JOHN CHAPTER 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STAGE ONE:

OBSERVATION OF WHAT THE WORDS SAY

STAGE TWO:

JOHN CHAPTER 3

CORROBORATION AND FURTHER COMMENTARY:

I) [Jn 2:23]:

A) [John 1:12-13]:

II) [Jn 2:24-25]:

A) LACK OF COMMITTMENT FAITH OR INEFFECTIVE MIRACLE FAITH IS NOT IN VIEW

1) [Compare Jn 10:37-38]:

I) [Jn 3:1]:

A) PHARISEES IN JESUS' TIME BECAME LEGALISTIC ARROGANT AND UNPRINCIPLED SEPARATISTS, BELIEVING THAT THEIR LIFESTYLE WAS SUPERIOR TO THE REST OF THE WORLD AND FAVORED BY GOD

II) [Jn 3:1-2]:

A) NICODEMUS' VIEW OF OUR LORD

III) [Jn 3:3]:

A) IF ONE IS NOT BORN AGAIN [LIT. 'BORN FROM ABOVE'] ONE WILL NEVER SEE, I.E., BE FOREVER SEPARATED FROM GOD & CONTINUALLY UNDER HIS WRATH & CONDEMNATION

1) [Ps 52]:

2) [Mt 25:46]:

3) [2 Thes 1:5-10]:

IV) [Jn 3:4]:

A) NICODEMUS DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF BEING BORN AGAIN

V) [Jn 3:5]:

A) BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT = A SPIRITUAL BIRTH VIA THE EXCLUSIVE WORK OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

1) [Compare Titus 3:5 from the New Testament perspective]:

a) BEING BORN AGAIN IS NOT VIA WORKS BUT VIA THE "WASHING" WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - GOD'S WORK OF MERCY NOT OF MERIT FOR ANY HUMAN DOING

i) [Compare Ez 36:24-27 from the Old Testament]

[Compare Jn 7:38-39a]:

[Ref. Isa 12:2-3]:

b) REGENERATION, I.E., BECOMING BORN AGAIN OCCURS WHEN ONE IS SAVED UNTO ETERNAL LIFE AT THE MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE

i) [Compare Jn 1:12-13]:

ii) [Compare 1 John 5:1]:

c) MAN HAS A SIN PROBLEM WITH GOD WHICH IS RESOLVED BY REGENERATION, I.E., BECOMING BORN AGAIN

i) [Ro 5:12]:

V) [Jn 3:5 cont.]:

B) "BORN OUT OF WATER" CANNOT REFER TO PHYSICAL BIRTH BECAUSE BABIES WHO ARE 'STILL-BORN OR ABORTED ARE NOT PHYSICALLY BORN ALIVE YET ALL BABIES WHEN THEY DIE DO GO TO HEAVEN

1) THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BELIEVE IN OR REJECT CHRIST AS SAVIOR CANNOT BE CONDEMNED BUT MUST BE SAVED UNTO ETERNAL LIFE

C) "BORN OUT OF WATER" CANNOT REFER TO WATER BAPTISM, IT REFERS TO BEING BORN VIA THE WORK OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

1) THE CONTEXT WHICH INCLUDES NICODEMUS, A JEW UNDER THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES AND THE MOSAIC LAW, DOES NOT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH ACTUAL WATER IN ORDER FOR ONE TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD

a) [Compare Jn 3:7, 10]:

2) NO PROVISION(S) OF THE LAW ENABLED ONE TO BECOME BORN AGAIN

a) [Compare Ro 3:19-24]:

3) JOHN THE BAPTIST'S WATER BAPTISM WAS SYMBOLIC OF AN ISRAELITE'S ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS MESSIAH/SAVIOR BRINGING IN HIS KINGDOM AND PROVIDING HIM ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE

4) HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM IS THE ONLY ESSENTIAL BAPTISM UNTO ETERNAL LIFE

5) A SYLLOGISM RULES OUT WATER BAPTISM

D) "AND SPIRIT" = "AND OUT OF THE REALM OF THE SPIRIT' WHICH EXCLUDES ANYTHING DONE IN THE PHYSICAL REALM LIKE WATER BAPTISM

VI) [Jn 3:5-6]:

A) ONE IS BORN AGAIN IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM AS OPPOSED TO THE PHYSICAL REALM

VII) [Jn 3:7-8]:

A) NICODEMUS, A TEACHER OF TEACHERS OF SCRIPTURE, SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT OUR LORD WAS SPEAKING OF - INDICATING THAT SCRIPTURE EXPLAINED WHAT OUR LORD WAS REFERRING TO

B) "PNEUMA" MEANS BOTH WIND AND SPIRIT, BOTH UNFATHOMABLE CONCEPTS BEYOND MAN'S COMPREHENSION AND CONTROL

1) [Compare Eccl 11:5]:

C) THE WORK OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MAN'S REGENERATION IS INVISIBLE, UNFATHOMABLE, PERFECT, COMPLETE AND PERMANENT

1) [Compare Eph 1:13b-14]:

2) [Compare Eph 4:30]:

VIII) [Jn 3:9]:

A) NICODEMUS EXPRESES HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING RE: BEING BORN AGAIN, I.E., HAVING ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

IX) [Jn 3:10]:

A) OUR LORD CONFRONTS NICODEMUS' LACK OF UNDERSTANDING WITH RESPECT TO HIS POSITION AS ISRAEL'S TEACHER

X) [Jn 3:11]:

A) LACK OF FAITH LEADS TO IGNORANCE IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS

1) [Compare Acts 10:43]:

2) [Compare Mt 11:11]:

XI) [Jn 3:12]:

A) UNDERSTANDING PROGRESSIVELY MORE DIFFICULT CONCEPTS IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM REQUIRES A GROWING FAITH IN THE TRUTHS OF GOD'S WORD AS THEY ARE REVEALED TO ONE

XII) [Jn 3:13]:

A) AT THE TIME OF OUR LORD'S ENCOUNTER WITH NICODEMUS NO MAN WAS IN HEAVEN YET - UNTIL OUR LORD PAID THE PENALTY FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD

1) GOD'S JUSTICE MUST BE SATISFIED BEFORE HE CAN PERMIT SINFUL MAN TO BE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN

a) [Ro 3:24-26 NAS]:

i) [Compare 1 Jn 2:2]:

ii) Psalm 50:16-23

2) OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS OCCUPIED HADES - PARADISE - UNTIL OUR LORD PAID THE PRICE FOR SINS, DESCENDED INTO HADES/PARADISE AND BROUGHT THEM WITH HIM TO HEAVEN

a) HADES: A SCRIPTURAL VIEWPOINT
 

i) [Rev 1:18]:

ii) [Compare Luke 16:19-31]:

iii) [Compare Jn 3:13]:

iv) [Phil 1:23-24]:

v) [Compare Acts 2:31]:

vi) [Compare Jn 20:15-18]:

vii) [Compare Luke 23:43]:

viii) [Compare 2 Cor 12:2-4]:

ix) [2 Pet 2:9]:

x) [Rev 20:13-15]:

b) PARADISE

i) PARADISE IN HADES

i_a) [Lk 16:19-31]:

i_b) [Compare Jn 3:13]:

i_c) [Compare Acts 2:31]:

i_d) [Compare Luke 23:43]:

i_e) [Compare Jn 20:15-18]:

i_f) [Compare 2 Cor 12:2-4]:

i_g) [Phil 1:23-24]:

c) OUR LORD DESCENDED TO HADES INTO PARADISE AND BROUGHT THE OLD TESTAMENT TIME BELIEVERS TO HEAVEN WITH HIM

i) [Ps 68:17-18 NAS]:

ii) [Compare Eph 4:7-10]:

