\n\n\n\n
This is perhaps the most important chapter in John’s Gospel, for it deals with the subject of the new birth. Some religious groups have so confused this subject that many average church members, let alone religious leaders like Nicodemus, have no idea what it means to be born again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I. The Necessity for the New Birth<\/strong> (3:1\u20135<\/a>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\nA. It is necessary to see (experience) the kingdom of God<\/strong> (v. 3<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\nNicodemus was a moral, religious man, one of the chief teachers (rulers) of the Jews, yet he did not understand the truth about the new birth. Spiritual truths cannot be grasped by the carnal mind of sinful man (see 1 Cor. 2:10\u201314<\/a>). Nicodemus came “by night,” a symbol of the unsaved man; he is “in the dark” spiritually (see Eph. 4:18<\/a> and 2 Cor. 4:3\u20136<\/a>). Being religious and moral does not make a man fit for heaven; he must be born again, that is, born from above.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNicodemus confused the spiritual and the physical (see v. 4<\/a>). He thought in terms of physical birth, while Christ was talking about a spiritual birth. All of us are born in sin. Our “first birth” makes us children of Adam, and this means we are children of wrath and of disobedience (Eph. 2:1\u20133<\/a>). No amount of education, religion, or discipline can change the old nature; we must receive a new nature from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\nB. It is necessary to enter the kingdom of God<\/strong> (v. 5<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\nBy “the kingdom of God” Jesus did not mean an earthly political kingdom. Paul described the kingdom of God in Rom. 14:17<\/a>. When a sinner trusts Christ, he or she enters God’s kingdom and family. Like most of his Jewish friends, Nicodemus thought that being born a Jew, and living according to the Law, would satisfy God (see Matt. 3:7\u201312<\/a>; John 8:33\u201339<\/a>). Ever since Adam’s sin in Gen 3<\/a>, all men have been born outside paradise. Only by being born again can we enter the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\nII. The Nature of the New Birth<\/strong> (3:6\u201313<\/a>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\nA. The new birth is a spiritual birth<\/strong> (vv. 6\u20137<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThat which is born of the flesh (the old nature) is flesh, always will be flesh, and is under the wrath of God. That which is born of the Spirit (the new nature discussed in 2 Peter. 1:4<\/a>) is Spirit and is eternal. You cannot produce a spiritual birth with physical means. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is why “born of water” in v. 5<\/a> cannot mean literal water, for baptism would mean applying a physical substance (water) to the physical being. This action could never bring about a spiritual birth. (Read again John 1:11\u201313<\/a> and 6:23<\/a>) “Born of water” does not refer to water baptism, for in the Bible baptism speaks of death, not birth (Rom. 6:1ff<\/a>). If baptism is essential for salvation, then nobody in the OT was ever saved, for there was no baptism under the Law. The great saints named in Heb 11<\/a> were all saved by faith. Salvation is not of works (Eph. 2:8\u201310<\/a>), and baptism is a human work. Christ came to save, yet He did not baptize (John. 4:2<\/a>). If baptism is necessary for eternal life, why did Paul rejoice because he had not baptized more people? (1 Cor. 1:13\u201317<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe new birth can only be produced by spiritual means. What are these means? The Spirit of God (John 3:6<\/a> and 6:63<\/a>), and the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23<\/a>; James 1:18<\/a>). The “water” in v. 5<\/a> refers to physical birth (every baby is “born of water”), the thing Nicodemus mentioned in v. 4<\/a>. A person is born again when the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to produce faith and impart the new nature when the person believes. The Spirit usually uses a believer to give the Word to another person (see 1 Cor. 4:15<\/a>), but only the Spirit can impart life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nB. It is a mysterious birth<\/strong> (vv. 8\u201310<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\nNo one can explain the wind, and no one can explain the working of the Spirit. Both the Spirit and the believer are like the wind. Nicodemus, instructed in the Law, should have known the truth of the renewing work of the Spirit (see Ezek. 37<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\nC. It is a real birth<\/strong> (vv. 11\u201313<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\nMany things are mysterious but still real. Jesus assures Nicodemus that the new birth is not a fantasy, it is a reality. If a person will but believe Christ’s words and receive Him, he or she will discover how real and wonderful the new birth is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
