Category: Chapter 3

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John 3:1-17 The New Birth -You Must Be Born Again

John 3:1-17 Commentary Study   

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by 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 answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Observations

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling high council.  Why did Nicodemus seek out Jesus during the nigh?  It is quite possible that Nicodemus would have been ostracized  by his peers for giving any assent to Jesus’ teachings or miracles.  However, no reason is given in scripture.  Nicodemus might very well have tried to meet with Jesus during the day, but could have been hampered by the many crowds that followed Jesus.

Nicodemus was also a member of the Sanhedrin, a type of high council or supreme court of the Jews.  One of the roles of the Sanhedrin was to investigate possible false prophets.  So it is plausible that Nicodemus was sent on mission to investigate Jesus.

Most Pharisees hated Jesus because He undermined their authority, laws, and religious views.  But Nicodemus is different.  He shows great respect toward Jesus by calling Him Rabbi. He also honors Jesus when he compliments Him, saying He is a great teacher sent from God.  Nicodemus doesn’t understand that Jesus is divine, but he recognizes that Jesus’ power is from God.

Immediately following Nicodemus’ compliment to Jesus, Jesus responds by telling Nicodemus that he must be born again to enter the kingdom.  This seems like a strange response to a compliment.  However, since Jesus knows each of us intimately,  we can surmise that Jesus knew the reasons why Nicodemus was seeking out Jesus, and the questions swirling in Nicodemus’ mind and heart.

The Pharisees dedicated their lives to strict adherence to hundreds of codes and rules of the Scribes.  The Jews mistakenly assumed that through their adherence to the law and their connection to Abraham they were secured a place in God’s kingdom.  Jesus is introducing an entirely new and revolutionary concept to the Jews.

Entrance into God’s kingdom has nothing to do with works or with one’s ethnicity or ancestry.  It has everything to do with admitting sin,   What does “born again” mean?  It means admitting sin, turning to God for forgiveness, and accepting and trusting God’s grace and forgiveness through faith alone.   What does it mean to believe in or trust in Jesus?  It means believing that Jesus is who He said He is, that His death on the cross cancels (pays for) our sin and that are saved by grace alone, God’s gift to mankind.

Application

Our entire earthly kingdom is structured around earning and working towards advancement.  In school, we work hard in hopes of earning top grades.  In college, we work hard to earn a degree.  In employment, we work long hours to hopefully secure a higher, better paying position. In relationships, we earn the respect of friends and family.  We are constantly being evaluated by an institution or by our peers.  Earning is embedded in our cultures and ideologies.  But when it comes to God’s heavenly kingdom, Jesus says the standard has nothing to do with performance or nationality. We cannot earn a place in God’s kingdom. We must be born again.  We must be washed by water and the Spirit.  It has nothing to do with works.  We must repent, believe in Jesus and be born again.  Faith is the door into God’s kingdom.

On the one hand, this is good news. But in practice, it can be very hard to drop a performance based mentality.  Ask yourself the following:

Do you ever fear that God will not forgive you?  That you’ve sinned too many times in one area of your life?  That you should be stronger and better at resisting various sin?

Are you overly critical of yourself when you have not regularly spent time in God’s word? in prayer?  Do you consider it’s a “good day” when you have checked off all of your spiritual disciplines (spent time in the word, prayed, memorized scripture)?  Do you condemn yourself when you have not spend time in your spiritual disciplines?  

Do you view worship as a way to become more righteous or acceptable to God?  Do you feel  less worthy when you have not attended worship?

Do you rarely confess/repent of sin because you have no “serious” sin?

A works mentality is a type of bondage that prevents you from experiencing the freedom and joy that Jesus’ offers.  When Jesus says “rest in Him”, we can quit trying to earn his love and acceptance through our works and instead rest in Him-in what He has done on the cross.  We cannot earn His love or our salvation.  Jesus freely offers it to us.  This is the good news.   To combat a works mentality, meditate on the Word of God, seek Him in prayer, saturate yourself in scripture, remind yourself what Christ did on the cross, preach the gospel to yourself daily.  Fight against the tide of the culture.  We are in a spiritual battle.

4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is 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 do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus takes Jesus’ response literally.  He believes Jesus is talking about physical birth, but Jesus is talking about spiritual birth.  The exact meaning of this phrase, “water and Spirit” has been debated.  There are several explanations of this phrase.  Jesus could have been referring to “water” as the physical natural birth, and by “Spirit” as the Holy Spirit, or spiritual birth. A second meaning is directly related to how scripture describes the work of (being born of) the Holy Spirit.  Scripture says that the Holy Spirit cleanses us, gives us a new heart, and purifies our hearts.  So to be cleansed by the Holy Spirit, means you are born of the Spirit, or “born again”. A third explanation is that by “water” Jesus meant baptism.  But this meaning would make baptism a requirement of salvation which conflicts with other scriptures .which state that salvation is by faith alone. The second explanation seems more plausible since other scriptures would support this interpretation.

