In John 3, 6 Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
But what is this flesh that Jesus is talking about? It is what the NIV calls “the sinful nature.” Paul writes to the church saying, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-20, NIV).
Jesus is telling Nicodemus that something has to change in the very nature of a person for them to have the hope of heaven. And that change in the essence of a person takes place by none other than the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Living Big In Jesus,
Keith