The wind blows where it desires and you hear the sound of it, but canst not tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, how can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, art thou a master of Israel, and does not know these things? John 3:8-10.

Without gainsaying, Christ fascinated miracles has borne witness to the authenticity of  his ministry as he went about doing good, teaching, preaching and healing all manners of sicknesses and diseases: showing God’s goodness and mercy to the fallen world of sinners of all classes– lettered or illiterate, good or bad, male or female. Though, many have seen Christ miracles, yet they do not believed:, but Nichodemus, a ruler of the Jews, a member of the great Sanhedrim, a senator, a privy-counselor, a man of authority in Jerusalem, having examined Christ life, teachings and miracles, by curiosity, sought after the Lord in the dead of the night for the salvation of his soul. John 3:1-2. Note: never be deceived by miracles alone, because miracles workers with adulterated messages are not of God because the word is pure, unadulterated and incorruptible. He that is sent by God speaks the word of God and seeks not his own glory.

Christ knew all men, and knows what is in man, and needed not that any should testify of man. He that forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares unto manwhat is histhought, without any second to waste, made this solemn and straight forward unapologetic declaration of truth before his night visitor for his need (religion position, social-stature or popularity – apart) for spiritual regeneration and transformation – Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3.

Instead of Nichodemus to further enquire of the Lord to clarify his response and stern warning on ‘you must be again in order to see the kingdom of God’, the manner or ways on how to be born again, like he asked in verses 3: rather, he chooses to voice out his doubt with final opinion to counter Christ statement, – Nicodemus answered and said unto him, how can these things be? John 3:9.

His response and reaction was usual of any natural man whose will is captivated by Satan (2 Cor.4:3-4), upon whose eyes are covering is cast that he may forever stay in darkness without spiritual ability or power to receive the things of the Spirit of God: natural man receives not the things of the Spirit, they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2:14. Note: there is no searching of God’s understanding and power: what we don’t know should not be blindly argues against; likewise, what we don’t believe, let us not blindly denies its possibility – with God, all things are possible to bring out a clean thing out of an unclean, a saint out of a sinner etc. Job 14:4.

Furthermore, the foolishness of the natural man seeking to comprehend spiritual truth with common sense or endeavoring to apply the word of life in his present state of spiritual death without the being first translated – to change spiritual camp from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God dear Son – light is not funny, but pitiful. Colossians 1:13.

How possibly can a spiritually dead man live for God, know and do his will? Unless and not until his spiritual state and position is changed, having been translated from the power or kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God dear Son – the kingdom of God by regeneration, it is practically impossible for him! The natural man can never serve God in the newness of life than to remain in his self righteousness, walking and living in the oldness of the letter, under the rule of the law of sin and death (nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:16-18) while his full potential, his unlimited grace through regeneration to facilitate his worship and fellowship with God, and to serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear, growing from glory to glory, and not from corruption to corruption remain untapped as the results of his ignorance and the lack of divine power to live and manifest the divine nature, having not escaped the corruption that is in the world through lusts. 2 Pet.1:3-4.

Why regeneration? It is to connect man’s spirit with God’s through the indwelling Spirit of God poured upon us at regeneration, for the Spirit of God will need to be giving us this constant witness with our human spirit that we are children of God.  Rom. 8:16. God will make a saint out of the sinner, delivering him from the bondage and slavery of the old law of sin and death into the glorious liberty of the sons of God and into a new spiritual system of the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus with power over the law of sin and death which has once held him captive as a slave to himself, sin and Satan – I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:15-20.

This was Apostle Paul’s experience before his encounter with Christ on his way to Damascus, being a zealous religious man, helpless, impotent and enslaved to live and walk in the flesh. But after his salvation, Saul received the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Acts.9:17) when Ananias lay his hand on him, he never conferred with flesh and blood anymore (Gal.1:16); being born again, not of the flesh, nor of the will of man, nor of blood, but of God’s Holy Spirit. John 1:12-13.

The apostle never remain the same again as he received power over his flesh to subdue and constantly bring it under subjection, so that, after he has preached to others, himself should not be a cast away. Note: though in the past, you are a slave to sin, a slave to your own flesh, and a slave to Satan: but now, because of the sacrifice made for you by Christ who was delivered for your transgression and raised for your justification, you are now a debtor (to keep walking and living in the newness of life) in appreciation to your Savior, to live, not in the flesh by or through the renewing of the  Holy Ghost, lest you die- for if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you, through the spirit, you mortify the works of the flesh, you shall live. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:12-13.

