John 3:6 Study Bible: That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

◄ John 3:6 ►

Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh
This phrase emphasizes the natural human condition. The Greek word for "flesh" is "sarx," which often refers to the human nature in its frailty and propensity to sin. In the context of the Gospel of John, "flesh" signifies the earthly, human nature that is distinct from the divine. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of humanity's fallen state post-Eden, where the flesh is seen as weak and in need of redemption. Theologically, this phrase underscores the necessity of spiritual rebirth, as human efforts alone cannot achieve salvation.

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit
Here, the contrast is drawn between the natural and the supernatural. The Greek word for "Spirit" is "pneuma," which can mean breath, wind, or spirit. In the biblical context, it refers to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is active in the process of regeneration. The repetition of "spirit" highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, which brings about a new creation in Christ. This aligns with the historical understanding of the early church, which saw baptism and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as essential for entering the Kingdom of God. Theologically, this phrase assures believers of their new identity in Christ, empowered by the Spirit to live a life pleasing to God.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, explaining the necessity of spiritual rebirth.

2. Nicodemus
A Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council who comes to Jesus at night seeking understanding of His teachings.

3. Jerusalem
The city where this conversation takes place, a significant location for Jewish religious life and Jesus' ministry.

4. The Holy Spirit
The divine agent of spiritual rebirth, emphasized in Jesus' explanation of being "born of the Spirit."

Teaching Points

Understanding the Dual Nature
Recognize that human beings have both a physical and a spiritual nature. The physical birth is natural, but spiritual birth is a divine act.

Necessity of Spiritual Rebirth
Emphasize the importance of being "born of the Spirit" to enter the Kingdom of God. This rebirth is not optional but essential for salvation.

Role of the Holy Spirit
Acknowledge the Holy Spirit's role in transforming lives. The Spirit empowers believers to live according to God's will, producing spiritual fruit.

Living by the Spirit
Encourage believers to walk in the Spirit, which involves daily surrender and reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength.

Identity in Christ
Understand that being born of the Spirit gives believers a new identity as children of God, which should influence their actions and decisions.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding the difference between being born of the flesh and being born of the Spirit impact your view of salvation?

2. In what ways can you actively seek to live by the Spirit in your daily life, as described in Galatians 5:16-25?

3. How does the concept of spiritual rebirth in John 3:6 relate to the promise of a new heart and spirit in Ezekiel 36:26-27?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure that your identity as a child of God influences your decisions and actions?

5. How can you explain the necessity of being "born of the Spirit" to someone who is unfamiliar with Christian teachings?

Connections to Other Scriptures

John 1:12-13
These verses discuss the right to become children of God, not born of natural descent but born of God, reinforcing the concept of spiritual rebirth.

Romans 8:9
This passage highlights the indwelling of the Spirit as a mark of belonging to Christ, connecting to the idea of being born of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-25
Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit, illustrating the transformation that comes from being born of the Spirit.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
The prophecy of a new heart and spirit given by God, which aligns with the concept of spiritual rebirth in John 3:6.

Sermons

Who Walk not After the Flesh, But After the Spirit	Hugh Binning	John 3:6
Amazing Ignorance		John 3:4-8
Baptismal Regeneration	H. F. Burder, D. D.	John 3:4-8
Born a Christian		John 3:4-8
Earthly Minds Love Only Earthly Things	Feathers for Arrows	John 3:4-8
Ignorance in Learned Men		John 3:4-8
Ignorance of Religion	Anecdotes of the Wesleys.	John 3:4-8
Lessons	T. Whitelaw, D. D.	John 3:4-8
Natural Ignorance	J. Trapp.	John 3:4-8
Nicodemus	Joseph Parker, D. D.	John 3:4-8
No Admission to Heaven But by the New Birth	J. Benson.	John 3:4-8
Regeneration	F. W. Robertson, M. A.	John 3:4-8
Regeneration -- its Subjective Aspect	A. J. Parry.	John 3:4-8
Spiritual Births	S. H. Tyng, D. D.	John 3:4-8
The Baptism of Water and of the Spirit	J. Dyke.	John 3:4-8
The General Teaching of Our Lord	Beaux Amis.	John 3:4-8
The Holy Spirit's Work	L. O. Thompson.	John 3:4-8
The Incredulous Listener		John 3:4-8
The Nature and Process of Regeneration	J. C. Jones, D. D.	John 3:4-8
The Need of Regeneration	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 3:4-8
The New Birth	J. Cynddylan Jones, D. D.	John 3:4-8
The New Birth	W. Mudge, B. A.	John 3:4-8
The New Birth	J. S. Jones.	John 3:4-8
The New Birth	John Wesley.	John 3:4-8
The New Birth of Water and the Spirit	T. H. Leary, D. C. L.	John 3:4-8
The Reasoning with Nicodemus	A. Beith, D. D.	John 3:4-8

People

Jesus, John, Nicodemus

Places

Aenon, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea, Salim

Topics

Birth, Born, Flesh, Gives, Spirit, Whatever

Dictionary of Bible Themes

John 3:6

     4195   spirits
     5065   spirit, fallen and redeemed
     6166   flesh, sinful nature
     6213   participation, in sin
     6728   regeneration
     9313   resurrection, spiritual

