There are many people out there trying to confuse Christians and tell them that the Bible is full of inconsistencies, which they call lies, and say that disproves that Jesus Is the Son of God, but is that really true?
I will research all the pertinent Bible passages related to being Born Again to see if there are any inconsistencies and if they disprove that Jesus Is the Son of God. I will use the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible and possibly internet sites, if needed.
Sometimes the Bible has the words ‘he’ and ‘him’ within the same sentence. I will put within brackets who is speaking and who is being spoken to for clarity, if it’s not obvious from the text. I will also put my analysis, evaluations, comments, and opinions within brackets, as well, and will try to let you know that as I share these.
I will also post this thorough analysis of these passages on the following two blogs I felt led to create, so that you can make up your own minds or to pass the information on to others who might benefit. You can find this research project at Biblical Proof! at https://BiblicalProof.blogspot.com/ and Do Biblical Inconsistencies Really Matter? at https://Biblicalinconsistencies.blogspot.com/
Matthew 18:1-5 says: At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.”
Matthew 19:13-15 says: Then the little children were brought to Him [Jesus] that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Mark 9:36-37 says: Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
Mark 10:13-16 says: Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms and laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Luke 9:46-48 says: Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him [Jesus], and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”
Luke 18:15-17 says: Then they also brought infants to Him [Jesus] that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
John 3:2-12 says: 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 can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? “Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”
2 Corinthians 5:14-19 says: for the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Ephesians 4:17-24 says: This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3:6-17 says: Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
1 Peter 1:17-25 says: And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the world of God which lives and abides forever, because, “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” [from Isaiah 40:6-8]
[First of all, I think I will first analyze the Bible passages related to being Born Again from the period prior to Jesus’ Resurrection from the grave and Ascension into heaven. I will analyze the Bible passages after that period, at a later point within this research project.]
[After looking at the related Bible passages, I found the Gospels of
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all have something related to being Born Again two
times and the Gospel of John has it only once. The following are:
Matthew 18:1-5 and Matthew 19:13-15
Mark 9:36-37 and Mark 10:13-16
Luke 9:46-48 and Luke 18:15-17
John 3:2-12 ]
[Now, after reading the Bible from cover to cover many times, I don’t really think the Gospel writers are writing about the same experience two times, but think they are recording two different experiences. If you think about it, children most likely came up to Jesus in every town He traveled to. Additionally, you would imagine that the message of being Born Again would be something Jesus would share with people in different areas. I plan to check this hypothesis out further.]
[In order to distinguish whether these Gospel passages are the same experience or two different experiences, I will read what happened just before and right after the passages in question and share that information with you. For those of you who plan to check the research out further on the two blog sites I will post this on, will notice that I colored coded this. Actually, I wasn’t sure how to sort these passages and the idea that came to me was to color code them. It made it much more expedient for me to be able to compare these passages related to being Born Again, although they don’t always use those exact words. ]
Just before, Matthew 18:1, is Matthew 17:27 which says: “Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and
take the fish that comes up first, And when you have opened its mouth, you will
find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” [Looking for more commonalities, I looked and a little bit before that, Matthew 17:22-23 says: Now while they were staying in
Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, “and they
will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.]
Matthew 18:1-5 [one of the related passages, but I’m checking before and
after it.]
Just after, Matthew 18:6 says: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Just before, Matthew 19:12 says: “For
there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are
eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made
themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept
it, let him accept it.”
[Although it does not relate to my research project, I thought it might be helpful to define Eunuch in relation to this time period. I went to Christianity.com and this is the definition I got: The Greek translation, eunouchos, means (1) chamberlain, keeper of the bed-chamber of an eastern ruler, (2) a castrated person, or one who voluntarily abstains from marriage.
· But in Hebrew, wherever saris is used, the word refers to an important person who is not necessarily castrated.]
Matthew 19:13-15[one of the related passages, but I’m checking before & after it.]
