BORN—AGAIN?John 3:1-16

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PART I. EXEGESIS

John 3:1-16

A. Background Author:

John, the “one Jesus loved”Brother of James and son of Zebedee

Date:90s AD. First of five books: 1, 2, 3 John, & Revelation

Audience:Shunned Jewish-ChristiansAgainst the Gnostic Cerinthus

Themes:Full Deity and Humanity of JesusEternal life to all who believe (Jn 3:16)Miracles as Signs to elicit faith in ChristElection and Security of the Believer

B. Book Outline I. Prologue: The Incarnate Word (1:1-18) II. The Signs of the Messiah (1:19-12:50) III. The Farewell Message and

Passion/Narrative (Crucifixion) (13:1-20:31)

IV. Epilogue: The Roles of Peter and of the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved (21:1-25)

B. Outline I. Chapter 1

1:1-18, Prologue1:19-28, John the Baptist’s Testimony1:29-42, The Lamb of God1:43-51, Philip and Nathanael

II. Chapter 2A. 2:1-11, The First Sign: Turning Water into WineB. 2:13-24, Cleansing the Temple Complex

III. Chapter 3A. 3:1-21, Jesus and NicodemusB. 3:22-30, Jesus and John the BaptistC. 3:31-36, The One from Heaven

D. John 3:1-6 1Now there was a man of the

Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;  2this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

 3Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see

the kingdom of God."  4Nicodemus said to Him, "How can

a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

 5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I

say to you, unless one is born of water and 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"Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

 8"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

D. John 3:9-15  9Nicodemus said to Him,

"How can these things be?"  10Jesus answered and said

to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?

 11"Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.

12"If I told you earthly things and you do not believe,

how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

 13"No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven:

the Son of Man.  14"As Moses lifted up the

serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;

 15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

D. John 3:16  16"For God so loved the world, that He

gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

1. “By Night” (Jn 2:1)

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;  2this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.(Jn 9:4; 11:10; 13:30)JN 2:1 - “When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to

him, “They have no more wine.”ISA 9:2 - “2 The people walking in darkness

   have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness  a light has dawned”

JN 1:5 – “5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. "

2. “unless one is born again" (Jn 2:3)  3Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly,

truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn 2:3)(Jn 1:12-13; 8:39-58; 11:51-52)JN 1:11-13 - 11He came to His own, and those

who were His own did not receive Him.  12But as many as received Him, to them He gave

the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

3. “born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5) "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one

is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

EZE 36:25-27 - “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean… And I will give you a new heart… And I will put my Spirit within you.”

4. “teacher of Israel” (Jn 3:1) 10Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do

not understand these things? (Jn 3:1)

RESURRECTION: Ezekiel 37:13-14 – “You will know that I am the LORD, My people, when I

open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put My Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.”

NEW HEART:DEUT 30:6 - 6"Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and

heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.

JER 31:33 - “33"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

EZEK 36:26 - “26"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

5. “be lifted up” (Jn 3:14) As Moses lifted up the serpent in the

wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; Serpent in the Wilderness: Num. 21:9Lifted Up: Jn 8:28; 12:32 (Death,

Resurrection, Exaltation)

6. “so loved the world” (Jn 3:16) 16"For God so loved the world, that

He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

E. Questions

PART II. EXHORTATION

John 3:1-16

A. Born Again Death Life

B. He Gave His Best

To the world…

PART III. APPLICATION

RISK AND REWARD

John 2:1-11

VI. Application

VII. Conclusion