John 3:1-15 (AMP)Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (a member of theSanhedrin) among the Jews, who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, "Rabbi (Teacher), we know (withoutany doubt) that You have come from GOD as a teacher; for no one can do these signs (these wonders, theseattesting miracles) that You do unless GOD is with him." Jesus answered him, "I assure you and most solemnlysay to you, unless a person is born again (reborn from above; spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified), hecannot (ever) see and experience the Kingdom of GOD." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born whenhe is old? He cannot enter his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?" Jesus answered, "I assureyou and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot (ever) enter the Kingdomof GOD. That which is born of the flesh is flesh (the physical is merely physical), and that which is born of theSpirit is spirit. Do not be surprised that I have told you, 'You must be born again (reborn from above; spirituallytransformed, renewed, sanctified).' The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not knowwhere it is coming from and where it is going; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said toHim, "How can these things be possible?" Jesus replied, "You are the (great and well-known) teacher of Israel,and yet you do not know nor understand these things (from Scripture)? I assure you and most solemnly say toyou, we speak only of what we (absolutely) know and testify about what we have (actually) seen (aseyewitnesses); and (still) you (reject our evidence and) do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things(that is, things that happen right here on earth) and you do not believe, how will you believe and trust Me if Itell you heavenly things? No one has gone up into heaven, but there is One who came down from heaven, theSon of Man (Himself, whose home is in heaven). Just as Moses lifted up the (bronze) serpent in the desert (on apole), so must the Son of Man be lifted up (on the cross), so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life(after physical death and will actually live forever)
