Original Broadcast: February 2009
Monthly Theme: Holy Spirit (Apostles' Creed)
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
(John 3:5-6)
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night with questions. Everyone understood that there was something special about Jesus. As Nicodemus puts it, "No one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him" (v2). Nicodemus was a seeker looking for answers to his questions. Jesus' response gave him more questions: "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (v4). Jesus answers with our theme verse.
The kingdom of Heaven is open to those who have been born of the water and the Spirit--those who have been baptized. The Holy Spirit brings this about as St. Peter told the crowd at Pentecost, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Baptism gives the gift of the Holy Spirit, namely, faith. Baptized Christians are enlivened with the Spirit's presence as their soul is converted from a dead mass into a living, breathing works-producing entity destined for Heaven.
This second birth is required because we are all born sinners in our first, fleshly birth. The second birth, with the water and the Spirit, brings us out of our sins and into the works that God has prepared for us to do in our lives (Ephesians 2:10). This second birth delivers us from the evil one and grants us admission into the kingdom of Heaven where we are able to spend eternity with Jesus. Amen.
