You Must Be Born Again of Water and the Spirit
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May 10, 2015 |
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 "Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God'" (John 3:5).
Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
No one can be saved by his own strength or willpower. So, God had providence predestined before the ages, and in that providence Jesus was hung on the wooden cross to open the way to salvation for us.
When we believe it, we can be born again of water and the Spirit. We can then receive salvation, eternal life and Heaven. Let's delve into the spiritual meaning of being born again of water and the Spirit.
1. Spiritual Conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus
The verses following John 3:1 describe a scene where Nicodemus, a ruler among the Jews, came to Jesus. Nicodemus was a leader, and being a Pharisee, he was also a teacher who knew the Law very well. Unlike other Pharisees who opposed and tried to kill Jesus, Nicodemus had a thirst for the truth and came to Jesus to have a conversation on spiritual matters.
Nicodemus said, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." Then, Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Unless we are born again of water and the Spirit, we cannot enter the heavenly kingdom, no matter how knowledgeable or rich we are or no matter what titles we have in the church.
But Nicodemus could not understand what Jesus was saying. Just as it was with Nicodemus, church members who have attended for a long time, those who hold church titles, and even among the pastors, if they have not gained spiritual understanding, they cannot understand God's Word.
1 Corinthians 4:20 reads, "For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power." That is, we can realize the spiritual mystery and understand God's will only through God's power.
In John 3:4, Nicodemus said to Jesus, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'"
Jesus was saying that for a man to enter into the heavenly kingdom, it is his invisible spirit that must be born again, not the visible body. The first man Adam was created as a living spirit. But, his spirit died as a result of his fall in sin. From then, the descendants of Adam were born with their spirits dead. All mankind became men of flesh, so they have no choice then but to fall into Hell, the way of death.
For a man to enter into heavenly kingdom, this 'dead spirit' must be revived, and it is done by water and the Spirit. Jesus likened this truth to the wind, "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." We can hear the sound of the wind, but we can't see it. We do not know where it comes from and where it ends. In the same manner, the spiritual world cannot be fathomed in the limitations of the flesh, but it is understood only by God's work and the Spirit's power.
If we see the later records about Nicodemus, we can see that he finally received salvation. For example, in John 7:50-51, he spoke up for Jesus in front of angry Pharisees. Also, after Jesus died on the cross, he came to Him by night bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes (John 19:39).
2. The Spiritual Meaning of Being Born Again of Water
In John 4:14, Jesus said, "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." What is the 'water springing up to eternal life'? That is, what is this water Jesus gives?
Just as said in John 6:53, we do not have eternal life if we do not eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man. To eat the flesh of the Son of Man is to keep God's Word in our heart and to drink His blood is to practice God's Word. Likewise, eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of Man, namely the God's Word itself, becomes the water giving eternal life to men.
Just as water relieves thirst and gives life to everything, it also washes away the filth and stains. Spiritually, water, namely God's Word, washes the stain of sins and gives us eternal life. However, if we do not drink water, although it is before us, our thirst won't be quenched. If we do not wash with the water, though we have enough water, we cannot be cleansed. Likewise, though we possess the water of eternal life by knowing God's Word, if we do not keep it, it is of no use.
When we cast off untruthful attributes from our hearts such as hatred, jealousy, judgment, and condemnation as the Bible tells us not to do or throw away something, our hearts will become clean. Moreover, if we love, serve, and seek others' benefits obeying the Words that tell us to do and keep something, our hearts will be filled with the truth. Therefore 'being born again of water' is the casting away the untruth and being filled with the truth, God's Word.
3. Spiritual Meaning of Being Born Again of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit of God comes into the hearts of saved children of God and helps them gain complete salvation.
John 15:26 states, "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me." As said, God gave His saved children the Holy Spirit as a gift (Acts 2:38). When we receive the Holy Spirit, our dead spirits revive and we gain spiritual faith with which we can truly believe.
1 John 5:5-8 says, "Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement."
Here, 'the One who came by water and blood' refers to Jesus Christ because He was the Word, which is water, became flesh, came to this earth, and died shedding His precious blood. Because Jesus died on the cross for us, we receive salvation by that power of His precious blood. And, the Holy Spirit, who He sent us after His ascension, helps us believe it firmly.
It is said those who believe Jesus is the Son of God overcome the world. It does not mean we fight against people in the world. It means we fight and win victories over the lust of this world and do not become stained with sins. The Holy Spirit not only helps us confidently believe in the Lord, but also gives us strength to overcome this world by letting us realize sin, righteousness, and judgment.
The Holy Spirit comes to our hearts, revives our dead spirits, and helps us to realize the truth and to cast off sins so that we can become men of the truth and spirit. Only by the Holy Spirit are dead spirits awakened and only by His help can we cast away sins and change into people of spirit.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, only when we believe Jesus Christ and are born again of water and the Spirit, we can see God's kingdom. Here, only God's love enables us to be born again of water and the Holy Spirit and to gain eternal life. It is His free gift for us (Ephesians 2:8).
I urge you to be born again of water and the Spirit, let Him give birth to spirit in you, throw away sins and evil, and achieve truthful hearts. I pray in the name of the Lord that by doing so you will take hold of New Jerusalem in Heaven.
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