Christianity is a supernatural life, the divine nature in a mortal body. The law of the spirit of life is a supernatural power of God’s grace given to those who has come to him through or by Christ, so that they can live in a God or Christ life live – godliness as God’s children – each day, growing and walking in the newness of life in Christ Jesus, and not in the oldness of the letter of the law (but now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not inthe oldness of the letter. Rom. 7:6): to live an incorruptible life in a corruptible world: to live a supernatural lifestyle of non conformity to the world through in a godless- putrefying society through the power of a renewed mind of regeneration. Therefore, Nichodemus confusion and perplexity were perfectly understandable, – for anyone who has not heard and learnt from the Father, but comes to hear or sit under Christ tutorial, will always be taken aback like he was. John 6:45.

Apart from our desire to get saved, God draw us to Christ for salvation. His first work, the greatest miracle which can ever happens to anyone is to be begotten of God into a lively hope (1 Peter 1:3), the new birth (and he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Acts 9:6):  for we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers’ lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:3-6.

Spiritual understanding and power to walk, to live for the truth, and to abide in the truth to the end is found through the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost:  for you have now received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that you might know the things which are freely given to you by God (1 Cor. 2:12): this is the reason why you cannot remain the same again after the first process of regeneration wrought by God, for all things shall become new, and old things shall be passed away. 2 Cor. 5:17.

But the solid impact, fruitfulness, productivity, maintenance and final reward of the new life is not depending alone on God, you also need to abide in him and he in you (John 15: 1-5): renewing of the Holy Ghost is a continuation and long process of spiritual growth and transformation, both spiritual, mental, moral and physical behavioral changes in conformity to the will and purposes of God- to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness, to be like Christ in all things.

A new spirit and mind is now yours to think differently (but you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:20-24), with power to walk accordingly: no more walking after the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, no more the fulfilling of the desire of the mind, and the lusts of the flesh (Eph.2:2): for you have know and receive the truth, and the truth is now setting you free with power to abide, defend and speak it: for there is no lie -sin in truth: whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:35-36.

Not only that it’s very difficult for the natural man to understand the word of God which can only be spiritually discerned, but it is also difficult for him to apply or to live by the word of God, because the word is spirit, and they are life. John 6:63. The natural man may have the inclination (his spirit willing, but his flesh is weak because his heart is not circumcised by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost) to serve and live as a child of God, but without the washing of renewing and regeneration of the Spirit,  because he is not yet quickened – made alive by the Spirit of God: it is practically impossible for him to really mind the things of the spirit, they are foolishness unto him: (b) practically impossible for him to walk in the spirit, if he is not living in the spirit, meaning, if he is not born again, because he has not been made alive unto God (Eph.2:1), being dead in sin and trespasses – but you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:8: (c) practically impossible for him to set his affection on things above: by the way, he was not born from above, but beneath. How then can he connect or set his affection to celestial things? Where is the Spirit in him to show him things to come? Where is the Spirit to prepare and get him ready for the coming of Christ – even the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself? Colossians 3:1. Philippians 3:21.

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit….well, the water baptism is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh (1 Peter 3:21), but the answer of a good conscience towards God, through the operation of his Spirit, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, we can, by him, put away the woks or filths of the flesh, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:17): meaning, this renewing (present and future continuous tense) of the Holy Ghost is the presence of the power which God has deposited in a believer to know and to practically live for the truth: (a) to empower the believer for whatever  work he is assigned to do in the kingdom (whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily. Colossians 1:29), also for the continuation and accomplishment of the good works which God has began in him to the end: to keep him by the power of God through faith unto salvation – till the end as he goes through the testing or trials, purging, waiting for Christ while laboring to enter into that final eternal rest. 1 Pet.1:5: (b) to grow the inner man, whose increasing renewal is to reshape the outward character of the old man who is already crucified with Christ, so that the body of sin might be destroyed (Romans 6:6); otherwise, he may profess to have a form of godliness, but with no power of grace wrought in the heart by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost to live it out – denying the power thereof, from such turn away. 2 Tim.3:1-5.

The regenerate life is hid with Christ in God through the power of regeneration (but we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Cor. 4:7): he boldly follows Christ wherever the Spirit of God led him (Rom 8:14.), growing daily into the image or likeness of Christ through the beholding transforming mirror of God’s word: this is all his desire, like Peter once says, Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life. John 6:68.

 God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24), meaning, to worship him through his or by his Holy Spirit in order to worship or fellowship acceptably and to walk and live acceptably before him (since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit. 1 Pet.1:22), – for our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, and with his Holy Spirit – the communion of the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor.13:14.

Everything in the kingdom comes or begins from the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. He is our teacher into all truth. He is the power given to keep us and to speak the truth in love when we are strengthened with all might by his Spirit in the inner man. Eph.3:16.

