The Diagnosis of Being Born of Water and the Spirit
John 3:5-8
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Jesus declared, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Based on this statement, I would like to explore three key points. First, we will examine what it means to be born of water. Second, we will consider what it means to be born of the Spirit. Finally, we will discuss the purpose and significance of the life of someone who is born of water and the Spirit.
1. let us discuss being born of water.
As Jesus was traveling, He sat by Jacob’s well, where a Samaritan woman came to draw water. At that time, Jews traditionally did not associate with Samaritans, but Jesus broke this convention by asking her for a drink of water. The woman, surprised, asked, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman then said, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” At this moment, Jesus said, “Go, call your husband and come back.” The woman replied, “I have no husband.” Jesus acknowledged her response, saying, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
Why did the Lord, who already knows the hearts of all people, ask her to call her husband? Through this conversation, Jesus sought to reveal the relationship between the Lord, who gives living water for eternal life, and us.
John 6:63 says, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” The words of the Lord are Spirit. If the Lord was speaking spiritually to this woman, what did He mean by “husband”? According to 1 Corinthians 11:3 and Ephesians 5:23, the husband is the head of the wife. When this woman said she had no husband, it meant she had no head. In the spiritual realm, the only head is Jesus.
1 Peter 3:21 states, “Water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Similarly, Romans 6:3 says, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” Here, water symbolizes our union with Jesus Christ. Thus, for those who have been baptized, Jesus becomes their head. Being born of water means crucifying the old life where one was their own head and rising again in new life, confessing Jesus as their head. In this spiritual state, Jesus becomes like a husband to us—not in the worldly sense, but as the one who serves as the head of our lives.
2. What does it mean to be born again of the Spirit?
The Bible says, “What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” God created our spirits. He did so because God is Spirit, and He desired fellowship with humans as spiritual beings. Each person’s spirit was created to hear God’s words, who is Spirit, and to live by controlling their flesh accordingly. However, because of sin, everyone’s spirit is in a state of death, almost like being asleep. This dormant spirit cannot hear God’s words and lives according to the desires of the flesh, apart from God’s will.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to awaken and bring life to our spirit in this state. In Hebrew, the word for wind is ruach, and the Holy Spirit is also referred to as ruach. Wind is invisible, but its presence is known when the leaves move, and we can feel it when it touches our body. Similarly, being born of the Spirit is not visible but can be felt and known. At this very moment, the Holy Spirit is moving like wind in your heart. If, while listening to this sermon, you feel that it is the Word of God, that is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s wind blowing. Feeling the Holy Spirit’s wind is God’s invitation to awaken from spiritual slumber.
Our spirit has the function of hearing God’s Word. Therefore, an awakened spirit listens to the words spoken by the Holy Spirit and develops a desire to live according to God’s Word. If you feel such a desire, that is the evidence of being born again of the Spirit.
When one is born again of the Spirit, changes similar to what was seen in the early church occur, where people said the believers were “drunk with new wine.” Just as a drunk person is controlled by alcohol, a person born of the Spirit is governed by the Holy Spirit. A person who once lived according to the flesh will begin to speak and act differently under the influence of the Holy Spirit. As a result, their life becomes filled with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
What is righteousness enjoyed in the Holy Spirit? 1 John 2:29 says, “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.” God’s righteousness is revealed through Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to cover our sins. God does not look at our faults; instead, He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ and declares those who believe in Him as righteous. A person who is born of the Holy Spirit reflects this righteousness of God by not condemning others for their faults. Instead, just as Christ covered our sins, they seek to cover the faults of others. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, and it is the manifestation of God’s righteousness in the life of someone born of the Spirit.
The second characteristic of someone born of the Spirit is peace. Just as a child lives without fear because they trust and rely on their parents, a person born of the Spirit lives without fear because God is their protector. If the purpose of life is to live comfortably and prosperously, peace is easily lost when challenges arise. However, the purpose of a Spirit-born individual is to save those around them, just as Jesus did. Furthermore, they understand that this world is not everything, and the remaining time in their lives is a period to prepare for God’s kingdom. With this assurance, they can experience true peace in Christ, transcending their circumstances.
The third characteristic of someone born of the Spirit is constant joy. But how is it possible to always rejoice? Normally, we rejoice when things go as planned or when good things happen. However, the reality often involves opposite circumstances, making it difficult to maintain joy. James 1:2 says, “My brothers and sisters, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Trials are inherently unpleasant and can bring down our mood. Yet verses 3 and 4 provide the reason: “Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Reflecting on my life, I used to become easily angry over small matters. However, after realizing that my mission is to save souls, the Holy Spirit began to take control of my life. As a result, I found myself no longer discouraged in the same situations. Instead, I experienced joy through obeying God’s Word. This joy is not dependent on my circumstances or emotions; it is the true joy experienced in the Holy Spirit.
3. What is the purpose of the life of someone born again of water and the Spirit?
It is the salvation of souls. A person born again of water and the Spirit becomes one with Jesus, with Jesus as their head, and thus their purpose naturally becomes the salvation of souls. Trials are God’s tools to fulfill this purpose. Through trials, God refines the rough edges of our character. If we fail to accept these trials with joy, our character remains unrefined. As a result, instead of saving souls, we may even close the gates of heaven and lead those who need salvation into worse situations. Jesus warned us of such dangers. Therefore, accepting trials with joy demonstrates trust in God’s will to perfect us, and this attitude is a key evidence of being born again of the Spirit.
Can someone born again of water and the Spirit always live in righteousness, peace, and joy? No. While we are in the world, the spirit and the flesh coexist and are in conflict with one another, as the Bible says. If we are not watchful, the flesh will prevail. What does it mean to be watchful? It means allowing the Lord to rule over us by meditating on God’s Word day and night and praying continuously. From my experience, it is crucial to constantly meditate on Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” By engraving this verse in our hearts and living by it, we can remain awake in the Spirit. Additionally, living with the awareness of Galatians 5:24, which says, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” is an essential part of staying spiritually vigilant.
To summarize: we must be born again of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. Being born of water means confessing Jesus as our head and becoming one with Him through baptism. At this moment, Jesus becomes our spiritual husband. Being born of the Spirit means experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit as we read the Bible or listen to sermons and come to realize and believe that it is God’s Word. When we develop a desire to live according to His Word, that is evidence of being born of the Spirit.
A person born of the Spirit is governed by the Spirit, much like being filled with new wine. As a result, a life filled with righteousness, peace, and joy begins. Ultimately, the core of this message is that since Jesus is our head, the purpose and meaning of a Spirit-filled life are found in the salvation of souls. May your remaining days be a blessed journey of walking with the Lord in this faith. In Jesus’ name, I bless you.
Prayer
Gracious and loving Lord, we thank You for allowing us to be born again of water and the Spirit and for setting our life’s purpose and meaning in the salvation of souls. Please grant us Your grace to keep this faith firmly until the day of Your return. Use us as Your instruments so that everyone we meet may also be born again of water and the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.