JOHN

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John Chapter 3

• John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
• 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.

Nicodemus realized that Jesus had to be someone that came from God in order to perform the miracles that He did, but seemingly Nicodemus was seeking more than just miracles. Unlike the other Pharisees, Nicodemus didn't ask questions in order to trip Jesus up. He asked questions because in his heart he wanted to know more about Jesus. 

• 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.

Jesus didn't waste time; He got straight to the point. He told Nicodemus exactly what he needed to hear. A person must be "born again" to see the kingdom of God. This has to do with the living water that we will read of in chaper 4. The first birth is our natural birth when we came from our mother's womb. The second birth is by God's Holy Spirit. It is something God does in response to our believing in Jesus Christ as savior from sin. It is something our natural eyes cannot see and only the person and God actual knows when it takes place.  

Similarly, the first Adam that caused the whole human race to come under the curse of sin, Jesus the Christ is the second Adam to be born into the human race and undo the curse for those that receive Him.  

• 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?

I don't believe he being sarcastic but was very sincere in his questions about this. 

• John 3:5  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.

Water here is the type that cleanses the soul. The washing of the water of the word is mentioned in the book of Ephesians. Some have stated that the water here Jesus was referring to is simply the water surrounding the baby in the mother's womb similar to the natural birth. However, there is other scriptures that indicate another use of the term, water.

• Ephesians 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 
• 27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

The word cleanses and sanctifies us: Another glorious fact is that Jesus is the "word" made flesh.

• John 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 

We are born of the water and of the spirit. The spirit baptizes us. Both the word and the spirit are necessary for our salvation. John baptized with water and Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

Water baptism is an act of obedience and is symbolic of what takes place in a believer when they believe in Jesus Christ. When we believe, we are cleansed by the word and we are born again by the spirit of God.  

• John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The first birth is of the flesh and the second birth is of the spirit. It is necessary for our salvation and everlasting life. Without this no religion, no ritual, and no other thing can bring us salvation. 

• John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Jesus seemed to be saying. Don't be surprised if I say to you that you must be born again.  

• 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.

It is something God does. It is something not seen by our natural eyes. The wind blows where it wills and we cannot see where the wind came from and we cannot know where the wind is going.  So we can't see the new birth with our natural eyes. We can see the results of the wind but not the wind itself, so we can see the results of a born again changed life but we can't actually see the new birth within the person.

• 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?

Evidently it appears that Nicodemus should have known about the new birth by the spirit. He was a master or teacher and was teaching others but did not understand himself. Hidden in the Old Testament is the message of the gospel. Only those who really seek and desire to understand will understand. 

This confirms what I've always believed. When reading the word of God, those that really want to understand and really desire to seek God will begin to understand. Those that read for other reasons will not understand. The spirit of God is the teacher of the word. Those that desire to remain in the dark will not understand. This is basic truth but with God there is no limitation and there may be times He will be able to speak to a person through His word even if the person had no desire previously to receive God into his life. I've heard a testimony of one who was saved by reading the word that he was reading for the purpose of finding fault with it. God is good and mercy because He is the only one that could give someone understanding in order for them to receive the truth.

• John 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
• 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

We can think of earthly things as what we can see with the natural eyes such as water baptism but the heavenly things is the baptism by the spirit.

The water baptism is outward act of obedience that is a sign of what takes place in the inner man when one is born again by the spirit. The miracles and teachings were things they heard and received whereas the new birth, eternal life and such could be considered heavenly things. 

• John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Jesus is saying that He came from God and no other actually came from God before Him. Jesus was in the beginning with God. No other natural man born of woman came to the earth after being in Heaven with God.

• John 3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

This statement Jesus is saying is to indicate how He is going to die for sins. As the serpent was lifted up that all who looked upon it was saved from death, Jesus will be lifted up so that all who believe in Him will be saved from sin and eternal death.

• John 3:15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Whoever believes. When one believes in something they give their all to it. Believing faith means more than just believing Jesus existed at one time in history. Believing is receiving and believing what He has to say to us. We can't say we believe in Jesus and not keep His commandments.

• John 3:16 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.

This is our hope in the present world where the deity of Christ is being questioned. We have to take heed the word of the apostle Jude.

• Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Many are even now teaching that we can live any way we want to and it can't hurt our salvation.  That is turning God's grace into lasciviousness. Some teach that we can sin willfully, knowingly and still keep our salvation if we just believe in Him. Yet I believe sincerely that to believe in Him means much more than just believing once for salvation and then going our own ways and doing our own thing. This is the first step toward apostasy. The next step is denying the Lord Jesus.

• 2 Peter 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

There were those in that day that denied the deity of Christ. This is one way to deny the Lord that bought and paid for their salvation. If we don't believe Jesus is He (the Son of God, the Messiah or Christ, and the sacrifice for our sins) than we have no salvation. The next step to total apostasy is denying the existence of God Himself or denying His right to intervene in our lives.

• 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.

The first time Jesus came in the flesh and dwelled among men, He didn't come to condemn or accuse. He came to save them and bring them into eternal life. The Second time He comes, it will be one of judgment. 

• John 3:18 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.

We are condemned already before Christ came. We already are condemned to eternity in hell.  Jesus came to reverse that curse but it will only be reversed in those that believe in Him. If we don't believe, then His death on the cross for our sins will not count on our behalf. God does not force salvation upon us. 

• John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Some will not be saved because they will not come to the light for their sins to be exposed. They that desire to remain in their sins will avoid that light and refuse God's plan of salvation. 

• John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Those that do evil can only be saved if they are willing to come to the light and let the light (Jesus Christ) take their sins away. If we come to Christ not willing to forsake sin, then we will not be saved for Jesus came to not just forgive us of sin but to save us from sin.

• Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

• 1Corinthians 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; 

• Act 10:43  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

• Titus 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 
• 12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

This is why the entire word of God must be studied and read. We can't just quote isolated verses. It all fits together to show us the way to God if we take it in context. Line upon line, studying and seeking God. In John 1:29 we see more proof that Jesus came to take away sin.

• John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 

• 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.

Those that want cleansing from sin will come to the light. If we have forsaken sin and believed in Christ, we will want to seek Him and dwell in His presence. 

• John 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

John was not jealous but recognized the fact that He was sent to announce the coming of the Messiah. When Jesus came, John witnessed to the fact that Jesus was the one that came from God and that God sent to us to take away our sins.

• John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John's baptism was for purifying or for the confession of sins and it confused some to see Jesus's disciples baptizing also. John made it clear that his ministry was almost over and that the one who was the savior was here and they were now to follow Him. Jesus was now the one to cleanse from sin. Water baptism was symbolic of the spiritual and very important as an act of obedience but natural water cannot really remove any sin. The water of the word and the Holy Spirit removes the sin.

• 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.

Jesus had the fullness of the Spirit of God upon Him. 

• John 3:36 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.

This is the truth and necessary for eternal life and salvation. We must not take this wonderful words lightly. DC