Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. John 3:5-7 HCSB
As a child I had a pet duck whose name was “Tex” that I brought back to Kentucky from Texas. He followed me around like a baby duck follows his mother. One day I had taken him out in the backyard so he could get some exercise. I did not realize that he had gotten right behind me and as I stepped back, I accidentally stepped on him. He was so small that I crushed his little body. I was devastated and wished that I could bring him back to life. My friends and I placed him in a small box and held a funeral service for him.
Nicodemus came to Jesus wanting to know how a person could have eternal life and never die. Jesus said there is only one way for someone to enter the kingdom of God: He must be born again. This seemed odd to Nicodemus because no one could be born again physically. Jesus explained that one must be born of the water, referring to physical birth, but also be born of the Spirit in order to receive eternal life. We do not enter God’s kingdom by living a “good” life; it is only by the Spirit of God that we can be convicted of our sins and accept the free gift of grace from God.
Challenge: Have you been spiritually reborn? God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness are offered to everyone; to all sinners. You must accept this free gift to receive eternal life. If you have been spiritually reborn you will never die. Everyone will physically die, but those who have been spiritually reborn will live forever with Jesus in heaven.