The Gospel According to John Chapter 3

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The Gospel According to John Chapter 3

The Bible Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JHN.3.NIV

The Way/Truth of Salvation

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

1 Now there was a Pharisee (a religious leader), a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. (Nicodemus was a prominent leader as a member of Sanhedrin, the ruling council of Jews.)

2 He came to Jesus at night and said, (He was humble enough to come to Jesus, but at night due to his social status.) “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” (Nicodemus acknowledged Jesus as a powerful prophet and a teacher.)

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (Jesus first brought the concept of "Born Again" to Nicodemus to enlighten the divine realm of the kingdom of God.)

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” (The idea "Born Again" never had introduced until then.)

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. (Physical birth is the first birth, and spiritual birth is the second birth.)

6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (Flesh birth is the one, and Spirit birth is the second.)

7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ (Born Again is not to surprise but a very natural procedure of Salvation.)

8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (As much as the wind blows according to the physics of God, spiritual birth must be the same according to God.)

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. (Nicodemus couldn't understand because up to the time, the Jews had been bounded by the Law which was given to the Jews. Nicodemus, however, contributed the funeral of Jesus after His death. 19:38-42. Jesus opens the Way of Salvation to all nations and peoples as it was revealed in the Old Testament.) (1, Universal Salvation for the Believers.)

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? (The teaching of the Salvation through the salvific ministry of Jesus is the core message of the Old Testament. But Jews, including Nicodemus, didn't understand because their faith was bounded within the legalistic tradition.)

11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. (Jesus radically confirm‎s the everlasting radical truth of salvation throughout the time and the space. We have to get rid of our premature understandings and newly learn the authentic teachings of Jesus. Jn. 13:7, 1Co. 13:12, Isa. 11:9, Hab. 2:14. Having faith is to learn the true and deeper meanings of aged truth continually.)

12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? (The earthly things are shadows of the heavenly things. The Truth of the Kingdom of God is not faraway but here in the earth. It is the same wisdom and knowledge to know and understand the earthly and heavenly things.)

13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. (Jesus, who is originated from the Heaven is the Only and Perfect knowledge and wisdom of the Kingdom of God. 1:1-14, Heb. 1:1-3)

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (Even the death of Jesus for the salvation had been symbolized in the wilderness. Num. 21:4-9)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (This is what is it.)

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (Jesus is the way of salvation.)

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (Jesus causes a new life to the believers. But the unbelievers stay in the damnation yet with their unbelieving sin without any more condemnation. God is good all the time. But we are not.)

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. (Choice 1: Will you stay in darkness? 1:5, 9-10)

21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (Choice 2: Will you come out to the light? 8:12-20, Isa. 60:1-4)

John Testifies Again About Jesus

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside (East of Jerusalem, near Jordan River, very much isolated and barren.), where he spent some time with them, and baptized. (It was a retreat, and should be a minimal ministry for those who came to them; more people to less water.)

23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon (which means springs in Aramaic) near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. (West of Jordan River, between Samaria and Judea. 6-8 miles away fro the Judean countryside.)

24 (This was before John was put in prison.)

25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. (The origin of the baptism is the ceremonial cleansing of the Old Testament. It was also performed for the new converts, proselytes. Lev. 14:, etc.)

26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” (More people went to Jesus, where less water. The baptism of Jesus and his disciples caused concerns for the disciples of John the Baptist because of their jealousy and competition.)

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. (It is God who designates different duties and ministries to each servant. 1Co. 12:4-11)

28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ (John the Baptist had made clear his role of assistant for Jesus Christ.)

29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. (John the Baptist was happy doing his assistant ministry for Jesus, as those who standing by the bride and groom.)

30 He must become greater; I must become less.” (We serve God for His glory. Egoism has no place for the servant of God.)

31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.

33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.

34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. (Jesus who came from above and doing things of above is superior than those who belong to the earth. 6:38)

35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. (Jesus is full of Grace, Truth, and the Glory of God. 1:14)

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. (John the Baptist confirm‎s 3:16.)

1, Universal Salvation for the Believers. (Google AI)

Universal salvation in the Old Testament is primarily seen through prophetic promises that God's covenant blessings, originally focused on Israel, will extend to all nations, with every knee bowing to Him. Key themes include universal worship, the removal of death, and the ultimate restoration of all people.

Key Prophetic Verses:

Isaiah 45:22-23: God calls "all the ends of the earth" to turn to Him and be saved, swearing that " every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear".

Genesis 12:3: The promise to Abraham that "all families of the earth shall be blessed".

Psalm 22:27-28: "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee".

Isaiah 25:8: The Lord will swallow up death and wipe away tears from "all faces".

Jeremiah 31:34: A promise that all people, from least to greatest, will know the Lord.

Context of Old Testament Universalism:

These passages often emphasize the inclusivity of God's love and sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel.

While the New Testament often focuses on salvation through Christ, the Old Testament sets the stage for a future time when God’s salvation is acknowledged globally.

Some perspectives interpret these universal promises as referring to a future restoration of all humanity, while others view them in the context of the conversion of the nations to the worship of Yahweh. (I support the latter; the salvation of those believers from the nations.)

While the majority of the Old Testament focuses on the covenant with Israel, these specific verses form a basis for theological arguments supporting the eventual reconciliation of all people to God.

The Seven "I AM" Statements in John: (Google AI)

"I am the bread of life" (John 6:35): Jesus satisfies spiritual hunger.

"I am the light of the world" (John 8:12): Jesus provides guidance and truth.

"I am the gate/door for the sheep" (John 10:7, 9): Jesus is the way to salvation.

"I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11): Jesus cares for and sacrifices for his followers.

"I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25): Jesus offers eternal life.

"I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6): Jesus is the only path to the Father.

"I am the true vine" (John 15:1): Jesus is the source of spiritual life and growth.