John 3
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Nicodemus, a believer of Christ and a member of the the Sanhedrin. "Nicodemus" = Νικόδημος Nikódēmos, nik-od'-ay-mos; from G3534 and G1218; victorious among his people; Nicodemus, an Israelite:—Nicodemus.
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.
Nicodemus being of the high court, still called Christ "Rabbi" = Master. Nicodemus was no dummy. He knew full well Who Christ is. He came to Christ at night because he knows who he works with hates Christ.
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.
This should read, "Born from above". You can't be renewed spiritually, the cleansing of your soul, unless you repent and ask Christ into your life. A spiritual renewal and an outwardly direction. When you look at this spiritually, you understand where the flesh can't comprehend. No one is "born again". It's clear in the Greek. "again" = ἄνωθεν ánōthen, an'-o-then; from G507; [from above]; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew:—from above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top, from above, from a higher place, of things which come from heaven or 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?
Nicodemus questions Christ, because he is thinking fleshly. When God opens that third level of understanding, you see things in His Word that you never saw before. You must study His Word, or He will not open it unto you.
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.
To many use this as a necessity to be saved, you must be baptized. That's sadly wrong! Two different things here. One is "born of water" = from the womb, that sack of water every women breaks when the start the birthing process. The second is accepting Christ as your savoir = "of the Spirit" -"born from above". "Verily, verily" shows us to pay attention, there must be two births to enter the Kingdom of God. If all we needed to do, was to be baptized, Christ didn't need die for our sins and it would have ended after John baptized Christ. Think about it.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Two different things here. The flesh body, which goes back to those same element its made from, this planet earth. Then there's our spirit, our soul, which goes back into a body that held that soul in the first age. An incorruptible body. 1 Cor. 15:49-50 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. We are born in this flesh, our souls placed in them and we will bear another flesh, but that of a heavenly body our souls enter into. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. These flesh body's won't be any part of the kingdom of God. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 1 Cor. 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. These souls are mortal and need a body of immortality, but this can only be accomplished through Christ. If you're found unworthy, you're not fire proof. Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him Which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 1 Cor. 15:54 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. True immortality is ONLY through Christ while in this flesh. If you haven't chose Him yet, what are you waiting for? This may be your last second in this flesh body.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Don't over think it. It's simple, We must be born from above = renewing our souls in Christ. His Spirit dwells within us. Without Christ, its just you and the world of satan.
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.
You have a spirit. You can't see it but you can feel it. Christ Spirit dwells in you and although you can't physically see Him, you can feel Him. You can't see where a spirit goes, but through The Word we know where it goes.
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?
How could Nicodemus not know these things, he's a teacher to Israel. Nicodemus had fallen in with those kenites and traditions so much, he didn't give time to studying The Word. If your church isn't teaching you Chapter by Chapter, verse by verse, but are focusing on traditions, shows, tithing and stories, there is no time for God. You will fall into their ways and away from The Word.
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.
Christ is telling him, Truly, Truly we speak things that are true and you question our witnessing of them being the truth.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
If you teach people the milk of The Word and they refuse to understand, they're never going to understand the Meat. John 21:14-17 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. "Lambs" = Babes in Christ, beginners in The Word. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. "Sheep" = Adults in The Word [not an age] This 1st sheep are those that have been studying and have a working knowledge of The Word. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. "Sheep" = Adults in The Word, but with a Spiritual understanding that God gives those who live in The Word EVERYDAY. Those who study everyday of the week, doing the work necessary to gain an understanding of the Hebrew, Chaldee and Greek meanings, applying them to the context of what's being said. You gain an insight to the analogy's throughout The Word of God.
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.
Not one soul can go to heaven without first being born from above. We all are born of the water sack, born of flesh, then comes [choice]. Christ Jesus, The Way to be born from above, or satan and the world.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
God told Moses to rap a brass serpent on a pole for the Israelite's to remember what God had done for them, when they were given freedom from Egypt and provided for while in the wilderness. They started to wine about their "hard times", speaking against God and Moses. God sent them a message, fiery serpents. Numbers 21:5-9 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. It's a matter of faith! We must have believe in Christ, because He died for us, that we may have life. We have nothing to complain about, we're blessed.
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
CONDITION! You must "believe in Christ Jesus" or you don't exist anymore. You're not even a thought to those who believe. "Perish" = ἀπόλλυμι apóllymi, ap-ol'-loo-mee; from G575 and the base of G3639; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively:—destroy, die, lose, mar, perish, to destroy, to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin.