Now that we are in the kingdom of God, being born of water and of the spirit – born again, yet, one thing determines the successful implementation of the workings and operations of the Spirit of regeneration in a believer’s life, the nature of the soil, location or place where the seed that was sown fell into, – either by the way side (unrepentant – never changed so-called believer with a form of godliness without transforming life ), perhaps on the sand (indecisive and unprepared heart, fearful and coward believer who fell away in the times of temptation), on the rock (the covetous, double eye, worldly, ungodly gain- prosperity believer or preacher), perhaps on the good soil (good and honest – patience and fruitful heart).

If the seed falls on any other places apart from the good soil of the heart (the reason why you see some so –called born-again manifesting evil characters, though they speak with tongues which will not take them to heaven), the full force and effects of the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost will be unsuccessful, sometimes, the Spirit is restricted because he will not strive with man. Such people have received the grace of God in vain, to neglect so great a salvation (therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? Hebrews 2:1-3 a), grieving and despising the spirit of grace, instead of renewing from strength to strength, revelation to revelation: but they now quenched the ministerial (service), purifying and sanctifying fire of the power through regeneration. Note: the measure of your devotion to the things of the spirit reveals the height and depth of your love in the Spirit (Colossians 1:18), this determines the quality of your life and walk in the spirit (1 Peter.4:6), – for they that are after the flesh, mind the things of the flesh, and they that are after the spirit, mind the things of the spirit. Rom.8:5.

The process of regeneration is divine: it is the circumcision of God in the heart of man (Deuteronomy 30:6. Titus 3:4) which was not made with hands, but by the Holy Ghost (for those that receive him, he gave them the power to become sons of God: which are born, not of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13), in putting off the body of sin of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:11.

The latter part of this text is speaks about believer’s union, oneness, connection and bond with Christ, but he must be willing to yield himself continually unto God as instrument of righteousness, because he is buried – dead with Christ in baptism, and wherein also he is risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who has raised Jesus from dead. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherein he loved us, has quickened us – made us spiritually alive, even when we were dead in sins and trespasses. Ephesians 2:1-5.

How God did gift us with this new life? By sending and giving us the Spirit of his Son after we believed and obeyed his call for repentance from sin by water baptism and conversion to a new life by the Spirit baptism which is the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Have you receive the Holy Spirit since you believed? Acts 19:1-7.

True spirit of regeneration (being born again, not of corruptible seed, but by incorruptible seed of the word of God. 1 Peter 1:23) at work in you, will give you a new perspective –frame of mind to see and understand things from God’s view, and to live and walk pleasing to him as the result of your sensitivity to the voice of his Spirit in you from the word of God.

Sanctify them by thy truth, your word is truth. John 17:17.

Beloved, every day and night that you search and meditate on the scriptures, it is another new day or night to go through the process of washing of water by the word- to be changed and filled afresh by the Spirit of the living God. This is the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet.1:2. Note: there is no citizenship, either any accommodation made available in the regeneration – world to come for those who are not now regenerate (begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from dead. 1 Pet. 1:3) at the time when God shall make all things new (Revelation 21:5): for there is no hope of glory for them without God in their present world or life, but of everlasting shame and contempt – verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3.

Moreover, your desire to keep walking in the newness of life –notwithstanding your fiery and strange trials is borne out of your determination to keep yourself in the love of God, looking for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life (Jude 1:21): this is the testimony that you are standing in the true grace of God (a) unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time to possess the inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you: (b) to keep yourself from sin, and from the corruption of every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, if possible, the very elects. Note: God’s eternal mercy – the mercy of the Lord on the day when he comes (2 Tim.1:18), cannot be separated from divine light and truth sent to mankind through the visitation of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace, meaning, to abide in the word of God as the righteous nation which keeps – obedient to the truth of his God to enter heaven. Isaiah 26:2.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, you must be born again. John 3:6-7. How can you be transformed by the renewing of your mind, or how can you be renewed in the spirit of your mind without going through the process of washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost? Where is the power to be rooted and grounded in Christ – rooted and grounded in faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel without the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost? His commandments are not grievous, for his yoke is easy, and his burden light: but without the circumcision of your heart through the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, how possibly could you keep them, and to walk with God to the end, even to the saving of the soul? Heb.10:39.

There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents [that is, changes his inner self—his old way of life. Write or call to inform me, if you have decided to be born again after reading this article, and let me know how I can be of help to grow in your newly found life in Christ Jesus. Shalom.

The flesh, its condemnation, and it’s victory in Christ Jesus