He who spake as never man spake said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day," John 12:48. He also said, "It is the Spirit that giveth life, the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life," (John 6:63). And concerning the judgment he said, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name, do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity," (Luke 7:22, 23). "Then shall he say also unto them? on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels," (Matt. 25: 41). "This is the second death even the lake of fire" (Rev. 20:14). How important, indeed, are the words of Jesus, either spoken by Himself or by the Holy Spirit through His apostles. They bring life or they bring death!

This great being who came forth from God also said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," (John 3:3). And when Nicodemus did not understand his words, the Savior of the World explained, "Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," (vs. 5 and 6). This teaching of the great master is most easily understood in view of the natural things of life. From the things of nature he took this striking figure to firmly impress the human mind with the importance of obedience to God’s command.

"To be born" means "to come forth from." Hence Jesus said. "Except one come forth from the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." In any natural birth there are two parents and so in the spiritual. We are "begotten again, not in a corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the Word of God, which liveth and abideth," (I Peter 1 :23). The Spirit is the Word, (I John 5:7). "God is the Father of Spirits," (Heb. 12:9). Hence, in the figure of the New Birth, God is the Father who begets through the Word. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God," (R. V.) (I John 5:1). During the following period of growth of the unborn there is a quickening" or sign of life, fulfilled in the spiritual figure by the verbal confession. There is also a turning and moving down at which time the unborn is completely surrounded by water. Then follows the completion of the birth or "coming forth." Thus in the spirit: one believes (or is begotten), repents, confesses (manifests life), and moves, being completely surrounded by water and finally comes forth from the water. Then, the birth is complete in baptism.

As Paul by the Spirit wrote: "This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the Church," (Eph.5:32). (No figure of speech fulfills the natural in every detail, but in any figure, the main points as desired to be understood are stressed).

The great importance of this teaching is emphasized by all scripture writers. "Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." And Jesus said, "Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world," (Matt. 28:20). This word will judge us in the last day. Fellow traveler to the eternal state, will you accept and obey this word? If so, the kingdom of God is yours, for today is the day of salvation.