lord was the truth itself, therefore He so often used that expression. He is also called the Amen, Revelation 3:14. In the Word the regenerate are called sons of God, and born of God; and regeneration is described by a new heart and a new spirit.
572. Quod homo nisi denuo generatur, et sicut e novo creatur, non possit ingredi in Regnum Dei.
Quod homo nisi denuo generatur, non possit ingredi in regnum Dei, est Doctrina Domini apud Johannem, ubi haec, "Jesus dixit Nicodemo, amen, amen, dico tibi, nisi quis generetur denuo, non potest videre regnum Dei:" et iterum, "amen, amen, dico tibi, nisi quis generatus fuerit ex aqua et spiritu, non potest ingredi in Regnum Dei; quod natum est ex carne, Caro est, et quod generatum est ex spiritu, Spiritus est," Johannes 3:3, 5-6, per Regnum Dei intelligitur et Coelum et Ecclesia, nam Regnum Dei in terris est Ecclesia, similiter alibi ubi nominatur regnum Dei, ut Matthaeus 11:12, 1 Matthaeus 12:28; 21:43, Luca 4:43; 6:20; 8:1, 10; 9:11, 60, 62; 17:21, et alibi: generari per aquam et spiritum, significat per vera Fidei, et per vitam secundum illa; quod aqua significet vera, videatur in Apocalypsi Revelata 50, 614-615, 685, 932: quod spiritus significet vitam secundum Divina vera, patet a Domini verbis apud Johannem 6:63: 2 per amen, amen, significatur, quod sit veritas, et quia Dominus fuit ipsa veritas, ideo toties id dixit; Ipse vocatur etiam Amen, Apocalypsis 3:14. Regenerati in Verbo vocantur Filii Dei, et Nati a Deo; ac Regeneratio describitur per novum cor et novum spiritum.
Footnotes: