Category: Blog

In the previous blog, I ended by talking about hearing the Shepherd’s voice. This is the evidence that the Shepherd — Jesus Christ — has opened our ears to believe the gospel.

The way God has arranged for people to be saved from sin and judgment and hell is by hearing the true gospel and believing it. God enables His sheep, like Nicodemus, to savingly hear His voice in the gospel call and to respond with obedience.

In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Jesus says you and I come into this world as sinners and our sin has separated us from the blessing of God. But God sent His Son to die for the sins of all who would ever believe on Him for salvation.

Those people who believe are called His sheep. He paid for their sins on the cross and they will come to Him because the Father draws them to Christ.

Has He drawn you to Christ? Have you obeyed the gospel by putting your trust for eternal life in Christ alone and are you following Him?

Hear the voice of Jesus in the gospel. You are a sinner; turn from your sin by putting your trust in Jesus and His finished work on the cross, believe that He died for your sin and that you must be clothed with His righteousness to enter heaven.

Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. You will be saved (Romans 10:9).

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Have you heard the Shepherd’s voice?

Pastor Kevin

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In the last post, I closed by asking some questions. What did Nicodemus need? and what do all spiritually dead people need which Jesus said must come from above?

Have you thought about what Nicodemus needed that he didn’t have? Have you thought about what all spiritually dead people need which Jesus said must come from above? The answer is spiritual regeneration… which is another word for new birth.

But this is our predicament. We can’t give birth to ourselves. It must come from outside of us and be done for us and to us.

When Nicodemus asked Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” that was a reference to natural birth.

Nicodemus didn’t need to be urged to be physically born. He had done that.

But “born of water” we saw in verse 5 was something that an OT teacher like Nicodemus was expected to know. It’s an OT reference to cleansing.

It likely referred to the passage in Ezekiel 36:25-27 about the inner cleansing from sin that comes with a new heart and a new spirit.

It’s an OT reference to being born again through spiritual regeneration. But Nicodemus was spiritually blind to the meaning of this OT passage despite the fact that he was called the teacher of Israel!

Jesus says that being born of water and the Spirit (which isn’t two separate events, but one act that God performs at regeneration) is necessary for entrance into the kingdom of God.

Then in verse 6 Jesus says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

If all you have is a natural birth, then all you are is natural and nothing more. No spiritual birth comes as a result of being born of the flesh.  But, that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. So there is a spiritual birth that must come after physical birth

The only way to enter heaven is to be born of the Spirit. As the old couplet says, “Born once, die twice; born twice, die once.”

The way God has arranged for people to be saved from sin and judgment and hell is by hearing the true gospel and believing it. God enables His sheep, like Nicodemus, to savingly hear His voice in the gospel call and to respond with obedience.

In the next blog, we’ll go further by considering how Christ’s sheep hear His voice in a way that leads to new life in Him.

Until then,
Pastor Kevin

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In this blog post, let’s review what we’ve seen in John 3:1-4 and then look at verses 5-6 about the difference between being born of the flesh and being born of the Spirit.

We have seen in verses 1-4 where Jesus teaches Nicodemus and us that it’s possible to be very religious, and yet be very lost and spiritually separated from God.

Nicodemus was a type of Jewish leader who was at the top of the religious counsel in Jerusalem. He was called “a ruler of the Jews” referring to his position on the Sanhedrin which presided over religious and judicial matters.

But he wasn’t born again. So, Nicodemus was spiritually dead to the true God… he needed more than religion or virtue or sincerity to get to heaven… and the same is true of you and me.  

The only remedy for spiritual deadness to God is something that must come from God Himself. Jesus said – “you must be born again.” God must enable you to want this salvation before you’ll ever be inclined to believe it. He has to change our heart.

So that brings us back to verse 5 of John chapter 3. Look at verses 5 and 6…

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [ESV]

We began looking at verse 5 the last time we were together. We saw that the phrase “born of water and the Spirit” was just another way of describing the new birth. Being “born of water and the Spirit” means the same thing as being “born again.”

We saw that “born of water” isn’t referring to water baptism, because baptism is the external symbol or sign of new birth, but never the cause of new birth.

And born of water isn’t referring to natural birth, because Nicodemus already knew he had been naturally born – he didn’t need to undergo another biological birth.

But what did Nicodemus need? What do all spiritually dead people need which Jesus said must come from above? We’ll consider the answer to these questions in our next post.

Until then,
Pastor Kevin

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As noted in the previous post about water in John 3, baptism doesn’t save anyone – it is, rather, the external sign of inner conversion by the Holy Spirit.

The Bible never teaches regeneration through baptism. Yet baptism is an external sign of regeneration once rebirth has taken place in a believer’s life.

In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

When water is used figuratively in the OT, it always refers to renewal or spiritual cleansing, especially when used in conjunction with the word “spirit”. (Num. 19:17–19; Ps. 51:9, 10; Is. 32:15; 44:3–5; 55:1–3; Jer. 2:13; Joel 2:28, 29).

So, Jesus made reference to the spiritual washing or purification of the soul; it is accomplished by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God at the moment of salvation.

In two different ways, Jesus showed Nicodemus that the new birth is indispensable for seeing or entering His kingdom.

How can you enter and see the kingdom of God?

Jesus said, “You must be born again…” you must be born of water and the Spirit which is the cleansing that comes with regeneration. Do you believe that Jesus died in your place on the cross to pay for your sins; that He rose from the dead; ascended bodily into heaven and will return to judge the living and the dead?

Will you follow Him and obey Him, having trusted Him as your savior, your Lord, and your Treasure above all earthly treasures?

You desire or ability to do so is like His engraved invitation. God’s effectual call never comes apart from God’s enablement.

In the next blog, we’ll consider the difference between being born of the flesh and being born of the Spirit.

 Until then,
Pastor Kevin

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Spiritual birth is something one undergoes, not something one produces. As our efforts and activities had nothing to do with our natural conception and birth, so in an analogous way but on a far higher plane, regeneration is not a work of ours.

As soon as Jesus said, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God,” Nicodemus knew there was a metaphor in what Jesus was saying to him about being born again.

Metaphorical language was common among Jewish rabbis like Nicodemus. Therefore, Nicodemus probed into the meaning of Jesus’ metaphor seeking its application to himself. “How can I do this?”

Jesus was talking in spiritual terms. The Master Teacher allows this tension to linger in order to draw him toward a correct understanding of regeneration as he ponders what it means to be born again.

In verse 4, the physical analogy of natural birth is stated by Nicodemus. He says, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” He’s asking for clarity.

Jesus doesn’t even answer his question about entering a second time into his mother’s womb. He continues to draw Nicodemus closer and closer to the truth.

He makes no attempt to simplify the matter, but He adds an allusion to the OT in verse 5.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

In verse 3, Jesus said spiritual birth was necessary to “see” the kingdom of God; now verse 5 adds that spiritual birth is necessary to “enter” the kingdom of God.

Jesus is saying the same thing He said in verse 3 in a different way. Being “born again” and being “born of water and the Spirit” are talking about the same reality.

As a Pharisee, Nicodemus was responsible for interpreting the OT Scriptures with authority. He was considered a master teacher! That’s why it was expected that he would catch Jesus’ reference to Ezekiel 36:25-27.

Now, if you think that reference sounds obscure, then you’re underestimating the knowledge that even an average Pharisee had of the OT. But Nicodemus was no average Pharisee; he was considered the teacher of Israel… and he knew the OT.

Water and the Spirit were symbolic of what happens spiritually at conversion. It’s about cleansing from sin by the Spirit. He wasn’t referring to literal water or to baptism.

Baptism doesn’t save anyone – it is, rather, the external sign of inner conversion by the Holy Spirit. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

We’ll think more about the meaning of “born of water” in our next post.

Until then,
Pastor Kevin

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⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [ESV]

We’re learning from Jesus what it means to be born again. In this post, we’ll be considering verses 4-5.

This is where Jesus expresses the impossibility of self-regeneration; it is the work of God, not us.

One of the ways Jesus showed His love for sinners was in telling them truths about themselves which they didn’t necessarily want to hear. Nicodemus probably didn’t want to hear Jesus say that he must be born again to see the kingdom of God.

Religious people imagine that they’re very close to God already, even when they’re not. Many lost people imagine they’re saved by their own definition of salvation.

Nicodemus was one of the most religious citizens in Jerusalem. Religious people tend to be proud of their religious devotion and they tend to become defensive when someone tells them that their religious devotion is insufficient and misdirected.

This man was a Pharisee. He was a ruler of the Jews… meaning he was a member of the Sanhedrin. He was elderly and distinguished, while Jesus was regarded as a young teacher with new ideas who performed God-given signs.

We learn later that Nicodemus was also somewhat wealthy and he later used his resources to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. Nicodemus later came to true faith in Christ, according to John 7:50-52. But John 3 is about before he came to faith.

You see, Nicodemus is like all of us in that each of us must be born again.

 Jesus loves Nicodemus enough to tell him the truth… even when He knows that truth will bring offense and conviction. The truth of God often hurts before it heals.

If most church people heard someone say what Nicodemus said in verse 2, they would do back-flips and rejoice! They would assure him that he was saved already and would have hastily offered him the proverbial right hand of fellowship!

Listen to his confession in verse 2: “We know you’re a teacher come from God; no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

That’s all most people need to hear. They would say that Nicodemus is already going to heaven based on his confession alone, not to mention his morally upright lifestyle… most people would say that he’s already going to see the kingdom of God when he dies.

However, Jesus doesn’t say that; Jesus says the opposite. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Meaning: “You, Nicodemus, cannot see the kingdom of God unless you are born again.”

We’ll pick it up here in our next blog post.

Until then,
Pastor Kevin

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We’ve been looking at John 3 and what Jesus said to Nicodemus about being “born again” or “born from above.” Now let’s consider who causes this to happen.

Do you cause your own spiritual birth… or does God?

Scripture teaches that only God can cause anyone to be born again and that we can’t cause it, or control it, or manipulate it in any way.

However, when God does enable us to be born again and has given us new life by His Spirit, then we will believe the truth about Christ revealed in Scripture; we will come to Him as He is lifted up in the gospel presentation.

We will love Him as our Lord and Savior and Treasure of infinite worth; we will love our brothers and sisters in Christ with sacrificial love; and we will yearn to follow Him through obedience to His Word all the days of our life.

The new birth – being born again – enables a person to respond to Jesus with life and obedience and joy… instead of spiritual death and disinterest and disgust.

Are you born again?

Would Jesus say the same thing about your spiritual status based on what we see here in the text? The desire to come to Jesus for salvation is a necessary part of His enablement. We see this in Nicodemus’ desire to come.

Believe that His death on the cross was the full and final payment for all of your sins and there’s nothing you can ever do to add anything to His meritorious work on your behalf. Entrust yourself to Him… and follow Him from this day onward.  

In our next study, we’ll learn what Jesus means by the phrase, “born of water and the Spirit.”

This is not a verse about baptism, but about the spiritual cleansing spoken of in the OT (Ezekiel 36:24-27) which was surprisingly missed by Nicodemus!  We’ll continue with this in our next blog.

Until then,
Pastor Kevin

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3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by 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.” ³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [ESV]

Being “born again” is a phrase coined by Jesus Himself. It literally means “born from above.” This is another way of expressing spiritual life through the new birth.

What happens in the new birth is not about getting another religion – or even a better religion; it’s about getting a new life. What happens in the new birth is not about merely recognizing and affirming the supernatural power of Jesus, but experiencing that supernatural power personally in yourself.

In verse 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus and us that our eternal lives depend on being born again: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The word “cannot” refers to our spiritual inability.

Being born again isn’t optional or superficial. It isn’t something you just “add-on” to your existing religious practices.

As one author says, the new birth is not like cosmetics that morticians use to make corpses look more life-like. The new birth is the creation of authentic spiritual life, not the imitation of life.

Religious zeal can imitate spiritual life. High moral standards can imitate spiritual life. Good works and virtuous integrity can imitate spiritual life… but compared to true spiritual life… all of these are like the morticians’ cosmetics on a corpse.

