JOHN CHAPTER 3
OBSERVATION STAGE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The purpose
of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand in
accordance with the framework in which it was written: a framework
which is defined by the normative rules of language, context and logic.
Rules which do not impose undue, unintended meanings to the text 
,
and which largely limit the observer to the content offered by the
Gospel of John. In order for any passage from elsewhere to be
considered, it must have a relationship with the context at hand, such
as a Scriptural quotation or a specific cross reference in the passage
at hand by the author. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary
tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework
for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere
in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be
in view.
Chapter three
is a continuation of chapter two. It begins with the conjunction "de,"
literally "but" and rendered "and" in the YLT: (Jn 3:1-2 YLT) "And
there was [a] man of the Pharisees..." as a continuation of chapter 2.
The context of chapter 3 commences with Nicodemus reflecting on Jesus'
previous performances of miraculous signs as were presented in chapter
two. So we will begin at a strategic point in chapter two so as not to
miss the context that chapter three continues and is a part of:
****** EXCERPT
FROM JOHN CHAPTER TWO ******
.............OR SKIP TO JN 3:1
[Jn 2:13-22]:
NEAR THE TIME OF THE PASSOVER,
JESUS CLEARED THE TEMPLE OF MERCHANTS, ANIMALS, BIRDS AND MONEY
CHANGERS:
WITH A WHIP, OVER TURNING
TABLES, DECLARING "MAKE NOT THE HOUSE OF MY FATHER A HOUSE OF
MERCHANDISE;" FULFILLING SCRIPTURE: 'ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME
ME" AS NOTED BY HIS DISCIPLES. THE JEWS DEMANDED A SIGN FROM JESUS TO
PROVE HIS AUTHORITY TO DO THIS, WHEREUPON JESUS SAID, "DESTROY THIS
TEMPLE, AND IN THREE DAYS, I WILL RAISE IT UP." THE JEWS RESPONDED
INCREDUOUSLY, "IT TOOK FORTY-SIX YEARS TO BUILD THIS TEMPLE, AND YOU
WILL RAISE IT UP IN THREE DAYS?" AUTHOR JOHN NOTES THAT JESUS WAS
SPEAKING OF THE TEMPLE OF HIS BODY, AND NOT THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE BUILT
BY HEROD AS THE JEWS WERE THINKING OF. WHEN JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE
DEAD, HIS DISCIPLES REMEMBERED AND BELIEVED THE SCRIPTURE AND THE WORD
WHICH JESUS HAD SPOKEN
[Jn 2:23-25]:
WHILE JESUS WAS IN JERUSALEM
DURING THE FEAST OF PASSOVER, MANY BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, HAVING
OBSERVED HIS MIRACULOUS SIGNS. BUT JESUS WAS NOT TRUSTING HIMSELF TO
THEM IN THE SENSE OF TRUSTING THEM WITH HIS LIFE AND MISSION BECAUSE HE
KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN - HIS SINFUL CHARACTER; AND HE, BEING THE SON OF
GOD, HAD NO NEED THAT ANYONE SHOULD TESTIFY TO HIM OF MAN
****** END
OF EXCERPT FROM JOHN CHAPTER TWO ******
I) [Jn 3:1-2]:
A) AS JESUS CONTINUED TO PERFORM MIRACULOUS
SIGNS, MANY WHO OBSERVED THEM BELIEVED IN HIS NAME UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE
FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WHEREUPON A PHARISEE AND RULER OF THE
JEWS NAMED NICODEMUS, WHO REPRESENTED A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE
INQUIRING ABOUT JESUS, CAME TO JESUS AT NIGHT. HE CALLED JESUS "RABBI"
AND DECLARED, "WE HAVE KNOWN THAT FROM GOD [YOU HAVE] COME - A TEACHER,
FOR NO ONE THESE [MIRACULOUS] SIGNS IS ABLE TO DO THAT [WHICH YOU DO]
IF GOD [IS] NOT ...WITH HIM"
1) [Compare Jn 1:24-25]:
II) [Jn 3:3]:
A) IN RESPONSE TO NICODEMUS' DECLARATION /
QUESTION OF WHO HE WAS, JESUS TOLD NICODEMUS THAT HE MUST BE BORN AGAIN
FROM ABOVE IN ORDER TO SEE, I.E., ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. JESUS'
AUTHORITATIVE TONE IMPLIED THAT HE WAS THE PROVIDER OF ETERNAL LIFE AND
THE GATEWAY INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN HIM - THE MESSAGE
HE HAD BEEN PREACHING TO THE CROWDS WHILE PERFORMING THE MIRACULOUS
SIGNS WHICH NICODEMUS SPOKE OF. JESUS' ANSWER FURTHER IMPLIED THAT
NICODEMUS AND HIS GROUP SHOULD HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH JESUS' MESSAGE,
IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THEY CONCLUDED THAT JESUS CAME FROM GOD AND
GOD WAS WITH HIM BECAUSE OF THE MIRACULOUS SIGNS HE WAS PERFORMING.
