John 3

A Pharisee named Nicodemus (teacher and ruler of the Jews) came to Jesus by cover of darkness and said: We know you are a teacher from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him.

Jesus replied: Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 

Nicodemus asked: How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?

Jesus answered, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." 

Nicodemus still struggled to understand, and Jesus focused on the true meaning of salvation - that new birth comes through faith and that ignorance is caused by unbelief. Jesus clarified that only He has come from God and heaven to legitimately be able to talk about these things.

Jesus told about how Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, and all who looked up and believed were healed; likewise, Jesus must one day be lifted up (on the cross), that whoever looks upon Him and believes in Him shall have eternal life. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 The reason one might not believe is because he loves his sin more. 

...men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

Then there was a conflict between John the Baptist's disciples and the Jews, and the Jews wanted to know why people were going to Jesus to be baptized. John explained that man cannot have a ministry unless it had been given to him from God. John had admitted that he was not the Christ, but a friend of His. Therefore, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

John testified again that Jesus was from God and was true and spoke God's words. 

The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

COMMENTARY 

About Nicodemus: he was an important leader and teacher. He was a Pharisee who believed in what the Old Testament taught about the coming Messiah and the Resurrection. The Pharisees had hoped to help throw off the yoke of Rome and establish the promised kingdom on earth. Thus, Nicodemus, was eager to talk to Jesus, and Jesus knew exactly what was on his heart: the kingdom of God!

Immediately, Jesus told him he must be born again -- not the physical act, but a spiritual birth. Nicodemus could not spiritually understand Jesus. When Jesus told him he must be born of water and Spirit, He was speaking of the Word of God. Man must be born by the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures. 

But man's old nature is at war with God "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject ot the law or God...so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom 8:7-8)." The old nature must be changed with a new nature through a spiritual rebirth. 

Jesus also told Nicodemus that when Moses lifted up the serpent on the pole, when the people looked upon it and believed it for healing, they were healed (even though the serpent, which represented sin, on the pole had no special powers). It was through obedience and faith that they were healed. Likewise, Christ was made sin for us and would be lifted up on the cross. 

To understand John 3:16: we must be born again and Christ must be lifted up (on the cross). Then the Spirit may regenerate us. All this because God so loved the world. He does not save the world by love. Love does not save sinners. It is only by God's GRACE! He loved the world that He gave His Son so that if you believe in Him, you shall not die in your sins, but have eternal life. Trust Him as the One who personally bore the penalty (God's wrath) for your sins. If all He had to do was love you to save you, then He would not need to die on the cross. But because God cannot save you with love, He had to have grace to pardon you through His Son taking your place on the cross. Jesus took your place in receiving the wrath of God reserved for you. 

What about verse 17-18? About Jesus not condemning the world? Because Jesus first came as a Savior to save people from their sins. But when He comes the second time, it will surely be as Judge, and those NOT in Christ are already condemned. Here is how McGee explains it: 

The world is lost. [It] is like a man who is in prison being asked whether or not he will accept a pardon. That is the gospel. [Man] is already condemned. He is already in prison waiting for execution. But the gospel tells him a pardon is offered to him. The point is, will [he] accept the pardon? How wonderfully clear that is. The gospel is to save those who are already lost. 

Finally, the disciples of John the Baptist seem to be jealous of the people who are now going to Jesus. John explained to them that Jesus is the bridegroom who has the church as His bride. John is only a friend to the bridegroom. Christ must increase now, and John is at the end of his ministry.