Word or Water

[for_his_glory]

John 3:5 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.

1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

If you compare John 3:5 with 1 John 5:5-8 water means word as in the word being the living water (John 4:9-15) as in the Father, the word (living water Jesus) and the Holy Spirit.
The three that bear witness is Holy Spirit, Gods living word, and the blood of Jesus who made atonement for sin that we can be reconciled back to the Father.

Everything from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is all Gods word and Holy Spirit dwelling in or falling on and come to Earth in the form of a man in Christ Jesus. It's all Gods grace freely given to all who will believe in that faith that is Christ Jesus as He spoke Gods word (John 12:44-50 living water) and the Prophets and Apostles wrote and testified of what Jesus taught verbally.

It's Gods word that we are made righteous through Him, sanctified, justified and made Holy before Him. No dirty river water can save us, but is only an outward appearance to others that we have been washed clean (made righteous before God) by the blood of the Lamb and the renewing through the Holy Spirit.

The Jerusalem Bible
1 John 5:6 Jesus Christ who came by water and blood, not with water only, but with water and blood with the Spirit as another witness since the Spirit is truth 7 so that there are three witnesses, 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood and all three of them agree

KJV
1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

Literal water has nothing to do with salvation as Jesus came by the foretold word of the Prophets, sent by the Father, and signified by the Holy Spirit that lighted upon Him during John's water baptism for the remission of sins, Matthew 3:11-17. Three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, the water (word) and the blood. Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost.


The more I think about "born again" Nicodemus had no understanding as even many today would ask the same question "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"

Jesus goes on to tell him "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."

Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Paul understood it was not by water baptism (BTW baptism is not mentioned in John 3:5), but by the word of God that we are sanctified, which means set apart and made holy. We being the church of God have been made clean by His word as we are washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Titus 3:5 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; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Again Paul and also Peter gives us the understanding that being born again/born from above is not by actual water which would be a work of our own righteousness, but regeneration (new Spiritual life) that comes by God's mercy through His spoken word and Spirit (Holy Spirit).

IMO it doesn't matter if we say born again or born from above, but that we understand it is by God's grace through faith, which is Christ Jesus and His finished works on the cross that we are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and our spirit renewed by the very Spirit of God, (Holy Spirit)

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Per the conversation Nicodemus and Jesus were discussing in John 3:9, 10 here are a few more OT verses that parallel being born again that Nicodemus should have known, but probably not emphasized as much since Jesus had to explain it to him.

1 Samuel 10:6 And the spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

Job 15:14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

Job 25: 4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

There are around 1526 instances of living water in the Bible. Here are some verses on living water being the word. John 4:4-26; 7:37-39; 12:44-50; Ephesians 5:26; 1 John 5:5-8; Jeremiah 17:13; Zechariah 14:8, 9; Rev 21:6-8; Ezekiel 47:22

 

[Eternally-grateful]

I always translated water in John 3 as physical birth

Unless one is born again (literally a second time)

One must be born of water (1st birth) and spirit (2nd birth)

That which is born of flesh (water: is flesh, that which is born of Spirit (spirit) is spirit.

 

[for_his_glory]

I always translated water in John 3 as physical birth

Unless one is born again (literally a second time)

One must be born of water (1st birth) and spirit (2nd birth)

That which is born of flesh (water: is flesh, that which is born of Spirit (spirit) is spirit.

There are many that believe as you do, but when I read John 3:5-7; 3:16-21; and Romans 10:5-10, just to name a few scriptures our salvation comes by first, hearing the word of God, and second comes by faith after hearing the word of God preached to us.

There is nothing wrong with being dunked in water, but to know that was John's baptism being symbolic of being made clean again showing others you repented from your sins.

 

[Eternally-grateful]

One thing is clear. There is no water baptism in Jesus discussion with Nicodemus

 

[for_his_glory]

One thing is clear. There is no water baptism in Jesus discussion with Nicodemus

You are absolutely right. The baptism of Christ is for us to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

This is the Baptism of Christ for receiving the Holy Spirit that is different from John's baptism.