iii) [Compare Mt 8:11]:

iv) [Compare Rev 20:14-15]:

v) [Ps. 24:7-10]:

d) ENOCH AND ELIJAH ARE NOT EXCEPTIONS TO JN 3:13 - NO MAN WAS IN HEAVEN WITH GOD UNTIL OUR LORD ASCENDED IN HIS RESURRECTION

i) [Gen 5:21-24]:

ii) [Heb 11:5]:

iii) [2 Kings 2:11]:

iv) [1 Cor 15:20]:

v) [Compare Jn 3:13]:

e) PARADISE IN HEAVEN

f) CONCLUSION

B) "THE SON OF MAN" = GOD THE SON IN HIS ROLE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE MAN WITH RESPECT TO HIS MISSION WHICH INCLUDES PAYING FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD AND HAVING EVERLASTING DOMINION OVER THE WORLD

1) [Compare Jn 9:35-38]:

2) [Compare Dan 7:13-14]:

XIII) [Jn 3:14]

A) THE LIFTING UP OF THE SNAKE IN THE DESERT TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THOSE BITTEN BY POISONOUS SNAKES WHO LOOK UPON THAT SNAKE IS PARALLELED TO OUR LORD BEING LIFTED UP ON THE CROSS TO SAVE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE ALL THOSE WHO LOOK UPON HIM, I.E., BELIEVE ON HIM AS SAVIOR

1) [Num 21:6-9]:

XIV) [Jn 3:14-15]:

A) SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE RESULTS FROM FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE BEING LIFTED UP

1) [1 Jn 2:2]:

2) [Mt 20:18-19]:

XV) [Jn 3:14-16]:

A) "ONE AND ONLY SON" REFERS TO OUR LORD BEING THE UNIQUE, ONE AND ONLY SON OF GOD

1) "ONLY BEGOTTEN" IN THE KJV SHOULD BE RENDERED "ONE AND ONLY", I.E., UNIQUE ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL TEXT

a) [Jn 3:16 KJV]:

i) [Heb 11:17]:

2) THE PHRASE "ONE AND ONLY SON" OF GOD IMPLIES DIETY = THE UNIQUE SON OF GOD WHO IS GOD HIMSELF

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 Mt 26:63-66]:

iv) [Compare Jn 19:7]:

XV) [Jn 3:14-16 cont.]:

B) GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTION = MAIN & SUBORDINATE CLAUSES OF JN 3:16

C) MAIN CLAUSE OF JN 3:16 = "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON..."

1) PHRASE #1 = "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD"

a) "FOR"

i) [Jn 3:3]:

ii) [Jn 3:5-6]:

iii) [Jn 3:14-16]:

b) "GOD" = The Triune God as presented throughout the Bible, more specifically, God the Father as the verse has God Who gave His one and only Son in view

c)"SO LOVED THE WORLD"

i) "SO"

ii) "LOVED"

iii) "THE WORLD"

d) SUMMARY: "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD"

2) PHRASE #2 = "THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON"

a) "THAT"

b) "HE GAVE"

i) [Eph 2:6-7]:

ii) [Compare Jn 3:14-15]:

iii) [Compare 1 Jn 2:2]:

iv) [Heb 9:27-28]:

c) "HIS ONE AND ONLY SON"

i) "The Son of God"

ii) "monogEne" = "unique" = "one and only"

d) THE INCARNATION OF OUR LORD IS NOT IN VIEW

i) THE INCARNATION OF OUR LORD BEGAN IN THE PAST BUT IS EVERLASTING AND WOULD NOT BE PORTRAYED ONLY AS AN ACTION THAT WAS COMPLETED IN THE PAST

ii) SCRIPTURE NEVER PORTRAYS BELIEVING IN THE INCARNATION AS SUFFICIENT IN ORDER TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

iii) SCRIPTURE NEVER PORTRAYS THE INCARNATION AS GOD GIVING UP HIS SON

iv) THE INCARNATION COULD NOT BE IN VIEW IN JN 3:14-16 BECAUSE IT IS NEVER REFERRED TO IN SCRIPTURE AS "THE SON OF MAN SHALL BE LIFTED UP"

e) SUMMARY: "THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON"

D) SUBORDINATE PURPOSE CLAUSE OF JN 3:16 = "THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT SHOULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE."

