⁸ For it is by grace^(A) you have been saved,^(B) through faith^(C)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(D) so that no one can boast.^(E)

¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.^{(A) 12} Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed^(B) in his name,^(C) he gave the right to become children of God^(D)— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.^(E)

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus^(A) who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.^{(B) 2} He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi,^(C) we know^(D) that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs^(E) you are doing if God were not with him.”^(F)

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^[a]”^(G)

⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.^{(H) 6} Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit.^{(I) 7} You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^[c] must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^[d](J)

⁹ “How can this be?”^(K) Nicodemus asked.

¹⁵ that everyone who believes^(A) may have eternal life in him.”^[a](B)

¹⁶ For God so loved^(C) the world that he gave^(D) his one and only Son,^(E) that whoever believes^(F) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.^{(G) 17} For God did not send his Son into the world^(H) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.^{(I) 18} Whoever believes in him is not condemned,^(J) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.^(K)

¹⁶ know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,^(A) but by faith in Jesus Christ.^(B) So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in^[a] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.^(C)

⁸ Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”^[a](A)

⁵ he saved us,^(A) not because of righteous things we had done,^(B) but because of his mercy.^(C) He saved us through the washing^(D) of rebirth and renewal^(E) by the Holy Spirit,

⁹ If you declare^(A) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”^(B) and believe^(C) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,^(D) you will be saved.^{(E) 10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

³¹ They replied, “Believe^(A) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved^(B)—you and your household.”^(C)