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  EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS ON JOHN - JOHN 3:1-8
  by J.C. Ryle
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DESCRIPTION
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CONTENT
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Conversation with Nicodemus

Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus who was a member of the
Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus at night and said to him, "Rabbi,
we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could
perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus
replied, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from
above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How
can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb
and be born a second time, can he?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of
water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of
the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be
amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ The
wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not
know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone
who is born of the Spirit."

The conversation between Christ and Nicodemus, which begins with these
verses, is one of the most important passages in the whole Bible.
Nowhere else do we find stronger statements about those two mighty
subjects, the new birth, and salvation by faith in the Son of God. The
servant of Christ will do well to make himself thoroughly acquainted
with this chapter. A man may be ignorant of many things in religion, and
yet be saved. But to be ignorant of the matters handled in this chapter,
is to be in the broad way which leads to destruction.

We should notice, firstly, in these verses, what a weak and feeble
beginning a man may make in religion, and yet finally prove a strong
Christian. We are told of a certain Pharisee, named Nicodemus, who
feeling concerned about his soul, "came to Jesus by night."

There can be little doubt that Nicodemus acted as he did on this
occasion from the fear of man. He was afraid of what man would think, or
say, or do, if his visit to Jesus was known. He came "by night," because
he had not faith and courage enough to come by day. And yet there was a
time afterwards when this very Nicodemus took our Lord\

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/jc-ryle/expository-thoughts-on-john-john-31-8/
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