‏ John 3

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 3Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" 5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you cannot tell 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 this be?" 10Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and testify to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven, but he who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14And 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. 16For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. 18He who believes in him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been done in God."

22After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea, and there he remained with them and baptized. 23Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were baptized. 24For John had not yet been put in prison. 25Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purifying. 26And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, he is baptizing, and all are going to him." 27John answered, "A man can receive only what is given to him from heaven. 28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, ‘but I have been sent before him. 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now full. 30He must increase, but I must decrease. 31"He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard; yet no one receives his testimony. 33He who has received his testimony has certified that God is true. 34For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."