Gospel

Water and the Spirit

by Roland Crim
10/05/16
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“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8 NIV)

For one to see the kingdom of God, they must have a rebirth from their initial nature. Mankind is born into sin, self-centered and self-seeking desires. We may help others at times, but our nature is not that of what is needed in order to inherit God’s kingdom. At the core of our very existence must sit Christ, the Lord, if we wish to enter God’s kingdom. Our minds, hearts, and souls must be cleansed of our old nature in order for there to be a regeneration to a new life: a new way of thinking, a new way of living, a new set of aims. Our lives must be radically different from the way they were before. We cannot make this regeneration happen on our own. In fact, it can only happen through our totally relinquishing our lives over to the all-powerful hands of the Heavenly Father, and the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The regeneration creates a spirit within us given to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christ supplies an analogy of this regeneration as to the blowing of the wind. People may notice a change within a new believer, but they cannot tell how it has occurred, or where this new believer is being led. It is a mystery to an unbeliever, just as knowing where the wind comes from or where it is headed.

The Holy Spirit leads all believers to the actions required to carry on the work of our Lord. I am so glad that the Holy Spirit guides us rather than our human wisdom. I know that I can so easily derail my life by thinking I know what is best. Our Lord knows the path each believer needs to follow. Let us choose to follow the narrow way the Lord sets before us. Our eternal destination waits for us!