WATER & SPIRIT

THE WORD

WATER & SPIRIT

TEXT: JOHN 3: http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/?q=John3&niv=yes


PARAPHRASE – John 3:1-21

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling counsel, came to Jesus at night and calling him teacher, said that they knew he was from God because of the miraculous signs he was doing.

Jesus responded by saying, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again,” which confused Nicodemus who taking Jesus literally, asked him how this was physically possible.

Trying to move Nicodemus away from a literal understanding, Jesus told him that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and Spirit stating, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” He went on to tell him that he shouldn’t be surprised at being told “You must be born again.” Speaking of the wind, Jesus tells Nicodemus that it blows wherever it wants to and although he can’t see where it comes from or where it is going he can hear its sound - which is like those who are born of the Spirit.

Still in the dark, Jesus tells Nicodemus that as one of Israel’s teachers he should already know the things he is being told, but the truth is although he and his disciples have been testifying to what they know and have seen – his people haven’t accepted their testimony. Jesus tells Nicodemus that since he has not believed him about earthly things it is unlikely he will believe him about heavenly things. He tells him that as the Son of Man he knows about heavenly things because having come from heaven he has been in heaven. And as Moses lifted up a snake on a pole in the desert so that whoever looked up at it would be saved from sin and death, he too will be lifted up on a cross so that whoever looks to him and believes in him will have eternal life.

He goes on to tell Nicodemus that God loves the world so much that he has given his only Son so that whoever believes in him will not perish apart from God but live eternally with Him. God didn’t send his Son into the world to condemn it but to save it through him, i.e. whoever believes in the Son is not condemned but whoever doesn’t believe is condemned because he doesn’t believe in God’s Son. And the verdict is: the Son is the Light that has come into the world, but men love darkness instead because what they do is evil and therefore they hate the light because they are fearful their evil actions will be exposed. However, those who live by the truth come into the light where it is clearly seen what they do has been done through God.

PRINCIPLES

(CIT = Central Idea of the Text, INT = Interrogatory, ANS = Answer)

JOHN 3:1-21

A. First Century Readers

CIT: John tells his first century readers that God sent His Son into the world to save it.

INT: How did John tell them God was going to save the world through His Son?

ANS: John told them that:

I. They must be born again. v 3,7

II. They must be born of water & the Spirit. v 5,6,8

III. They must believe in the Cross. v 14,15

IV. They must believe in God’s Son. v 10-13,16-18

V. They must come into his Light. v 19-21

B. Readers Today

CIT: John tells us today that God sent His Son into the world to save it.

INT: How does John tell us that God saves the world through His Son?

ANS: John tells us that:

I. We must be born again. v 3,7

II. We must be born of water & the Spirit. v 5,6,8

III. We must believe in the Cross. v 14,15

IV. We must believe in His Son. v 10-13,16-18

V. We must come into his Light. v 19-21

PRAYER

Our Father, we thank You for sending Your Son into the world to save us.

Our Father, we ask you to forgive us when we hide in our darkness.

Our Father, we praise You for bringing us into Your Light.

Our Father, glory to You for the Cross we look up to.

Our Father, we thank You for the water & Spirit.

Our Father, glory to You for the birth it brings.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.