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116 lines
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<h2><a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,'1-');">Jhn 3</a> - The New Birth</h2>
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<p class="c4">a. Nicodemus and the new birth.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,'1-3');">1-3</a>) Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night.</p>
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<p class="c2">There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <span class="c8">Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews</span>: Nicodemus was one of those impressed by Jesus' signs (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',2,23);">Jhn 2:23</a>), and a member of the ruling Sanhedrin. He was religious (<span class="c8">of the Pharisees</span>), educated (<span class="c8">Nicodemus</span> is a Greek name), and influential (<span class="c8">a ruler</span>). Nicodemus comes to Jesus as a representative of <i>all men</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',2,'23-25');">Jhn 2:23-25</a>), and he represents what is high and best in men.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <span class="c8">This man came to Jesus by night</span>: Why did Nicodemus come <span class="c8">by night</span>? Perhaps he was timid, or perhaps he wanted an uninterrupted interview with Jesus.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <span class="c8">No one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him</span>: Is this statement of Nicodemus true? Can someone <i>not</i> from God do miraculous signs? The answer is "Yes," according to <a onclick="return mV('2Th',2,9);">2Th 2:9</a> and <a onclick="return mV('Rev',13,'13-14');">Rev 13:13-14</a>.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <span class="c8">Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God</span>: Jesus' reply to Nicodemus shatters the Jewish assumption that their racial identity - their old birth - assured them a place in God's Kingdom. Jesus makes it plain that a man's first birth does not assure him of the kingdom - only being <span class="c8">born again</span> gives this assurance.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. It was taught widely among the Jews at that time that since they descended from Abraham, they were automatically assured of heaven. In fact, some Rabbis taught that Abraham stood watch at the gate of hell, just to make sure that none of his descendants accidentally wandered in there.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. Most Jews of that time looked for the Messiah to bring in a <i>new world</i>, in which the Jews would be pre-eminent. But Jesus came to bring <i>new life</i>, in which <i>He</i> would be preeminent.</p>
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<p class="c4">e. <span class="c8">Born again</span>: The ancient Greek word translated <span class="c8">again</span> (<i>anothen</i>) can be also translated "from above." This is the sense in which John used this word in <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,31);">Jhn 3:31</a> and in <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',19,11);">Jhn 19:11</a> and <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',19,23);">19:23</a>. Either way, the meaning is essentially the same. To be born <i>from above</i> is to be born again.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,4);">4</a>) Nicodemus answers: How can this be?</p>
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<p class="c2">Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <span class="c8">How can a man be born when he is old?</span><i> </i> Nicodemus' reply may not be out of ignorance, but from thinking that Jesus means "turning over a new leaf." His question may be "How can you teach an old dog new tricks?" One way or another, Nicodemus clearly does not understand Jesus or the truth about the new birth.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. In His description of new birth, Jesus recalls a familiar theme from Old Testament promises of the New Covenant (<a onclick="return mV('Deu',30,'1-6');">Deu 30:1-6</a>, <a onclick="return mV('Jer',23,'1-8');">Jer 23:1-8</a>, <a onclick="return mV('Jer',31,'31-34');">Jer 31:31-34</a>, <a onclick="return mV('Jer',32,'37-41');">Jer 32:37-41</a>, <a onclick="return mV('Eze',11,'16-20');">Eze 11:16-20</a>, <a onclick="return mV('Eze',36,'16-28');">Eze 36:16-28</a>, <a onclick="return mV('Eze',37,'11-14');">Eze 37:11-14</a>, <a onclick="return mV('Eze', 37, 28);">37:21-28</a>). These passages essentially make three promises in the New Covenant: </p><ul><ul><li>The regathering of Israel.</li><li>The cleansing and spiritual transformation of God's people.</li><li>The reign of the Messiah over Israel and the whole world.</li></ul></ul>
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<p class="c4">c. In Jesus' day, the common teaching among the Jewish people was that the first two aspects of the New Covenant had been fulfilled. They saw Israel regathered - at least in part - after the Babylonian exile. They saw strong spiritual movements like the Pharisees, which they believed fulfilled the promise of spiritual transformation. All they waited for was the reign of the Messiah.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. That's why Jesus' statement about the new birth was so strange to Nicodemus. He <i>thought</i> that the Jewish people already had it; they certainly weren't looking for it. They only looked for a triumphant Messiah.</p>
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<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,'5-8');">5-8</a>) Jesus explains the new birth.</p>
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<p class="c2">Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <span class="c8">Most assuredly...you must be born again</span>: Jesus is emphatic in saying that man does not need <i>reformation</i>, but a radical conversion by the Spirit of God. We must be <span class="c8">born of water and the Spirit</span>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. What does it mean to be <span class="c8">born of water</span>? We know from <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,10);">Jhn 3:10</a> that whatever being <span class="c8">born of water</span> is, it should have been familiar to Nicodemus from the Old Testament.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. Some have thought <span class="c8">born of water</span> means to be baptized. Water here may represent baptism, but there is no real Old Testament foundation for this.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. Some have thought that <span class="c8">born of water</span> refers to our physical birth, since we come forth from a sack of water. This approach is more attractive, but doesn't it simply state the obvious? However, it does make a good parallel with the idea of <i>that which is born of the flesh</i> in <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,6);">Jhn 3:6</a>.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. Some have thought that <span class="c8">born of water</span> means to be born again by the Word of God. In other passages of Scripture, water represents the Word, as we are <i>washed by the water of the word</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Eph',5,26);">Eph 5:26</a>).</p>
