John 3 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered
A response and reply to the notes on John 3 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).
King James Version
SAB comment
My comment
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 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.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
What must you do to be saved?
Must someone be born again to be saved?
BOM: Alma 7:14
The author of the SAB also asks if someone must be born again. Strictly, theoretically speaking: no. Being born again is not why one is saved. But Jesus addresses a different topic here: who does believe? Only those that are born again believe. Being born again is the way in which salvation is worked in a man. So there are none who truly believe who are not born again, and there are none who are born again who do not truly believe. They are linked inseparably.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
What must you do to be saved?
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou 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.
Jesus says that no one knows which way the wind is blowing. But, of course, he was wrong about that. The direction and speed of the wind are easily measured.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
He was wrong about creation in Mk.10:6, wrong about the flood in Lk.17:26-27, and wrong about the smallest seed in Mk.4:31 and Mt.13:31-32. So why would anyone believe him when he talks about heaven in Jn.3:16?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
"No man hath ascended up to heaven."
Not even Enoch or Elijah?
Has anyone ever ascended into heaven?
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
As an example to parents everywhere and to save the world (from himself), God had his own son tortured and killed.
Does God love everyone?
Was Jesus God's only son?
What must you do to be saved?
The author of the SAB asks if God loves everyone. As there is an unforgivable sin, Matthew 12:31, the answer is clearly no. The word world in this verse should therefore not be understood in the sense of everyone, a meaning it seldom has in the Bible. But if we look at how the word world is used in the next verse it is best to ascribe the same meaning to it here, namely “creation”. God did not leave his creation to their chosen destruction, but send his Son that by Him they might be saved. In that sense God can said to love all those in this world who have not committed the sin against the holy Ghost (if you are concerned you have, you have not committed that sin, because if you had, you would no longer be concerned about it): all those who live, can receive forgiveness of their sins if they flee to Christ.
On the meaning of son of God, see Luke 3:38.
On what you must do to be saved: nothing. Believing is not a work.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Those who, for whatever reason, do not believe in Jesus will be tormented forever in hell.
Is Salvation by faith alone?
How are people judged by God?
The author of the SAB also asks if salvation is by faith alone. And lists some verse from a very different context to try to prove a discrepancy. Salvation, in the sense of fleeing from our righteousness and works, to Jesus Christ, is different from claiming to be saved. If I claim I'm saved, but live in sin, it is a clear indication I'm not. This verse talks how to get on the way to heaven, other verses address that claim to be on that way, or address those that walk the way to heaven.
On how God will judge people: according to their works. But those who believe in Christ, have traded their works and their sin for his righteousness. So God sees Christ instead of the sinner.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
Which came first: the calling of Peter and Andrew or the imprisonment of John the Baptist?
25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
The "wrath of God" is on all non-believers.
Is Salvation by faith alone?
What must you do to be saved?
How are people judged by God?
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Did Jesus perform many signs and wonders?