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, (fire means empowerment)

Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Seven works of the Holy Spirit in sanctification
1. Transforms us - Romans 12:1-2; 2Corinthians 3:18
2. Convicts us of sin - John 16:8-11
3. Guides us into all truths - John 14:26
4. Empowers us to proclaim Christ - Acts 1-8; Ephesians 1:13
5. Gives us Spiritual gifts - 1Corinthians 12
6. Empowers us to worship - Ephesians 3:14-19
7. Leads us - Galatians 5:25

We put on Jesus by the renewal of our mind, body and soul through Jesus life, death and resurrection by which we can reconcile ourselves back to Gods grace and mercy through His Salvation of Spiritual renewal and Spiritual rebirth of spirit. We now have the mind of Christ as joint heirs with Jesus as we walk in the path of Jesus and not our own path anymore. John 3:3-21

Sin separates us from God because God is a spirit and can only recognize his own children by what spirit is living in their hearts. We have to renew, rebirth - born again, Gods Spirit within us in order to be called a child of God and see the kingdom of heaven. We now put off the old man (flesh) and put on the new man (Spirit), Colossians 3:1-17. We are renewed by the word of God and through the Holy Spirit teaching us of all things, John 14:26.

Acts 2:38,39 When we repent of our sins and ask Jesus into our hearts we are also receiving the promise of God that his Holy Spirit will come and dwell in our hearts and teach us of all things we need to learn, John 14:26. The baptism that Peter was talking about in Acts 2:38 was a Spiritual rebirth through the word of God. Some people think it is being dunked or sprinkled with water the way John the Baptist did and there is nothing wrong with that for it is an outward appearance to man that you have repented and received Jesus and the Holy Spirit into your life, Matthew 3:11, but Jesus himself never baptized with water, John 4:2, for the baptism of Jesus was for receiving the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) that helps us to learn all truths and to know the will of the Father, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12.

After repentance and the Spiritual rebirth, John 3:5-7, we are then baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire through that of Christ baptism according to Acts 2:38, 39, Matthew 3:11.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

In the passage, 'born of water' and 'born of flesh' mean the same thing:

5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. John 3:5-6

Being born of water is flesh giving birth to flesh.

In Galatians 4, Paul says the man born by the flesh is the man born of the fleshly effort of the law under the old covenant, and is distinguished from the man born by the Spirit as the result of a promise:

22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.b
23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

24These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

28Now you,d brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. Galatians 4:22-26,28-29

The son born by the flesh is the man who has repented according to the law, which in the time of Nicodemus you did by getting water baptized - John's baptism. "Born of water" is a metonym for repentance. All by itself repentance is not enough to see and enter the kingdom of God. It's flesh giving birth to flesh. It births a fleshly man into a fleshly kingdom. Everyone is doing that at the time of Nicodemus, because that's what God commanded. But that man does not inherit the kingdom of God. You must also be born by the Spirit - Jesus' baptism. That man, that son of God, does inherit the kingdom of God:

30“ ...the slave woman’s son (the son born by the flesh in the natural way) will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son (the son born as the result of a promise by the Spirit).”e Galatians 4:30

 

[for_his_glory]

Jethro Bodine I know you have been taught this just as I and many others were, but actual water can not bring about God's salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as when we read Ephesians 2:8 it is by God's grace through faith that we are Spiritually born again. I do not believe that faith can be found in actual water as faith comes by hearing the word of God, Romans 10:17.

John 3:5 never mentions the word baptize, but says only by being born of water and spirit, which means water as living water (word of God) that no one can enter into the kingdom of God unless they are Spiritually renewed (born again) by the hearing of the word, which is Christ Jesus and by the Holy Spirit that came on them in the OT and indwells us in the NT. Many do read into the passage a preconceived idea or theology, but baptism is never mentioned in this verse. Word is living water as described in John 4:10; 7:38; 1John 5:6; Jeremiah 2:13; Isaiah 55:1-3 to name a few.

