A Nighttime Visitor

John 3.1-8

A Man Name Nicodemus

A Pharisee 3.1 A member of the Sanhedrin 3.1; 7.50 Helped prepare Jesus body for burial 19.39f Perhaps was afraid or timid to believe in Jesus:
Came to Jesus by night 3.2 Defended Jesus, buy not directly 7.50-51

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Nicodemus Recognition of Jesus

Nicodemus recognized that Jesus had come from God v2 How was he able to recognize this?
for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. John 2.23
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Nicodemus Wants To Know More

Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus??? Nicodemus recognized Jesus as being from God The fact that Jesus reply dealt with salvation was not surprising to Nicodemus Nicodemus was coming to Jesus to learn more about the message he (Jesus) had from God

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Jesus Reply
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. v3 To see the kingdom of God is a phrase used to describe the receiving of salvation This is a most important subject to which we should pay very close attention Unless one (except a man KJV) expresses the universal application of this statement
cf. Luke 23.39-43; Mark 10.17-22
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Nicodemus Response
Be born again? What!? How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Thinking physically and not spiritually

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Jesus Further Explanation

Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Born of water + Born of Spirit = Enter Kingdom What does this mean???

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What Does It Mean To Be Born Of Water and The Spirit?

John 3.5 Born of water Born of Spirit Enter Kingdom Titus 3.5 Washing of regeneration Renewal of Holy Spirit Eph. 5.26 Washing of Water With the Word 1 Cor. 12.13 Baptized In Spirit

Saved

Cleansed

In One Body
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Additional Contextual Considerations

A part of Jesus reply in the same conversation included, whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life v16 To have eternal life is equal to see (enter) the kingdom of God in vv3, 5 This saving belief points back to the obedience of baptism in v5

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Additional Contextual Considerations

Vv 31-36 teach us that the united message of the Godhead is that those who believe (i.e., obey) will be saved and those who do not obey (i.e., disbelieve) will not be saved For v36 cf. Romans 10.16; Hebrews 3.18-19

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Additional Considerations
And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16.15-16

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Additional Considerations
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2.37-38
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Additional Considerations
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Peter 3.21

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Additional Considerations
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Romans 6.3-5
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Romans 6.3-5
To walk in newness of life is to be born again
Christs death, burial & resurrection Our death, burial & rebirth by baptism

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Application
Have you been born again? If you want to see the kingdom of God, enter the kingdom of God, receive the forgiveness of your sins and be saved you must be born again That is, you must obey the Gospel by being immersed into Christ Jesus

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