The new birth and Nicodemus.
1. (1-3) At night, Nicodemus approaches Jesus.
One of the Pharisees who ruled the Jews was a man by the name of Nicodemus. Jesus replied, “Most surely, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ” This man came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
a. A member of the ruling Sanhedrin, Nicodemus was one of the Jews who were influenced by Jesus’ signs (John 2:23). He was devout (a Pharisee), intelligent (Nicodemus is a Greek name), powerful (a king), and sincere enough to go at night. In a way, Nicodemus represented what is finest and best in men when he came to Jesus in the capacity of a representative of all men (John 2:23–25).
b. The guy who approached Jesus at night may have done so out of fear or a desire for a private conversation with Jesus.
c. We are aware that you are a divinely-inspired teacher. However, it is unclear if Nicodemus was speaking for the Sanhedrin, himself, or the general populace. It is probable, then, that oidamen simply means that thou art a teacher who has come from God. This is what we know oidamen to mean (Clarke)
d. We comprehend Nicodemus’ intent, but his assertion was not totally accurate. No one can do the signs that You perform without God being there. According to the Bible, false prophets and deceivers occasionally exhibit amazing signs (2 Thessalonians 2:9 and Revelation 13:13-14).
e. Jesus’ response to Nicodemus dispelled the Jewish belief that their racial identity—their old birth—guaranteed them a place in God’s Kingdom. One must be born anew in order to see the kingdom of God. Jesus made it clear that only being born again provides the confidence that a man will inherit the kingdom; his original birth does not.
i. Jews at the time were generally taught that because they were related to Abraham, they were guaranteed a place in heaven. In fact, according to some Rabbis, Abraham kept watch at the entrance of hell to make sure that none of his offspring unintentionally entered.
ii. The majority of Jews at that time expected the Messiah to usher in a brand-new era in which Israel and the Jewish people would hold a privileged position. Jesus, however, came to bring about new life, where He would be the foremost.
iii. Jesus reacted to Nicodemus by referring to him as the one who declared new life. Nicodemus addressed Jesus as a rabbi and teacher. Our Lord responds, “In the Kingdom of the Messiah, life, not learning, is desired, and life must begin at birth.”
f. John used the phrase “born again” in John 3:31, John 19:11, and John 19:23 to mean “from above,” which is another way to translate the ancient Greek word translated “again” (anothen). The meaning is practically the same either way. It is a new birth to be born from above.
i. The phrase “anew” could also be translated as “from above. Both interpretations are accurate, thus we should probably use the Johannine style to do so (Morris)
ii. This basically implies to get a fresh life. Regeneration is a theological phrase for this. It involves the rebirth of life, not only a moral or religious reform. “One must be born into the celestial kingdom to be a part of it.”
iii. Jesus made it quite plain that without this—that without being born again—one cannot enter or participate in (see) the kingdom of God. Reform in morality or religion is insufficient. One needs a new birth.
iv. We are not capable of doing this to ourselves. We may believe, “I can wash myself,” if Jesus had added, “Unless you are washed, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” A man might wash himself, but he could never give birth to himself.
v. “The theme of rebirth and creation is present throughout the New Testament” (Barclay)
● In 1 Peter, the concept of being born again is discussed (1 Peter 1:3).
● According to 1 Peter, one is reborn from an imperishable seed (1 Peter 1:22-23). ● James explains that God brings us forth by the word of truth (James 1:18).
● Titus mentions the washing of regeneration to us (Titus 3:5).
● Romans mentions Jesus’ death and resurrection (Romans 6:1-11).
● New Christians are described as newborn babies in 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:1-2).
● According to 2 Corinthians, Jesus has made us into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
● According to Galatians, we are brand-new creatures in Christ (Galatians 6:15). ● According to Ephesians, the new man is made in the image of God.
Proverbs 16:9
“A man’s heart devised his way: but the LORD directed his steps” John 3:10
“Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.”
● Unless one is born again; one will not see the kingdom of God
● All of Nicodemus’ good deeds earned Him nothing in getting acceptance of God.
● Self-rightousness
● We must be born again
● The real man is the spirit living inside the body
● God created Adam in His image and likeness
Genesis 1:26-27
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
1 Timothy 2:13
“For Adam was formed first, then Eve.”
● Sin is in our human spirit
● Everyone before Jesus was received a corrupted spirit from Adam