We’ve been waiting for this chapter, here we go with John 3 and verse 1 reads.
John 3:1] There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, he and Joseph of Arimathea (Jesus’s uncle). And these two kept quiet that they themselves were disciples of Jesus because if it were known, they would be kicked out of the club. Now, I’ve done some investigating, and I found that Pharisees and Sadducees never existed before the captivity of Babylon. They self-imposed themselves on the people after the captivity. Just like the “elites” of today. These rich elites took power of the people but not by the people. Anyway, back to John. And verse 2 reads.
John 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.
He had seen with his own eyes the miracles that Jesus had done.
John 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.
This word “again” is G509 in the Strong’s and is “from above”. But Nicodemus himself has a problem with this. Most bibles in the side column have corrected this to from above. Either way, born again Christians have made this their battle cry. Based on a mistranslation. Sad.
John 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?
[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.
This is what Jesus is talking about, born from above, through the water of the mother’s womb. Also notice that Spirit is capitalized, meaning of the Holy Spirit. Without overcoming the flesh and by repentance having the salvation of Jesus Christ, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. For now, that means you’re on the wrong side of the gulf.
John 3:6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Reminder of Ecc.12:7 and it reads.
Ecc.12:7] Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Back to John and verse 8 reads.
John 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.
We are in a different dimension. They cannot be seen, don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.
John 3:9] Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
[10] Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
[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.
Questioning whether he was educated or not in scriptures, it is written. How that the fallen angels refused to be born of water but rather left heaven and seduce the women Gen.6. By this, they broke the law knowingly. What law? This law that Jesus just said was known by all. And for breaking this law, they will die first. Let’s go to the book of Jude and it reads.
Jude:6] And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Don’t follow the law, born from above, and this is what happens. Back to John and verse 12 reads.
John 3:12] If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
[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.
Speaking of this 2nd. earth age.
John 3:14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Jesus brings up scripture and we will read it. The people in the wilderness were being brats, complaining about everything. But, look how Moses had compassion on them. Num.21:5 and it reads.
Num.21:5] And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
[6] And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
[7] Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
[8] And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Jesus is telling us here that he will be lifted up on the cross. This serpent on the pole was finally destroyed by Hezekiah because the children began to worship it instead of God, let’s go to 2Kings18:4 and read.
2Kings18:4] He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
Back to John and verse 15 reads.
John 3:15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[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.
The promise of Salvation, just believe on him and live. Everlasting is Eternal.
John 3:17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[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.
[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.
[20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Gen.1:3 the Light is Jesus Christ, it is Salvation, they hate salvation and will hate you. Hatred is in their hearts, and hatred leads to persecution of the righteous. Put that gospel armor on.
John 3:21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Wrought is works, and works are the only thing you can take with you to heaven. Rev.14:13 and it reads.
Rev.14:13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Back to John and verse 22 reads.
John 3:22] After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
[23] And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
This area was a ford in the river, a place where the river widened and was shallow enough to cross or in this case to baptize.
John 3:24] For John was not yet cast into prison.
[25] Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
[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.
[27] John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
[28] Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
John always said there comes one after him, it would be he that is the Christ.
John 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.
John knows his job is finished when Jesus has come. I love how he gives us an example relating to the marriage of the Lamb.
John 3:30] He must increase, but I must decrease.
[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.
Because Jesus can speak of heavenly things. Jesus is our savior, the first advent is for salvation.
John 3:32] And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
[33] He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
Having that seal of God in our foreheads. What happens to those that do not have that seal of God. Rev.9:4 reads.
Rev.9:4] And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Back to John and it reads.
John 3:34] For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
[35] The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
[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.
It’s simple, believe on Jesus and live. Believeth not and die the spiritual death. The second death is of the soul. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible