(25) Nicodemus and the New Birth
John 3:1-21
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no man can do these miracles you do, except God be with him.”
3Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, I tell you this: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4At this, 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?”
5Jesus answered, “Truly, I tell you this: Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Don’t be astonished because I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you cannot tell from where it comes or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9”How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10Jesus answered him, saying, “You are a teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11Truly, I tell you this: we speak of what we know, and testify to what we have seen, but you do not receive our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things, which you do not believe, how then will you believe if I tell you of heavenly things?
13”No man has ascended up to heaven except He who came down from heaven -- the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18He who believes in Him is not condemned; but He who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the reason for condemnation: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, for fear his deeds will be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
(25) Nicodemus and the New Birth
John 3:1-21 (KJV)
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. 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. 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? 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. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 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. 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? 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? 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. 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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 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. 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. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.