John 2, Part 3

The New Birth: A Divine Invitation to Salvation

In John 2:23–25 , Jesus acknowledges the faith of many who believed in His name due to His miracles but warns against superficial faith without true understanding. In John 3:1–15, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, seeks Jesus at night and learns about the necessity of being born again to enter the Kingdom of God, underscoring that salvation is a spiritual transformation.

This passage offers hope for those struggling with feelings of inadequacy or uncertainty regarding their salvation. It emphasizes that salvation is not based on one’s achievements but rather on being born again through the Spirit, reassuring believers that they can progress in their faith journey and experience the fullness of life in Christ.

These verses teaches that true salvation is not merely intellectual assent or emotional response, but a profound spiritual rebirth given by the Holy Spirit. It challenges listeners to reflect on their own faith and understand the necessity of a transformed heart in their relationship with God.

In the larger narrative of Scripture, Christ is revealed as the source of new life and the one who fulfills the promise of salvation. Through His conversation with Nicodemus, we see that Jesus is the gate to salvation, emphasizing His role as the Savior who brings spiritual rebirth and eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Big Idea: To be saved is to experience a radical transformation by being born anew through faith in Christ, moving beyond mere belief to true spiritual regeneration.

Superficial Signs and True Faith

John 2:23–25 ESV

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

You might emphasize how Jesus does not fully trust the crowd's faith, as it is based merely on external signs.

There were many who believed in Jesus, but what did they believe? There are two different kinds of people who can fall into a category of believers; those who believe in what Jesus does (those who follow the miracles), and those who believe in Him as being the Son of God.

Many believed in His name. The word believe (episteusan) is in the Greek aorist tense, which means they believed once-for-all. Their belief was genuine, at least the belief of some. However, the belief of others was not genuine. The fact that Jesus knew “all men” (all of those professing belief) and did not commit Himself to them shows the inadequacy of their faith (v.24).

2. They believed because of the miracles (semeia). Semeion means a sign that characterizes the person, his nature and character. A few throughout Jesus’ ministry did believe because they saw in the miracles exactly who He was, the very Son of God. However, the word semeion is also used of those who believed the signs but did not have the highest or right kind of faith.

Notice the last two verses; Jesus didn’t commit Himself to men. He didn’t trust or believe in them because He knew they (some/majority) did not fully believe. He knew their failures, their deception, their evil, their depravity, and He could not trust mankind.

This illustrates the difference between superficial belief and genuine transformation, setting the stage for Nicodemus's encounter. Jesus, knowing all hearts, invites us to move beyond shallow faith to a profound spiritual rebirth. This passage challenges us to evaluate the authenticity of our faith, urging a deeper pursuit of truth and commitment to Christ.

Nicodemus: Incomplete Curiosity

John 3:1–3 ESV

1 Now 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 are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus's approaches Jesus in a sense of curiosity and incompleteness. Jesus reveals the necessity of being 'born again,' highlighting spiritual transformation over religious accomplishment. This point challenges individuals to seek a genuine rebirth, illustrating that no status or knowledge suffices for salvation—only a spiritual awakening through Christ. It's an invitation to experience the profound mystery and renewal found in Jesus.

Of course, Nicodemus was concerned over his eternal state, there was something that had intrigued him to go to Jesus. A few things presented a problem for Nicodemus. He was a ruler (archon) of the Jews - a member of the Sanhedrin. He was a Pharisee, a master of Israel (high ranking official), apparently was very wealthy (as we see what he spends at the burial of Jesus), and he was silent at the trial of Jesus but boldly approached after Jesus’ death to help in His burial.

Even with all these things against him, he came on behalf of “the religionists” plural. I think some of those serving in official capacities had a feeling that Jesus was the Messiah. He was the “spokes person”, and was interested himself. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night - maybe he did not want other leaders who opposed Jesus to see him and question what he was doing.

He acknowledged Jesus as a “teacher” sent from God, but still saw the miracles and knew He had to be “from” God to do such miracles. He wanted to know WHO Jesus was. Jesus did not answer Nicodemus directly. He saw into the empty, searching heart of Nicodemus and saw the honesty of his question. So Jesus went right to the heart of the matter. Miracles and signs were not what was important. What was important was for Nicodemus to be changed: changed spiritually, changed within, and changed completely—to undergo such a spiritual change that it could only be described as being born again.

Except a man be born AGAIN. He must be … • born completely and fully, a complete and full change • born all over again, in the sense of a second time • born from above, from God

While we may be born into our family physically, sin separates us from God and we must be born AGAIN into the family of God IF one plans on entering the Kingdom of God!

Spirit-Led Transformation Mysteries

John 3:4–8 ESV

4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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 marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus had questions about being “born again”. HOW could one physically enter into the womb and be born into a second childhood? Jesus explains the source of the new birth that He spoke of - it was a SPIRITUAL birth. He then reiterates the importance of being born again - IF one expects to see the Kingdom of God it is ESSENTIAL to be born again.

While Nicodemus may not have understood, Jesus illustrated the point by picturing the wind. The Spirit of God works just like the wind. We may not know how the wind works, but we can see the effects. It is the same with the Spirit of God: we may not know how He works, but we can see the effects of His working.

Jesus's emphasized the work of the Spirit, akin to the unseen wind, in birthing a new life. This underscores the divine mystery of salvation, absent of human control, highlighting total reliance on God's Spirit. This point encourages listeners to trust in the Holy Spirit's transformative power, affirming that the essence of salvation lies beyond human efforts and fully in divine grace through Christ.

4. Lifted Savior: Eternal Life

John 3:9–15 ESV

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you 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 bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Nicodemus's struggled to understand Jesus's message and Jesus's reference to Moses lifting the serpent. This illustrates that true belief requires an acknowledgment of Christ's central role in salvation as He is lifted on the cross. It's a call to faith in Jesus's sacrifice, drawing parallels between physical and spiritual salvation. It reassures us that salvation is available to all who look to Christ, providing hope and eternal life through His finished work.

The new birth is a true experience, a definite experience. Nicodemus’ heart was touched by what Jesus was saying, and he wished to know what was meant by being “born again.” Note the great tragedy of Nicodemus. He was the master of Israel, yet he did not know about spiritual things. Apparently, Nicodemus did not believe and receive Jesus at this point in his life. He did what so many do: he rejected Jesus.

The new birth is revealed only by Jesus. Jesus said two things. He came down from (ek, out of) heaven. No man can ascend up into heaven; no man can penetrate the spiritual world. Flesh is flesh, that is, born of the earth; therefore, it is earthly. However, Jesus Christ was different from all other men. His origin was out of heaven, out of the spiritual world and dimension of being. He is timeless. “The Son of Man which is in heaven” means His existence and experience are timeless. He is eternal.

The new birth is secured by two acts. The first act is Jesus’ death. Jesus illustrated His point by using the Old Testament story of Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in the wilderness. The children of Israel had begun to murmur and grumble about the trials of the wilderness, wishing they had never left Egypt. God disciplined them by sending fiery serpents to plague them. The discipline worked; the people repented and begged for mercy. God met the people’s need by telling Moses to make a bronze image of a serpent and to hold it up upon a pole in the midst of the people. The person who looked upon the lifted up serpent was healed.

Jesus said that He must be lifted up just as the serpent was lifted up. He knew the Israelites were in need - they were dying from the poison of the serpent (Satan) - sin.

The second act is man must believe in Jesus, and the man who believes is lifted up. He will not perish, but will have eternal life. And that is where we will end and we will follow into this thought for next weeks lesson.