What can be more evident, or more instructive? But there is also a fearful positive contrast. There is no other way in which the new nature is made good in a soul. (c) Shall not enjoy. The allusion to the fig-tree confirms this. Nay, the Father has given all judgment to the Son. (ver. John gives us this point of contact with them, though in an incident peculiar to himself. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." Such is the miserable condition of the sinner! Here was One on earth who knew all secrets. It is the necessary aspect of love and holiness toward those who reject love, and wilfully sin. Therefore, it seems to me, He adds verse 24. Let them learn, then, that as Son of man (for which nature they despised Him, and denied His essential personal glory) He will judge; and this judgment will be no passing visitation, such as God has accomplished by angels or men in times past. If he receives Him, it is everlasting life, and Christ is thus honoured by him; if not, judgment remains which will compel the honour of Christ, but to his own ruin for ever. He who inspired them to communicate His thoughts of Jesus in the particular line assigned to each, raised up John to impart the highest revelation, and thus complete the circle by the deepest views of the Son of God. John 7:6-8) They belonged to the world. None else could do either work: for here we see His great work on earth, and His heavenly power. Such is the miserable condition of the sinner! By the grace of God, John had come to know and appreciate the true identity of Jesus Christ. The first four chapters of John precede in point of time the notices of His ministry in the other gospels. Jesus Christ really is the One who "came from above . Did the dead (for so men are treated, not as alive under law) did they hear the voice of the Son of God? But Jesus finds him in the temple, and said, "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." If His time was not yet come, their time was always ready. But none need hate, and none need live in wilful sin. He has life; the man who disobeys has not, and while he disobeys shall not see life, for he cannot be a subject of a kingdom to whose laws he refuses allegiance. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. It is there that we found the Lord, in the other synoptic gospels, fulfilling His ordinary ministry. His exaltation there is not without notice in the gospel, but exceptionally. Title: "Born Again" - What Does This Term Actually Mean? Partner with StudyLight.org as God uses us to make a difference for those displaced by Russia's war on Ukraine. Not only man under law has no health, but he has no strength to avail himself of the blessing that God holds out. The character is wholly different from the position and glory of Messiah in Israel, according to promise and prophecy. Were the Jews zealously keeping the sabbath? His opposition to sin, and its terrible effects in this world and the next.Abideth on him - This implies that he is "now" under the wrath of God, or under condemnation. "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." (VersesJohn 3:7-8; John 3:7-8), It is hardly necessary to furnish detailed disproof of the crude, ill-considered notion (originated by the fathers), that baptism is in question. Fritzsche, p. 21). So only is man born of God. that we may give an answer to them that sent us. Cf. He lives continually in an economy which is alienated from God, and which, in itself, must be habitually the subject of God's displeasure and indignation. Here again, apart from this divine insight, the change or gift of the name marks His glory. Abideth on him. Commentary on John 3:22-36. This implies that he is now under the wrath of God, or under condemnation. Thus in one way or the other all must honour the Son. And in fact, the original hearer apparently . It will abide or dwell there as its appropriate habitation. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. But He, being God, was manifesting and, on the contrary, maintaining the divine glory here below. Thus, in His person, as well as in His work, they joined issue. Thus we have traced, first, hearts not only attracted to Him, but fresh souls called to follow Him; then, in type, the call of Israel by-and-by; finally, the disappearance of the sign of moral purifying for the joy of the new covenant, when Messiah's time comes to bless the needy earth; but along with this the execution of judgment in Jerusalem, and its long defiled temple. Her testimony bore the impress of what had penetrated her soul, and would make way for all the rest in due time. What more glorious proof than that the Holy Ghost is given not a certain defined power or gift, but the Holy Ghost Himself; for God gives not the Spirit by measure! Gospel of John of the New Testament, Chapter 3, Verse 16 Notably He is now applying it to the reconciliation of a people, who are also baptized by the Holy Ghost into one body. The Jews, then, who could not help, and pitied not their fellow in his long infirmity and disappointment, are scandalized to see him, safe and sound, carrying his couch on that day. It seemed natural: He had fed the poor with bread, and why should not He take His place on the throne? But this, however worthy of