John 3

1Now there was a man from the Pharisees, Nicodemus by name, a ruler of the Jews.

2He came to him at night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, for no one can perform these signs that you perform unless God is with him."

3Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

4Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born."

5Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

6What has been born of flesh is flesh, and what has been born of spirit is spirit.

7Do not be amazed that I told you, You must be born from above.

8The wind blows wherever it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know from where it comes or where it goes; thus it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

9Nicodemus replied to him, “How can these things take place?”

10Jesus answered him, "You are Israel's teacher, and do you not know these things?"

11Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak what we know and testify to what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.

12If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13And no one has ascended into heaven except the one who came down 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.

15so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

16For God loved the world in this way: he gave his only Son, that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.

17For God did not send his Son into the world that he might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

18The one who believes in him is not judged, but the one who does not believe has already been judged because he has not believed in the name of God's only Son.

19This is the judgment: light has come into the world, yet people loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil.

20For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be exposed.

21But whoever practices the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be revealed, because they have been performed in God.

22After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the Judean countryside, and there he stayed with them and baptized.

23John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because abundant water was there, and people kept coming and being baptized.

24For John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25Therefore a question arose between John's disciples and a Jew about purification.

26And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—look, he baptizes, and all are coming to him."

27John answered, "No man can receive anything unless it has been given him from heaven."

28You yourselves testify to me that I said, "I am not the Christ, but rather that I have been sent ahead of him."

29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the bridegroom's friend—who stands listening to him—rejoices with joy because of the bridegroom's voice; therefore this joy of mine has been fulfilled.

30He must become greater, but I must become less.

31The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony.

33He who has received his testimony has sealed that God is true.

34For the one whom God sent speaks God's words, for God gives the Spirit without measure.

35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life; instead, God's wrath remains on him.