9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and 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 do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

There are several scriptures in the OT which foreshadow a change of heart that is necessary.  Nicodemus is not being reprimanded for a lack of this knowledge, but more of a lack of perception about what Jesus has just communicated and what Old Testament scripture describes. Below are scriptures that speak to this idea that God must do a work within your heart.  This is not a new concept.  Nicodemus knew the scriptures.

Psalm 51:10  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

1 Samuel 10:9  9 When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day.

Ezekiel 36:25-27  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:19  And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.

Jesus tells Nicodemus that only He, Jesus, has ascended to and descended from Heaven, and that He must be lifted up (crucified) in order for mankind to receive eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

This truly is the Good News.  Anyone that believes in Jesus will receive eternal life.  You can either choose to pay for your own sin, which brings eternal separation and death or you can accept Jesus’ payment of your sin, and live eternally with God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  There is only one reality when we die.  Who do you say that Jesus is?

God tells us in His Word that we live one life, die and then we are judged. God the Father sent His Son to die for us, thereby paying the debt we owe for our sin.  God has made a way.  Jesus has done everything we need in order to be saved.  The only thing we do is accept His plan, come into agreement with Him, or reject the plan – reject Him. Those are the only two choices.

For more information on what it means to be born again, please visit GotQuestions.org here.

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John 3:18-21 Commentary

18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who  does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Application

John 3:18   Jesus tells us that whoever believes in Him will not be judged.  The Greek word for ‘believes’ is pisteuo which means to think something is true, to be persuaded, to place confidence in.  Jesus is saying that if you are persuaded that Jesus is who He claims, that He is the Son of God, that His death on the cross paid for your sin, then you will not be judged.  His sacrifice, His blood, pays the debt that all of us owe.
God has provided a single way for us to be saved.  If you reject Jesus as the Savior, then there is simply no other way for you to be with the Father. God the Father has decided how you must come.   God didn’t have to save us at all.  It is a cosmic pardon that the Father offers to us.  This is a quite sobering judgement.  It is horrifying that we incur God’s judgement by rejecting the Son.  In verse 19, Jesus  equates judgement with the Light (Jesus) that came into the world.  If we are offered Light (the Son) and we reject Him, we remain in darkness.  Judgement is brought upon yourself when you reject the only way that God has provided to be saved.  If there is only one cure for cancer and you reject it because you do not like the taste of the medicine, the result is still death.
Our desires for freedom – political, personal or sexual,  can become idols and we begin to worship ourselves. There cannot be two kings on the throne.  When we elevate personal pleasure and freedom above God’s will and His desires for our life, slavery to sin is the result.  Therefore, dying to ourselves is perhaps the biggest challenge in pursuing a relationship with God.  Dying to ourselves may be difficult but it is the door that leads to abundant life. God and self cannot be masters at the same time.  One will ultimately reign.
Verse 19-21  Men love the darkness rather than the Light and prefer evil rather than than good.  The word used for ‘exposed’ is elegcho, which means to be chastened, admonished or convicted, with possible punishment.  Most of use know inherently when something is right or wrong, good or bad.  We tend to hide or keep secret the things we are not proud of.  The things we know are good or moral, we share unhesitatingly.  Our consciences are our moral barometer.  But if one ignores the conscience, it becomes less and less of a barometer, until it no longer functions.  A non-functioning conscience has disastrous implications morally, spiritually and physically.
Verse 20 describes the person that seeks the truth, that seeks God and what pleases Him.  This person comes into the light not fearing, but instead confident that all of his deeds have their focus and root in God.  A free conscience leads to peace with God.  When you practice truth, you are in agreement with God.  Your behavior reveals who your master is.
What do you spend your money on?
How do you spend the majority of your time?
What do you daydream about?
What do you talk about at work or with friends?
What kind of movies do you watch?
What books do you read?
What songs do you listen to?
Every action reveals something about what we love or who our master is.  Therefore be aware and on guard because we are in a spiritual battle.  The Lord beckons us to leave the darkness behind, flee from sin, and step into the light.  More peace is found in the Light than in any earthly pleasure.
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John 3:22-30 John the Baptist’s Last Testimony

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea; and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.  23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized— 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. 26 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 the people are coming to Him.” 27 John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Observations

John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. 26 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 the people are coming to Him.” 27 John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

John’s Focus – Man craves popularity, approval, attention and affirmation. John’s disciples are no different.  But notice how John responds to them.  John responds first by reminding his disciples that they do not win disciples.  All of the followers they receive are given to them by heaven (God the Father).  This perspective freed John from bitterness, resentment and competition with Jesus’ disciples. John understood that Jesus’ success came from the Father. And everything that God allows is wise and works in accordance with His plans.

