4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Baffled by Jesus’ words, Nicodemus shows forth his weakness in knowledge. What Christ was speaking of spiritually, Nicodemus understood only in a fleshly manner. Jesus responds with this red flag warning - "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Nicodemus missed the point. Corrupted flesh will only give birth to corrupted flesh no matter how many times fleshly birth takes place. Indeed, corruption is bred in the bone with us. Paul tells us in I Corinthians:
21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Cor 15:21-22 (NIV)
Christ asserts to Nicodemus the necessity of regeneration for one to enter the kingdom of God. To be born again is to be born from above not through our own wisdom or power rather from the blessed Spirit of grace.
“The corrupt nature, which is flesh, takes rise from our first birth; and therefore the new nature, which is spirit, must take rise from a second birth. Corruption and sin are woven into our nature; we are shaped in iniquity. It is not enough to put on a new coat or a new face, but we must put on the new man.” Matthew Henry
King David tells us in Psalm 51 we are born sinners, morally impotent:
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:5-7 (NIV)
Christ, being the great Physician of our souls, intimately knows our case and what is necessary for the cure of our malady. Considering the holiness of God and the depravity of man we must not think the necessity of the demand strange – regeneration is paramount. It is an indispensable necessity.
“I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” John Newton
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Cor 5:17 (NIV)
15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Gal 6:15 (NIV)
“To be in Christ is to be a new creation. This new creation is brought about by the Holy Spirit, the Agent of regeneration and the Giver of divine birth. God’s new creative work, begun in each one who believes in Christ, will one day be consummated on a universal scale. The old life of slavery to self and sin has gone. The new life of devotion to Christ means that one has new attitudes and actions.” Bible Knowledge Commentary
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7 (NIV)
“The gift of the essential nature of God is placed and made effective in us by the Holy Spirit. He imparts to us the quickening life of Jesus, making us truly alive. He takes that which was ‘beyond’ us and places it ‘within’ us. And immediately, once ‘the beyond’ has come ‘within,’ it rises up to ‘the above,’ and we are lifted into the kingdom where Jesus lives and reigns.” Oswald Chambers
“Scripture does not simply say, Christ is born, but to you He is born. Christ must above all things become our own and we become His. See to it that you make this birth your own and that Christ be born in you.” Martin Luther