1) PHRASE #1 = "THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM

a) "THAT"

b) "WHOEVER BELIEVES"

i) "WHOEVER BELIEVES" IS A NOMINATIVE PRESENT PARTICIPLE = A SINGLE MOMENT OF BELIEVING AND NOT A CONTINUOUS ONE

i_a) "PAS HO PISTEUON" = "WHOEVER BELIEVES" IS A NOMINATIVE PRESENT PARTICIPLE

i_a_mk6v14) [Compare Mk 6:14]:

i_b) "PAS HO PISTEUON" = "WHOEVER BELIEVES" DOES NOT CONVEY CONTINUOUS ACTION

[Compare Hebrews 13:15]:

ii) A CONTINUOUS STATE OF BELIEVING IN CHRIST IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH MAN

ii_a) [1 Jn 1:8, 10]:

ii_b) [Compare 1 Jn 4:7-12]:

iii) IF THE PHRASE "WHOEVER BELIEVES" WERE PRESENT TENSE, (AND IT IS NOT - IT IS A NOUN), THE CONTEXT WOULD DEMAND THAT IT BE IN THE AORISTIC PRESENT IN VIEW OF THE AORIST TENSES OF "GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD", "THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON", AND "SHOULD NOT PERISH"

iv) BELIEF, FAITH & TRUST DEFINED AS MENTAL ASSENT

iv_a) ENGLISH DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF FAITH

iv_b) NT GREEK DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF FAITH

2) PHRASE #2 OF THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE = "SHOULD NOT PERISH"

a) THE AORIST TENSE AND THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD

i) SYNTAX OF NEW TESTAMENT GREEK

ii) THE LANGUAGE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

ii_a) [Compare Phil 2:27]:

iii) WUEST'S WORD STUDIES

b) COMPLETED ACTION OF NEVER PERISHING = POSSESSION OF ETERNAL LIFE

THE AORIST TENSE "SHOULD NOT PERISH" PROVIDES AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A STATE OF NEVER PERISHING AT THE MOMENT HE BECOMES A BELIEVER. IT IS NOT AFFECTED BY WHETHER OR NOT THE BELIEVING CONTINUES ON AFTER THAT

c) SUMMARY OF PHRASE #2 = "SHOULD NOT PERISH"

3) PHRASE #3 OF THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE = "BUT SHOULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

a) "BUT"

b) "SHOULD HAVE"

i) THE BELIEVER WILL ASSUREDLY RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE FOREVER

i_a) [Compare Jn 3:14-15]:

ii) AN UNCERTAIN OUTCOME CANNOT BE IN VIEW UNLESS ONE CHANGES THE ORIGINAL TEXT

iii) SINCE A MOMENT OF FAITH IS THE ONLY REQUIREMENT IN VIEW, OTHER REQUIREMENTS CANNOT BE ADDED INTO THIS VERSE TO MAKE ETERNAL LIFE DEPENDENT UPON OTHER THINGS BESIDES A MOMENT OF FAITH

iv) THE AORIST SUBJUNCTIVE VERB "SHOULD NOT PERISH" IN THE PREVIOUS PHRASE CONVEYS CERTAINTY SINCE GOD, THE PROVIDER OF THE ACTION, IS ABSOLUTELY TRUSTWORTHY AND CAPABLE OF DELIVERING ON HIS PROMISES

v) THE PRESENT TENSE VERB "SHOULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE" CONVEYS CERTAIN PRESENT POSSESSION OF ETERNAL LIFE FOREVER SINCE GOD THE PROVIDER OF THE ACTION IS RELIABLE, AND ETERNAL LIFE IS FOREVER