Paul’s words to the Corinthians, “[We are] only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1Cor3:5-8).  The disciples were simply servants.  The Father Himself sent converts to John the baptist, Jesus and their disciples. 

28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

John knew his purpose – John reminds his disciples that his purpose was to prepare Israel for the coming of the Messiah. Once Jesus began his ministry, John’s main task was accomplished.  John understood his role and was faithful in completing it.  

John says that he is the friend of the bridegroom.  In Jewish weddings the ‘friend of the bridegroom’ was the shoshben.  The shoshben was similar to a “best man” in our weddings, and had specific responsibilities at a Jewish wedding. The shoshben’s tasks were making the arrangments for the wedding, handling messages between the bride and groom, sending out invitations and presiding over the wedding feast.  But his most important task was guarding the bridal chamber, listening for the groom’s voice and unlocking the chamber only when he was certain the groom had arrived.  The shoshben’s duties came to an end once the groom and bride were brought together in the bridal chamber.

John knew his purpose was to bring Israel (bride) and Jesus (bridegroom) together.  John knew he had completed his task and he humbly and joyfully faded into the background.  He knew that he must become less and Jesus must take center stage.

Application

1.)  Our true purpose – It is rare to find someone who clearly knows their purpose, is content, and humble as well.  Scripture says “everything comes from Him and exists by His power, and is for His glory” (Romans 11:36). Therefore we are  to glorify Him and to know Him.  That is our main purpose.  If there is no one greater, no one more worthy of being worshiped and known, then our purpose should be seeking God and glorifying Him.  How many of us take this purpose seriously?

2.) Glorifying God – If our purpose is to glorify God, we must first know Him.  How do we get to know God?  We learn about God and what He desires for us through praying, studying the Word, meditating on the Word and practicing being still and listening.  If we say we love our family but never spend time with them, do we really love them?  If our actions do not support our words, then our words are empty.  If we say we love God but never read His word, never pray, never talk to Him….then do we really love Him?  Is it possible to love someone without spending time with them?

How do we glorify God?  We glorify Him when we desire what He desires, when we value what He values, when we place our trust in Him, when we obey His commands.  If we are not reading the bible, if we are not praying, if we are not in communication with God, if we are not growing in love, how can we possibly say that we know Him? And finally how can we glorify someone we do not know?

3.) Using our gifts to glorify God – Furthermore, God has given each of us specific talents, gifts, and temperaments. We glorify God most when we use the gifts He’s given us, when we love others well, when we believe in Him, and when we obey His commands. Contentment comes when we are focused on glorifying Him and knowing Him.  He alone provides contentment.  This things of this world cannot provide ultimate satisfaction.

So what is your focus?  Career? Vacations? Children? Retirement? Money? All these things can be good things, but if any of them take top priority in our lives, God considers it idolatry.  We must remember that we are in a spiritual battle (Eph 6:12).  Satan would like nothing more than to use the good things in this world to tear you away from God .  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10.  Be on guard.

4.) Importance of Humility – Thankfully, John knew his purpose, that he was just a messenger.   In humility, John was able to step aside as Christ began His ministry.  How is your humility quotient?  Take a moment to prayerfully consider the hallmarks of a humble person (below).

  • They are good listeners
  • They are curious and not afraid to ask questions
  • They are not afraid of being wrong
  • They are grateful
  • They say thank you a lot
  • They welcome help and criticism
  • They give praise and compliments to others
  • They ask for forgiveness

5.) Christ centered focus – John was wise in reminding his disciples to point others to Jesus, not to ourselves.  The temptation to gain notoriety and accolades can circumvent our priorities and our purpose. We need to be on guard, knowing that Satan would like nothing more than for you to take your eyes off Jesus and place the focus on yourself.

Where is your focus?  Are you more concerned about what others think of you rather than what God thinks?  Are you driven by the approval of others rather than what God’s approval?  Take a moment to ask God to show you where your priorities need to be adjusted.  Then study the scriptures, listen and watch for His leading.

