Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” John 3:5 NABRE
A ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus, recognizes there is something from God in Jesus and asks Him questions. Jesus tells him the Kingdom of God cannot be seen unless a person is born from above. Jesus is not talking about a physical rebirth but a person must be born of water and Spirit. There is a Hebrew prophet named Ezekiel who spoke on behalf of God about the necessity of God to disperse the chosen people because of their behavior. But God goes on to say that He will have them return because of His Holiness. Ezekiel tells the people God will sprinkle clean water on them to make them pure and will give them a new heart, with a new spirit and they will be God’s people (see Ezekiel 36:24-28.) Jesus is telling us the same thing. We can receive from God clean water to make us pure and a new heart which will lead us to follow the message of Jesus. When we receive this water and Spirit then we come to the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the Kingdom of God and so by entering it we share in Jesus divine life. In Ezekiel, God goes on to describe the land He will give them which is desolate and a wasteland, it will become rich in harvest and sheep and will be the envy of all who see it. The Kingdom of God is rich in kindness and love, and all who are in need will be satisfied.
Today many churches see Baptism as the sprinkling of clean water and some use a specific ritual called Confirmation for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. But, Jesus has the means to make us pure and filled with the Spirit without these rituals. What is required is our desire. We must desire purity and Spiritual fullness, then we too can enter the Kingdom of God.
Do you desire the Kingdom of God? Are you ready for a new heart and new spirit?
Jesus has the means to make us pure and filled with the Spirit, what is required is our desire. We must desire purity and Spiritual fullness, then we too can enter the Kingdom of God. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #water #spirit #John #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways