One night a Pharisee named Nicodemus visited Jesus.  Now a Pharisee back then was a Jewish religious leader. The Pharisees were a Jewish sect who adhered to the law and its traditions and believed in the Coming Messiah.  Nicodemus went to see Jesus at night time, because he didn't want the other Pharisees to see him.  Nicodemus said to Jesus, "I can tell that you are a man come from God because of all the miracles that you are doing, healing the sick, casting out demons, turning water into wine, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead, etc.  How can I enter the Kingdom of God, the spiritual realm where God rules and reigns?"

Jesus answered Nicodemus in John 3:3, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."  "How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked.  "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!"  Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one enters 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."   "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked, (NIV).  

Why do we have to be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God?  You see we human beings were all born in sin.  Our parents, Adam and Eve sinned against God and died spiritually.  They lost their divine connection to God.  They experienced a separation from God.  They passed their dead, sinful nature onto us, down through the generations.  Ephesians 2:1 says we were born dead in our transgressions and sins.  That is why Jesus said flesh gives birth to flesh. In order for us to be born again, God has to regenerate us. He has to give us a new birth.  Just as how a new person enters the earthly realm as a baby, spiritual birth is a new person entering the heavenly realm. 

Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (NIV).  But God made a way for us to be cleansed of our sins through Jesus' shed blood, his sacrifice on the cross for us.  John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him," (NIV).  Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," (NIV).  In order for us to be born again, God has to regenerate us. He has to give us a new birth.  Just as how a new person enters the earthly realm as a baby, spiritual birth is a new person entering the heavenly realm.

Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.  Blood has to be shed in order to make reparations for our sins.  God is holy and He loves us, but without holiness no one can see God.  Sin separates us from God.  God cannot tolerate sin and He cannot sin.  That is why God had the Jews, His chosen people sacrifice the blood of goats and lambs as a sin offering to atone for their sins.  However the Jews had to keep offering God animal sacrifices year after year, because an animal's blood was not sufficient to atone forever for mankind's sins.  Therefore, God sent Jesus into the earth as the God man to die for our sins.  Jesus's blood was not contaminated with sin.  Jesus is our Passover lamb, the perfect sacrifice for sins.  

In order to be born again and to enter the kingdom of God, one has to receive Jesus' sacrifice.  Jesus shed his precious blood for us, so that we can be cleansed from our sins and be reconciled to God.  Now how do we get born again or born from the Spirit so that we can enter into God's kingdom.  We have to first acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Savior.  We have to repent and change our minds towards sin and how we see God.  Romans 10:9-10 says, "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved," (NIV).  

If you are ready to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you are ready to be born again or born of the Spirit, please say this prayer: Heavenly Father I confess that I am a sinner.  I repent of my sins.  I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and I believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead.  Please come into my heart and help me to live for you forever more, in Jesus' name.  Amen.  If you said that prayer, welcome to the family of God.  You are now a new creation in Christ.  The old is gone, the new has come.  Please let someone know that you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  You can email us at support@wearscriptures.com.  Also, ask Jesus to lead you to a church fellowship where you can grow with the family of God.  Shalom.