vi) GOD MUST BE PORTRAYED AS UNFAITHFUL AND UNJUST IF THE CONTEXT IS TO FIT UNCERTAINTY IN JN 3:16

c) "ETERNAL LIFE" ONCE RECEIVED IS FOREVER

d) ETERNAL LIFE ONCE RECEIVED IS AN INTRINSIC PART OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHICH CAN NEVER BE LOST

i) LIFE IS AN INTRINSIC PART OF AN INDIVIDUAL

ii) ETERNAL LIFE CANNOT EXIST SEPARATELY FROM THE INDIVIDUAL - BEING ETERNAL, ONE THUS WILL NEVER LOSE IT

e) OTHER PASSAGES STIPULATE A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE FOREVER IN VERB FORMS THAT CORROBORATE A MOMENT OF FAITH IN JN 3:16

i) [Mk 16:16]:

ii) [Jn 3:18]:

iii) [Acts 16:29-31]:

4) SUMMARY = PHRASE #3 OF THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE = "BUT SHOULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE"

XV) [Jn 3:14-16 cont.]:

E) CONCLUSION RE: JN 3:16

XVI) [Jn 3:17]:

A) GOD'S PLAN WAS TO SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST NOT AS A PERFECT EXAMPLE FOR ONE TO FOLLOW BUT HE WAS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB THROUGH WHOM ALL WHO TRUST ALONE IN HIS SACRIFICE FOR THEM WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

XVII) [JN 3:18]:

A) A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE PROVIDES A PERMANENT STATE OF NEVER BEING CONDEMNED; AND NEVER HAVING BELIEVED KEEPS ONE UNDER GOD'S WRATH UNTIL THE MOMENT ONE DOES BELIEVE

XVIII) [Jn 3:19]:

XIX) [Jn 3:20]:

XX) CONCLUSION RE: JN 3:1-20

A) JOHN 3:1-18 IS A FAVORITE PASSAGE ON SALVATION BECAUSE ONE CAN IDENTIFY WITH NICODEMUS AS THE LORD SPEAKS TO HIM ABOUT EVERLASTING LIFE

B) MANY OTHER PASSAGES VERIFY THE TERMS OF SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE BEING FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE

1) [Eph 2:8-9]:

2) [Ro 5:10, 15]:

3) [Ro 11:6]:

C) A WORD OF CAUTION: NO WHERE DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ANYTHING BUT A SINGLE MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE

D) THE BASIC TRUTH'S OF THE BIBLE

1) THE STORY OF MAN'S RECONCILIATION TO GOD

a) MAN IS TOTALLY DEPRAVED AND HOPELESSLY LOST; ANYTHING HE DOES TO APPEASE GOD IS AS FILTHY RAGS AND NOT ACCEPTABLE TO GOD:

i) [Ps 51:5]:

ii) [Eccl 7:20]:

iii) [Isa 64:6]:

iv) [Ro 3:10]:

v) [Ro 3:23]:

b) THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS IS COMPLETE, IN AND OF ITSELF, TO SAVE YOU ONCE YOU HAVE TRUSTED IN HIM. NO WORK IS REQUIRED OF ANYONE IN ORDER TO SAVE AN INDIVIDUAL OR KEEP HIM SAVED

i) [1 Jn 2:2]:

ii) [Col 2:13-14]:

iii) [Eph 2:8-9]:

c) ONCE YOU ARE SAVED, YOU REMAIN SAVED

i) [Eph 1:13-14]:

ii) [Ro 8:1]:

iii) [Ro 8:38-39]:

iv) [Jn 5:24]:

v) [2 Tim 2:10-13]:

d) ONE CAN HAVE AN ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE THAT ONE HAS ETERNAL LIFE

i) [1 Jn 5:9-13]: