1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to
Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has
come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence
of God.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom
of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone
be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s
womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the
kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh
is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to
you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you
hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So
it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can
these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do
not understand these things?
11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have
seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things
and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the
Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the
Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not
send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might
be saved through him.”
(John 3:1-17)
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