Jesus expounds more fully the meaning of His words.
Born Again 2]
3. THE AUTHOR OF THE NEW BIRTH
Jesus expounds more fully the meaning of His words. (a) He makes clear who the author of this blessed change is. To be born again is to be "born of the Spirit" (John iii. 5, 6, 8). It is not wrought by any wisdom or power of our own, but by the power and influence of the blessed Spirit of grace. It is the "sanctification of the spirit" (1 Pet. i. 2) and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus iii. 5). The Word he works by is his inspiration, and the heart to be wrought on he has access to.
(6) He explains the nature of this change. Those that are regenerated are made spiritual and refined from the dross and dregs of sensuality. The dictates and interests of the rational and immortal soul have retrieved the dominion they ought to have over the flesh. The Pharisees placed their religion in external purity and external performances. It would therefore be a mighty change indeed with them, no less than a new birth, to become spiritual.
(c) He explains the necessity of this change. It is necessary in the nature of things. We are not fit to enter into the kingdom of God till we are born again (John ii. 6). "That which is born of the flesh zs flesh."" Here is our malady and the cause of it. We are flesh—not only corporal but corrupt (Gen. vi. 3). The soul is still a spiritual substance, but so wedded to the flesh, so captivated by the will of the flesh, so in love with the delights of the flesh, so employed in making provision for the flesh, that it is justly called flesh. It is carnal. And what communion can there be between God, who is spirit, and a soul in this condition?
Why are we thus? It is corruption that is bred in the bone with us. Therefore we cannot have a new nature except by being born again. The corrupt nature, which is flesh, takes rise from our first birth; and therefore, the new nature, which is spirit, must take rise from a second birth. Nicodemus spoke of entering again into his mother's womb and being born; but if he could do so, to what purpose? If he were born of his mother a hundred times that would not mend the matter, for still ''that which is born of the flesh is flesh". A clean thing cannot be brought out of an unclean thing. He must seek for another original.
In short, the case is this. Man, though made to consist of body and soul, yet this spiritual part had then so much the