¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says,^(A) it says to those who are under the law,^(B) so that every mouth may be silenced^(C) and the whole world held accountable to God.^{(D) 20} Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;^(E) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.^(F)

Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God^(G) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.^{(H) 22} This righteousness^(I) is given through faith^(J) in^[a] Jesus Christ^(K) to all who believe.^(L) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,^{(M) 23} for all have sinned^(N) and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified^(O) freely by his grace^(P) through the redemption^(Q) that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[b](R) through the shedding of his blood^(S)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(T)— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,^(A) so the Son of Man must be lifted up,^{[a](B) 15} that everyone who believes^(C) may have eternal life in him.”^[b](D)

¹⁶ For God so loved^(E) the world that he gave^(F) his one and only Son,^(G) that whoever believes^(H) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.^{(I) 17} For God did not send his Son into the world^(J) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.^{(K) 18} Whoever believes in him is not condemned,^(L) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.^{(M) 19} This is the verdict: Light^(N) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.^{(O) 20} Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.^{(P) 21} But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

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.’