God, and indispensable for man, could not of itself give an adequate expression of what God is; because in this alone, neither His own love nor the glory of His Son finds due display. Warning: spoilers for the Season 1 finale of 1923, "Nothing Left to Lose" beyond this point. (Ver. #1 "He must become greater;". "For God," He says, "so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. God orders matters so that a favoured teacher of men, favoured as none others were in Israel, should come to Jesus by night. He will have all honour the Son, even as Himself. (Verse John 7:39), Nothing can be simpler than this. Here there is no John proclaiming Jesus as the One who was about to introduce the kingdom of heaven. John 3:2 Greek him; John 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7; John 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit; John 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here; John 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit; John 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12 . Not only is there no healing to be extracted from the law by a sinner, but the law makes more evident the disease, if it does not also aggravate the symptoms. hath everlasting life; he has it in Christ his head, in whom he believes; he has a right unto it through the justifying righteousness of Christ, and a meetness for it by his grace; he has it in faith and hope; he has the beginning of it in the knowledge of Christ, and communion with him; he has some foretastes of it in his present experience; and he has the earnest and pledge of it in his heart, even the blessed Spirit, who works him up for this selfsame thing: and he that believeth not the Son; that does not believe Christ to be the Son of God, or Jesus to be the Messiah; or rejects him as the Saviour; who lives and dies in a state of impenitence and unbelief: shall not see life; eternal life; he shall not enter into it, and enjoy it; he shall die the second death. They knew what they worshipped, but not the Father, nor were they "true." It implies, also, that it will continue to remain on him. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. I pray that I might live for Him. (b) Midrash Ruth, fol. Yet thousands choose to remain in this state, and to encounter alone all that is terrible in the wrath of Almighty God, rather than come to Jesus, who has borne their sins in his own body on the tree, and who is willing to bless them with the peace, and purity, and joy of immortal life. Deeper questions demanded solution. (Verse John 3:16), Let it not be passed by, that while the new birth or regeneration is declared to be essential to a part in the kingdom of God, the Lord in urging this intimates that He had not gone beyond the earthly things of that kingdom. The result immediately follows. Man is morally judged. It was not the time now to demonstrate in public power these coming, yea, then present truths. VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Everlasting life could only be had by faith in Him, and might be thus obtained; whereas all those, who believe not in the Son of God, cannot partake of salvation, but the wrath of God for ever rests upon them.Barnes' Notes on the BibleHath everlasting life - Has or is in possession of that which is a recovery from spiritual death, and which will result in eternal life in heaven. He is viewed as retaining the same perfect intimacy with the Father, entirely unimpaired by local or any other circumstances He had entered. The wrath of God abideth on him.Once only in the four Gospels does this term, so full of tremendous meaning, meet us, and that in the Gospel of fullest love, and in a context which speaks of the Fathers love to the Son, and of eternal life, which is the portion of all who believe on the Son. Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Greek Scripture. The verb means to persuade, to cause belief, to induce one to do something by persuading, and so runs into the meaning of to obey, properly as the result of persuasion. On the third day is the marriage in Cana of Galilee, where was His mother, Jesus also, and His disciples. Footnotes. Christ's clear command to all sinners is to believe His heavenly testimony: "For whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and will not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." He saw him under the fig tree. In a certain sense, the principle of John 4:1-54 was made true in the woman of Samaria, and in others who received Christ then. 29) on which, as it were, Jesus speaks and acts in His grace as here shown on the earth. It is here life begun the first breathings and pantings of the soul for immortality; yet it is life, though at first feeble and faint, which is eternal in its nature, and which shall be matured in the full and perfect bliss of heaven. One must be born again. How blessed the contrast with the people's state depicted in this chapter, tossed about by every wind of doctrine, looking to "letters," rulers, and Pharisees, perplexed about the Christ, but without righteous judgment, assurance, or enjoyment! This leads Philip to Nathanael, in whose case, when he comes to Jesus, we see not divine power alone in sounding the souls of men, but over creation. And they do.