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<p class="c5">iv. Some have thought that <span class="c8">born of water</span> means to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, the <i>living water</i> of <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',7,'38-39');">Jhn 7:38-39</a>.</p>
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<p class="c5">v. Some have thought that <span class="c8">born of water</span> means to receive the water of cleansing prophesied in <a onclick="return mV('Eze',36,'25-28');">Eze 36:25-28</a> as part of the New Covenant. This is the approach has the most weight (though it is a tough call), because of its firm connections to Old Testament prophecy - which Jesus says Nicodemus should have know to understand these things.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <span class="c8">That which is born of the flesh is flesh</span>: Without the new birth of the Spirit, all works of righteousness are tainted by the flesh. Yet, everything that a Spirit-led man does can be pleasing to God.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <span class="c8">Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again"</span>: Again, Nicodemus <i>did</i> marvel at this statement, because he - like most all Jews of his time - believed they <i>already had</i> the inner transformation promised in the New Covenant. Jesus wants him to take hold of the fact that <i>he does not have it</i>, and <span class="c8">must be born again</span>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. We should not forget <i>whom</i> Jesus said this to. Nicodemus was a religious leader and a Pharisee. By all outward appearance, he was <i>already</i> transformed unto God. If <i>Nicodemus</i> <span class="c8">must be born again</span>, what about you and I?</p>
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<p class="c4">e. <span class="c8">The wind blows where it wishes</span>: Jesus' idea to Nicodemus is "You don't understand everything about the wind, but you see its effects. That is just how it is with the birth of the Spirit." Jesus wanted Nicodemus to know that he didn't have to understand everything about the new birth before he experienced it.</p>
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<p class="c1">4. (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,'9-13');">9-13</a>) Jesus responds to the question "<span class="c8">how can these things be?</span><i>"</i></p>
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<p class="c2">Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, <i>that is, </i>the Son of Man who is in heaven."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <span class="c8">How can these things be?</span> Nicodemus is confused. He is so set in his thinking that the new birth has already happened to him and all of faithful Israel, that he has a hard time thinking out of that "box." Jesus needs to keep explaining.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <span class="c8">Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?</span><i> </i> Jesus chides Nicodemus for not being aware of the need and the promise of the new birth, because these are plainly laid out in the Old Testament. Nicodemus knew these passages well, but believed that they had been fulfilled in regard to the new birth. But he should have known better!</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <span class="c8">If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?</span> A simple look at <span class="c8">earthly things</span> - like the illustrations Jesus used, and even a look at his own life - should have made Jesus' point plain to Nicodemus. If he can't see that he needs this spiritual transformation, what more can Jesus tell him?</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <span class="c8">No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven</span>: Jesus "makes it clear that He can speak authoritatively about things in heaven, though no one else can." (Morris)</p>
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<p class="c1">5. (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,'14-15');">14-15</a>) Jesus and the brazen serpent.</p>
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<p class="c2">"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <span class="c8">As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness</span>: How can the serpent of <a onclick="return mV('Num',21,'4-9');">Num 21:4-9</a> be a picture of the holy Jesus?</p>
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<p class="c5">i. Serpents are often used as pictures of evil in the Bible (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',3,'1-5');">Gen 3:1-5</a> and <a onclick="return mV('Rev',12,9);">Rev 12:9</a>). However, Moses' serpent in <a onclick="return mV('Num',21,'1-');">Num 21</a> was made of bronze, and bronze is a metal associated with judgment in the Bible, because bronze must be made by passing through the "fires" of judgment.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. So, a <i>bronze</i> serpent does speak of sin, but of sin judged. In the same way Jesus, who knew no sin became sin for us on the cross, and our sin was judged in Him. A bronze serpent is a picture of sin judged and dealt with.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. We would have wanted to diminish our sense of sin, and put the image of a man up on the pole. Our image of man might represent "both good and bad" in man. But a serpent is more apparently sinful, and shows us our true nature and true need of salvation.</p>
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<p class="c5">iv. In addition, if the serpent lay horizontally on the vertical pole, it is easy to see how this also was a <i>visual</i> representation of the cross. However, many traditions show the serpent being wrapped around the pole, and this is the source for the ancient figure of healing and medicine - a serpent, wrapped around a pole.</p>