THEY WERE EVIDENTLY CONSIDERING THAT JESUS MIGHT BE THE ONE WHO WOULD
COME TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH
1) [Compare Jn 3:5-6]:
2) [Compare Jn 1:12-13]:
III) [Jn 3:4]:
A) NICODEMUS REMAINED IN A STATE OF
WILLFUL IGNORANCE AND UNBELIEF IN WHAT JESUS HAD BEEN PREACHING TO THE
CROWDS AND TO HIM: THAT UNLESS ONE WAS BORN AGAIN FROM ABOVE - A
SPIRITUAL BIRTH OF RECEIVING A NEWBORN SPIRIT AND CLEANSING FROM ALL
SINS - ONE COULD NOT SEE [ENTER] THE KINGDOM OF GOD, IMPLYING THAT
JESUS WAS THE PROVIDER OF ETERNAL LIFE AND THE GATEWAY INTO THE KINGDOM
OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN HIM UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD. HENCE NICODEMUS SAID TO JESUS, "HOW IS A MAN ABLE TO BE BORN
[AGAIN], BEING OLD? IS HE ABLE INTO THE WOMB OF HIS MOTHER A SECOND
TIME TO ENTER AND TO BE BORN?"
IV) [Jn 3:5-6]:
A) IN ANSWER TO NICODEMUS' QUESTION OF HOW
A MAN IS ABLE TO BE BORN AGAIN FROM ABOVE, JESUS SAID THAT ANY ONE NOT
BORN OF WATER - NEITHER GIVEN A NEWBORN SPIRIT NOR CLEANSED FROM SINS -
IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM IS NOT ABLE TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD
1) [Compare Ez 36:25-27]:
******
EXCERPT FROM NEW COVENANT
STUDY ******
(Ezek
36:25-27) [After The Generation Of His People
Israel Chosen By God Have Survived Unprecedented Distress /
Tribulation - A Time Of Jacob's Trouble - The People Will Be
Permanently Restored
And Begin To Occupy And Possess The Promised Land With Unprecedented
Prosperity
Forever -
Note That
Israel Is Not To Be Confused Here With Members Of The Church - The Body
Of Christ - Whom The Latter Have Not Been Promised By God To Receive
The Land He Promised To The Forefathers Of Israel. Nor Is The Church In
View In The Passages At The Time Of Jacob's Trouble: The Unprecedented
Tribulation That Israel Will Experience.
Finally, There Is No Evidence That The Body Of Christ, The Church, Will
Act Faithfully In Their Mortal Bodies Without Sin As Will That
Generation Of Israel In The Future. For In The Mortal Lives Of Church
Age Believers, There Is The Ever Presence Of Sin Until Their Resurrection To
Eternal Life.
On Other Hand, In The Future, The
LORD Will Unilaterally Cleanse All Of A Generation Of His People From
All Of Their Sins
Without His People Having To Repent Of Any Sin. Each One Of The
Generation Of The People Of Israel In View At That Time Will Have
Exercised A Moment Of Faith Alone In The Messiah / Savior / Redeemer
Alone For Salvation / Deliverance Unto The Eternal Kingdom Of God
Forever In The Promised Land. And The Lord
Will Put His Spirit Within Each Of Them To Enable Them All To
Constantly Live Godly Lives In Obedience To His Statutes And Ordinances
- Without Sin]:
[Compare
Nu 8:5-7]:
[Compare Ezek 11:1-20]:
[Compare Isa 10:20-23]:
[Jer 31:31-34]:
1111C3 (Ezek
36:25-27
cont.) [After
The Generation Of His People
Israel Chosen By God Have
Survived Unprecedented Distress /
Tribulation - A Time Of Jacob's Trouble - The People Will Be
Permanently Restored
And Begin To Occupy And Possess The Promised Land With Unprecedented
Prosperity
Forever -
Note That
Israel Is Not To Be Confused Here With Members Of The Church - The Body
Of Christ - Whom The Latter Have Not Been Promised By God To Receive
The Land He Promised To The Forefathers Of Israel. Nor Is The Church In
View In The Passages At The Time Of Jacob's Trouble: The Unprecedented
Tribulation That Israel Will Experience.
Finally, There Is No Evidence That The Body Of Christ, The Church, Will
Act Faithfully In Their Mortal Bodies Without Sin As Will That
Generation Of Israel In The Future. For In The Mortal Lives Of Church
Age Believers, There Is The Ever Presence Of Sin Until Their Resurrection To
Eternal Life.
On Other Hand, In The Future, The
LORD Will Unilaterally Cleanse All Of A Generation Of His People From
All Of Their Sins
Without His People Having To Repent Of Any Sin. Each One Of The
Generation Of The People Of Israel In View At That Time Will Have
Exercised A Moment Of Faith Alone In The Messiah / Savior / Redeemer
Alone For Salvation / Deliverance Unto The Eternal Kingdom Of God
Forever In The Promised Land. And The Lord
Will Put His Spirit Within Each Of Them To Enable Them All To
Constantly Live Godly Lives In Obedience To His Statutes And Ordinances
- Without Sin]:
[Compare Lev 17:11]:
******
END OF EXCERPT FROM
NEW COVENANT STUDY ******
B) BEING BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT - BEING
GIVEN A NEWBORN SPIRIT AND CLEANSED FROM SINS - IS EXCLUSIVELY OUT OF
THE SPIRITUAL REALM; FOR IT IS THAT WHICH IS FLESH WHICH GIVES BIRTH
EXCLUSIVELY TO FLESH AND IT IS THAT WHICH IS SPIRITUAL WHICH GIVES
BIRTH EXCLUSIVELY TO THE NEWBORN HUMAN SPIRIT
V) [Jn 3:7-8]:
A) JESUS TOLD NICODEMUS NOT TO MARVEL THAT
HE SAID, "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN FROM ABOVE;" FOR JUST AS '''THE
"PNEUMA" = "WIND" BLOWS WHERE IT WISHES AND YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF IT,
BUT DO NOT KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM AND WHERE IT IS GOING''' - SO IT IS
WITH THE WORK OF BEING BORN AGAIN FROM ABOVE OUT OF THE "PNEUMATOS" =
"SPIRITUAL REALM:" IT IS AS THE "PNEUMA" = "SPIRIT OF GOD" WISHES: IF
YOU HAVE HEARD OF HIS WORK YOU STILL WOULD NOT KNOW WHERE, WHEN OR HOW
HE COMES AND GOES TO DO HIS WORK
VI) [Jn 3:9-10]:
A) DESPITE:
1) THE TESTIMONY OF
JESUS TO THE CROWDS WHEREUPON MANY BELIEVED IN HIS NAME TO BECOME BORN
AGAIN FROM ABOVE UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN
THE KINGDOM OF GOD;
2) THE MIRACULOUS SIGNS
NICODEMUS ACKNOWLEDGED PROVED THAT JESUS CAME FROM GOD AND THAT GOD WAS
WITH HIM;
3) JESUS' REPEATED
EXPLANATIONS TO NICODEMUS OF HAVING TO BE BORN AGAIN FROM ABOVE IN
ORDER TO SEE [ENTER] THE KINGDOM OF GOD USING EARTHLY ANALOGIES AND
REFERENCES TO SCRIPTURE
NICODEMUS - THE TEACHER
OF SCRIPTURE TO ISRAEL RESPONDED INCOMPREHENSIVELY WITH "HOW CAN THESE
THINGS BE," CHOOSING TO REMAIN IN IGNORANCE. CONSEQUENTLY, JESUS
EXCLAIMED, "[YOU ARE] TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND THESE THINGS [YOU DO] NOT
KNOW?!"
VII) [Jn 3:11-12]:
A) JESUS, OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE AND
MESSENGERS OF HIS DAY BORE WITNESS TO NICODEMUS AND ISRAEL ABOUT BEING
BORN AGAIN FROM ABOVE IN ORDER TO ENTER THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD
THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE, WHICH TESTIMONY
WAS LARGELY REJECTED. SINCE JESUS' TESTIMONY AND THAT OF THE OTHERS WAS
FULLY COMPREHENSIBLE AND BELIEVABLE AS IT WAS BASED ON WHAT WAS KNOWN,
SEEN AND CONVEYED IN EARTHLY ANALOGIES YET NOT RECEIVED; THEN JESUS
ASKED HOW THEN IF HE SPOKE TO THEM OF HEAVENLY THINGS, WOULD THEY
BELIEVE?' - IT WAS UNLIKELY
1) [Compare Jn
1:10-11]:
VIII) [Jn 3:13]:
A) AT THE TIME OF JESUS' CONVERSATION
WITH NICODEMUS, NO ONE HAD ASCENDED TO HEAVEN BUT THE SON OF MAN, JESUS
HIMSELF, WHO CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, WHO YET WAS IN HEAVEN - A REFERENCE
TO HIS ETERNAL OMNIPRESENCE IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH - AN ATTRIBUTE OF
GOD ALONE
*** EXCERPT FROM JN
CHAPTER ONE RE: JESUS AS THE SON OF MAN ***
..................................OR SKIP TO THE NEXT VERSE
AS JOHN THE BAPTIST CONTINUED TO
ANNOUNCE JESUS AS THE LAMB OF GOD, ANDREW AND ANOTHER DISCIPLE OF JOHN
BEGAN TO FOLLOW JESUS. SIMON PETER, PHILIP AND NATHANAEL JOIN THEM.
DECLARATIONS ARE MADE OF FINDING THE MESSIAH IN JESUS, AND THAT HE IS
THE SON OF GOD AND KING OF ISRAEL. DUE TO NATHANAEL'S REMARKABLE FAITH
IN HIM, JESUS SAYS TO NATHANAEL: "HEREAFTER YOU SHALL SEE HEAVEN OPEN,
AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING UPON THE SON OF MAN"
1) [Compare Jn 1:38 Greek]:
2) [Compare Gen 28:10-12 versions]:
3) [Compare Dan 7:9-14]:
4) [Compare Ps 80:14-17]:
*** END OF EXCERPT
FROM JOHN CHAPTER ONE ***
IX) [Jn 3:14-15]:
A) JESUS REFERRED TO A PASSAGE FROM
SCRIPTURE WHICH TELLS OF WHEN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LORD'S
INSTRUCTIONS, MOSES MADE A BRONZE SNAKE AND PUT IT ON A POLE PLACING IT
IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ANY ISRAELITE WHO WAS BITTEN BY A POISONOUS
SNAKE, (NOT JUST THE LIMITED FEW WHO WOULD LOOK AT IT AND LIVE), WOULD
KNOW OF ITS PURPOSE AND COULD LOOK UP AT THE BRONZE SNAKE FROM WHERE
THEY WERE IN A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN GOD'S PROVISION AND SURVIVE THE
SNAKE BITE AND LIVE. NOTE THAT THE SNAKES WERE SENT BY THE LORD TO
DISCIPLINE UNFAITHFUL ISRAEL
1) [Compare Numbers 21:6-9]:
a) In Accordance With The LORD's
Instructions, Moses Made A Bronze Snake And Put It On A Pole Placing It
In Such A Manner That Any Israelite Who Was Bitten By A Poisonous
Snake, (Not Just The Limited Few Who Would Look At It And Live), Would
Know Of Its Purpose And Could Look Up At The Bronze Snake From Where
They Were In A Moment Of Faith Alone In God's Provision And Survive The
Snake Bite And Live. Note That The Snakes Were Sent By The LORD To
Discipline Unfaithful Israel
B) THE O.T. ILLUSTRATION OF MOSES LIFTING
UP A BRONZE SNAKE ON A POLE IS USED TO SHOW THAT IN THE SAME WAY THAT A
LOOK OF FAITH UPON THE BRONZE SNAKE SAVED AN ISRAELITE FROM DYING FROM
A POISONOUS SNAKE BITE, SO WITH ALL MANKIND IN VIEW, WHOEVER EXERCISES
A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN THE SON OF MAN, JESUS CHRIST BEING LIFTED UP
[ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR SINS] SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE ETERNAL
PERISHING BUT [SHOULD] HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
1) The Phrase, 'The Son Of Man Must Be
Lifted Up' Parallels 'Just As Moses Lifted Up The Snake In The Desert,'
Such That Just As The Action Of The Bronze Snake Being Set On A Pole In
Order To Provide A Means By Which An Ancient Israelite Might View It,
Believe In The LORD And Be Saved From A Poisonous Snake Bite And Live;
So Jesus Christ, The Son Of Man, Was To Be Lifted Up Such That An
Atonement For The Sins Of The Whole World Would Be Accomplished So
That, With All Mankind In View, Whoever Believes In Him Should Never
Have To Experience Eternal Perishing But Should Have, i.e., Should Be
Saved From Ones Sins Unto Eternal Life
2) The Phrase Rendered "So The Son Of Man