John 3:1-8

1080 God, living

John 3:1-16

6698 newness

John 3:3-6

6627 conversion, nature of

John 3:3-7

6511 salvation

John 3:3-8

5724 offspring

John 3:3-10

1445 revelation, responses

John 3:5-6

     2303   Christ, as creator
     3203   Holy Spirit, and assurance
     3290   Holy Spirit, life-giver
     5016   heart, fallen and redeemed
     5721   mothers, a symbol

John 3:5-7

4018 life, spiritual
6696 necessity

John 3:5-8

     2424   gospel, promises
     3230   Holy Spirit, and regeneration
     4010   creation, renewal
     4804   breath
     5655   birth
     6728   regeneration
     8164   spirituality

John 3:6-7

5663 childbirth

Library

Notes on the Third Century
Page 161. Line 1. He must be born again, &c. This is a compound citation from John iii. 3, and Mark x. 15, in the order named. Page 182. Line 17. For all things should work together, &c. See Romans viii. 28. Page 184. Lines 10-11. Being Satan is able, &c. 2 Corinthians xi. 14. Page 184. Last line. Like a sparrow, &c. Psalm cii. Page 187. Line 1. Mechanisms. This word is, in the original MS., mechanicismes.' Page 187. Line 7. Like the King's daughter, &c. Psalm xlv. 14. Page 188. Med. 39. The best …
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

September 14 Evening
Ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son.--I COR. 1:9. He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.--Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Be ye . . . followers of God, as dear children.--If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. The brightness of his glory, and the express image of his …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 28 Morning
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.--JOHN 3:16. God . . . hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

March 31 Evening
What communion hath light with darkness?--II COR. 6:14. Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.--Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Darkness hath blinded his eyes.--Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.--Love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 26 Evening
The Lord Jesus Christ . . . shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.--PHI. 3:20,21. Upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. This was the appearance of the …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 8 Evening
They shall see his face.--REV. 22:4. I beseech thee shew me thy glory. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.--No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.--I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 29 Evening
That blessed hope, . . . the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.--TIT. 2:13. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil: whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.--Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things.--When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 18 Evening
I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half was not told me.--I KGS. 10:7. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.--We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. My speech and my preaching was . . . in demonstration of the …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 2 Morning
If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only.--I SAM. 7:3. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.--Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.--Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. Thou shalt worship no other …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 3 Evening
Perfecting holiness in the fear of God.--II COR. 7:1. Dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.--Teaching us that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.--Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.--Not as though …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 11 Evening
Behold, I make all things new.--REV. 21:5. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.--If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.--Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump.--The new man, which after God is created in righteousness …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 19 Morning
Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.--HEB. 12:14. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.--There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth.--There is no spot in thee. Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.--As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 16 Morning
It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell.--COL. 1:19. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.--God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.--Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

September 3 Morning
Neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.--EXO. 13:7. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.--Abhor that which is evil.--Abstain from all appearance of evil.--Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

December 14 Evening
By nature the children of wrath, even as others.--EPH. 2:3. We ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.--Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile: what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.--The Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 14 Evening
[The woman's seed] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.--GEN. 3:15. His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.--He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. This is your hour, and the power of darkness.--Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. The Son of God was manifested, that he might …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 3 Morning
If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.--ROM. 8:17. If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.--Thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.--Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Father, I will that …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 20 Morning
There shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand.--DEUT. 13:17. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.--Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.--Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Beloved, now are we the sons of God . . . And it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 21 Evening
I sought him, but I could not find him: I called him, but he gave me no answer.--SONG 5:6. O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! and the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, for they have even taken of the accursed thing . . . and they have put it even among their own stuff. Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

The Brazen Serpent
'Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness.'--JOHN iii. 14. This is the second of the instances in this Gospel in which our Lord lays His hand upon an institution or incident of the Old Testament, as shadowing forth some aspect of His work. In the first of these instances, under the image of the ladder that Jacob saw, our Lord presented Himself as the sole medium of communication between heaven and earth; here He goes a step further into the heart of His work, and under the image, very eloquent …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Christ's Musts
'... Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.'--JOHN iii. 14. I have chosen this text for the sake of one word in it, that solemn 'must' which was so often on our Lord's lips. I have no purpose of dealing with the remainder of this clause, nor indeed with it at all, except as one instance of His use of the expression. But I have felt it might he interesting, and might set old truths in a brighter light, if we gather together the instances in which Christ speaks of the great necessity which dominated …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Lake and the River
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'--JOHN iii. 16. I venture to say that my text shows us a lake, a river, a pitcher, and a draught. 'God so loved the world'--that is the lake. A lake makes a river for itself--'God so loved the world that He gave His... Son.' But the river does not quench any one's thirst unless he has something to lift the water with: 'God so loved the world that He gave His... …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Teacher or Saviour?
'The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a Teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.'--JOHN iii. 2. The connection in which the Evangelist introduces the story of Nicodemus throws great light on the aspect under which we are to regard it. He has just been saying that upon our Lord's first visit to Jerusalem at the Passover there was a considerable amount of interest excited, and a kind of imperfect faith …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Wind and Spirit
'The wind bloweth where it listeth, and them hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.'--JOHN iii. 8. Perhaps a gust of night wind swept round the chamber where Nicodemus sat listening to Jesus, and gave occasion for this condensed parable. But there is occasion sufficient for it in the word 'Spirit,' which, both in the language in which our Lord addressed the ruler of the Sanhedrim, and in that which John employed …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

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