Just after, Matthew 19 15-16 says: And He [Jesus] laid His hands on them and departed from there. Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
Just before, Mark 9:35 says: And He [Jesus] sat down, called the twelve,
and said to them, “If anyone desires to be
first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” [Looking a little bit before this, Mark 9:31-32 says:
For He [Jesus] taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of
men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third
day.” But they did not
understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.]
Mark 9:36-37 [one of the related passages, but I’m
checking before and after it.]
Just after, Mark 9:38 says:Now John answered Him [Jesus], saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.”
Just before, Mark 10:12 says: “And
if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Mark 10:13-16 [one of the related passages, but I’m
checking before and after it.]
Just after, Mark 10:17 says: Now as He [Jesus] was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
Just before, Luke 9:44-45 says: “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son
of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” But they [the disciples] did not understand this
saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they
were afraid to ask Him [Jesus] about this saying.
Luke 9:46-48 [one of the related passages, but I’m
checking before and after it.]
Just after, Luke 9:49-50 says: Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us. But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.”
Just before, Luke 18:10-14 says: Also He [Jesus] spoke this parable to
some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a
tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank
You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as
this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes
to heaven, but beat his breast saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!” “I
tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for
everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be
exalted.”
Luke 18:15-17 [one of the related passages, but I’m
checking before and after it.]
Just after, Luke 18:18 says: Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Just before, John 3:1 says: There was a man of the Pharisees named
Nocodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [I looked a little before that, and John 2:19-22 says: Jesus answered and said to them,
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews
said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple and will You raise it
up in three days?” But He [Jesus] was speaking of the temple of His body.
Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He
had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus
had said.
John 3:2-12 [one of the related passages, but I’m checking before and
after it.]
Just after, John 3:13-15 says: “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
[Well, in analyzing what came before and after the pertinent research project passages, I found
Where after the passage the man asks what he has to do
to have eternal life:
Matthew 19:13-15[one of the related passages, but I’m checking before
& after it.]
Just after, Matthew 19:15-16 says: And He [Jesus] laid His hands on them and departed from there. Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
Mark 10:13-16 [one of the related passages, but I’m
checking before and after it.]
Just after, Mark 10:17 says: Now as He [Jesus] was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
Luke 18:15-17 [one of the related passages, but I’m
checking before and after it.]
Just after, Luke 18:18 says: Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Before it, Jesus is telling the Disciples He will be betrayed, die and rise again.
Just before, Matthew 18:1, is Matthew 17:27 which says: “Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and
take the fish that comes up first, And when you have opened its mouth, you will
find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” [Looking for more commonalities, I looked and a little bit before that, Matthew 17:22-23 says: Now while they were staying in
Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, “and they
will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.]
Matthew 18:1-5 [one of the related passages, but I’m checking before and after it.]
[Looking a little bit before this, Mark 9:31-32 says:
For He [Jesus] taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of
men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third
day.” But they did not
understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.]
Mark 9:36-37 [one of the related passages, but I’m checking before and after it.]
Just before, Luke 9:44-45 says: “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son
of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” But they [the disciples] did not understand this
saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they
were afraid to ask Him [Jesus] about this saying.
Luke 9:46-48 [one of the related passages, but I’m checking before and after it.]
Just before, John 3:1 says: There was a man of the Pharisees named
Nocodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [I looked a little before that, and John 2:19-22 says: Jesus answered and said to them,
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews
said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple and will You raise it
up in three days?” But He [Jesus] was speaking of the temple of His body.
Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He
had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus
had said.
John 3:2-12 [one of the related passages, but I’m checking before and after
it.]
[Now, after sorting these, I’m just going to group the related passages together, so that we can analyze them further.]
Where after the passage the man asks what he has to do to have eternal life:
Matthew 19:13-15 says: Then the little children were brought to Him [Jesus] that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Mark 10:13-16 says: Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms and laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Luke 18:15-17 says: Then they also brought infants to Him [Jesus] that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Before it, Jesus is telling the Disciples He will be betrayed, die and rise again.
Matthew 18:1-5 says: At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.”
Mark 9:36-37 says: Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
Luke 9:46-48 says: Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him [Jesus], and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”
John 3:2-12 says: This man [Nicodemus] came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? “Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”
[The next thing I have to do is to flip the order of these two
categories. That’s because all of the passages in each Gospel that had
Jesus telling His disciples about His impending death and resurrection came
before the related Born Again passage. All the other ones where the person is
asking Jesus what He has to do to have eternal life that came after the related
Born Again passage, was recorded later within each of the Gospels. That seems
like it might be significant, so I’m going to flip these for my analysis, but won’t read them again, until I have analyzed them
further.]
[I will often cut and paste portions I am analyzing together to be able to ascertain if there are any significant inconsistencies.]
Before it, Jesus is telling the Disciples He will be betrayed, die and rise again.
Matthew 18:1-5 says: At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.”
Mark 9:36-37 says: Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
Luke 9:46-48 says: Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him [Jesus], and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”
John 3:2-12 says: This man [Nicodemus] came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? “Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”
Where after the passage the man asks what he has to do to have eternal life:
Matthew 19:13-15 says: Then the little children were brought to Him [Jesus] that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Mark 10:13-16 says: Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms and laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Luke 18:15-17 says: Then they also brought infants to Him [Jesus] that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Analysis of the Born Again passages, where prior to these, Jesus tells His Disciples He will be betrayed, die and rise again.
[Matthew 18:1 says that the Born Again topic basically started with the disciples arguing about who was the greatest. 18:1 says: At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Luke 9:46 is pretty consistent and says: Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. The passage from Mark 9:36-37 doesn’t address this, but when I looked at the chapter again, I found that just before this, it did. Mark 9:34-35 says: But they [disciples] kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”]
[The Gospel of John doesn’t have this recorded. Does that mean it didn’t happen if it isn’t recorded in all four of the Gospels? Well, it is recorded in three of the Gospels and is very consistent! Some of the Gospel writers, especially John, don’t record things or only minimally record things that they feel have been adequately recorded in some of the other Gospels. Additionally, the Gospel writers vary in writing style, some putting more details and some fewer. Hence, in that the Gospel of John doesn’t show the disciples had an argument about who was the greatest, isn’t significant.]
[How did the child get into the conversation Jesus had?]
Matthew 18:2 says: Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
Mark 9:36 says: Then He [Jesus] took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,
Luke 9:47 said: And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him
[First of all, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are all very consistent that Jesus had a little child sit there. In that John 3:2-12doesn ’t say anything about an actual child sitting there, does that mean that there wasn’t a child there? There may have been a child there and since John has the most elaborate details about the conversation about being Born Again, he may not have referenced a child, but focused on the more significant details of the conversation. Then again, since John didn’t mention a child, would it be significant if there wasn’t a child sitting there through the conversation? Not really. The part that is significant is the conversation Jesus had about being Born Again and whether there was or was not a child sitting there, really doesn’t matter.]
[I want to look to see if there are any significant inconsistencies
about when Jesus talks about being Born Again, although it may not be recorded
with that same wording in each of these. That is quite often due to the Gospel
writers paraphrasing things.]
Matthew 18:3-5 says: and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.”
Mark 9:37 says: “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
Luke 9:48 says: and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”
John 3:3-8 says: Jesus answered and said to him [Nicodemus], “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
[The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all pretty consistent except for paraphrasing and some Gospel writers writing with more details and some with fewer.]
[The Gospel of John mentions Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, but the other three Gospels don’t. Is that significant? At first, I wondered if John had recorded a third time that Jesus had talked about being Born Again. When I searched the portion in John prior to the passage related to being Born Again, I found where Jesus told His disciples about His impending death and resurrection. That leads me to believe this is the same period of time as the other three Gospel passages I have listed here.]