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John 3:31-36 John the Baptist’s last testimony

31 “He who comes from above is above all; the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What He has seen and heard, of this He testifies; and no one accepts His testimony. 33 The one who has accepted His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God sent speaks the words of God; for He does not give the Spirit sparingly. 35 The Father loves the Son and has entrusted all things to His hand. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Observations

John reminds his disciples where Jesus comes from.  He says that Jesus comes from above.  The Greek word for above is anothen, which can mean the heavens but also can mean from the beginning, which would underscore Christ’s divinity.  Adding emphasis, John then says Jesus came from heaven.  The word used for heaven is ouranos which means the heavens, either visible or spiritual.  John is asserting Jesus’ supremacy and authority over all.

32 What He has seen and heard, of this He testifies; and no one accepts His testimony. 33 The one who has accepted His testimony has certified that God is true.

John then reminds his disciples of what Jesus has said.  Throughout scripture Jesus repeatedly tells us that He can only do what He sees the Father doing.  What Jesus has seen and heard refers to the intimate communication He has with the Father, predating time and the incarnation.  But very few people believe Jesus.  Because the Father and Jesus are so intimately connected, if you reject Jesus you also reject God.  You cannot have one without the other since Jesus and the Father are one (see John 10:30).

34 For He whom God sent speaks the words of God; for He does not give the Spirit sparingly. 35 The Father loves the Son and has entrusted all things to His hand. 

It follows that if Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit are truly one, then each of them represents one another perfectly in thought, word and deed.  In the Old Testament, the prophets were given the Spirit only in part, or temporarily.  However, this verse says that God gives the Holy Spirit to His Son unsparingly, meaning without measure, continuously.  If Jesus has the permanent presence of the Spirit, this is yet another proof that Jesus is God incarnate.

36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

When you place your trust in Jesus, when you believe in His claims, then at that point you receive eternal life, for you become one of the redeemed, your sins are forgiven, covered by Christ’s sacrifice.  However, if you do not believe in the Son, you reject the only way for your sins to be forgiven.  Hence, you are unprotected from the righteous judgment of God.  Jesus sacrifice is like a bullet proof vest, protecting us from God’s wrath.

Application

Faith Alone vs. Works

There are physical laws in this universe, if you defy them, no matter how much you believe they are false, physical laws will prevail.  If you jump off a 12 story building, no matter how much you believe that you can fly, gravity will pull you to your death.  Similarly, when one dies, there are spiritual laws and realities that will act upon your soul, no matter how fervently you believe otherwise.  Just as we cannot escape gravity, we cannot escape the judgement of God, unless we are protected by the blood of Jesus.

So when it comes to eternal life, what are you placing your trust in?  Are you trusting in grace alone or are you also trusting in your good works?  We love to control own own destiny and our pride blinds us to how sinful we are compared to a holy and perfect God.  Scripture says that if we stumble in keeping even one small part of God’s laws, we are as guilty as if we had broken every one of them (James 2:10). Therefore, we could never possibly be saved by our works.

The good things we do can be driven by a works oriented  mindset.  Doing good things does not make you more worthy of salvation or of God’s love. Take a moment to reflect on ways that you might be trying to earn your salvation.

  1.  Becoming disciplined in daily bible reading.
  2. Tithing regularly or generously giving to charities.
  3.  Serving regularly in church or community.
  4.  Spending a large amount of time in prayer.
  5. Attending church every week.
  6. Memorizing a large number of scriptures.
  7. Evangelizing with fervor, keeping track of the number of people “you” have won to Christ.

Be on guard.  Human pride has a way of blinding us to the real motives that lie in our hearts.  We love to boast in the things we accomplish.  Accomplishing good things does not make God love you any more or less.  Nor are we rewarded for the good things we have done with salvation.  It is a gift.  If salvation can be earned, then Jesus’ death on the cross was not sufficient. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

We All Fall Short

You may be thinking, “But the verse says that if you do not obey, you will not inherit eternal life.  You must have to “do” something to get to heaven”.  The Greek word used for the phrase ‘not obey’ is apeitheó, meaning to rebel or to refuse to conform.  Therefore, this verse is saying that if you rebel against or refuse to conform to the message of the gospel that Jesus proclaimed, then you there is no other solution for your sin.  There is no other way for you to receive eternal life.  The way to eternal life is through Jesus.   The gospel is good news as it is God’s eternal solution to the human problem of sin.  All of us are in the same predicament. We are all a mess  without Christ.  All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

For more information on why salvation by works is the predominantly held viewpoint, click here.

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