Nicodemus — Born Again
A ruler of the Jews comes by night, and is told that to see the kingdom a man must be born again — “born of water and of the Spirit.” Jesus binds the new birth to the serpent Moses lifted up, and to the Son who must be lifted up, that whoever believes should have eternal life.
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The reading is the Restoration Edition — the Joseph Smith Translation reading — carried beside each Gospel and set against the King James baseline. Headers give both numbering systems: the RE chapter and verse, and the traditional KJV reference.
1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles which you do except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Truly, truly I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus said 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? 5Jesus answered, Truly, truly I say unto you, except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again. 8The wind blows where it desires and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell from where it comes and to where it goes; so is everyone who is born of the spirit.
9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10Jesus answered and said, Are you a master of Israel and do not know these things? 11Truly, truly I say unto you, we speak that which we do know and testify that which we have seen, and you receive not our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things and you believe not, how shall you believe if I tell you Heavenly things? 13I tell you, no man has ascended up to Heaven, but he who came down from Heaven — the Son of Man who is in Heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. 18He who believes on him is not condemned, but he who believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed on the name of the Only Begotten Son of God, which before was preached by the mouth of the holy prophets; for they testified of me. 19And this is the condemnation: that light has come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; 20for everyone who does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he who loves truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest. And he who obeys the truth, the works which he does, they are of God.
1There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, who was in darkness and came to visit with Jesus. 2He sought wisdom from Jesus and said, Enlightened heavenly guide, some of us know you have descended from the High Council of Heaven because signs confirm you have authority from God. 3Jesus answered and said to him, In the name of Father Ahman I testify there is a new dispensation begun. You must accept the ordinances of this new Light or you cannot hope to progress to know God.
4Nicodemus said to him, If I believe this, can I ascend in this life, or will it be accomplished only in the afterlife? 5Jesus answered, In the name of Father Ahman I say to you, Except you receive the ordinance of baptism to join the new dispensation, and thereby forsake your sins and receive forgiveness and an outpouring of the Spirit, you will not ascend to God’s presence in this life or the life to come. 6All who are devoted to the ambitions of the flesh remain imprisoned by the flesh, and those who are born anew through the ordinances, receive the Spirit of Truth, and are able to know the record of Heaven by the Spirit of Truth. 8Do not question if what I say is true because the Spirit of Truth confers light, knowledge, and understanding of the mysteries of Heaven within every soul who receives it.
9Nicodemus replied to him, Why is this not widely known? 10Jesus answered, Why does a member of the Sanhedrin not recognize that a new dispensation has begun? 11In the name of Father Ahman I confirm what was told by John the Baptist and I have begun a work that comes from Heaven. 12But you who lead Israel fight against it and you refuse to humble yourselves. If I offered you a position of respect and authority, as you now hold, you would believe. But because I testify only of heavenly things that require faith and sacrifice, you refuse to believe? 13I tell you, if you want to ascend to the Heavenly Council, you must first acknowledge and give heed to the messengers sent by them. You can refuse to believe, but you will see in me a sign and remember this saying: 14When Moses nailed a brass serpent upon a pole in the wilderness, he prophesied of me. And I shall also be nailed upon a tree, 15and those who believe on me will receive deliverance through my sacrifice, even as Israel was delivered by looking with faith at Moses’ serpent.
16Father Ahman loves the world, and like father Abraham, Father Ahman will allow His Son to become an offering for sin. Whoever believes and follows His Son will not be lost, but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world. Those who believe and follow His Son will escape the limitations of sin. 18The faithless are condemned already because they refuse to believe and obey the Only Begotten Son of God. Every thing about my assignment, which I am now performing, was foretold by the prophets sent earlier to teach Israel, for they all testified of me. 19They told you I would come, and I am now here doing what was prophesied, but you refuse to see it happening. Enough is underway that rejecting it means you prefer darkness to light. 20Humble yourself and admit the prophets foretold the very things now underway; repent and be baptized and the Spirit of Truth will open your eyes. 21If you want greater light, you will obey this instruction. If you refuse, then you never meant it when you greeted me as an enlightened heavenly guide.
Man Must Be Born Again
In his published editorial on baptism, Joseph Smith took up Jesus’ very words to Nicodemus and reasoned that, because God is unchanging, to be “born of water and of the Spirit” — baptism by proper authority — is and always has been the one door into the kingdom:
Editorial, “Baptism,” Times and Seasons, 1 September 1842 (3:902–905); Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 264–265
Nicodemus 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. 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. 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? 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. This strong and positive answer of Jesus, as to water baptism, settles the question.
If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, it is no wonder he is so positive in the great declaration: He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believes not shall be damned! There was no other name given under heaven, nor no other ordinance admitted, whereby men could be saved: no wonder the Apostle said, being “buried with him in baptism,” ye shall rise from the dead! No wonder Paul had to arise and be baptized and wash away his sins. No wonder the angel told good old Cornelius that he must send for Peter to learn how to be saved: Peter could baptize, and angels could not, so long as there were legal officers in the flesh holding the keys of the kingdom, or the authority of the priesthood.
- Jesus tells Nicodemus a man must be born “of water and of the Spirit” — and the Testimony of St. John reads this plainly as baptism into a new dispensation. How do the water (the ordinance) and the Spirit (the new life) belong together as one birth?
- Nicodemus comes “by night,” a ruler afraid to be seen; Jesus answers him with light and darkness. What is it that keeps a man in the dark even when he has come to the light — and what would it cost Nicodemus to “come to the light”?
- Jesus binds the new birth to the serpent Moses lifted up: as Israel was healed by looking, so the Son must be “lifted up.” Why is the cross the answer to Nicodemus’s question about being born again?