Sermon Tone Analysis

John 3:3-7

His point is simply that “flesh” and “spirit” are different spheres of reality, each producing offspring like itself.

“What is born,” whether of flesh or Spirit, is neuter

Michaels, J. R. (2010).

The Gospel of John (p.

185).

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

perhaps as an equivalent to the Greek neuter nouns “infant” or “child.”

“Flesh” is human nature, which, because it is mortal, tries to gain a kind of immortality by reproducing itself (see 1:13).

Instead it produces only that which is mortal like itself.

“Spirit” differs from “flesh” not in being immaterial as opposed to material, but in being immortal as opposed to mortal.

“Flesh” is subject to death; “spirit” is not.

Even the Word, when he “came in human flesh,” became subject to death, while “the Spirit” (and consequently “spirit”) means life, and only life.

Michaels, J. R. (2010).

The Gospel of John (pp.

185–186).

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

This verse, with what precedes it, affords a basis in the Jesus tradition for Paul’s pronouncement that “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Cor 15:50).

The latent implication of Jesus’ word is that those “born of the Spirit” are no longer “flesh” but are themselves “spirit” (see v. 8)—not that they are no longer human or no longer in the body, but that they “have eternal life” (compare vv. 15–16) and are consequently no longer mortal (compare 8:51; 11:26).

Michaels, J. R. (2010).

The Gospel of John (p.

186).

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Rather, what “is necessary” is what God has decreed as the means by which a person sees or enters the kingdom of God.

“You must be born from above” is simply a more direct and positive way of saying, “Unless you are born from above, you cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Michaels, J. R. (2010).

The Gospel of John (pp.

186–187).

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

1cor 15:50-58 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is …”