That’s why Jesus said, “You must be born again!”

He didn’t say, “You need to be more religious.” He didn’t say, “You need to be more upright and virtuous in your morality.” He didn’t say, “Teach Sunday school” or “Pastor a church” or “Give more money.”

You can do all of those things and still be absolutely spiritually dead and lost! That’s why you must be born again.

In the rest of John chapter 3 we’re going to learn from Jesus what the new life is and how God brings it about through the miracle of regeneration.

Until next time,
Pastor Kevin

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3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by 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.” ³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [ESV]

In a spiritual sense, Nicodemus was blind. Without being born again, he could not see the kingdom of God (v. 3).

But even though Jesus said he was blind in a spiritual sense (blind to God and His truth), Nicodemus could still “see” many important things about Jesus.

This observation helps us to understand that even the spiritually blind can “see” many important truths about Jesus while still being dead to God. They have a witness that makes them culpable, but they reject it apart from regeneration.

Nicodemus was at the top of the religious council in Israel. In verse 1, we learn that he was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin (“a ruler of the Jews”). 

This means he was well educated and highly respected among the Jewish people. He was like the distinguished professor emeritus, the religious doctor emeritus of Israel.

He was a religious leader, he was a ruler, and considered the teacher in Israel (v. 10)… and Jesus is about to show him that religious rank and prestige are worthless when it comes to knowing God and having spiritual life in Christ.

According to verse 2, Nicodemus has made some very astute observations about Jesus. He says, “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.”

Even as an unbeliever, Nicodemus could recognize the supernatural power of Jesus and could even affirm His connection to God as evidenced by those signs.

But rather than congratulating Nicodemus, Jesus goes right to the heart of the matter… and He says something that doesn’t seem to match what Nicodemus just acknowledged.

We learn in Christ’s answer that Jesus isn’t merely responding to what Nicodemus says, he’s responding to the private thoughts in Nicodemus’ head! This is another evidence of the deity of Christ. He can read our thoughts. He knows our hearts.

That’s why it seems almost like a non-sequitur when Jesus responds to a statement about coming from God and doing signs with a statement about the necessity of being born again in order to “see” the kingdom of God.

Jesus was answering the unspoken thoughts that were behind the ultimate reason for coming to Him. So there are many astute and correct things that even the spiritually blind can see about Jesus… but they still must be born again.

In the next blog, we’ll look at this phrase Jesus used called “born again.” What does it mean to be born again… and how does this differ from being religious?

Until then,
Pastor Kevin

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3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  This man came to Jesus by 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.” ³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [John 3:1-3, ESV]

We can learn a lot from listening to interviews; especially when Jesus is the Moderator.

Jesus interviewed various people from diverse social, religious, and ethnic strata – and His purpose was to demonstrate one common theme: they all need spiritual life and salvation from Him.

John chapter 3 is one of the clearest passages on what it means to be born again. The only way we can be ready to face today is by being ready to face eternity.

Being a Christian, being someone who goes to heaven instead of hell, is not a question of who’s good or who’s bad; it’s a spiritual question of who’s dead and who’s alive. Nor is this about being “religious.”

Apart from faith in Christ, a person is spiritually dead and all the religious activity in the world cannot overcome that spiritual death. 

Only faith in Christ, which is God’s free gift, can raise the spiritually dead to new life in Christ. When a person has this faith, they see and taste and believe in a spiritual sense. This is evidence of new life from God.

One of the first lessons we can learn from the example of Nicodemus is that it’s possible to be very religious and still be very lost and spiritually dead to Christ. John demonstrates this in chapter 3. Nicodemus has impeccable religious credentials.

What about you? Do you consider yourself a religious person? Are you proud of your religious affiliation… of your denomination… your church… your virtue? Do you trust in this for salvation?

In the next several blog entries, I want to explore the way in which Jesus probes beyond the religious exterior of Nicodemus to reveal this very religious man’s need for true salvation. And by so doing, we will see our own daily need for Christ as well.

For His Glory,
Pastor Kevin

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