(Joh 3:1) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews:
(Joh 3:2) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him,
Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do
these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Nicodemus realized that Jesus had to be someone that came from God in
order to perform the miracles that He did but seemingly Nicodemus was
seeking more than just miracles. Unlike the other Pharisees, Nicodemus
didn't ask questions in order to trip Jesus up. He asked questions
because in his heart he wanted to know more about Jesus.
(Joh 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus didn't waste time; He got straight to the point. He told
Nicodemus exactly what he needed to hear. A person must be "born
again" to see the kingdom of God. This has to do with the living
water that we will read of later. The first birth is our natual birth
when we came from our mother's womb. The second birth is by God's
Holy Spirit. It is something God does in response to our
believing in Jesus Christ as savior from sin. It is something our
natural eyes cannot see and only the person and God actual knows when
it takes place.
(Joh 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?
I believe he was not being sarcastic but was very sincere in his
questions about this.
(Joh 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.
Water here is the type that cleanses the soul. The washing of the
water of the word is mentioned.
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing
of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be
holy and without blemish.
The word cleanses and sanctifies us:
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken
unto you.
We are born of the water and of the spirit. The spirit baptizes
us. Both the word and the spirit are necessary for our
salvation.
John baptized with water and Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
Water baptism is an act of obedience but is symbolic of what takes
place in a believer when they believe in Jesus Christ. When we
believe, we are cleansed by the word and we are born again by the
spirit of God.
(Joh 3:6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The first birth is on the flesh and the second birth is of the
spirit.
It is necessary for our salvation and everlasting life. Without
this no religion, no ritual, and no other thing can bring us salvation.
(Joh 3:7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Jesus seemed to be saying. Don't be surprised if I say to you that you
must be born again.
(Joh 3:8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the
sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it
goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
It is something God does. It is something not seen by our natural
eyes. The wind blows where it wills and we cannot see where the
wind came from and we cannot know where the wind is going. So we
can't see the new birth with our natural eyes.
We can see the results of the wind but not the wind itself, so we can
see the results of a born again changed life but we can't actually see
the new birth within the person.
(Joh 3:9) Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these
things be?
(Joh 3:10) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of
Israel, and knowest not these things?
Evidently it appears that Nicodemus should have known about the new
birth by the spirit. He was a master or teacher and was teaching
others but did not understand himself. Hidden is the Old
Testament is the message of the gospel. Only those who really
seek and desire to understand will understand.
This confirms what I've always believed. When reading the word of
God, those that really want to understand and really desire to seek God
will begin to understand. Those that read for other reasons will
not understand. The spirit of God is the teacher of the
word. Those that desire to remain in the dark will not
understand.
(Joh 3:11) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do
know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(Joh 3:12) If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not,
how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
We can think of earthly things as
what we can see with the natural eyes such as water baptism but the
heavenly things as the baptism by the spirit.
The water baptism is symbolic of what takes place in the inner man when
one is born again by the spirit.
The miracles and teachings was things they heard and received whereas
the new birth, eternal life and such could be considered heavenly
things.
(Joh 3:13) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that
came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Jesus is saying that He came from God and no other actually came from
God before Him.
(Joh 3:14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
This Jesus is saying to indicate how He is going to die for sins. As
the serpent was lifted up that all who looked upon it was saved from
death, Jesus will be lifted up so that all who believe in Him will be
saved from sin and eternal death.
(Joh 3:15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life.
Whoever believes. When one believes in something they give their
all to it. Believing faith means more than just believing Jesus
existed at one time in history. Believing is receiving and
believing what He has to say to us. We can't say we believe in
Jesus and do not keep His commandments.
(Joh 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.
This is our hope in the present world where the deity of Christ is
being questioned. We have to take heed the word of the apostle
Jude.
Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were
before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the
grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God,
and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many are even now teaching that we can live any way we want to and it
can't hurt our salvation. That is turning God's grace into
lasciviousness. Some teach that we can sin willfully, knowingly and
still keep our salvation if we just believe in Him. Yet I believe
sincerely that to believe in Him means much more than just believing
once for salvation and then going our own ways and doing our own
thing. This is the first step toward apostasy. The next
step is denying the Lord Jesus.
2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even
as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in
damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring
upon themselves swift destruction.
Their was those in that day that denied the deity of Christ. This
is one way to deny the Lord that bought and paid for their
salvation. If we don't believe Jesus is He (the Son of God, the
Messiah or Christ, and the sacrifice for our sins) than we have no
salvation.
The next step to total apostasy is denying the existence of God Himself
or denying His right to intervene in our lives.
(Joh 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 first time Jesus came in the flesh and dwelled among men, He didn't
come to condemn or accuse. He came to save them and bring them
into eternal life. The Second time He comes, it will be one of
judgment.
(Joh 3:18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.
We are condemned already before Christ came. We already are
condemned to eternity in hell. Jesus came to reverse that curse
but it will only be reversed in those that believe in Him. If we
don't believe then His death on the cross for our sins will not count
on our behalf. God does not force salvation upon us.
(Joh 3:19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.
Some will not be saved because they will not come to the light for
their sins to be exposed. They that desire to remain in their
sins will avoid that light and refuse God's plan of salvation.
(Joh 3:20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Those that do evil can only be saved if they are willing to come to the
light and let the light (Jesus Christ) take their sins away. If
we come to Christ not willing to forsake sin, then we will not be saved
for Jesus came to not just forgive us of sin but to save us from sin.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures;
Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his
name whosoever believeth in him shall receive Tit 2:11 For the
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
of sins.
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and
saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
(Joh 3:21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his
deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Those that want cleansing from sin will come to the light. If we
have forsaken sin and believed in Christ will will want to seek Him and
dwell in His presence.
(Joh 3:22) After these things came Jesus and his disciples into
the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
(Joh 3:23) And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim,
because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
(Joh 3:24) For John was not yet cast into prison.
(Joh 3:25) Then there arose a question between some of John's
disciples and the Jews about purifying.
(Joh 3:26) And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he
that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold,
the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
(Joh 3:27) John answered and said, A man can receive nothing,
except it be given him from heaven.
(Joh 3:28) Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not
the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
(Joh 3:29) He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the
friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth
greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is
fulfilled.
(Joh 3:30) He must increase, but I must decrease.
(Joh 3:31) He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of
the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from
heaven is above all.
(Joh 3:32) And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth;
and no man receiveth his testimony.
(Joh 3:33) He that hath received his testimony hath set to his
seal that God is true.
John was not jealous but recognized the fact that He was sent to
annouce the coming of the Messiah. When Jesus came, John
witnessed to the fact that this was the one that came from God and that
God sent to us to take away our sins.
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and
saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John's baptism was for purifying or for the confession of sins and it
confused some to see Jesus's disciples baptizing also. John made
it clear that his ministry was almost over and that the one who was the
savior was here and they were now to follow Him. Jesus was now
the one to cleanse from sin. Water baptism was only
symbolic. Natural water cannot really remove any sin. The water
of the word and the Holy Spirit removes the sin.
(Joh 3:34) For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God:
for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
(Joh 3:35) The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things
into his hand.
Jesus had the fulness of the Spirit of God upon Him.
(Joh 3:36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:
and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of
God abideth on him.
This is the truth and necessary for eternal life and salvation. We must
not take this wonderful words lightly.