From Above (John 3)

Are we to be born from above and have faith in He who comes from above? What is being born of the Spirit? Does God love the world? Did Jesus baptize? Are believing and obedience connected? Let’s look at John 3.

How could a religious leader, schooled in the Old Testament, completely miss the concept of being born of the Spirit?

There was a man named Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and a Jewish leader. One night he went to Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom!” Nicodemus asked, “How can a grown man ever be born a second time?” (John 3:1-4 CEV)

How is being born again different than being born of the flesh?

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8 ESV)

What was Nicodemus’ question for Jesus and how did Jesus respond?

“How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus. “Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. “I assure you: We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony. If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven? No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. (John 3:9-15 HCSB)

In scripture, can loving the world have two meanings? Can one meaning be negative, as in loving the sinful ways of the world? Can loving the world also be a positive, as in God loving the people of the world?

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his uniquely existing Son [this is such a clear translation on this point] so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. Because God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world would be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s uniquely existing Son. And this is the basis for judgment: The light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light because their actions were evil. Everyone who practices wickedness hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his actions may not be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may become evident that his actions have God’s approval.” (John 3:16-21 ISV)

We know that John the Baptist baptized people, but did Jesus also baptize?

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. (John 3:22 KJV)

How humble was John the Baptist? Are we all also destined to eventually diminish?

And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— for John had not yet been thrown into prison. Therefore there arose a debate between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:23-30 LSB)

Did Jesus come from above? Do we just need to believe alone, or is belief proven by obedience to the Son?