Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible







And he directed that they should be baptized in the Faith of Jesus Christ; after which they asked him to stay there a few days longer.




"In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual.



"Did you, when you became believers in Christ, receive the Holy Spirit?" "No," they answered, "we did not even hear that there was a Holy Spirit." "What then was your baptism?" Paul asked. "John's baptism was a baptism upon repentance," rejoined Paul, "and John told the people (speaking of the 'One Coming; after him) that they should believe in him--that is in Jesus." read more.
On hearing this, they were baptized into the faith of the Lord Jesus, And, after Paul had placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit descended upon them, and they began to speak with 'tongues' and to preach.








And he directed that they should be baptized in the Faith of Jesus Christ; after which they asked him to stay there a few days longer.













He who believes in me--As Scripture says, Out of his heart shall flow rivers of 'Living Water.'" (By this he meant the Spirit, which those who had believed in him were to receive; for the Spirit had not yet come, because Jesus had not yet been exalted.)


"In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual.



"In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." "How can a man," asked Nicodemus, "be born when he is old? Can he be born a second time?" "In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. read more.
All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes, or where it goes; it is the same with every one that owes his birth to the Spirit."


Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a leading man among the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him: "Rabbi, we know that you are a Teacher come from God; for no one could give such signs as you are giving, unless God were with him." "In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." read more.
"How can a man," asked Nicodemus, "be born when he is old? Can he be born a second time?" "In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes, or where it goes; it is the same with every one that owes his birth to the Spirit." "How can that be?" asked Nicodemus. "What! You a teacher of Israel," exclaimed Jesus, "and yet do not understand this! In truth I tell you that we speak of what we know, and state what we have seen; and yet you do not accept our statements. If, when I tell you earthly things, you do not believe me, how will you believe me when I tell you of heavenly things? No one has ascended to Heaven, except him who descended from Heaven--the Son of Man himself. And, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; That every one who believes in him may have Immortal Life." For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that every one who believes in him may not be lost, but have Immortal Life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him escapes condemnation, while he who does not believe in him is already condemned, because he has not believed in the only Son of God. The ground of his condemnation is this, that though the Light has come into the world, men preferred the darkness to the Light, because their actions were wicked. For he who lives an evil life hates the light, and will not come to it, for fear that his actions should be exposed; But he who acts up to the truth comes to the light, that his actions may be shown to have been done in dependence upon God.



"My kingly power," replied Jesus, "is not due to this world. If it had been so, my servants would be doing their utmost to prevent my being given up to the Jews; but my kingly power is not from the world."

This I say, Brothers-Flesh and blood can have no share in the Kingdom of God, nor can the perishable share the imperishable.



Nor will people say 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!'; for the Kingdom of God is within you!





And, though it is those very Scriptures that bear testimony to me, you refuse to come to me to have life.





Do not offer any part of your bodies to Sin, in the cause of unrighteousness, but once for all offer yourselves to God (as those who, though once dead, now have Life), and devote every part of your bodies to the cause of righteousness.


In truth I tell you that he who listens to my Message and believes him who sent me, has Immortal Life, and does not come under condemnation, but has already passed out of Death into Life. In truth I tell you that a time is coming, indeed it is already here, when the Dead will listen to the voice of the Son of God, and when those who listen will live. For, just as the Father has inherent Life within him, so also he has granted to the Son to have inherent Life within him;

"I am the Resurrection and the Life," said Jesus. "He that believes in me shall live, though he die; And he who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"



It is of what has been in existence from the Beginning, of what we have heard, of what we have seen with our eyes, of what we watched reverently and touched with our hands--it is about the Word who is the Life that we are now writing. That Life was made visible, and we have seen it, and now bear our testimony to it, and tell you of that Immortal Life, which was with the Father and was made visible to us.

"In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." "How can a man," asked Nicodemus, "be born when he is old? Can he be born a second time?" "In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. read more.
All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes, or where it goes; it is the same with every one that owes his birth to the Spirit." "How can that be?" asked Nicodemus. "What! You a teacher of Israel," exclaimed Jesus, "and yet do not understand this! In truth I tell you that we speak of what we know, and state what we have seen; and yet you do not accept our statements. If, when I tell you earthly things, you do not believe me, how will you believe me when I tell you of heavenly things? No one has ascended to Heaven, except him who descended from Heaven--the Son of Man himself. And, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; That every one who believes in him may have Immortal Life." For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that every one who believes in him may not be lost, but have Immortal Life.

For the Bread that God gives is that which comes down from Heaven, and gives Life to the world."

Even as thou gavest him power over all mankind, that he should give Immortal Life to all those whom thou has given him. And the Immortal Life is this--to know thee the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent as thy Messenger.

Consequently, through sharing his death in our baptism, we were buried with him; that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by a manifestation of the Father's power, so we also may live a new Life. If we have become united with him by the act symbolic of his death, surely we shall also become united with him by the act symbolic of his resurrection.

But now that you have been set free from the control of Sin, and have become servants to God, the fruit that you reap is an ever-increasing holiness, and the end Immortal Life. The wages of Sin are Death, but the gift of God is Immortal Life, through union with Christ Jesus, our Lord.


