You Must Be Born Again

Hallelujah! Today is Pentecost Sunday, celebrating the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, just as Jesus promised. Why did the Spirit come? Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we received the legal assurance of salvation—our justification. The Holy Spirit came into our lives as a guarantee, a deposit for this salvation, to help fulfill that promise. A life or a church without the Holy Spirit is spiritually dead, no matter how many crosses decorate the building.

In today’s scripture, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, seeks Jesus out under the cover of night. Recognizing Jesus’ divine authority, he wants to understand the kingdom of heaven. Jesus gives him a fundamental truth:

[John 3:3] “…no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

The kingdom of God is His spiritual dominion. To see it, we must be born again. A spiritually dead person lives only by fleshly desires and cannot hear or submit to the Holy Spirit. When Nicodemus confusingly asks how an old man can re-enter his mother’s womb, Jesus explains that spiritual rebirth is not a physical phenomenon.

[John 3:8] “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.”

Though the Spirit’s work within us is invisible, its effects are undeniable—just like tree branches swaying in the wind. A reborn person naturally develops a hunger for eternal realities. As Paul writes in Colossians 3:2, we “set [our] minds on things above, not on earthly things.” This is not a weird, sensational mysticism. Those who obsessively chase signs often live by the flesh. Rather, a reborn person seeks the holy things of God.

Regrettably, many today participate in church using only intellectual knowledge and emotion. But being born again is not an option to become better Christians; without it, no one can enter God’s kingdom. Jesus clarifies:

[John 3:5] “…no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”

This “water” is not literal baptism; it is Christ’s Word of Life (John 4:14). This does not mean mere academic bible study. In John 6:63, Jesus says His words are spirit and life. He is talking about rhema—the living word the Holy Spirit speaks directly to our hearts. We receive this rhema word when we approach God with a broken and contrite heart, grieving our own sinfulness. When our spiritual frequency aligns with the Holy Spirit, His Word cleanses us, becoming an eternal spring that satisfies our deepest thirst.

If you have repented of your self-centered life and accepted Jesus as your Lord, you are born of the Spirit. Do not doubt His presence in you. If you lack assurance, it is likely because you aren’t actively living out that commitment. We must maintain a Spirit-filled life daily to bear Christlike fruit.

As Romans 8:5 teaches, we must set our minds on what the Spirit desires. This doesn’t mean abandoning earthly duties, but choosing to submit our thoughts, words, and actions to God’s governance. It takes hard discipline to overcome our old nature (Galatians 5:16). Though we often fall short, do not discourage. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor, helping us navigate this journey until our salvation is fully realized.

Time is short, and the Lord’s return is near. As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday today, I pray that we will focus on the eternal kingdom of heaven, maturing into more complete spiritual people through the help of the Holy Spirit. I bless you all in the hope that, through the abundant power of the Holy Spirit, we will witness to the gospel of Christ and purely prepare ourselves for the Lord’s return and the glorious resurrection.

Amen.