"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again' " (John 3:6-7).

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews (John 3:1). Nicodemus could at least see that Jesus was a teacher from God and knew that God had to be with Jesus for Him to do these signs (John 3:1-2).  Jesus had just cleansed the temple of the moneychangers and taught (John 2:13-21). Shortly after Jesus came to Passover in Jerusalem and many believed when they saw the signs which He did (John 2:23).  Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to talk to Jesus, probably so the other Pharisees would not see or know that he went to Jesus (John 3:2).  Jesus answered Nicodemus, and all of us through this recorded passage by the apostle John, and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).  While the Spirit birthing did not begin until the Pentecost following Jesus' resurrection and ascension, Jesus opened up these glimmers of truth during His ministry aimed primarily to the church, while He was being revealed to Israel (Acts 1:4-9; John 1:31).  Jesus said you can't even see the kingdom of God until you are born again. Too many Christians don't seem to see or know the things of God. There are some that are blinded, due to being in sin and disobedience.  There are others who cannot see, because they are not truly born again with a Spirit birthing.

Nicodemus didn't clearly understand the process of Spirit birthing or being born again (John 3:4). Jesus and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).  Man's teaching has spiritualized the term water in this verse, to portray it to mean the Word of God.  This is clearly not the implication nor the meaning as taught by Jesus here in true scriptural context.  Jesus further explains it for us in the very next verse. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6).  So born of water refers or depicts the first birthing or the natural flesh birthing of man which is flesh.  The Spirit provides the second birthing or the Spirit birthing of man.  These are two separate birthings, which distinctly happen at different times, and take place in two different realms – the flesh and the spirit.