"In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." "How can a man," asked Nicodemus, "be born when he is old? Can he be born a second time?" "In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. read more.
All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes, or where it goes; it is the same with every one that owes his birth to the Spirit."


Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a leading man among the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him: "Rabbi, we know that you are a Teacher come from God; for no one could give such signs as you are giving, unless God were with him." "In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." read more.
"How can a man," asked Nicodemus, "be born when he is old? Can he be born a second time?" "In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes, or where it goes; it is the same with every one that owes his birth to the Spirit." "How can that be?" asked Nicodemus. "What! You a teacher of Israel," exclaimed Jesus, "and yet do not understand this!

But one of their number, Nicodemus, who before this had been to see Jesus, said to them: "Does our Law pass judgment on a man without first giving him a hearing, and finding out what he has been doing?" "Are you also from Galilee?" they retorted. "Search, and you will find that no Prophet is to arise in Galilee!" read more.
OMITTED TEXT



No one who has received the new Life from God lives sinfully, because the very nature of God dwells within him; and he cannot live in sin, because he has received the new Life from God.

"In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." "How can a man," asked Nicodemus, "be born when he is old? Can he be born a second time?" "In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. read more.
All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes, or where it goes; it is the same with every one that owes his birth to the Spirit."


"In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." "How can a man," asked Nicodemus, "be born when he is old? Can he be born a second time?" "In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. read more.
All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn.






And he directed that they should be baptized in the Faith of Jesus Christ; after which they asked him to stay there a few days longer.



Let your lives, then, prove your repentance; and do not begin to say among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!


And, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; That every one who believes in him may have Immortal Life." For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that every one who believes in him may not be lost, but have Immortal Life. read more.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him escapes condemnation, while he who does not believe in him is already condemned, because he has not believed in the only Son of God.





And it shall be that should any one among the people not listen to that Prophet, he will be utterly destroyed.'



"I am the Resurrection and the Life," said Jesus. "He that believes in me shall live, though he die; And he who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

One day, when great crowds of people were walking with Jesus, he turned and said to them: "If any man comes to me and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes and his very life, he can be no disciple of mine. Whoever does not carry his own cross, and walk in my steps, can be no disciple of mine. read more.
Why, which of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and reckon the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?-- For fear that, if he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, every one who sees it should begin to laugh at him, And say 'Here is a man who began to build and was not able to finish!' Or what king, when he is setting out to fight another king, does not first sit down and consider if with ten thousand men he is able to meet one who is coming against him with twenty thousand? And if he cannot, then, while the other is still at a distance, he sends envoys and asks for terms of peace. And so with every one of you who does not bid farewell to all he has--he cannot be a disciple of mine.


"How," they asked, "are we to do the work that God would have us do?" "The work that God would have you do," answered Jesus, "is to believe in him whom God sent as his Messenger."

While you still have the Light, believe in the Light, that you may be 'Sons of Light.'" After he had said this, Jesus went away, and hid himself from them.

And a man came up to Jesus, and said: "Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain Immortal life?" "Why ask me about goodness?" answered Jesus. "There is but One who is good. If you want to enter the Life, keep the commandments." "What commandments?" asked the man. "These," answered Jesus:-- "'Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not say what is false about others. read more.
Honor thy father and thy mother.' And 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself." "I have observed all these," said the young man. "What is still wanting in me?" "If you wish to be perfect," answered Jesus, "go and sell your property, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; then come and follow me."

Jesus heard of their having put him out; and, when he had found the man, he asked: "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"


And one of the Presidents asked Jesus this question--"Good Teacher, what must I do if I am to gain Immortal Life?" "Why do you call me good?" answered Jesus. "No one is good but God. You know the commandments--'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honor thy father and thy mother.'" read more.
"I have observed all these," he replied, "from childhood." Hearing this, Jesus said to him: "There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; then come and follow me." But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich. Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples: "How hard it is for men of wealth to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!" "Then who can be saved?" asked those who heard this.

"In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." "How can a man," asked Nicodemus, "be born when he is old? Can he be born a second time?" "In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. read more.
All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes, or where it goes; it is the same with every one that owes his birth to the Spirit." "How can that be?" asked Nicodemus. "What! You a teacher of Israel," exclaimed Jesus, "and yet do not understand this! In truth I tell you that we speak of what we know, and state what we have seen; and yet you do not accept our statements. If, when I tell you earthly things, you do not believe me, how will you believe me when I tell you of heavenly things?












"My kingly power," replied Jesus, "is not due to this world. If it had been so, my servants would be doing their utmost to prevent my being given up to the Jews; but my kingly power is not from the world."

This I say, Brothers-Flesh and blood can have no share in the Kingdom of God, nor can the perishable share the imperishable.



Nor will people say 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!'; for the Kingdom of God is within you!



He who believes in me--As Scripture says, Out of his heart shall flow rivers of 'Living Water.'" (By this he meant the Spirit, which those who had believed in him were to receive; for the Spirit had not yet come, because Jesus had not yet been exalted.)