1. (a) What was Nicodemus’ purpose for coming to Jesus?

(b) What could be the reason he came at night?

2. Why do you think Christ talked immediately to Nicodemus about being born again before saying anything else to him? Give reasons in light of John 3:3.

3. Did Nicodemus misunderstand Jesus’ spiritual meaning, or was he speaking of the human impossibility of a grown man changing his thoughts and ways?

4. Read John 3:3-8. How does Christ describe a person who has not experienced Spiritual birth?

5. Read John 3:6 with Roman 7:18 and 8:8-9. By comparing the meaning of these verses, explain what you think Christ means by the word "flesh" (as distinct from mere physical flesh and blood).

6. Since "birth" implies life, in what Spiritual condition is a person who has not been Spiritually born, according to Jesus’ words here? See also John 5:24 and Eph. 2:1, 5.

7. Can a person today know whether he or she is "born" again or not?

8. Seeing that Nicodemus was a teacher in Israel and knew the Old Testament, can you think of any Old Testament prophecies which should have prepared him for this teaching about the new birth and the Holy Spirit?

9. Give two remarks uttered by Jesus by which He reproved Nicodemus for Spiritual ignorance which had its roots in an unwillingness to commit himself to Spiritual light already given.

10. What does Jesus mean by "saved" in John 3:17?

11. From the passage in John and I Cor. 1:18 and 2 Cor. 2:15 what do you understand the meaning of "perish" to be?

12. List reasons Jesus gave for not coming to Him?

13. Make applications from these passages that will help you focus on change as a result of your study.

14. Seek to memorize a verse this week and ask some one to hear you review.