Must Be Lifted Up So That Whoever Believes In Him Should Not Perish But
[Should] Have Eternal Life" Does Not Have The Ascension Of Jesus Christ
In View As Some Maintain
3) Just As Provision Was Made By God For Any
Ancient Israelite, So That If He Were Bitten By A Poisonous Snake, He
Would Have The Opportunity To Choose To Look Upon The Bronze Snake
Moses Made And Lifted Up On A Pole, And He Would Live; So In the Same
Way, Provision Was Made By God For Any Man, So That He Has The
Opportunity To Choose To Believe In The Son Of Man, Jesus Christ, Being
Lifted Up In An Atoning Sacrifice For The Sins Of All Mankind In Order
To Never Have To Experience Eternal Perishing But Have Eternal Life.
Since All Mankind Is In View Relative To The Atonement Provision Of The
Son Of Man, Especially In Light Of The Absence Of Limiting Words; Then
The Word Rendered "Whoever" In Jn 3:15 Refers To All Mankind And Not
Just A Limited Few Who Would Choose To Believe, As Some Maintain
C) THE GREEK PHRASE RENDERED "WHOEVER
BELIEVES" IN JN 3:15 NKJV IS NOT A PRESENT TENSE VERB WHICH CONVEYS
CONTINUOUS ACTION BUT A NOMINATIVE PRESENT PARTICIPLE - A NOUN
PORTRAYING PUNCTILEAR ACTION CONVEYING 'THE BELIEVER,' THE ONE WHO
EXERCISED A MOMENT OF FAITH = A MOMENT OF MENTAL ASSENT IN JESUS
CHRIST, THE SON OF MAN, IN ORDER TO NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE ETERNAL
PERISHING BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. CONTINUOUS FAITH IN CHRIST IS NEITHER
ATTAINABLE BY MORTAL MAN, NOR IN VIEW IN JN 3:14-15
1) The Greek Phrase Rendered "Whoever
Believes" In Jn 3:15 Is Not A Present Tense Verb But A Nominative
Present Participle - A Noun Portraying Punctilear Action Conveying A
Believer, i.e., One Who Has Exercised A Single Moment Of Believing And
Not A Continuous One In Order To Never Have To Experience Eternal
Perishing But Have Eternal Life
a) [Compare Mk 6:14]:
2) Even If The Phrase
"Whoever Believes" In Jn 3:15 Were Rendered From A Present Tense Greek
Verb To Portray A Present Tense Action, (And That Is Not The Case), A
Present Tense Verb Without Qualifiers Would Still Not Convey A
Requirement That One Continuously Believe In The Son Of Man In Order To
Never Have To Experience Eternal Perishing But Have Eternal Life
a) Simple
Present Tense Does Not Demand Continuous Action Without Qualifiers In
Greek, English, Hebrew, etc. - Present Tense With Qualifiers Are
Required Which Are Absent In Jn 3:15
i) [Compare Hebrews 13:15]:
b) If The
Simple Present Tense Always Demanded Continuous Action It Would Destroy
The Supernaturally Consistent Quality Of Scripture And Violate The
Normative Rules Of Language, Context And Logic Upon Which The
Scriptures Are Based. It Would Force Eternal Life To Be Less Than
Everlasting And Make God Out To Be A Liar
c) The Greek Phrase Rendered "Should Not
Perish" Is A Punctiliar, Completed Action Result Of The One Who
Believes Which Provides An Individual With A State Of Never Having To
Experience Eternal Perishing At The Moment He Becomes A Believer. The
Completed Action Result Of Never Having To Experience Eternal
Persishing Is Never Affected By Whether Or Not The Believing Continues
d) Since The States Of Never Having To
Experience Eternal Perishing As Expressed By An Aorist / Completed
Action Verb And Of Having Eternal Life As Expressed By A Present Tense
Verb Are Immediately Begun At The Moment One Begins To Believe Which By
Definition And Nature Are Ongoing And Uninterruptible, Hence Not
Requiring Ongoing Faith To Keep That State Going; Then If The Phrase In
Jn 3:15 Rendered "Whoever Believes" In The NKJV Were To Be In Some
Category Of The Present Tense In The Greek Bible As Some Maintain, (And
It Is Not - It Is A Nominative Participle For Noun), Then The Rules Of
Greek Grammar, Context And Logic Demand That It Be In The Aoristic
Present And As Such Would Then Present The Action As A Simple Completed
Event Without Any Reference To Its Progress - Serving The Same Function
As The Nominative Participle For Noun
e) A Continuous State Of Believing In
Christ Is Not Possible With Man - Hence A Moment Of Faith Alone In
Christ Alone Is The Only Feasible Possibility
i)
[1 Jn 1:8, 10]:
ii)
[Compare 1 Jn 4:7-8]:
f) Belief,
Faith & Trust Defined As Mental Assent
[New Testament Greek
Dictionary Definition Of Faith, Believe, Trust]
D) THE PHRASES
"SHOULD NOT PERISH" AND "[SHOULD] HAVE ETERNAL LIFE" IN JN 3:15 REFER
TO THE CERTAINTY OF NEVER HAVING TO EXPERIENCE PERISHING IN ETERNAL /
UNENDING PUNISHMENT AND SEPARATION FROM GOD AND THE CERTAINTY OF HAVING
ETERNAL / UNENDING GODLY LIFE WITH GOD RESPECTIVELY
1) Although The
Verbs In The Phrase "Should Not Perish But [Should] Have Eternal Life"
In Jn 3:15 Are In The Subjunctive Mood = A Mood Of Objective
Possibility Of The Promise Of Never Having To Experience Eternal
Perishing But Having Eternal Life, It Is A Certainty Because It Is
Promised And Provided By God Himself
2) God Must Be Portrayed As Unfaithful And
Unjust If The Context Is To Fit Uncertainty In Jn 3:14-15
3) The Greek Phrase "zOEn aiOnion" In Jn
3:15 Means Eternal, i.e., Unending Godly Life With God
a) [Compare Ezek 37:26]:
4) Since "zOEn aiOnion" Means "Eternal
Life" Then "mE apolEtai" Rendered "Should Not Perish" Must Be
Equivalent But Opposite, i.e., Eternal Perishing, i.e., Eternal Death /
Destruction
5) Eternal Life Once Received Is An
Intrinsic Part Of An Individual Which Can Never Be Lost
a) Life Is An Intrinsic Part Of An
Individual
b) Eternal Life Once Begun In An
Individual Cannot Cease To Exist Or Exist Separately From The
Individual - Being Intrinsic To The Individual Eternal, One Can Never
Lose It
i) [Jn 3:16]:
X) [Jn 3:16]:
A) THE WORD RENDERED "FOR" IN JN 3:16 TIES
WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN TO JN 3:16,
ESPECIALLY RELATIVE TO BEING SPIRITUALLY BORN FROM ABOVE IN THE
SPIRITUAL REALM THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF GOD VIA A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE
IN THE SON OF MAN, JESUS CHRIST, BEING LIFTED UP [ON A CROSS] IN AN
ATONING SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD, WITH ALL MANKIND IN
VIEW
B) IN VIEW OF WHAT WAS STIPULATED IN JN
3:14-15, WHICH CONTEXT CONTINUES ON INTO THE NEXT VERSE, THE PHRASE IN
JN 3:16 RENDERED "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND
ONLY SON" INDICATES THAT IT WAS SO GREAT AN EXPRESSION OF GOD'S LOVE
FOR ALL MANKIND WHICH MOTIVATED HIM TO MAKE PROVISION FOR ETERNAL LIFE
FOR ALL MANKIND THROUGH AN ATONING SACRIFICE OF THE SON OF MAN, HIS ONE
AND ONLY SON, JESUS CHRIST FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD WHICH
ATONEMENT WAS AT THAT TIME YET TO BE COMPLETED WHEN JESUS WAS SPEAKING
TO NICODEMUS. NOTE THAT THE TRIUNE GOD OF THE BIBLE, MORE SPECIFICALLY
GOD THE FATHER, IS IN VIEW
C) JESUS USED THE PAST TENSE TO PORTRAY A
FUTURE EVENT BECAUSE IT EMPHASIZED GOD'S ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGN CAPACITY TO
FULFILL HIS PROMISES: HE STIPULATED THAT GOD WAS MOTIVATED BY AN
EXPRESSION OF HIS EXTRAORDINARY LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND THAT HE GAVE HIS
ONE AND ONLY SON, THE SON OF MAN, (JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF), TO BE LIFTED
UP (ON A CROSS) IN AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD
AS IF THAT SACRIFICE WERE A COMPLETED HISTORICAL FACT AT THE TIME JESUS
SPOKE THE WORDS OF JN 3:14-16 TO NICODEMUS. YET THE EVENT HAD NOT YET
OCCURRED
1) [Eph 2:6-7]:
D) THE PHRASE "[GOD] GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY
SON" DOES NOT HAVE THE INCARNATION OR ASCENSION OF THE LORD IN VIEW AS
SOME MAINTAIN
E) THE PHRASE "ONE AND ONLY SON" IN JN 3:16
REFERS TO JESUS BEING THE UNIQUE, ONE AND ONLY SON OF GOD - GOD THE SON
- DIETY
1) The Phrase "Only Begotten" In The KJV
And Other Versions Should Be Rendered "One and Only," i.e., Unique
According To The Original Text
a) [Jn 3:16 KJV]:
i) [Compare Heb 11:17]:
2) The Phrase "One And OnlySon" Of God
Implies Diety = The Unique Son Of God Who Is God Himself: God The Son
a) The Phrase "Son Of..." Often Implies
Possession Of Certain Specified Characteristics
i) [Isa 57:1-4]:
ii) [Isa 14:11-12]:
iii) [Jer 49:33]:
b) "The Son Of God" Is Identified As Diety
In The Old Testament
i) [Compare Pr 30:4]:
ii) [Compare Dan 3:25, 28 NAS]:
c) The New Testament Confirms The O.T.