III. The Basis for the New Birth<\/strong> (3:14\u201321<\/a>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\nA. Christ had to die<\/strong> (vv. 14\u201317<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\nChrist again refers Nicodemus to the OT, this time Num 21<\/a>, the account of the brazen serpent. The serpents were biting the Jews and killing them, and the strange solution to the problem was found when Moses made a serpent of brass! Looking to the serpent in faith brought healing. In like manner, Christ was made sin for us, for it was sin that was killing us. As we look to Christ by faith, we are saved. Brass symbolizes judgment, and Christ experienced our judgment when He was lifted up on the cross. Christ had to die before men could be born again; His death brings life. What a paradox!<\/p>\n\n\n\nB. Sinners have to believe<\/strong> (vv. 18\u201321<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\nFaith in Christ is the only means of salvation. God’s command to Moses in Num 21<\/a> was not that he kill the snakes, make a salve for the wounds, or try to protect the Jews from being bitten. It was that he lift up the brazen serpent and tell men to look by faith. Not to look meant condemnation; faith meant salvation. John here goes back to 1:4\u201313<\/a>, the symbolism of light and life, darkness and death. Sinners not only live in darkness, but they love the darkness, and refuse to come to the light where their sins will be exposed and can be forgiven.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIV. The Confusion about the New Birth<\/strong> (3:22\u201336<\/a>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\nVerse 25<\/a> can be translated: “There arose a question between some of John’s disciples and a Jew concerning ceremonial purification” (emphasis mine). Could this Jew have been Nicodemus, still searching after truth? Like many people today, Nicodemus was confused about baptism and religious ceremonies. Perhaps he thought “born of water” meant baptism or some Jewish purification rite. Note how John the Baptist pointed this Jew to Christ. If baptism were necessary for salvation, then this is the place for the Bible to say so; but nothing is said. Instead, the emphasis is on believing (v. 36<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt is evident that Nicodemus came “out of the dark” and finally became a born–again Christian. Here in John 3<\/a>, we see Nicodemus in the darkness of confusion; in John 7:45\u201353<\/a>, we see him in the dawn of conviction, willing to give Christ a fair hearing; and in John 19:38\u201342<\/a>, we see Nicodemus in the daylight of confession, openly identifying himself with Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLearn More from Wiersbe\u2019s Expository Outlines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WiersbesExpositoryOutlinesSocial.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis unique book combines two volumes of Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe\u2019s Expository Outlines on the Old & New Testaments<\/a>. Included in this book are introductions and outlines for every book in the Bible, in-depth expositions of every chapter in the NT, and lots of additional features helping the reader understand and communicate God\u2019s truth. Get your copy of this resource today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nicodemus was a moral, religious man, one of the chief teachers (rulers) of the Jews, yet he did not understand the truth about the new birth. Spiritual truths cannot be grasped by the carnal mind of sinful man (see 1 Cor. 2:10\u201314<\/a>). Nicodemus came “by night,” a symbol of the unsaved man; he is “in the dark” spiritually (see Eph. 4:18<\/a> and 2 Cor. 4:3\u20136<\/a>). Being religious and moral does not make a man fit for heaven; he must be born again, that is, born from above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nicodemus confused the spiritual and the physical (see v. 4<\/a>). He thought in terms of physical birth, while Christ was talking about a spiritual birth. All of us are born in sin. Our “first birth” makes us children of Adam, and this means we are children of wrath and of disobedience (Eph. 2:1\u20133<\/a>). No amount of education, religion, or discipline can change the old nature; we must receive a new nature from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By “the kingdom of God” Jesus did not mean an earthly political kingdom. Paul described the kingdom of God in Rom. 14:17<\/a>. When a sinner trusts Christ, he or she enters God’s kingdom and family. Like most of his Jewish friends, Nicodemus thought that being born a Jew, and living according to the Law, would satisfy God (see Matt. 3:7\u201312<\/a>; John 8:33\u201339<\/a>). Ever since Adam’s sin in Gen 3<\/a>, all men have been born outside paradise. Only by being born again can we enter the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That which is born of the flesh (the old nature) is flesh, always will be flesh, and is under the wrath of God. That which is born of the Spirit (the new nature discussed in 2 Peter. 1:4<\/a>) is Spirit and is eternal. You cannot produce a spiritual birth with physical means. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why “born of water” in v. 5<\/a> cannot mean literal water, for baptism would mean applying a physical substance (water) to the physical being. This action could never bring about a spiritual birth. (Read again John 1:11\u201313<\/a> and 6:23<\/a>) “Born of water” does not refer to water baptism, for in the Bible baptism speaks of death, not birth (Rom. 6:1ff<\/a>). If baptism is essential for salvation, then nobody in the OT was ever saved, for there was no baptism under the Law. The great saints named in Heb 11<\/a> were all saved by faith. Salvation is not of works (Eph. 2:8\u201310<\/a>), and baptism is a human work. Christ came to save, yet He did not baptize (John. 4:2<\/a>). If baptism is necessary for eternal life, why did Paul rejoice because he had not baptized more people? (1 Cor. 1:13\u201317<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new birth can only be produced by spiritual means. What are these means? The Spirit of God (John 3:6<\/a> and 6:63<\/a>), and the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23<\/a>; James 1:18<\/a>). The “water” in v. 5<\/a> refers to physical birth (every baby is “born of water”), the thing Nicodemus mentioned in v. 4<\/a>. A person is born again when the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to produce faith and impart the new nature when the person believes. The Spirit usually uses a believer to give the Word to another person (see 1 Cor. 4:15<\/a>), but only the Spirit can impart life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one can explain the wind, and no one can explain the working of the Spirit. Both the Spirit and the believer are like the wind. Nicodemus, instructed in the Law, should have known the truth of the renewing work of the Spirit (see Ezek. 37<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many things are mysterious but still real. Jesus assures Nicodemus that the new birth is not a fantasy, it is a reality. If a person will but believe Christ’s words and receive Him, he or she will discover how real and wonderful the new birth is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christ again refers Nicodemus to the OT, this time Num 21<\/a>, the account of the brazen serpent. The serpents were biting the Jews and killing them, and the strange solution to the problem was found when Moses made a serpent of brass! Looking to the serpent in faith brought healing. In like manner, Christ was made sin for us, for it was sin that was killing us. As we look to Christ by faith, we are saved. Brass symbolizes judgment, and Christ experienced our judgment when He was lifted up on the cross. Christ had to die before men could be born again; His death brings life. What a paradox!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faith in Christ is the only means of salvation. God’s command to Moses in Num 21<\/a> was not that he kill the snakes, make a salve for the wounds, or try to protect the Jews from being bitten. It was that he lift up the brazen serpent and tell men to look by faith. Not to look meant condemnation; faith meant salvation. John here goes back to 1:4\u201313<\/a>, the symbolism of light and life, darkness and death. Sinners not only live in darkness, but they love the darkness, and refuse to come to the light where their sins will be exposed and can be forgiven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Verse 25<\/a> can be translated: “There arose a question between some of John’s disciples and a Jew concerning ceremonial purification” (emphasis mine). Could this Jew have been Nicodemus, still searching after truth? Like many people today, Nicodemus was confused about baptism and religious ceremonies. Perhaps he thought “born of water” meant baptism or some Jewish purification rite. Note how John the Baptist pointed this Jew to Christ. If baptism were necessary for salvation, then this is the place for the Bible to say so; but nothing is said. Instead, the emphasis is on believing (v. 36<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is evident that Nicodemus came “out of the dark” and finally became a born–again Christian. Here in John 3<\/a>, we see Nicodemus in the darkness of confusion; in John 7:45\u201353<\/a>, we see him in the dawn of conviction, willing to give Christ a fair hearing; and in John 19:38\u201342<\/a>, we see Nicodemus in the daylight of confession, openly identifying himself with Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This unique book combines two volumes of Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe\u2019s Expository Outlines on the Old & New Testaments<\/a>. Included in this book are introductions and outlines for every book in the Bible, in-depth expositions of every chapter in the NT, and lots of additional features helping the reader understand and communicate God\u2019s truth. Get your copy of this resource today!<\/p>\n\n\n\nB. It is necessary to enter the kingdom of God<\/strong> (v. 5<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
II. The Nature of the New Birth<\/strong> (3:6\u201313<\/a>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A. The new birth is a spiritual birth<\/strong> (vv. 6\u20137<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
B. It is a mysterious birth<\/strong> (vv. 8\u201310<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
C. It is a real birth<\/strong> (vv. 11\u201313<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
III. The Basis for the New Birth<\/strong> (3:14\u201321<\/a>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A. Christ had to die<\/strong> (vv. 14\u201317<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
B. Sinners have to believe<\/strong> (vv. 18\u201321<\/a>).<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
IV. The Confusion about the New Birth<\/strong> (3:22\u201336<\/a>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Learn More from Wiersbe\u2019s Expository Outlines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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