Born of God illustrated by Genesis 1

Apokalupto: Born of God illustrated by Genesis 1

Apokalupto: The gospel of John has many parallels with the OT, as does usually the NT in general, especially when it comes to the Messianic role that Jesus would play being foreshadowed by the suffering servant and then rising as the triumphant ruler/king that brings salvation which we have seen so many times. These parallels teach us what was expected and then later fulfilled. They teach us the beauty of Gods written word which glorifies Jesus Christ in every book.

Genesis 1 and John 1 really go together, but so does John 3. Jesus speaks with Nicodemus and they have a very interesting conversation.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born ἄνωθεν, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

That Greek word there (Eng. “Anothen”) is the underlining Greek word which was translated into English as “again.” It is with this word that I would like to impart a little cherry on top. Alongside the definition of “again” anothen has another meaning which is “from above.” Jesus hints at a parallel in Genesis as an illustrative teaching tool about New Creation starting with this word.

John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Nicodemus understands the word rightly when he says “enter the second time” the idea of something happening twice, or again is not incorrect though he took it brazenly literal as seems to be their modus operandi throughout the Gospel..and elsewhere. But there is more explained in Jesus reply.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, 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.

This reply really shows us the parallel in Genesis that Jesus had previous hinted at by using the word Anothen. When a woman bears a child, the child is in the water of her belly. This conversation is of course about life and being born of God. “Life” comes from God and His Spirit. The spirit comes from above and dwells in us and creates a new creature by the power of God.

Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

The Spirit is over the waters in the creation account ready for life to spring up by His word, just as Jesus said you must be born again of water and of the Spirit that is above just as the creative power of the Spirit was above the waters in Genesis.

The illustration is beautifully applied to our new birth. The conversation with Nicodemus is about a new creation, namely being born of God, the illustration being used in the creation account somehow it went over his head.

This is why we are baptized by the Holy Ghost which the baptism of "water" helps symbolizes.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
John 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Nicodemus never asked how to be born again, Jesus tells him anyway a few verses later.

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Apokalupto: PART 2

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The idea of descending from heaven and giving life to the world is yet again illustrated in John chapter 1 with Genesis 1.


Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.


In both opening passages of Genesis and John we have God the creative force that descends down to the world, creating life.

The water is our natural birth as a child is born in the womb of the mother and is surrounded by water, the Spirit over the waters was the creative force all vegitation, fish and animals, as Jesus descended to give life. And God said let there be light. Jesus is the light that lighteth every man that comes into the world.

The light is separated from the darkness, this is the truth and righteousness of Jesus which is holy and separated.

Then God separated the firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters creating an expanse of air known as the atmosphere symbolizing the birth that is now risen above, our spiritual birth by the grace of Jesus we are clothed with His light and righteousness and thus made holy by His own goodness and are separated from the earth. To be Holy is to be separated.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (We just illustrated that process above in the creation about in symbolic terms of how Jesus creates life in the world and brings us to the Father)

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Not born of blood meaning physical descendents or genealogy, nor born of the will of the flesh because it’s a spiritual birth everlasting, which is of God.

Then the focus is on Jesus again.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God (the Father) at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.