The Enduring Word

²² Since you ^(A)have purified your souls in obeying the truth ^[a]through the Spirit in ^[b]sincere ^(B)love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ^23 (C)having been born again, not of ^[c]corruptible seed but ^[d]incorruptible, ^(D)through the word of God which lives and abides ^[e]forever, ²⁴ because

^(G)Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

A Heavenly Inheritance

^3 (A)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^(B)according to His abundant mercy ^(C)has begotten us again to a living hope ^(D)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ^(A)“love will cover a multitude of sins.”

The New Birth

3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ^2 (A)This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for ^(B)no one can do these signs that You do unless ^(C)God is with him.”

³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, ^(D)unless one is born ^[a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, ^(E)unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is ^(F)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ^8 (G)The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

⁹ Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ^(H)“How can these things be?”

¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

^34 (A)A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ^35 (B)By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³⁶ Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”

Jesus answered him, “Where I ^(C)am going you cannot follow Me now, but ^(D)you shall follow Me afterward.”

³⁷ Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will ^(E)lay down my life for Your sake.”

³⁸ Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not ^(F)crow till you have denied Me three times.