If salvation came by actual immersion in water Jesus clearly could have simply stated, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is baptized by being immersed in water and born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Further, if Jesus had made such a statement, He would have contradicted numerous other Bible passages that make it clear that salvation is by faith (John 3:16; John 3:36; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

There is the case of the thief on the cross who repented, the women who was to be stoned for adultery, the women at the well, death bed confessions and even those who are incapacitated that can not be immersed in water. Does this mean they are not saved or born again, no. It means that no dirty river water is going to save anyone, but that it is only a symbol of repentance like that of John the Baptist who called those to repent first. There is nothing wrong with being dunked in water, but know that it is only an outward appearance to others of what has already taken place Spiritually within you when you repented, accepted Jesus and was indwelled with the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is not mentioned in John chapter three so why do so many believe we are to be dunked in dirty river water as the water can not bring about Gods salvation, but only by faith do we believe as it comes by Gods grace, Ephesians 2:1-10, as we hear the gospel (word/living water) preached to us.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

@Jethro Bodine I know you have been taught this just as I and many others were, but actual water can not bring about God's salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit...

I'll stop you right there, because I'm not saying the water in John 3:5 is water baptism. I'm saying it's repentance symbolized in water baptism, water being a metonym for repentance. For that is how a person repented at this time in gospel history. They were commanded to do that. John's baptism was a baptism for repentance:

4Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” Acts 19:4

Repentance is flesh giving birth to flesh. It's the effort of your own flesh that gives birth to a natural man, not a spiritual man. Like how Abraham after hearing the promise of God sought to fulfill the promise in his own natural self. The man born that way, in the natural way (Ishmael) does not inherit the promises. The man born as the result of a promise (Isaac), apart from the natural and determined effort to lay hold of the promise, he is the one who inherits the kingdom. This is all explained by Paul in Galatians 4 using the same metaphors, flesh and Spirit, to distinguish between the two births, the son born according to the flesh and the son born by the Spirit.

Repentance is necessary, but it's not good enough to see and enter into the kingdom of God. It does not birth the 'spiritual' you. You must also be born again/from above by the Spirit through faith in Jesus. That is the gospel Paul declared:, 'Repent and have faith in Christ':

20I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house, 21testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.e Acts 20:20-21

Both, repentance, and faith in Christ are necessary to see and enter the kingdom. But it's only by rebirth by the Spirit that the spiritual man who inherits the kingdom is born. That is the message that John's ministry of baptism prepared the way for. That is the message Jesus is delivering to Nicodemus.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

John 3:5 never mentions the word baptize, but says only by being born of water and spirit, which means water as living water (word of God) that no one can enter into the kingdom of God unless they are Spiritually renewed (born again)

Correct. Jesus never mentions the word baptize. What he does do is equate "born of water" with "flesh...born of flesh". From Paul we learn that "the son born by the flesh" is the son (Ishmael) birthed through intercourse with the old covenant of law (Hagar).

So what connection does repentance to the law have with water? John's baptism is how you repented to the law. That was the natural and expected way that a person turned back to God to be a 'new' person who inherits the kingdom. In fact, that's what the law said and commanded. But Paul says it is only the son born in the unexpected, unnatural way, like Isaac, born as the result of a promise, via intercourse with the New Covenant (Sarah) that inherits the kingdom.

But this is not to discount the necessity to repent to the law (you must do that). But to stress the necessity to also be born by the Spirit through faith in Christ. That is what births the man who inherits the kingdom. Repentance unto the law is not good enough. That births a slave - a slave to sin who doesn't inherit his father's blessing. That is the message of justification by faith, apart from works that was a stumbling block to the Jews. They still don't get it.

 

[Eternally-grateful]

Correct. Jesus never mentions the word baptize. What he does do is equate "born of water" with "flesh...born of flesh". From Paul we learn that "the son born by the flesh" is the son (Ishmael) birthed through intercourse with the old covenant of law (Hagar).

So what connection does repentance to the law have with water? John's baptism is how you repented to the law. That was the natural and expected way that a person turned back to God to be a 'new' person who inherits the kingdom. In fact, that's what the law said and commanded. But Paul says it is only the son born in the unexpected, unnatural way, like Isaac, born as the result of a promise, via intercourse with the New Covenant (Sarah) that inherits the kingdom.

But this is not to discount the necessity to repent to the law (you must do that). But to stress the necessity to also be born by the Spirit through faith in Christ. That is what births the man who inherits the kingdom. Repentance unto the law is not good enough. That births a slave - a slave to sin who doesn't inherit his father's blessing. That is the message of justification by faith, apart from works that was a stumbling block to the Jews. They still don't get it.

