Ye Must Be Born Again

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Jesus Knows What Is in Man

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 Must Be Born Again

3 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.” 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.”

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.

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

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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.

Still in Jerusalem - After he cleared the temple - many believed in His name when they saw the signs Jesus was doing?
What signs?
-He told Nathanael he was an honest Israelite
-He turned the water into wine
So they saw the signs and believed.
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BUT Jesus did not “entrust” himself or “rely on” those for His validation.
He knows people and doesn’t need their validation. People are not trustworthy and the God of the universe doesn’t need his creation to give Him validation. He still had people who were telling others about Him, but He doesn’t need their validation to continue in His ministry. This does not mean we do not have a role in sharing Christ with others!
People witnessing of Jesus:
He does not need anyone to testify about man
People witnessing of Jesus:
John the Baptist - I’m unworthy to untie his sandals
Philip - we found who moses and the prophets wrote
Nathanael - you are the Son of God
The money changers at the temple? - Doubt it
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3:1

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Pharisees who are they?

While the Sadducees derived their religious influence from official priestly circles, the Pharisees’ influence stemmed primarily from their knowledge of biblical law and their ability to interpret that law. As a lay association of legal experts, their biblical interpretations had a direct effect on Jewish life and practice. The Apostle Paul acknowledges being a Pharisee trained in Jewish legal tradition before his conversion (Phil 3:5). Prominent Pharisaic teachers from the first century AD (such as Gamaliel; Acts 5:34; 22:3) are mentioned both in the NT and in rabbinic texts, and the Pharisees are often understood as the precursors to rabbinic Judaism who inherited a more prominent leadership role in Judaism after the fall of the temple in AD 70. Rabbinic tradition also traces their origin back to the Pharisaic rabbis of the Second Temple period (see Mishnah Abot 1.1–18). The Gospels regularly depict the Pharisees approaching Jesus with questions on points of legal interpretation (see Matt 12:2; 15:2). Jesus depicts their concern with strict observance of the law as preventing them from understanding what is truly important to God (compare Hos 6:6 and note). See note on Mk 2:16.

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‎The Jewish high court of justice consisted of 71 men and was led by the high priest. The council could decide almost any fate of its people—except the death penalty, which was decided by the Romans. The court was located within the Chamber of Hewn Stone inside Herod’s Temple.
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Nicodemus means “conqueror of the people” and was fairly common name in the first century AD. He appears only in John’s Gospel, where he is described as a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, and a teacher of Israel (vv. 1–10). John also implies that Nicodemus is a wealthy man (19:39). Later, Nicodemus is shown defending Jesus before the Jewish authorities (7:50–51).

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2

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.”

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Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night.
Why?
Here a Pharisee, Nicodemus, refers to Jesus as “Rabbi” or Rabbi (teacher) n. — (Hebrew) an honorific and respectful term of address for a teacher of the Mosaic Law (or the Scriptures).
Nicodemus says “we know”…who is “we”?
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We know that thou art a teacher come from God.--This explains the title he has used. He does not go beyond this. There has been, -as in the case of John the Baptist, sufficient to prove a more than human mission, but with this there has been nothing to meet the common Messianic expectation. Still, if this is a Prophet, working miracles like those of old, and evidently sent from God, He will be able to solve all doubts, and answer the questions pressing on the hearts of men. The plural pronoun expresses nothing more than the general conviction that the power to work miracles was a divine attestation of the teaching (; ). There were, indeed, others in the same mental position as Nicodemus, but none accompanied him; and it is not probable that his visit was known to any of them. The "we" occurs again in our Lord's reply in , and it may be that both find their true explanation in the fact that this interview took place in the house, and in the presence of John, who had led Nicodemus to come, as he himself had gone, with doubting heart, to the place where Jesus was dwelling ().
Nicodemus says that he knows that Jesus is a teacher from God because no one else can do the signs that He has done UNLESS God is with him.
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3

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

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Jesus answered that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
What is the kingdom of God?
-Everywhere that God rules. Here on Earth, currently in Heaven and the future reign of God in the new Heaven and Earth
Born again, or also, “Born from above”
Then Nicodemus gets inquisitive......and literal.
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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?”

can a man who is old enter his mother and come out again?
We can laugh and think this is silly, but when we truly don’t understand something and we really try hard, it just doesn’t make sense sometimes. For me, this is like Spanish class and currently complemento Directo’s and complimento Indirectos. To me, it just doesn’t make sense.
To Nicodemus, he didn’t understand fully what Jesus meant. Was he thinking about being born again or born from above? Maybe in this context, it has both meanings. Born a second time from above
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Jesus is quick to reply:
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

Remember how we need to read the New Testament Old Testamentally?
; ; ,
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Ezekiel 36:25-27

25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 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. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Jesus uses this reference of water and Spirit, because Nicodemus who is a Pharisee who has studied the scriptures would be able to recognize the reference from the Old testament.
Notice where He says “Spirit”, it is capitalized, that means it is referring to the Holy Spirit. This is where it is about to get good. the references from the Old Testament that gave the promise of the Spirit to come and dwell in people are about to become a reality VERY soon.
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6

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Flesh is natural and the Spirit is spiritual.
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7

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.

