John, Chapter 3 - The New Birth
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
- Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus a ruler of the Jews
o Pharisees (means separated one) they were scientists, separatists, normally antagonist to Christians who walked by faith
o Nicodemus (means Victory of the People), a ruler of the Jews, this man was part of the Sanhedrin which made the laws for Jewish religious leaders.
- This man came to Jesus at night (it seems he didn’t want to be seen by his peers)
- And said “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him (it’s obvious Jesus had God-given power)
- Jesus responded to him, “Truly, truly (double truth), I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (Jesus said it; that’s settles it)
4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
- Nicodemus said to Him
o How can a person be born when he is old (it doesn’t make sense to the carnal mind)
o He cannot enter his mothers womb a second time and be born can he? (this is a ridiculous suggestion; the answer is obviously not)
- Just answered
o Truly, truly, I say to you, unless some is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God
o That which has been born of the flesh is flesh (carnal, worldly, physical)
o And that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit (born of the Holy Spirit)
o Do not be amazed that I said to you, “You must be born again”
§ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it (sound and hearing our physical attributes)
§ But you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going (even though you hear it, you can’t see it and you don’t know where it came from or where it is going; therefore, it doesn’t make sense to your mind either and yet you believe its real)
§ So is everyone who has been born of the Spirit (even though you don’t understand it, it still is true just like the wind example)
9 Nicodemus responded and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you people do not accept our testimony.
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