QT 27/02/2026 Fri. John 3:1–21 You Must Be Born Again 人必须重生

QT 27/02/2026 Fri. John 3:1–21  You Must Be Born Again
READ http://www.esv.org/john3:1-21

(1) A Religious Man in the Dark (John 3:1–2)

John introduces us to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and “ruler of the Jews.” He was educated, respected, moral, and deeply religious. Yet he came to Jesus at night.

Night is more than a time reference—it symbolises spiritual darkness. Nicodemus had religion, but he lacked regeneration. He had knowledge, but not new life.

How many today sit in churches, know the language of faith, and yet remain spiritually unchanged? Nicodemus reminds us: religion is not the same as rebirth.

(2) The Shocking Requirement: New Birth (John 3:3–8)

Jesus responds with a startling declaration: “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Not just being improved. Not reformed. Not getting more educated. But Born again. Jesus explains that this birth is:

• Spiritual (“born of the Spirit”)
• Supernatural (like the wind—unseen yet powerful)
• Necessary (“you must be born again”)

Salvation is not about turning over a new leaf; it is about receiving a new life. The flesh produces flesh. Only the Spirit produces spirit. The truth is here: We are not saved by works, heritage, baptism rites, or morality—but by the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit causing us to be born again (cf. Titus 3:5).

(3) The Heavenly Savior (John 3:9–15)

Nicodemus asks, “How can these things be?”

Jesus reveals that He alone has authority to speak of heavenly things because He descended from heaven—the Son of Man. Then He connects His mission to a powerful Old Testament event:

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…” (John 3:14)

This refers to the Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21). When Israel was dying from snake bites, God instructed Moses to lift up a bronze serpent. Whoever looked at it in faith lived. In the same way, Jesus would be “lifted up” on the cross. Those who look to Him in faith receive eternal life. The remedy for sin is not self-effort—it is looking to Christ crucified.

(4) The Heart of the Gospel (John 3:16–17)

“For God so loved the world…”

This is the gospel in one sentence.
-The source of salvation: God’s love
-The cost of salvation: He gave His only Son
-The condition of salvation: Whoever believes
-The promise of salvation: Eternal life

Salvation is not earned—it is received by faith. Do note that Jesus was not sent merely to condemn but also to save. Condemnation is already our condition apart from Him. Christ is the rescue mission of heaven.

(5) Light vs. Darkness (John 3:18–21)

Here is the dividing line: belief.

• Those who believe are not condemned.
• Those who refuse remain condemned.

Why do people reject Christ? Jesus says it plainly: they love darkness rather than light. The gospel exposes sin. Pride resists exposure. But the one who has truly been born again does not fear the light—he runs to it. New birth produces new desires:

• A love for truth
• A hatred for sin
• A desire to walk in God’s light

Are these your primary inclinations these days?

💡 Key Themes in This Passage

(a) Total spiritual inability – We must be born again. There is no other way.
(b) Sovereign work of the Spirit – Like the wind, He moves freely. No human can manipulate.
(c) Substitutionary atonement – Christ lifted up for sinners. No human effort can achieve this by self-effort.
(d) Salvation by grace through faith – Whoever believes. God’s offer is deep and wide, whoever.
(e) Urgency of response – Believe and live.

🙏 Personal Application

Ask yourself:
(a) Have I experienced spiritual rebirth, or do I merely practice religion?
(b) Have I looked to Christ alone for salvation?
(c) Am I walking in the light, or hiding in darkness?

The message to Nicodemus is the message to us: You must be born again. And the invitation still stands: Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Come to the Light. Look to the Son. Be born from above.

QT 27/02/2026 星期五. 约翰福音3:1-21 人必须重生

阅读 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john3%3A1-21&version=CNVS

(1) 暗夜中的宗教人士（约翰福音3:1-2）

约翰向我们介绍了尼哥底母，一位法利赛人，也是 “犹太人的官”。他受过教育，备受尊敬，品德高尚，且虔诚敬虔。然而他却在夜间来见耶稣。

夜晚不仅是时间的标记——它象征着属灵的黑暗。尼哥底母拥有宗教，却缺乏重生。他有知识，却没有新生命。

今日多少人坐在教堂里，熟悉信仰的言语，却在灵里毫无改变？尼哥底母提醒我们：宗教不等于重生。

(2) 震撼的要求：重生（约翰福音3:3-8）

耶稣以惊人的宣告回应：“人若不重生，就不能见神的国。”（约翰福音3:3）这不仅是变得更好。非改革。非求学深造。乃是重生。耶稣阐明这重生具有三重特质：

• 属灵的（“从圣灵生的”）
• 超自然的（如风——无形却大有能力）
• 必不可少的（“你必须重生”）

救恩不在于靠改过自新，而在于领受新生命。肉体生出肉体，惟有圣灵生出灵命。真理在此： 我们得救并非因行为、血统、洗礼仪式或道德操守——而是因圣灵的主权作为，使人重生（参提多书3:5）。

(3) 天上的救主（约翰福音3:9-15）

尼哥底母问：“怎能有这事呢？” （3:9)

耶稣揭示唯有祂有权柄论及天上的事，因祂是从天上降下的人子。随后祂将自己的使命与旧约中一个震撼人心的事件相连：

“摩西在旷野怎样把铜蛇举起，人子也必照样被举起来”（约翰福音3:14）。

此处指铜蛇（民数记21章）。当以色列人因蛇咬而濒死时，神吩咐摩西竖立铜蛇。凡凭信心仰望者便得存活。同样，耶稣也将在十字架上被 “举起来”。凡凭信心仰望祂的人必得永生。罪的救赎之道不在于自我努力，而在于仰望被钉十字架的基督。

(4) 福音的核心（约翰福音3:16-17）

“神爱世人...”
一句概括福音真谛：
-救恩之源：神的爱
-救恩之价：赐下独生子
-得救之条件：凡信的
-救恩之应许：永生

救恩非靠功德——乃凭信心领受。须知耶稣降世不仅为定罪，更是为拯救。脱离祂的我们本已处于定罪之中。基督乃天国的救援行动。

(5) 光与暗的对立（约翰福音3:18-21）

信仰是分水岭：

• 信的人不被定罪
• 拒绝的人仍受定罪

为何世人拒绝基督？耶稣直言不讳：他们喜爱黑暗胜过光明。福音揭露罪恶，骄傲抗拒暴露。但真正重生之人并不惧怕光明——他奔向光明。新生带来新的渴慕：

• 渴慕真理
• 憎恶罪恶
• 渴望行在神的光中

这些是否成为你当下首要的倾向？

💡 本段核心主题

(a) 完全属灵无能——必须重生，别无他途。
(b) 圣灵主权作为——如风自由运行，无人能操控。
(c) 代赎救赎——基督为罪人被举起，人仅凭己力无法实现这一点。
(d) 因信称义的恩典——凡信的人。神的恩典深广无边，不分对象。
(e) 回应的紧迫性——信而得生。

🙏 个人应用

请自省：
(a) 我是否经历属灵重生，抑或仅在履行宗教仪式？
(b) 我是否唯独仰望基督得救？
(c) 我是否行在光明中，还是藏身于黑暗里？

给尼哥底母的信息就是给我们的信息：你们必须重生。这邀请依然有效：信祂的人不至灭亡，反得永生。

来到光明中。仰望圣子。从上头而生。