Breadcrumbs – You Must Be Born Again

Brooklyn Museum - Interview between Jesus and Nicodemus (Entretien de Jésus et de Nicodème) - James Tissot
Brooklyn Museum – Interview between Jesus and Nicodemus (Entretien de Jésus et de Nicodème) – James Tissot

As of today, 10.18.25, additional posts will appear from time to time under the heading “Breadcrumbs”.  This will be in addition to whatever other posting appears for the day.  If you wish to find all “Breadcrumb” posts you can put “Breadcrumbs” in the search box in the upper right hand corner.  These will be short messages, covering one point, with scriptures.

Today’s lesson is on salvation.  Jesus said to Nicodemus, “ye must be born again”.

The reason for that is that mankind lost its created position with God in the Garden of Eden; the loss of fellowship with God came through disobedience and sin.  This break in fellowship has been passed down generation after generation.

It is spiritual. It is not natural, but we can understand it in a natural sense if we understand genetics.  A genetic characteristic is passed down generation after generation; is not something someone can overcome by works.  For example, no matter how hard someone works, a person cannot change eye color through works, and neither can we change the state of sin we are born in through religious works.

A broken, fallen state, which David described as “in sin my mother did conceive me”, has been passed down from generation to generation.  The only way to escape is to be born again, to be born of the spirit of the living God; God the Father, through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  This is why Jesus said, “I am the way”.  It is only through Jesus that this can happen.  How?

Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Believe…confess…be saved…be born again.

Rebekah gives birth to Jacob and Esau, Genesis 25:8-26

Amiens, Bibliothèque Municipale, Ms 108, fol. 15r. Birth of Esau and Jacob
Amiens, Bibliothèque Municipale, Ms 108, fol. 15r. Birth of Esau and Jacob

Genesis 25:8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac:

20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

21 And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.

23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

 

Abraham dies and is buried, Genesis 25:1-10

Southern Palestine, Hebron, Beersheba and Gaza area. Hebron, mosque over Cave of Machpelah. Gen. 23-3-17 LOC matpc.22872
Mosque over Cave of Machpelah

Genesis 25:1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.