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“
“
Marvel not… You must beBorn Again!
(John 3:7)
 
”Passage: John 3: 1 – 16
 June 7 , 2009(SUNDAY Bible Study)
Discussion:Nicodemus
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Ruling member of Pharisees.
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a Jewish religious leader
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He likely risked danger by meeting with Jesus at nightsecretly.
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Recognized the stamp of God upon Jesus because of themiraculous signs.
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 Jesus must have a strong effect in him. He stood up for Jesus at the Jewish ruling council (7:50) and helpedprepare Jesus’ body for burial (19:39)
Pharisees
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In Luke 10:31 – The Good Samaritan, The priest saw therobbery victim in a half-dead state. According to OT Law,a priest who touched a dead body made himself ceremonially impure (Leviticus 21:1-4). The priest andreligious Levite decided not to go to get involved
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Were a legalistic and separatist group who strictly, butoften hypocritically, kept the law of Moses and theunwritten tradition of the elders.
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Most of them were opposed to Jesus.
Samaritan
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A racial minority despised in Israel.
A.The New Birth ( or Being “Born Again”) – vv. 1 – 12
1.
Read vv. 1 & 2.
By what means did Nicodemusrecognize Jesus as Lord?
–Nicodemus acknowledge Jesus’ name as Rabbi –meaning a teacher that comes from God.
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He also believes in Jesus because of the miraclesHe had done, for without God in Him, Jesus can’tdo these miracles.
2.
Read v.3
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Is there any exception on how we cansee the kingdom of God?
None. There is only one way, and it is to be BornAgain.
 
3.
Read vv. 3 – 7.
In what specific verse did wesee the difference of Pharisees being a teacher versus Jesus being a teacher to us?
Verse 4 – Nicodemus spoke this ridiculous process of being Born Again and has shown his ignorance.
 4.Jesus showing his transparency untoNicodemus, do you think the topic Jesus shared to Him is just an accident?
No. It’s not an accident.
5.Do you think Jesus knew what does Nicodemusreally long for?Then what do you think was Nicodemus’deepest need?
 Yes, Jesus knew what Nicodemus longs for. Jesusknew Nicodemus’ (and our) deepest need –to be bornagain -
unless he is born again, he cannot enterthe kingdom of God
(vv. 3, 5, 7).
6.How do you think did Jesus know of Nicodemus’ need?
It is by Nicodemus’ curiosity and faith that Jesus isfrom God. Jesus was conversing with Nicodemus. For a man likehim, the only requirement for entering the kingdomof God was to be physically born a Jew. To helpNicodemus understand His radical teaching, Jesusused a contrast: two kinds of birth. He said unless aperson is born again, he cannot get into the kingdomof God (v.3).
7.Now reflect. Do you think when God spoke withyou, wanting you to be born again is anaccident?
No. Everything has a purpose. God speaks in theright time. When God sees our earnest heart longingfor Him, that is the perfect time when He wants youto be with Him, not just now, but forever. Being bornagain is never an accident to Christians like us; it’snot a joke or just like any ordinary occasion held inour lives. So when we decide of being a born againChristian, we must take this seriously and do our“part” as a Christian.
8.
Nicodemus was confused in v.4. What is thetrue meaning of “born again”? Why do weneed this?
During our first birth, we were born physically with asinful nature. We need to have a new birth, so thatGod’s life, God’s nature will be in us.In v. 5 Jesus mentioned 2 kinds of birth (water andSpirit):
a.“born of water”
What is your interpretation of being/having“born of water”?
physical birth (re: water bag of the mother)
Baptism
– the baptism of repentance practiced by John the Baptist.
b. “born of Spirit”
What is your interpretation of being/having“born of Spirit”?
Spiritual regeneration initiated by the Holy Spirit.Conclusion – Being born of water and Spirit isinseparable.
* Outward rite was insufficient without spiritual regeneration
Alban Douglas says in 100 Bible Lessons:“Conversion and regeneration are inseparable;conversion is the act of turning from sin to Christ;regeneration is being made a new creature by theSpirit’s power. It brings us into the family of God. The new birth is the door to salvation andconsequently to heaven.
 
9.
In v.3, Jesus mentioned that there is only oneway to see the Kingdom of God. Why doeshaving a new birth the only way? What is thisthing that makes us so sinful that having thisnew birth is the only way? – this means that wehave something in us that is so dirty… What isit?
It is our sinful nature. It disqualifies us from enteringthe kingdom of God.
10.
What is sinful nature?
 The deeds which we know are wrong, yet we still dothem (like lying, cheating, hating, etc.) andWe donot have the power not to do them.
11.Then, who has the power? Is there anything wecan do to change this?
We cannot do anything to change this in our ownpower. The only way is to be born into a new kind of life – the life of God.Sometimes we resolve to change for the better,especially during New Year’s Day, but after a fewdays we are back to our old selves. This is because of our sinful nature.
12.
 Aren’t you wondering why do we have thissinful nature? On how this thing came uponus?
Actually, we were born with a sinful nature. When thefirst man, Adam, sinned (disobeyed God), his naturebecome corrupted and sinful.We inherited this sinful nature and have beenfollowing our own ways, our own desires, whichactually are controlled by Satan.Because of our sins, we are separated from God. Andbeing separated with God means that we arespiritually dead.
13.
Read v.5, 6, 15.
How can we be born again?
i.
Born of water and Spirit (v.5 & 6 ) The Holy Spirit is the one that indicates our newbirth, not something we can do by ourselves.
ii.
Believe … and have eternal life (v.15 )
Believe
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 The word
“believe” 
here does not only meanmentally saying, “It is true.” (Satan also believes Jesus is the Son of God, but obviously he is notsaved.)
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 To take God at His word, acknowledge His claim onour life, and say,
“Yes, Lord, I surrender. I’mcoming home (through the cross).”
When we“receive” Jesus into our heart, we receive Him notas guest , but as the Lord and Master of our life. iii.Receive (Christ)… to become children of God (Jn. 1:12)
14.
Satan believes in Jesus. The why is Satan not saved?
It is acknowledging and receiving Jesus as ourSaviour and Lord that Satan would not willing to do.It is believing in Jesus with all our heart, repenting of our sin, turning our lives to Jesus Christ to control,making Him the center of our lives that reallymatters. We are not of ourselves no, but of God’s.And Satan didn’t achieve these things.
15.
Sometimes we meet non-Christians who livebetter lives than Christians. Do they need tobe saved also?
 Yes. None of us are perfect in God’s sight. SinceGod’s standard is perfection, none of us areacceptable in God’s sight.
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