SCRIPTURE: John 3:1-15
“No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5)
Jesus is talking to a teacher from Israel who would have been familiar with the prophet Ezekiel.

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

The water represents cleansing or forgiveness, the Spirit represents new life, new power, new possibilities.
While Ezekiel contrasts a heart of stone (dead) with a heart of flesh (living), Jesus contrasts the flesh (human nature) with the Spirit; but both analogies refer to the same contrast.
Human nature by itself cannot experience God’s kingdom, it is flawed and cursed.
But with a Spirit infusion ‘from above’ (the literal mean of ‘born again’) a new reality is possible.
“Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:6)
We need to be forgiven (washed) and filled with God’s Spirit (reborn), to start again.
As long as we try to make it on our own, we will not succeed.
We need to get on our knees, admit defeat, and ask God to help us live God’s way in God’s world.
This is not just a one-time transaction, it is a daily, moment-by-moment dependence.
Paul reminds us that we can forget this lesson: “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)
Just as the first humans became ‘living beings’ by the Spirit (breath) of life (Genesis 2:7), we can only experience life in God’s kingdom by being alive in the Spirit.
I need to be restored to life by the Spirit, and I need to live daily by the Spirit!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I am guilty of trying to finish by means of the flesh, of relying on my own strength to make it. Impress on my mind how I need Your Spirit. And infuse my weakness (flesh) with Your strength (Spirit).