| Nicodemus |
John 3:1-20
Nicodemus was a member
of the Jewish council.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
Nicodemus talks to Jesus
He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. for no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
Nicodemus is surprised at
what Jesus has to say.
Nicodemus asked
Him how could a man be born again when he is old. Nicodemus
thought a person couldn't enter his mother's womb and be born again so
Jesus told him, "I tell
you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the
Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit
gives birth to Spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying.
"You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Nicodemus asked Him how this could be?
Jesus tells Nicodemus that he has
to believe in Him and be born again.
Jesus told him
that he was a teacher of Israel and that he should understand these
things. Jesus, told him that He was telling the truth, and that
we speak of what we know and we
testify
to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our
testimony.
Jesus had spoken of earthly things and he did not believe. How then could he believe if Jesus spoke of heavenly things? No one had ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son.
Nicodemus listened to Jesus
and believed Him.
Why did Jesus come to earth? He came to make it possible for the world to be saved, not to condemn the world. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night and talked to Him. Jesus told him that no one could see the kingdom of heaven unless he was born again. This surprised Nicodemus and he asked him how can a man be born again when he is old? Jesus then told him that no one could enter the kingdom of heaven unless they were born of the water and the Spirit. Jesus was referring to baptism. Jesus also goes on to tell him that whoever believes in Him is not condemned. This does not mean that belief in Jesus alone is all that you need as Jesus also pointed out that a person must be born again (baptized). God sent Jesus into the world to save the world from their sins, but it is through Jesus and being born of water and the Spirit that we enter the kingdom of heaven and are saved.
Jesus had spoken of earthly things and he did not believe. How then could he believe if Jesus spoke of heavenly things? No one had ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son.
Nicodemus listened to Jesus
and believed Him.
Nicodemus
had come to talk to Jesus at night so as to not be seen by some of the
other Jews. He became a follower of Jesus.
Later he helped with the burial of Jesus. (John 19:39-42)
Nothing else is known of Nicodemus.
CONCLUSION:
Why did Jesus come to earth? He came to make it possible for the world to be saved, not to condemn the world. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night and talked to Him. Jesus told him that no one could see the kingdom of heaven unless he was born again. This surprised Nicodemus and he asked him how can a man be born again when he is old? Jesus then told him that no one could enter the kingdom of heaven unless they were born of the water and the Spirit. Jesus was referring to baptism. Jesus also goes on to tell him that whoever believes in Him is not condemned. This does not mean that belief in Jesus alone is all that you need as Jesus also pointed out that a person must be born again (baptized). God sent Jesus into the world to save the world from their sins, but it is through Jesus and being born of water and the Spirit that we enter the kingdom of heaven and are saved.
Born
of water and spirit...........The only way to be born of water
and spirit is by being baptized in water and then a person receives the
gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is talking about
becoming a new person
after being baptized. Before baptism, a person is
to
repent (change) and when he is baptized, his sins are forgiven him and he is
like a new person who has been born again.
Testify.....................................To give a testimony.
Testify.....................................To give a testimony.
Testimony..............................
A
statement given as proof in court.
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