‘Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is 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
Nicodemus, a Pharisee, was a member of the Jewish ruling council with responsibility to teach and lead the people in the ways of God. Nicodemus acknowledged that Jesus was a teacher from God and that God was with Him doing miraculous signs. Nicodemus, a teacher himself, came to Jesus, the Teacher, at night for guidance. We can all receive a personal, life-changing word from Jesus. Jesus’ word to Nicodemus was, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ To be born again means to be born of the Spirit. Jesus explains that flesh gives birth to flesh but the Holy Spirit gives spiritual birth when the Spirit comes and lives in people.
All people that receive Jesus Christ and believe in His name become children of God. I received Jesus when I was a teenager. I welcomed Him into my life. I began to follow Jesus and His ways. I believed Jesus died for me on the cross to forgive me and give me a new life with purpose and peace. I believed Jesus was, and is the Son of God and Saviour. I was born of God, born again, born of the Spirit and became a child of God. We do not become a child of God by natural descent or human decision or through people’s will. We become children of God when we are born of God (John 1:12–13).