Nicodemus

*The conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus teaches that we must be "born again" or "born of the Spirit," bringing about a spiritual transformation.

 John 3:1-5

1    There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: (probably of the Sanhedrin council = the highest ruling court of justice among the Jewish people)

2    The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, (master) 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.

*The scriptures do not elaborate on the reason Nicodemus came by night, so I won’t speculate on it other than to say that Nicodemus wanted a private, intimate conversation with Jesus.

*Nicodemus called him Rabbi, thereby acknowledging Him as master. He also gave witness that he knew Jesus had done miracles. However, he did not start the conversation with a question, but Jesus gave him an answer to salvation anyway!  Jesus knew Nicodemus heart, just as He knows our heart!

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. *We can't comprehend, or understand the kingdom of God, until we are born again. We can read the scriptures & obey them, but the understanding comes by / with the spirit 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. 

^In order to ‘enter’ the kingdom of God, we must be born again by obeying the doctrine of Christ (the plan of salvation).

Jesus tells us that He is the entrance  > Jn. 10:9 = I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.

Salvation comes by believing & obeying!

In Mk. 16:16, Jesus says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”  *This tells us that we must be baptized.

*Acts 2:38 tells us Why we must be baptized & How we must be baptized:

..Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (1. Repent - ask forgiveness & make a change. (2. Be Baptized - be immersed in water in His Name for your sins to be forgiven.

*Why is baptism important? (1. It washes us clean... the water typifying His blood.

 1 Jn. 1:7...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Heb. 9:22 ... without shedding of blood is no remission.

(2. It is a symbol of burying the ‘old man’ that has been crucified. Ga. 2:20  I am crucified with Christ...

Ro 6: 3 - 6 explains >

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

*Jesus goes on to say...

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, (wishes) 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 >

*Everyone is filled with the Spirit the same way as in Acts 2:2 - 4 = with tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (enunciate plainly, pronounce words clearly) cloven - meaning broken= explains why the language of 'tongues ' makes distinct sounds, not just stammering

*Nicodemus then asks Jesus, “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. Here, Jesus is clearly making known to Nicodemus that he is God and dwells in Heaven as spirit and on earth in flesh. He was standing there in front of Nicodemus & saying, "I came down from heaven & I am in heaven even now.”  *How could he be in two places at once? The spirit of God fills all spaces & a portion of this spirit dwelt in Jesus.

14   And as Moses lifted up the ^ serpent in the wilderness, (^ Num. 21: 4-9) even so must the ^Son of man be lifted up: (Jn. 12:3, 33)

15    That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  

*Later, Nicodemus advises "the chief priests and the Pharisees" to hear and investigate before making a judgment concerning Jesus, reminding them that Jewish law requires that a person must be heard before they can be condemned, &  when Jesus is buried, he brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes.  This reveals that Nicodemus was not afraid or ashamed to be a believer.