Teaching That The Term "The Son Of God" Is Diety
i) [Compare Jn 10:30-33, 36b; 39]:
ii) [Compare Jn 5:17-18]:
iii) [Compare Jn 19:7]:
F) THE GREEK PHRASE RENDERED "WHOEVER
BELIEVES" IN JN 3:16 NIV IS NOT A PRESENT TENSE VERB WHICH CONVEYS
CONTINUOUS ACTION BUT A NOMINATIVE PRESENT PARTICIPLE - A NOUN
PORTRAYING PUNCTILEAR ACTION CONVEYING 'THE BELIEVER', THE ONE WHO
EXERCISED A MOMENT OF FAITH = A MOMENT OF MENTAL ASSENT IN JESUS
CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, IN ORDER TO NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE ETERNAL
PERISHING BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. CONTINUOUS FAITH IN CHRIST IS NEITHER
ATTAINABLE BY MORTAL MAN, NOR IN VIEW IN JN 3:14-16
1) The Greek Phrase Rendered "Whoever
Believes" In Jn 3:16 Is Not A Present Tense Verb But A Nominative
Present Participle - A Noun Portraying Punctilear Action Conveying A
Believer, i.e., One Who Has Exercised A Single Moment Of Believing And
Not A Continuous One In Order To Never Have To Experience Eternal
Perishing But Have Eternal Life
a) [Compare Mk 6:14]:
2) Even If The
Phrase "Whoever Believes" In Jn 3:16 Were Rendered From A Present Tense
Greek Verb To Portray A Present Tense Action, (And That Is Not The
Case), A Present Tense Verb Without Qualifiers Would Still Not Convey A
Requirement That One Continuously Believe In The Son Of God In Order To
Never Have To Experience Eternal Perishing But Have Eternal Life
a) Simple Present
Tense Does Not Demand Continuous Action Without Qualifiers In Greek,
English, Hebrew, etc. - Present Tense With Qualifiers Are Required
Which Are Absent In Jn 3:16
i) [Compare
Hebrews 13:15]:
b) If The Simple
Present Tense Always Demanded Continuous Action It Would Destroy The
Supernaturally Consistent Quality Of Scripture And Violate The
Normative Rules Of Language, Context And Logic Upon Which The
Scriptures Are Based. It Would Force Eternal Life To Be Less Than
Everlasting And Make God Out To Be A Liar
c) Since The States Of Never Having To
Experience Eternal Perishing As Expressed By An Aorist / Completed
Action Verb And Of Having Eternal Life As Expressed By A Present Tense
Verb Are Immediately Begun At The Moment One Begins To Believe Which By
Definition And Nature Are Ongoing And Uninterruptible, Hence Not
Requiring Ongoing Faith To Keep That State Going; Then If The Phrase In
Jn 3:16 Rendered "Whoever Believes" In The NIV Were To Be In Some
Category Of The Present Tense In The Greek Bible As Some Maintain, (And
It Is Not - It Is A Nominative Participle For Noun), Then The Rules Of
Greek Grammar, Context And Logic Demand That It Be In The Aoristic
Present And As Such Would Then Present The Action As A Simple Completed
Event Without Any Reference To Its Progress - Serving The Same Function
As The Nominative Participle For Noun
d) A
Continuous State Of Believing In Christ Is Not Possible With Man -
Hence A Moment Of Faith Alone In Christ Alone Is The Only Attainable
Possibility
i) [1 Jn
1:8, 10]:
ii)
Compare 1 Jn 4:7-12]:
e) The Greek Phrase Rendered "Should Not
Perish" Is A Punctiliar, Completed Action Result Of The One Who
Believes Which Provides An Individual With A State Of Never Having To
Experience Eternal Perishing At The Moment He Becomes A Believer. The
Completed Action Result Of Never Having To Experience Eternal
Persishing Is Never Affected By Whether Or Not The Believing Continues
Or Discontinues
3) Belief, Faith & Trust Defined As
Mental Assent
a) English
Dictionary Definition Of Faith, Believe, Trust
b) New
Testament Greek Dictionary Definition Of Faith, Believe, Trust
G) THE PHRASES "SHOULD NOT PERISH" AND
"[SHOULD] HAVE ETERNAL LIFE" IN JN 3:16 REFER TO THE CERTAINTY OF NOT
EXPERIENCING PERISHING IN ETERNAL / UNENDING PUNISHMENT AND SEPARATION
FROM GOD AND THE CERTAINTY OF ETERNAL / UNENDING GODLY LIFE WITH GOD
RESPECTIVELY
THE REST OF SCRIPTURE CORROBORATES THIS
1) Although The Verbs
In The Phrase "Should Not Perish But [Should] Have Eternal Life" In Jn
3:15 Are In The Subjunctive Mood = A Mood Of Objective Possibility Of
The Promise Of Never Having To Experience Eternal Perishing But Having
Eternal Life, It Is A Certainty Because It Is Promised And Provided By
God Himself
2) God Must Be Portrayed As Unfaithful And
Unjust If The Context Is To Fit Uncertainty In Jn 3:14-15
3) The Greek Phrase "zOEn aiOnion" In Jn
3:16 Means Eternal, i.e., Unending Godly Life With God
a) [Compare Ezek 37:26]:
4) Eternal Life Once Received Is Intrinsic
In An Individual Forever Because It Is Eternal. Therefore It Can Never
Be Lost
a) Life Is An Intrinsic Part Of An
Individual
b) Since Life Is Intrinsic In An
Individual, Then Eternal Life Once Received Is Eternally Intrinsic In
Every Part Of An Individual's Being Forever Because It Is Life And It
Is Eternal. Therefore It Can Neither Be Lost Nor Depart From That
Individual In Any Manner For Any Duration Of Time
i) [Compare Jn 3:16]:
5) The Present Tense
Verb "Should Have Eternal Life" Conveys Certain Present Possession Of
Eternal Life Forever Since God, The Provider Of Eternal Life Is
Absolutely Reliable And Eternal Life Is Forever
H) SINCE A MOMENT OF
FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE IS REPEATEDLY STIPULATED IN JOHN CHAPTERS
ONE THROUGH THREE, (AND THE REST OF THE BOOK AS WELL), AS THE ONLY
RESPONSE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE AND ALWAYS IN A
CONTEXT WHICH LEAVES NO ROOM FOR ANY OTHER REQUIREMENT; THEN ANY OTHER
RESPONSE MAY NOT BE ASSUMED AS REQUIRED, NOR FORCED INTO JOHN'S
WRITING, NOR EVEN CONSIDERED AS REQUIRED EVEN IF ONE THINKS HE HAS
DISCOVERD A PASSAGE THAT REQUIRES IT, (WHICH THERE ARE NONE) - UNLESS
AUTHOR JOHN'S WRITINGS ARE ERRONEOUS AND UNTRUSTWORTHY - AND THEY ARE
NOT
I) SINCE GOD GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON IN
AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF ALL MANKIND SO THAT WHOEVER
BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BECAUSE OF THEIR UNFORGIVEN SINS BUT
HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, THEN THIS IMPLIES THAT ALL MANKIND HAS COMMITTED
SINS FOR THEM TO BE ATONED FOR
XI) [Jn 3:17]:
A) SINCE GOD GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON IN
AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD, THEN HE DID NOT
SEND HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD IN HIS HUMANITY,
INTO THE WORLD - TO ALL MANKIND - TO CONDEMN ALL MANKIND UNTO ETERNAL
PERISHING BUT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE SALVATION OF ALL UNTO ETERNAL
LIFE. THIS IMPLIES THAT ALL MANKIND IS UNRIGHTEOUS AND HEADED FOR
ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AND IN NEED OF A SAVIOR
XII) [Jn 3:18]:
A) THE ONE WHO HAS BELIEVED IN JESUS
CHRIST IS NOT CONDEMNED, I.E., HE WILL NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE ETERNAL
PERISHING; BUT THE ONE WHO HAS NOT YET BELIEVED HAS BEEN CONDEMNED
ALREADY - DESTINED TO EXPERIENCE ETERNAL PERISHING UNTIL HE BELIEVES
BECAUSE HE HAS NOT YET BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONE AND ONLY SON OF
GOD TO PROVIDE HIM WITH ETERNAL LIFE
B) ACCORDING TO JN 3:18 AND THE REST OF
SCRIPTURE, ALTHOUGH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT YET CHOSEN TO BELIEVE IN
THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD AND WHO CONTINUES IN THAT UNBELIEF WILL
REMAIN IN A STATE DESTINED FOR GOD'S ETERNAL CONDEMNATION - DESTINED TO
EXPERIENCE ETERNAL PERISHING UNTIL HE BELIEVES; IT IS NOT ALSO TRUE
THAT ONE WHO BELIEVES MUST REMAIN IN A CONTINUAL STATE OF BELIEVING IN
JESUS CHRIST IN ORDER TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION OF ETERNAL LIFE; NOR
WOULD ANY LAPSE IN FAITH NEGATE THAT POSSESSION AND RETURN ONE TO A
STATE DESTINED FOR GOD'S ETERNAL CONDEMNATION
XIII) [Jn 3:19]:
*** EXCERPT
FROM JOHN CHAPTER ONE RELATIVE TO THE LIGHT ***
..................................................OR SKIP TO NEXT
SECTION
IN HIM WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE LIFE FROM
THE BEGINNING OF TIME AND CREATION. HE WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE
SOURCE AND SUSTAINER OF THE LIFE OF ALL THINGS, AND THE SOURCE OF
TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL LIFE. HE WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE CREATOR, ETERNAL
AND GOD; AND HE - THE LIFE - WAS IN [THE] BEGINNING AND WILL ALWAYS BE
THE LIGHT OF MEN - THE ILLUMINATION TO MEN OF HIMSELF AS CREATOR,
ETERNAL AND GOD AND OF TRUTH ABOUT GOD. NEVERTHELESS MEN HAVE
DELIBERATELY REMAINED IN DARKNESS - IN SIN, WILLFULLY OPPOSED TO
COMPREHENDING AND KNOWING GOD
*** END
OF EXCERPT FROM JOHN CHAPTER ONE ***
A) THIS IS THE JUDGMENT OF GOD
ABOUT ALL MANKIND: THE WORD, ETERNAL GOD, CREATOR, SON OF GOD WHO
BECAME FLESH TO DWELL AMONG MANKIND - JESUS CHRIST, THE EMBODIMENT OF
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, THE LIGHT OF MEN HAS COME INTO THE WORLD; AND