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No worries, hold on.
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8
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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.”

We can explain the effects of the wind, but we cannot explain it’s beginning or predict it’s course. Much in the same is the Spirit of God. His beginning is non existent and there is no way to predict His direction. It is very difficult to explain how the Holy Spirit now lives in a believer at the moment of their salvation, just like the wind, but we can see the effects of both.
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9-10

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

Nicodemus is a teacher who doesn’t have all the answers. His level is of someone who should have all the answers, but he is confused. This is the same title that Nicodemus gave Jesus - Rabbi. An elite teacher of Judaism.
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11
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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

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

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we speak what we know - they have an understanding and are sharing it.
you do not receive our testimony - they have heard and have rejected
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12
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If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

God has given many prophecies about Jesus. Jesus taught in parables and they still didn’t understand. If He were to speak of heavenly things, how would they understand that if they couldn’t get what earthly things He was teaching.
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13

13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

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.

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13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

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Jesus continues to talk to Nicodemus about His validation. He is the only one who has been to Heaven and came to earth. He has the capacity and authority to speak on this topic.
He is the Son of Man is the same reference

51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

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Even though Jesus is God, this title acknowledges that he is human.
Even though Jesus is God, this title acknowledges that he is human.
It is a Messianic title we see it in , Ezekiel 2:1
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14
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14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

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In the book of Numbers, we are given the story of the Israelites complaining once again. God sent poisonous snakes that bit the Israelites and they were dying. God told Moses to create a bronze snake and lift it on a pole. Those who were bitten only had to look at the snake on the pole and they would not die, they would be healed.
In the book of Numbers, we are given the story of the Israelites complaining once again. God sent poisonous snakes that bit the Israelites and they were dying. God told Moses to create a bronze snake and lift it on a pole. Those who were bitten only had to look at the snake on the pole and they would not die, they would be healed.
What magic powers did the snake have to heal people? None
Only the obedience to what God had established.
It is interesting that the standard emergency medical symbol is a rod with a snake on it.
The interesting
Jesus used this description to emphasis His future healing of humanity form their sin.
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14 b 15-16

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.

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

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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.

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.

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Here we see the “Son of man” referred to, but this time it says He must be lifted up followed with “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish”
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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.

Here we see the “Son of man” referred to, but this time it says He must be lifted up followed with “that whosoever believeth in him may have eternal life”
Isn’t this the same as the Israelites? If they looked at the serpent they would not die? This statement goes one step further. It says instead dying they were promised eternal life. The promise in the wilderness didn’t include eternal life.
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Verse 16 begins with “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” and then repeats part of verse 15. “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Looking at the New Testament Old testamentally, In the Old Testament, God provided a bronze serpent for salvation to the Israelites from the serpents. Here in the New Testament, God provided Jesus for salvation to the entire world.
The “only” in greek means “one of a kind”. Jesus was truly one of a kind. He was sinless, God, spoke with authority, healed, walked on water, healed people even when he was no where near them. he is truly unique.
La Unica!
He is one of a kind. He was crucified to pay for the penalty for our sins, but that’s not all, He was buried, rose again lived, ate, walked, talked for 40 days before ascending into Heaven.
When verse 14 says that the Son of Man must be lifted up does that mean that we need to hang crucifixes every where and point to Jesus?
That’s a good start, but that is only part of the story. The bronze serpent in the wilderness provided healing from a snake bite, but nothing more. Jesus didn’t just die, He rose from the dead, He continued in ministry on the earth for 40 days. And according to His words, He is preparing a place for those who trust Him.
Jesus must be lifted up not just as the one who died for us, but as the one who is living and preparing a place for those who trust in Him.
What is He doing for you today?
Are you able to lift up His life to others for them to see what He has done and is doing?
17

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18

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The purpose of Jesus was not to condemn!
He came to provide salvation for the World!
God’s son (Jesus is God) the authorized representative from Heaven to provide salvation.
saved? Rescued from sin and consequential judgment
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18

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

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

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KNOW JESUS - NO CONDEMNATION
NO JESUS - KNOW CONDEMNATION
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What is belief? - TRUST
All through the New Testament, salvation is only described as faith (trust) in Jesus Christ. Nothing else.
Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
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nonbelief is the only thing that condemns us.
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What is the condemnation?
19

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

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

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Light came In him was life, and the life was the light of men 5. the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Men loved darkness instead, they were evil, their deeds were evil.
Evil = Wicked, bad, morally corrupt
Isn’t that encouraging
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20

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be lreproved.

20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

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Where there is light, evil flees.
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Why is Nicodemus here, with Jesus, at night?
He is looking for truth. There is something he has seen of Jesus that has drawn him to Jesus. Definitely the Holy Spirit is drawing Nicodemus to Jesus and asking questions that he doesn’t know the answer to.
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21
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21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

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21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

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