Born of water = born of flesh

Physical birth. nothing more nothing less.

Jesus said we must be born again (literally a second time)

That which is born of flesh is spirit (hence needs saved) they must be born again spiritually if they want to see the kingdom (that which is born of spirit is spirit )

Jesus then tells nicodemus in vs 10 - 18 how this happens. and what must be done - he who believes is not condemned (born of the spirit) , He who does not believe is condemned already (still in the flesh)

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Born of water = born of flesh

Physical birth. nothing more nothing less.

That is simple, and I might agree with you, except that Paul does explain the difference between the "son born by the flesh" and the "son born by the Spirit" (Galatians 4:29), and how the son born of the Spirit is the one who inherits the kingdom (vs.30). All that falls right in line with what Jesus is saying in John 3:3-6. And it's appropriate to the time period Jesus is speaking between the old and New covenants and the difference between John's baptism for repentance in the old covenant and Jesus' baptism in the Spirit in the New. Only the son who repents (John's baptism), and is born of the Spirit (Jesus' baptism) will inherit the kingdom.

21testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.e Acts 20:21

 

[Eternally-grateful]

That is simple, and I might agree with you, except that Paul does explain the difference between the "son born by the flesh" and the "son born by the Spirit" (Galatians 4:29), and how the son born of the Spirit is the one who inherits the kingdom (vs.30). All that falls right in line with what Jesus is saying in John 3:3-6. And it's appropriate to the time period Jesus is speaking between the old and New covenants and the difference between John's baptism for repentance in the old covenant and Jesus' baptism in the Spirit in the New. Only the son who repents (John's baptism), and is born of the Spirit (Jesus' baptism) will inherit the kingdom.

21testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.e Acts 20:21

born of the flesh is not repenting though..

We repent because we are born of the flesh. and it is acknowledging that we are dead. lost. and seperated from God in our human nature die to sin, and we must be born again, But only God can do this

 

[for_his_glory]

I'll stop you right there, because I'm not saying the water in John 3:5 is water baptism. I'm saying it's repentance symbolized in water baptism, water being a metonym for repentance. For that is how a person repented at this time in gospel history. They were commanded to do that. John's baptism was a baptism for repentance:

4Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” Acts 19:4

Repentance is flesh giving birth to flesh. It's the effort of your own flesh that gives birth to a natural man, not a spiritual man. Like how Abraham after hearing the promise of God sought to fulfill the promise in his own natural self. The man born that way, in the natural way (Ishmael) does not inherit the promises. The man born as the result of a promise (Isaac), apart from the natural and determined effort to lay hold of the promise, he is the one who inherits the kingdom. This is all explained by Paul in Galatians 4 using the same metaphors, flesh and Spirit, to distinguish between the two births, the son born according to the flesh and the son born by the Spirit.

Repentance is necessary, but it's not good enough to see and enter into the kingdom of God. It does not birth the 'spiritual' you. You must also be born again/from above by the Spirit through faith in Jesus. That is the gospel Paul declared:, 'Repent and have faith in Christ':

20I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house, 21testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.e Acts 20:20-21

Both, repentance, and faith in Christ are necessary to see and enter the kingdom. But it's only by rebirth by the Spirit that the spiritual man who inherits the kingdom is born. That is the message that John's ministry of baptism prepared the way for. That is the message Jesus is delivering to Nicodemus.

Thank you for clarifying this and I do agree.

 

[for_his_glory]

Correct. Jesus never mentions the word baptize. What he does do is equate "born of water" with "flesh...born of flesh". From Paul we learn that "the son born by the flesh" is the son (Ishmael) birthed through intercourse with the old covenant of law (Hagar).

So what connection does repentance to the law have with water? John's baptism is how you repented to the law. That was the natural and expected way that a person turned back to God to be a 'new' person who inherits the kingdom. In fact, that's what the law said and commanded. But Paul says it is only the son born in the unexpected, unnatural way, like Isaac, born as the result of a promise, via intercourse with the New Covenant (Sarah) that inherits the kingdom.

