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Commentaries
English
John
  
6"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7Do not marvel that I say to you, ‘You must be born anew’.8The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."


Jesus showed Nicodemus the need for radical change in everyone. That transformation is as great as the difference between flesh and spirit. The word "flesh" in the New Testament stands for fallen human nature alienated from God, the wicked moving towards doom. The word covers not just the body, but the minds and spirits of the rebellious. This is the state of total corruption, as Jesus pointed out, "From the heart comes out evil thoughts." No man deserves to enter the Kingdom of God. Man is wicked from birth, and becomes a source of pollution.
"Spirit" stands for the Holy Spirit, God’s very self, full of truth, purity, power and love. God does not despise the wicked, but has overcome the "flesh" principle in Christ. This shows the aim of the second birth. The Spirit in us destroys fleshly lusts, so that we may live up to our calling. Are you born again, freed from the tyranny of the flesh?
On the third occasion Jesus spoke to Nicodemus gently and said, "You and all members of your Council, all the seed of Abraham must be born anew." That is one obligation, a sacred duty. We testify to you, brother, that this word uttered by Christ, "must" is imperative. Without a radical renewal you cannot know God, and will never enter His Kingdom.
Have you heard the rushing of the wind? The reborn are like the winds that rise. It seems, the wind comes from the void and returns to it. So also God’s children are born from above and return to their Father. The sound of the wind indicates that it is there.
The clear sign in the reborn folk is the sound of the Holy Spirit spoken through them. We do not speak by the natural voice of mere men that springs from the mind. The Holy Spirit comes to us from beyond this world, as the voice of God’s power in the believer. Has he descended on your heart?