John 3:1-2 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.”
John 3:3-8 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.”
“No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”: Jesus’ words to Nicodemus shattered the Jewish assumption that their racial identity assured them a place in God’s Kingdom. It was believed among the Jews at that time that since they were descendants of Abraham, they were automatically assured of heaven.
Jews of this time looked for the Messiah to bring in a new world order, in which Israel and the Jewish people would be pre-eminent. But Jesus came to bring salvation and eternal life, in which He alone would be preeminent.
Jesus is clear that unless one is born again, they cannot enter or be part of (see) the kingdom of God. Moral reform isn’t enough, and religious reform isn’t enough. We must be born again, born of water and the Spirit.
“These solemn words now and forever exclude the possibility of salvation by human merit. Man’s nature is so gripped by sin that an activity/intervention of the very Spirit of God is a necessity for anyone to be associated with God’s kingdom.”
Vs8 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.”: Jesus’ idea to Nicodemus was “You don’t understand everything about the wind, but you see its effects. You may not see the Holy Spirit visual effects.
John 3:9-12“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?
Nicodemus was confused. He was so set in his thinking that the new birth had already happened to him and all of faithful Israel, that he had a hard time thinking differently. (Catholics-Mormons-JW)
Vs10 “You are Israel’s teacher, and do you not understand these things?” Jesus rebukes Nicodemus for not being aware of the 450 prophecies of Him laid out in the Old Testament. Nicodemus knew these passages well, Jesus says, Nicodemus, you should know better.
Jesus uses an event from Israel’s history to illustrate His teaching. John 3:13-15 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.”
In this passage, (Numbers 21) the people of Israel are wandering through the wilderness, and without a doubt some of the most inhospitable territory on the earth. Numbers 21:4 But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
Because of their grumbling and complaining, God sends poisonous snakes into their midst and many of the people are bitten and die from the snake bites.
The people repent: Numbers 21:7a “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you.
Numbers 21:8-9 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
The people who were bitten and were dying could be saved simply by lifting their eyes and looking at the snake on the pole. And those who looked were saved, saved by an act of faith.
Don’t overlook here the importance of the “look of faith,” it was by faith that those who were bitten looked at the bronze snake lived.
No matter how badly they were bitten, no matter how many times they had been bitten, or how sick they were, the opportunity for salvation was there. Even the most degraded and miserable sinner can look to Jesus and be saved.
Please understand that it was not enough to know that salvation was offered, each person had to look for themselves otherwise God’s provision was useless. Jesus is saying that being born again comes through the simple dependence of a look of faith, a belief in Him, and what He accomplished on the cross.
Vs14-15 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.”
COMPARE THE POLE TO THE CROSS
John 3:16 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.
This is one of the best-known verses in all the Bible, no doubt because it states the gospel so clearly and simply. It summarizes what Jesus has been teaching Nicodemus concerning the way we receive the new birth.
Jesus again turns Nicodemus’ world upside down because Jesus tells Nicodemus that the love of God extends to the whole “world.” The world” here includes all mankind.
God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son that whoever (you can write your name) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
There is no need for anyone to perish. A way has been provided by which all might be saved, but a person must acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior. When they do this, they have eternal life as a present possession.
John 3:17-18 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.
Jesus didn’t come to condemn an already condemned world, what good would that do? He doesn’t say that those who refuse His Son will be condemned at some future date. He says that they are “already condemned” they are just waiting for the sentence to be carried out! (Death Row) 2250
It is a sentence of judgment that people impose upon themselves.
John 3:19-21 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.
Jesus is “the light” who came “into the world.” He is the sinless Son of God. He died for the sins of the whole world. But do all people love Him for this?
No – many resent His intrusion into their lives and they resent being revealed for what they are. They prefer their–sins to having Jesus as their Savior, and so they reject Him.
Just as cockroaches scurry away when light enters a room, even so, wicked men and women flee from the presence of Christ, the light of the world.
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