1. The Life Of Christ Lesson Four – The Beginning Of Christ’s Ministry
Jesus’ First Disciples – John 1:35-51
Jesus’ First Miracle – John 2:1-11
Jesus Cleanses the Temple – John 2:13-25
Jesus and Nicodemus – John 3:1-21
John’s Second Testimony – John 3:22-36

2. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
Jesus clarifies … (3:5-6)
“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God …”
“If and only if …” (Micky)
Jesus entire discussion with Nicodemus is to be understood as addressing this topic – entrance into the kingdom of God.

3. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
Jesus clarifies … (3:5-6)
Born (again) of …
Water and the Spirit … One birth with two elements, not two baptisms.
Water:
Spirit:

4. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
Born (again) of … Water:
The only reference of water to our entrance into the kingdom throughout the scriptures is baptism.
Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:4-5; John 3:23; Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27; Acts 8:36; 1 Peter 3:20-21; Acts 22:16
Eph 5: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word
Titus 3: He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
John 3:23 – John baptized because there was much water there.
Mark 16: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel ... "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; …he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Gal 3:27 “all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves w/ Christ.
Acts 8:36 – “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
1 Peter 3:20-21 “…safely through the water. 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”

5. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
Born (again) of … The Spirit:
Not Holy Spirit baptism –from God promised to the Lord’s apostles. John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13 – Acts 2:1-4
Scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; Galatians 1:11-12; James 1:18; Ephesians 3:3-5; 2 Peter 1:20-21
Conviction of sin (John 16:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5), revelation of gospel and hope.
John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 15:26 When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me,
John 16:13 - But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
Gal 1:11-12 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
James 1:18 – brought forth by the word of truth.
Eph 3:3-5 - that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
2 Peter 1:21 - Men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

6. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
Born again or begat …
There must be a begetting: 1 Corinthians 4:15; James 1:18, 21; 1 Peter 1:22-23
When the gospel is preached/planted … Luke 8:11; James 1:18; 1 Corinthians 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23
1 Cor 4:15 - For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
James 1: In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
1 Peter 1: Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.
Luke 8:11 – the seed is the word of God
James 1:18 – brought forth by the word of truth
1 Cor. 4:15 – begot through the gospel
2 Cor. 5:17 – new creature in Christ
1 Peter 1:23 – born again of imperishable seed

7. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
Born (again) of … The Spirit:
John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6)
God’s word is “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17)
2 Cor 3:5-6 - Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

8. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
Scripture
1st Element
2nd Element
Outcome
John 3:5
Water
Spirit
Kingdom
Ephesians 5:26
Word
Cleansed
Titus 3:5
Washing
Holy Spirit
Saved
1 Corinthians 12:13
Baptized
Body

9. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
Verse 6 – Jesus contrasts the flesh and the Spirit – Jesus is teaching about a spiritual birth from God as revealed by the Holy Spirit that results in a new spiritual being.
Verses 7-8 – Still speaking about the difference between the flesh and the Spirit. We cannot see the spirit being reborn but we can see the results, just like the wind.

10. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
Verses 9-10 – Nicodemus asks, “how can these things be?” – still thinking fleshly.
Jesus questions how Nicodemus could be a teacher of Israel and not understand these things.
Nicodemus didn’t recognize the spiritual truths taught in the prophets. Acts 13:27; 2 Corinthians 3:14-15