But this is not to discount the necessity to repent to the law (you must do that). But to stress the necessity to also be born by the Spirit through faith in Christ. That is what births the man who inherits the kingdom. Repentance unto the law is not good enough. That births a slave - a slave to sin who doesn't inherit his father's blessing. That is the message of justification by faith, apart from works that was a stumbling block to the Jews. They still don't get it.

Can you show us where this repentance to the law is given in the scriptures? Just want to make sure we are on the same page.

 

[atpollard]

If you think back to Jesus' lessons about casting out a demon, it was not enough to just remove the old ... you needed something to replace it. If you left the house empty, the demon would just return and bring squatters, leaving you worse off than when you started.

From that context, being born of "water and the spirit" as a prerequisite for the Kingdom of God would seem to imply two sides of the same coin ... washing away the old nature (removing the heart of stone, our sin) and replacing it with a new nature (the heart of flesh or indwelling of the spirit). Not two births, but two sides of the same REBIRTH.

 

[for_his_glory]

born of the flesh is not repenting though..

We repent because we are born of the flesh. and it is acknowledging that we are dead. lost. and seperated from God in our human nature die to sin, and we must be born again, But only God can do this

John 3:5 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.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

This brings us back to John 3:5-7 that it is by the word of God, living water, as faith comes by hearing the word of God preached to us, Romans 10:17.

 

[for_his_glory]

If you think back to Jesus' lessons about casting out a demon, it was not enough to just remove the old ... you needed something to replace it. If you left the house empty, the demon would just return and bring squatters, leaving you worse off than when you started.

From that context, being born of "water and the spirit" as a prerequisite for the Kingdom of God would seem to imply two sides of the same coin ... washing away the old nature (removing the heart of stone, our sin) and replacing it with a new nature (the heart of flesh or indwelling of the spirit). Not two births, but two sides of the same REBIRTH.

We do have two natures. One is flesh nature of where we sin within the flesh as flesh is a filthy rag to God and then there is a Spiritual nature in us by being Spiritually born-again, John 3:3, that can not sin. The flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom of God as it is our Spiritual inner man by the rebirth that inherits the kingdom of God. This is why we must die daily to the flesh so when Christ returns and separates the wheat from the tares, or the sheep from the goats we who are wheat, and or sheep that hear His voice will be with God in his kingdom for ever and those who are among the tares, and or goats will be cast into the lake of fire to be with Satan, the beast and the false prophets forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15: (read the whole chapter)
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

born of the flesh is not repenting though..

Or, more rightly, repenting = being born of the flesh.

Paul says the old covenant (the covenant of law) births sons "born according to the flesh", and "born by the flesh". Keeping the law is what it means to be "born by the flesh". It's unmistakable. That's what he says:

22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.b 23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

24These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

28Now you,d brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh (through the covenant of law-vs. 24) persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now. Galatians 4:22-26,28-29

And that's what Jesus is telling Nicodemus. Being born by the flesh through the law is not good enough to see and enter into the kingdom.

30But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son (born by the flesh) will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”e

The son 'born of the flesh' through the effort of repentance and obedience to the law does not inherit the kingdom. You must also be born from above, by the Spirit.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Can you show us where this repentance to the law is given in the scriptures? Just want to make sure we are on the same page.

Sure. From one of Peter's sermon...

19Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, 20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.

21Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets. 22For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you.f 23Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.g’

24Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days. 25And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’h 26When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

I think we would agree with one another that to repent, turning away from one's wicked ways would essentially be repenting according to the law. For that is where the knowledge of sin comes from (Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7). We don't repent according to the things in the law that we don't have to keep anymore, of course.

The message of the gospel is to repent to God and have faith in Christ (Acts 20:21). Both are necessary to see and enter the kingdom of heaven for "no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."

 

[Eternally-grateful]

John 3:5 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.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

This brings us back to John 3:5-7 that it is by the word of God, living water, as faith comes by hearing the word of God preached to us, Romans 10:17.

Your trying to pit two passages together that are not related.

John 3 is Jesus telling us we need to be born again, Why we need born again, and how to be born again

Romans 8 is talking about what happens after we are saved.