Revelation 20:10-12 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
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.
"Believeth in Him" is key here. It's the condition in which you can have life everlasting. "Everlasting" = αἰώνιος aiṓnios, ahee-o'-nee-os; from G165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well):—eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began), [without end, never to cease, everlasting].
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The world is running from The One that created them. He could wipe everything out now and be done with it, but He gave, that we may receive. He loves us enough that He has allowed us to choose. God loves us and wants all to come to repentance. Do it today, tomorrow isn't promised for any of us. 2 Peter 3:8-10 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
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.
People want there to be a gray area in Christianity, but there isn't. It's black and white. You believe in Christ Jesus and what He has done for you, or you don't and you reap the consequences. Heaven is called such, because there isn't any evil in it.
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.
Christ came for us to have His Way, but people refuse Him because they love evil more. That goes for most Christians today. They don't have time for The Light.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
They have the same opportunity to choose Christ that I have, but they choose satan. They think they're hiding their evil, but they don't and they should be called out for it, as to feel shame. "Reprove" = ἐλέγχω elénchō, el-eng'-kho; of uncertain affinity; to confute, admonish:—convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove, generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted, to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Do what is right in the sight of humans and God. It doesn't matter if the world hates you, the only thing that matters is what God thinks of you.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
It's Christ disciples who are doing the baptizing, not Christ. He wouldn't baptize people to Himself. John 4:2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
This was a outwardly show of commitment to God. A Christian knows the sacrifice Christ gave is how we are forgiven. Today, our sins are washed by His blood, not a bath of river water. Here, we have two separate baptisms going on in Judaea, Aenon near to Salim. Christ with His disciples and John the Baptist downstream baptizing.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
These kenites are sent to start a fight with John the Baptist and his disciples. "Disciple" = μαθητής mathētḗs, math-ay-tes'; from G3129; a learner, i.e. pupil:—disciple, a learner, pupil, disciple.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
These kenites are bringing to attention, Christ draws a bigger crowed. They're trying to create a division between Christ and him. They want envy to grow in John and his disciples minds.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
John can see beyond the flesh. He called them out to the fact, everything we have comes from God. He can see the blessings.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
John's talking about what was said in John 1:15-17 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Christ is our Bridegroom and John's letting them know, Christ is His friend, so don't try to make me jealous of my friend because I was sent here to prepare His way. John is telling them, he's blessed to see Christ in action. John knows, it's never been about him, but Christ Jesus.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
We can speak on a human level all day, but Christ Jesus, The One sent from above speaks on a level from above. Until we give ourselves to Him, we could never understand that spiritual level. The Holy Spirit opens understanding to those who seek Him. Earthly minds will never understand His testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
True Christians seek The Word. They seal their minds in His Truth and there becoming wiser than the serpent. What's in your mind will determine being deceived or not. Some fill their minds with His testimony, His Truth and others the lies of satan and the world. Today, it's Very Important you fill your mind with Christ and His Word. Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. Rev. 13:15-17 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. satan has been given control over the world economics and if you don't follow his world your an outcast. You won't die, they will just look at you as dead. satan can't fool anyone if this was literally speaking of killing people because they wouldn't follow him. This is why those that have oil for their lamps have that oil for their lamps only. They don't need to be a part of his system. Their ready! 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: Those without The Seal of God = Truth, will do satans work = right hand or believe everything he says = in their foreheads. IT'S NOT A CHIP! I will add, No chip, no device, can determine whether you love God or satan. 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. A Christian that understands who comes first will be prepared. That's why God has told us about what's to come. We don't need what satan has. Have you been marked with deception?
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
We could never fully understand the full measure of God. He created the universe. We create messes. Christ came giving us The Way to clean it up. To make right what we do wrong. To give us life because without Him, we're dead.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
CONDITION! What do you believe? Believe in Christ and live, ignore Him and die. Not that hard and yes, it's love. We are all given free will and the choice to chose Him or death which is to say satan. A good garden has it's weeds taken out or it would choke out the good plants. Heaven is called such because in the end, it wont have any evil in it. Would you want it any other way? Are you a believer in Christ, The Light, The Way to life? Do you love Him enough to study His Word EVERYDAY? You're given the chance each day your eyes open. Will you chose Him and His Ways and be written in that book of life?
Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."