HOLY LIFE FELLOWSHIP PRESENTS
BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT
Part 2: Why Must We Be Born Again?
Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to become more religious.
He did not tell him to study the Scriptures more diligently.
He did not tell him to pray more, fast more, or perform more righteous works.
Instead, Jesus declared:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Why?
Because the greatest problem facing mankind is not ignorance. It is not lack of religion. It is not the absence of good intentions.
The problem lies much deeper.
Our very nature has been corrupted by sin. The human heart does not naturally love God. The natural mind resists His truth, and the human will prefers its own way.
No amount of religious activity can change that condition.
A sinner may learn the language of Christianity. He may attend church faithfully. He may preach, pray, give generously, and even defend sound doctrine. Yet none of these things can produce spiritual life.
Only God can impart life where there is spiritual death.
That is why Jesus spoke of a birth—not an improvement.
Birth produces life.
A person who has never been born cannot make himself alive.
In the same way, no one can give himself spiritual life. The new birth is entirely the work of God.
Seeing Nicodemus' confusion, Jesus continued:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
What did Jesus mean by being born of water and the Spirit?
Was He speaking about water baptism?
Or was He revealing something far deeper about God's work of salvation?
To be continued...
In Part 3, we will begin to uncover the meaning of being born of water and the Spirit, and why Jesus chose those very words.
BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT
Part 2: Why Must We Be Born Again?
Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to become more religious.
He did not tell him to study the Scriptures more diligently.
He did not tell him to pray more, fast more, or perform more righteous works.
Instead, Jesus declared:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Why?
Because the greatest problem facing mankind is not ignorance. It is not lack of religion. It is not the absence of good intentions.
The problem lies much deeper.
Our very nature has been corrupted by sin. The human heart does not naturally love God. The natural mind resists His truth, and the human will prefers its own way.
No amount of religious activity can change that condition.
A sinner may learn the language of Christianity. He may attend church faithfully. He may preach, pray, give generously, and even defend sound doctrine. Yet none of these things can produce spiritual life.
Only God can impart life where there is spiritual death.
That is why Jesus spoke of a birth—not an improvement.
Birth produces life.
A person who has never been born cannot make himself alive.
In the same way, no one can give himself spiritual life. The new birth is entirely the work of God.
Seeing Nicodemus' confusion, Jesus continued:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
What did Jesus mean by being born of water and the Spirit?
Was He speaking about water baptism?
Or was He revealing something far deeper about God's work of salvation?
To be continued...
In Part 3, we will begin to uncover the meaning of being born of water and the Spirit, and why Jesus chose those very words.
HOLY LIFE FELLOWSHIP PRESENTS
BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT
Part 2: Why Must We Be Born Again?
Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to become more religious.
He did not tell him to study the Scriptures more diligently.
He did not tell him to pray more, fast more, or perform more righteous works.
Instead, Jesus declared:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Why?
Because the greatest problem facing mankind is not ignorance. It is not lack of religion. It is not the absence of good intentions.
The problem lies much deeper.
Our very nature has been corrupted by sin. The human heart does not naturally love God. The natural mind resists His truth, and the human will prefers its own way.
No amount of religious activity can change that condition.
A sinner may learn the language of Christianity. He may attend church faithfully. He may preach, pray, give generously, and even defend sound doctrine. Yet none of these things can produce spiritual life.
Only God can impart life where there is spiritual death.
That is why Jesus spoke of a birth—not an improvement.
Birth produces life.
A person who has never been born cannot make himself alive.
In the same way, no one can give himself spiritual life. The new birth is entirely the work of God.
Seeing Nicodemus' confusion, Jesus continued:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
What did Jesus mean by being born of water and the Spirit?
Was He speaking about water baptism?
Or was He revealing something far deeper about God's work of salvation?
To be continued...
In Part 3, we will begin to uncover the meaning of being born of water and the Spirit, and why Jesus chose those very words.
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