[Is it significant that the other three Gospel writers didn’t include Nicodemus in what they recorded? Not really. It doesn’t exactly matter whether Nicodemus was there or he wasn’t or whether this conversation was more directed toward the disciples. What is significant is that Jesus told people about being Born Again and how they are supposed to try to leave their old sinful ways behind and become followers of Christ as per John 3:6 which says: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. .]
[If John 3:2-12 is related to another time Jesus talked about being Born Again and not the same time as the other three Gospels writers recorded, is that significant? Not really! It stands to reason that Jesus would talk to people in various towns about significant topics related to salvation, so it’s plausible that this could be an additional time Jesus shared this, but it’s not significant if it is.]
[Now I will analyze the other Bible passages related to being Born Again that had someone asking Jesus afterward what they have to do to have eternal life.]
[First of all, what happened when the children wanted to come to see
Jesus?]
Matthew 19:13 says:Then the little children were brought to Him [Jesus] that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
Mark 10:13 says: Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Luke 18:15 says: Then they also brought infants to Him [Jesus] that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
[Since the Gospel of John had only one passage related to being Born Again, the analysis will focus on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Is it significant that the Gospel of John didn’t include the information about this time Jesus talked about being Born Again, even if those exact words weren’t used each time?]
Luke 9:1-2 says: Then He [Jesus] called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
[With that said, it is impossible to expect that all of the disciples would be at the same event/situation at any given time, because they may have been out preaching as Jesus had intended for them to do. Therefore, it is not significant that John did not record this other passage related to being Born Again.]
[How did Jesus respond when the disciples didn’t want the children to come near Jesus?]
Matthew 19:14-15 says: But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Mark 10:14-16 says: But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms and laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Luke 18:16-17 says: But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
[The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are all pretty consistent in that Jesus was displeased when the disciples kept the children away and He told them to let the little children come to Him.]
[Additionally, it is consistently recorded in each of these three Gospels that Jesus says not to forbid the little children for of such is the kingdom of God/heaven.]
[Is it significant that only the Gospel of Mark and Luke record that Jesus said, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”?]
[Again, although there are minor inconsistencies in wording, it basically says the same thing. You will find out if you watch this brief video by J. Warner Wallace, a L.A. Cold-Case Detective, who tells that witnesses rarely report things exactly the same way. Were the Gospels Written by Eye Witnesses? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siOcvLyKuEk (3 minutes 27 seconds) In my opinion, this video is really worth watching, because it clarifies so many things about the inconsistencies in the Gospel recordings, but they still were valid witnesses.]
[Now, I will readdress the related Born Again passages that were recorded in the Bible after Jesus had arisen from the dead on Easter and after His ascension into heaven.]
2 Corinthians 5:14-19 says: for the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Ephesians 4:17-24 says: This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him [Christ] and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3:6-17 says: Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
1 Peter 1:17-25 says: And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the world of God which lives and abides forever, because, “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” [from Isaiah 40:6-8]
[In order to analyze these further, I am going to copy and paste the key portions of each of these passages that relates to being Born Again.]
2 Corinthians 5:17 says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Ephesians 4:21-24 says: if indeed you have heard Him [Christ] and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3:9-10 says: Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
Colossians 3:14-16 further says: But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
1 Peter 1:22-23 says: Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the world of God which lives and abides forever,
[In analyzing these passages related to being Born Again, although not with those exact words, they all corroborate that Jesus wants those who have faith in Him, to let Him dwell within them and for them to live a life more befitting a Christian.]
[Don’t let people confuse you, saying that there are inconsistencies and lies in the Bible and that disproves that Jesus Is the Son of God. God gave you a very intelligent brain, so you can make up your own mind. That’s why I felt led to do these research projects to analyze whether any inconsistencies in the Bible are significant. To date, I have not found any that are or that disprove that Jesus Is the Son of God.]
John 3:16-21 says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light, that his deed should be exposed. “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
Remember to follow the Light of Jesus, our only hope of Salvation!