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<p class="c5">v. In the <a onclick="return mV('Num',21,'4-9');">Num 21:4-9</a> account, the people were saved not by <i>doing</i> anything, but by simply <i>looking</i> to the bronze serpent. They had to trust that something as seemingly foolish as looking at such a thing would be sufficient to save them, and surely, some perished because they thought it too foolish to do such a thing.</p>
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<p class="c5">vi. As it says in <a onclick="return mV('Isa',45,22);">Isa 45:22</a>: <i>Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.</i> We might be willing to do a hundred things to earn our salvation, but God commands us to only trust in Him - to <i>look to</i> Him.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. Remember that even though Jesus bore our sins, He never <i>became</i> a sinner. Even His becoming sin for us was a holy, righteous, act of love. Jesus remained the <i>Holy One</i> throughout the entire ordeal of the cross.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <span class="c8">Lifted up</span> is a term later used to describe both Jesus' crucifixion (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',12,32);">Jhn 12:32</a>) and His ascension (<a onclick="return mV('Act',2,33);">Act 2:33</a>). Both meanings are in view, His suffering <i>and</i> exaltation. Jesus was <span class="c8">lifted up</span> in both ways.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <span class="c8">Should not perish but have eternal life</span>: The idea behind <span class="c8">eternal life</span> means much more than a <i>long</i> or <i>never ending</i> life. <span class="c8">Eternal life</span> does not mean that we live the life of fallen humanity, we just live it forever. Instead, <span class="c8">eternal life</span> also has the idea of a certain <i>quality</i> of life, of God's kind of life. It is the kind of life enjoyed in eternity.</p>
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<p class="c1">6. (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,'16-21');">16-21</a>) God's gift of salvation and sin's condemnation.</p>
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<p class="c2">"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <span class="c8">For God so loved the world</span>: <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,16);">Jhn 3:16</a> has long been celebrated as a powerful, succinct, declaration of the gospel. Of the 31,373 verses in the Bible, it may be the most popular single verse used in evangelism.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. We learn the <i>object</i> of God's love: <span class="c8">For God so loved the world</span>. God did not wait for the world to turn to Him before He loved the world. He loved and gave His only begotten Son to the world when it was <i>still</i> the <span class="c8">world</span>!</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. We learn the <i>expression</i> and the <i>gift</i> of God's love: <span class="c8">He gave His only begotten Son</span>. God's love didn't just <i>feel</i> for the plight of a fallen world. God <i>did</i> something about it, and He <span class="c8">gave</span> the most precious thing to give: <span class="c8">His only begotten Son</span>.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. We learn the <i>recipient</i> of God's love: <span class="c8">Whoever believes in Him</span>. God loves the world, but the world does not receive or benefit from that love until it <span class="c8">believes in</span> Jesus, the gift that the Father gave. <span class="c8">Believes in</span> means much more than intellectual awareness or agreement. It means to <i>trust in</i>, to <i>rely on</i>, and to <i>cling to</i>.</p>
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<p class="c5">iv. We learn the <i>intention</i> of God's love: <span class="c8">Should not perish</span>. God's love <i>actually saves</i> man from eternal destruction. God looks at fallen humanity, does not want it to <span class="c8">perish</span>, and so in His love He extends the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.</p>
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<p class="c5">v. We learn the <i>duration</i> of God's love: <span class="c8">Everlasting life</span>. The love we receive among people may fade or turn, but God's love will never change. He will never stop loving His people, even unto the furthest distance of eternity.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. The Seven Wonders of <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,16);">Jhn 3:16</a>.</p><P ALIGN="RIGHT"><table border cellspacing=1 cellpadding=2 width=0><tr><td valign="top"><i>
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<p>God</i></TD><TD VALIGN="TOP">
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<p>The Almighty Authority</TD></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP"><i>
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<p>So loved the world</i></TD><TD VALIGN="TOP">
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<p>The Mightiest Motive</TD></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP"><i>
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<p>That He gave His only begotten Son</i></TD><TD VALIGN="TOP">
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<p>The Greatest Gift</TD></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP"><i>
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<p>That whoever</i></TD><TD VALIGN="TOP">
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<p>The Widest Welcome</TD></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP"><i>
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<p>Believes in Him</i></TD><TD VALIGN="TOP">
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<p>The Easiest Escape</TD></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP"><i>
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<p>Should not perish</i></TD><TD VALIGN="TOP">
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<p>The Divine Deliverance</TD></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP"><i>
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<p>But have everlasting life</i></TD><TD VALIGN="TOP">
