The verse before the Nicodemus story says Jesus “himself knew what was in man” (John 2:25).
Dear friend, we must learn from Jesus about our human ‘goodness.’ We hear many people say, “God accepts me because I obey the rules. I help others. I’m not perfect; but I’m not so bad either.” Jesus draws an opposite picture for Nicodemus:
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil (John 3:19).
To another Jewish ruler Jesus says, “No one is good – except God alone” (Mark 10:18). This ruler thinks he keeps every commandment. Jesus proves he breaks the first command, for he has an idol. He loves money more than God and the poor. Hearing this, “… he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).
Dear friend, do you have idols which push God aside? Some idols are of stone and wood. Others are of sexual immorality and worldly pleasures, selfishness, pride, success, and greed (Colossians 3:5). Do you ever walk away from God? Do you ever feel the sadness of sin? None of us can say, “Not guilty!”
Jesus describes the Spirit’s work: “… he will convict the world concerning sin” (John 16:8). The Spirit charges us all:
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:9-12).