MEN LOVED THE DARKNESS OF SIN RATHER THAN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S
RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL, I.E., THEIR INTRINSIC NATURES
WERE SINFUL. THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS AMONGST ALL OF MANKIND; AND
WITHOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO
CHOOSE TO RECEIVE THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST'S ATONEMENT
FOR SINS ALONE, ALL MEN WOULD BE CONDEMNED TO A DESTINY OF ETERNAL
PERISHING
XIV) [Jn 3:20]:
A) ALL MEN LOVE THE DARKNESS OF SIN RATHER
THAN THE LIGHT, JESUS CHRIST - THE EMBODIMENT OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF
GOD - BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS ARE EVIL. SO EVERYONE DOES EVIL - EVEN
BELIEVERS; AND WHEN THEY DO, THEY HATE THE LIGHT AND THEY DO NOT COME
FACE TO FACE WITH THE LIGHT FOR FEAR THAT THEIR EVIL DEEDS WILL BE
EXPOSED, I.E., FOR FEAR THAT THEY WILL BE MADE FULLY AWARE OF THEIR OWN
UNRIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE GOD
B) SINCE GOD GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON IN
AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF ALL MANKIND SO THAT WHOEVER OF ALL
MANKIND BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE; THEN
THIS IMPLIES THAT ALL MANKIND HAS COMMITTED SINS SINCE ALL MANKIND WAS
ATONED FOR BY JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS CORROBORATED BY THE PHRASE "BUT HE
WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY" IN JN 3:18 IMPLYING THAT
EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS COMMITTED ACTS OF SIN AND NEEDS TO EXPRESS A
MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE OR STAND CONDEMNED FOR HIS SINS
XV) [Jn 3:21]:
A) WHEN ONE DOES CHOOSE TO DO THE TRUTH, IT
IS AS A MATTER OF COURSE WHILE DOING SUCH GODLY / RIGHTEOUS ACTS THAT
ONE IS CONSCIOUS OF AND COMES BY FAITH TO (INTO) THE LIGHT, JESUS
CHRIST, ACKNOWLEDGING HIM, THE EMBODIMENT OF TRUTH AND THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ONES DEEDS MAY BE CLEARLY
SEEN, I.E., KNOWN, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DONE IN GOD, (LIT., BY MEANS OF
OR THROUGH GOD)
XVI) [Jn 3:22-30]:
A) AFTER THESE THINGS; WHICH INCLUDE HIS
COMING TO JOHN THE BAPTIST, GATHERING HIS FIRST DISCIPLES, PERFORMING
HIS FIRST MIRACLE AT THE WEDDING IN CANA, CLEARING THE TEMPLE OF MONEY
CHANGERS, SPEAKING WITH NICODEMUS ABOUT BEING BORN AGAIN INTO THE
ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD; JESUS BEGAN BAPTIZING WITH HIS DISCIPLES IN
JUDEA. JOHN, WHO WAS NOT YET CAST IN PRISON, WAS ALSO BAPTIZING WITH
HIS DISCIPLES NEARBY IN AENON. SOME JEWS HAD A QUESTION ABOUT
PURIFYING. FURTHERMORE, JOHN'S DISCIPLES DECLARED THAT 'ALL' WERE
COMING TO JESUS TO BE BAPTIZED INSTEAD OF JOHN; HE REMINDED THEM THAT
HE SAID THAT HE WAS NOT THE CHRIST, BUT THAT HE WAS THE FRIEND OF
CHRIST, THE BRIDEGROOM, TO WHOM THE BRIDE - THE BODY OF BELIEVERS
BELONGS. JOHN DECLARED THAT HE WAS SENT BY GOD TO ANNOUNCE AND PREPARE
THE WAY FOR JESUS' COMING AND THEN ATTEND TO HIM WHEN HE ARRIVED. THIS
BEING DONE, JOHN'S JOY WAS COMPLETE AND SO THE BRIDEGROOOM MUST
INCREASE AND JOHN MUST DECREASE
XVII) [Jn 3:31-35]:
A) THE SON OF GOD, THE ONE WHO HAS COME
FROM HEAVEN, IS THE SUPREME AUTHORITY OVER ALL THINGS. YET MANKIND HAS
AND WILL LARGELY REJECT HIM AND HIS TESTIMONY. BUT HE WHO DOES BELIEVE
IN HIM HAS SET HIS SEAL - HAS GIVEN HIS SOLEMN TESTIMONY - THAT GOD IS
TRUE BECAUSE IT CAN BE SEEN THAT HE WHOM GOD HAS SENT SPEAKS THE WORDS
OF TRUTH - THE WORDS OF GOD HIMSELF BY DIRECTION OF THE SPIRIT WITHOUT
LIMIT. THE FATHER SO LOVES THE SON THAT HE HAS GIVEN ALL THINGS INTO
HIS HAND
1) [Compare Jn 3:11-13]:
MORE ON JESUS AS THE
SON OF MAN
XVIII) [Jn 3:36]:
A) THE BELIEVING ONE - THE ONE WHO HAS
EXPRESSED A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN THE SON'S ATONING SACRIFICE FOR
SINS ALONE HAS IMMEDIATE POSSESSION OF ETERNAL LIFE AT THAT MOMENT AND
FOREVER; BUT THE OPPOSITE: THE ONE WHO DOES NOT EVER OBEY THE SON - THE
ONE WHO DOES NOT EVER CHOOSE TO BE SUBJECT TO THE SON'S REQUIREMENT TO
BELIEVE IN HIM - THE ONE WHO WILL NEVER EXPRESS A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE
IN CHRIST ALONE IN ORDER TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE WILL NOT SEE THAT LIFE
AND THE ETERNAL WRATH OF GOD REMAINS ON HIM FROM THE FIRST TIME HE
REJECTED BELIEVING IN THE SON
1) Compare [Jn 3:18]:
MOVE TO JN CHAPTER 4
