You will have to be born again
3
1 There was an important Jewish authority of the Pharisees named Nicodemus.
2 One night time, he went to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we know that ‘you are one who has come from God’.
Because without God's help, no one can do the miracles that you do.”
3 Then Jesus told Nicodemus, “A man cannot partake in* the kingdom of God without being born again.
This matter is true.”
4 Then Nicodemus asked Jesus, “How can an old man be born again?
Is he able to enter into his mother's womb once more to be born?”
5 So Jesus said, “A man cannot enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and of the Spirit.
+ This matter is true.”
6 “Parents are able to give physical birth.
But God's Spirit is able to give birth to spirit.
7 Therefore do not be amazed if I say, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows from whichever side it desires.
You hear the noise of the wind but where the wind comes from and where it goes you do not know.
It is also the same way being born with God's Spirit”, Jesus said.
9 So Nicodemus asked Jesus, “How can this happen?”
10 Then Jesus said, “You are an important teacher of the Israelite people.
And you don't know about this?”
11 “We tell about what we know and what we have seen.
This matter is true.
But you do not believe our testimony.
12 You do not believe when I tell you a message about this world.
So how will you believe if I tell a message about heaven?”.
13 “Except for me, Heaven's Man, who came down from heaven, no one else has gone to heaven above.
14 Just as Moses, in the wilderness, made a bronze snake and dangled it on a tall stick,+ like that I who am Heaven's Man must also be hung up on the log.
15 Doing like that, those who put their faith in me will get eternal life.
16 “Because of God loving the people of the world very much, he sent his only Son to the earth.
He did like this so that everyone putting faith in his Son, would get eternal life without being destroyed.
17 God did not send his Son in order to punish the people of the world but he sent him in order to save them.
18 “Whoever believes in him will not be judged.
But he who does not believe, because of not believing in God's only Son, has already been judged.
19 Because he brought light for all the world's people.
But people while doing their bad works, liked being in darkness.
This is the reason for that judgement.
20 Every man who does bad works does not like the light.
In order to keep his bad works hidden, he will not come to the light.
21 But he who follows truth, will come to the light in order to show that his works are happening through God.”
John telling witness about Jesus
22 After that, Jesus and his disciples, having gone to the area of Judea, while causing them to give baptism to people, he was there for some days.
23 Because of there being much water near Salim at a place called Aenon, John was giving baptism there.
24 So people, having gone there, were taking baptism.
This event happened before John had been put in jail.
25 One day, an argument about becoming ritually clean started between a Jew and John's disciples.
26 So the disciples, coming to John, said, “Teacher!
The one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, and about whom you gave witness, he is now giving baptism.
Everyone is going to him.”
27 So John said, “Unless God gives it from heaven no one can take anything.
28 You all are witness that ‘I am not the Christ.
But I am the messenger sent before him.’
29 For example, say that the groom is the important one at the marriage.
He is the bride's master.
The groom's friend will be very happy to stand near the groom and to do according to what he tells.
In the same way, I am very happy.
My happiness is complete.
30 Because I should become of lower status, and higher status should come to Jesus.
31 “He who came from heaven is above everyone else.
We are of the earth and we speak about matters that will happen on the earth.
Whoever has come from heaven, is above everyone else.
32 He will testify about what he has seen and heard there.
But no one will accept his testimony.
33-35 Because of God loving his Son, he handed over all his authority to him.
Because of him being completely filled with his given Spirit, he will only speak God's words.
Anyone who accepts his testimony shows that the words Jesus told about God are true.
36 Anyone who has faith in God's Son, will get eternal life.
Anyone who does not have faith in him, does not get eternal life.
But God's anger will be on him”, John the Baptist said.