Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ John

[Debbie]

“no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. do not be amazed that I said, ‘you must be born again’”.

would anybody be able to tell me what is the meaning behind these lines? i would greatly appreciate it. thanks very much for any responses.

[jimwalton]

Jesus means that one must have a spiritual birth—a vibrant connection with God that doesn't come just with being a human being (our first birth). The process of physical birth is the joining of sperm and egg and one begins his or her biological life. The process of spiritual birth is the aligning of oneself to God, and one is given spiritual life (2 Cor. 5.17). That person now is given life that is in God and God alone. Jesus would call this true life, or real life, as opposed to mere biological life that is so vulnerable to weakness, injury, disease, and eventually death. This real life is incorruptible, eternal, and qualitatively perfect.