seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 3:1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
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Here's the link to the commentary I read. Please go read the whole commentary.
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: Nicodemus was one of those impressed by Jesus’ signs (John 2:23), and a member of the ruling Sanhedrin. He was religious (of the Pharisees), educated (Nicodemus is a Greek name), influential (a ruler), and earnest enough to come by night. Nicodemus came to Jesus as a representative of all men (John 2:23-25), and in a sense he represented what is highest and best in men.
We know that You are a teacher come from God: It is difficult to know if Nicodemus spoke of himself, of the Sanhedrin, or of popular opinion. “It is possible, however, that oidamen, we know, signifies no more than, it is known, it is generally acknowledged and allowed, that thou art a teacher come from God.” (Clarke)
Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God: Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus shattered the Jewish assumption that their racial identity — their old birth — assured them a place in God’s Kingdom. Jesus made it plain that a man’s first birth does not assure him of the kingdom; only being born again gives this assurance.
Born again: The ancient Greek word translated again (anothen) can be also translated “from above.” This is the sense in which John used this word in John 3:31 and in John 19:11 and 19:23. Either way, the meaning is essentially the same. To be born from above is to be born again.
Jesus clearly said that without this — that unless one is born again — he cannot enter or be part of (see) the kingdom of God. Moral or religious reform isn’t enough. One must be born again.
How can a man be born when he is old? Nicodemus’ reply may not have been out of ignorance, but from thinking that Jesus meant a moral reformation. His question may be “How can you teach an old dog new tricks?” One way or another, Nicodemus clearly did not understand Jesus or the truth about the new birth.
Most assuredly... you must be born again: Jesus was emphatic in saying that man does not need reformation, but a radical conversion by the Spirit of God. We must be born of water and the Spirit.
Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God: If a nation passed a law that said no one could live there except those who were born in that nation, and someone wanted to live there who was not born there.
- It wouldn’t matter if he took a name that was common in that nation.
- It wouldn’t matter if he spoke the language.
- It wouldn’t matter if he observed some of the customs.
- It wouldn’t matter if he dressed like those in that nation.
- It wouldn’t matter if he practiced some of the religious traditions of that nation.
- It wouldn’t matter if his parents were born in that nation.
- It wouldn’t matter if his children were born there.
- It wouldn’t matter if he had many friends in that nation.
- All that would matter was if he was actually born there.
Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again”: Again, Nicodemus did marvel at this statement, because he — like most all Jews of his time — believed they already had the inner transformation promised in the New Covenant. Jesus wants him to take hold of the fact that he does not have it, and must be born again.
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? A simple look at earthly things — like the illustrations Jesus used, and even a look at his own life — should have made the point plain to Nicodemus. If he could not see that he needed this spiritual transformation, what more could Jesus tell him?
No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven: Jesus “makes it clear that He can speak authoritatively about things in heaven, though no one else can.” (Morris)
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness: Jesus made a remarkable statement, explaining that the serpent of Numbers 21:4-9 was a picture of the Messiah and His work.
Should not perish but have eternal life: The idea behind eternal life means much more than a long or never ending life. Eternal life does not mean that this life goes on forever. Instead, eternal life also has the idea of a certain quality of life, of God’s kind of life. It is the kind of life enjoyed in eternity.
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I was just about to put the Red Bold on John 3:16 when I realized, Jesus didn't say that. John the Apostle said that. Not John the Baptist, John the Apostle. They are two men. John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin. Aunt Mary was his mom's, Elizabeth's, sister. John the Apostle was a follower of John the Baptist who was introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist. John the Apostle was Jesus' best human friend.
John the Apostle gave us that famous verse.... John 3:16. He also wrote three letters and the Book of Revelation. We are following John's Gospel, after leaving the Book of Daniel, and before reading Revelation.
Did you see that list in the commentary? Did it remind you of anything we've been hearing recently?
- It wouldn’t matter if he took a name that was common in that nation.
- It wouldn’t matter if he spoke the language.
- It wouldn’t matter if he observed some of the customs.
- It wouldn’t matter if he dressed like those in that nation.
- It wouldn’t matter if he practiced some of the religious traditions of that nation.
- It wouldn’t matter if his parents were born in that nation.
- It wouldn’t matter if his children were born there.
- It wouldn’t matter if he had many friends in that nation.
- All that would matter was if he was actually born there.
You can't just follow the rules, dress right, speak right, hate right, love right, bleed right, have children right, be kind to others right, or be born in the right State, and get admission to Heaven.
You must be born again!
I was once at a Revival Meeting at the Southern Baptist Church in Kissimmee, Florida. We had a couple of "outside preachers" [preachers from other churches] who were said to "ride the pulpit". We were all fired up and ready for the big finish.... This was the time when the "New Believers" would "Confess".
My ex-husband was definitely not a Believer. He didn't want me or our children in the church. I was supposed to be home cleaning and cooking or out working to support those kids I "kept having".
Just about the time for the "New Believers" to be called, my ex-husband burst through the doors and made his way to the front of the church where the preacher had just positioned himself to receive the "New Brothers and Sisters in Christ". From the doors when he busted in to the spot where he landed in front of the people, my ex-husband "pretended" to be a "New Believer". But it was obvious.... He was just making fun of the church. I was surprised I was not embarrassed as much as I was sorrowful for him.
Some people profess or confess but they do it for some other benefit. Jesus knows a liar when He hears one. Jesus knows a fake when He sees one.
Even a good dunking won't help the human who makes fun of God instead of Repenting.
You have to die to make it to eternal life.... and no... It's not just dying of embarrassment.
You must be born again... give up the crap that has been tarnishing you.
You will be a Child of God. Humans will be watching. Humans will be expecting you to misbehave. That's who you were.
You're not going to be the old you, once you become a Child of God. You will want to be a good Child of God.
You must be born again!