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<p>The Priceless Possession</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<p class="c4">c. What Jesus told Nicodemus in <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,7);">Jhn 3:7</a> (<i>You must be born again</i>) refuted the popular Jewish idea of the <i>way</i> to salvation. Now Jesus refutes the popular Jewish idea of the <i>scope</i> of salvation is refuted: <span class="c8">for God so loved the <i>world</i></span>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The Jews of that day rarely thought that God <span class="c8">loved the world</span>. They thought that God only loved. The universal offer of salvation and life in Jesus was absolutely revolutionary.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <span class="c8">This is the condemnation</span>: Jesus came to bring salvation, but those who reject that salvation condemn themselves. We never need to leave the <i>reason</i> for anyone's <span class="c8">condemnation</span> at God's door. The responsibility is theirs alone.</p>
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<p class="c4">e. <span class="c8">Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil</span>: What keeps people from belief in Jesus and salvation? It is sin, or is it unbelief? Really it is both, because people will not believe <i>because</i> they love their sin.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. This cuts right through many of the "intellectual" excuses or dishonest doubts some proclaim. Many opponents of Christianity have a vested interest in fighting against the truth of Jesus, because they love their sin and don't want to face it, or face a God who will judge their sin.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. When we think of the <i>love of sin</i> that sends people to hell, we often other think of notorious sin. But the simple demand to be lord of my own life is enough of a sin to deserve condemnation before God.</p>
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<p class="c4">f. <span class="c8">Everyone practicing evil hates the light</span>: How do people hate the light of God's truth? Some express their hatred by actively fighting against it, and others express their hatred by ignoring God's truth - by saying to Jesus "You are not worth my time."</p>
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<p class="c4">b. John the Baptist's final testimony about Jesus.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,'22-30');">22-30</a>) John puts Jesus in the preeminent place.</p>
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<p class="c2">After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison. Then there arose a dispute between <i>some </i>of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified; behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I <i>must </i>decrease."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <span class="c8">All are coming to Him!</span> John's disciples seem alarmed, but it didn't bother John one bit. John would not allow envy or the fickle crowds make him forget his mission: to announce that the Messiah had come, and then to step back.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <span class="c8">The friend of the bridegroom</span>: John is the "best man" at the "wedding" between Jesus and Jesus' followers. In the Jewish wedding customs of that day, the <span class="c8">friend of the bridegroom</span> arranged many of the details of the wedding and brought the bride to the groom.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <span class="c8">Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled</span>: John the Baptist lost his congregation - and <i>he was happy about it!</i> John was happy because he lost his congregation to Jesus.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <span class="c8">He must increase, but I must decrease</span>: This should be the motto of every Christian, especially leaders among God's people. Jesus should become greater and more visible, and the servant should become less and less visible.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,'31-36');">31-36</a>) John's testimony about Jesus.</p>
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<p class="c2">"He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <span class="c8">He who comes from above</span>: John wants everyone to know <i>where Jesus came from</i>. Jesus is different from everyone else because He came from heaven. Not only is Jesus <i>different</i>, but <span class="c8">He who comes from heaven is above all</span> - Jesus is <i>greater</i> than everyone else.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <span class="c8">He whom God has sent speaks the words of God</span>: Jesus is a uniquely reliable revelation, because He has the Holy Spirit without <span class="c8">measure</span>, in contrast to the previous prophets.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <span class="c8">He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him</span>: <i>Because</i> Jesus is the man from heaven, there is a heavy price to pay for rejecting Him. If you reject the Son, then you receive the wrath.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <span class="c8">The <i>wrath</i> of God</span>: "The word does not mean a sudden gust of passion or a burst of temper. Rather, it is the settled displeasure of God against sin. It is the divine allergy to moral evil, the reaction of righteousness to unrighteousness." (Tenney)</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <span class="c8">The wrath of God abides</span>: It <span class="c8">abides</span> in this world, because there is there is no "statute of limitations" on sin. It <span class="c8">abides</span> into the next world, because those who reject Jesus cannot offer a perfect sacrifice acceptable to God. The wrath of God <span class="c8">abides</span> until it is satisfied by receiving the perfect payment Jesus made on the cross.</p>
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<p class="c1">3. We might say that <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,'1-');">Jhn 3</a> is a "must read" chapter of the Bible. There are three prominent "musts" in <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,'1-');">Jhn 3</a>.</p><ul><ul><li>The Sinner's must: <i>you must be born again</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,7);">Jhn 3:7</a>).</li><li>The Savior's must: <i>so must the Son of Man be lifted up</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,14);">Jhn 3:14</a>).</li><li>The Sovereign's must: <i>He must increase</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,30);">Jhn 3:30</a>).</li><li>The Servant's must: <i>I must decrease</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,30);">Jhn 3:30</a>).</li></ul></ul>
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