Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day one)
“You must be born OF the Spirit.”–v 7
Small word. Often ignored. Important truth. We must be born OF the Spirit.
The word in Greek is “ek”. It meant “out of” (note EXodus–when God lead the people of Israel “out of” slavery).
It speaks of origin. Life that comes “out of” the Spirit. The unlimited creation-power of Heaven acting on persons, inaugurating them into a new life, both in dimension and usefulness. The agent of this new birth is the Holy Spirit. We are to be born OF Him.
It speaks of likeness. Those who are born OF the Spirit will necessarily reflect His character and nature. As children “look like” their parents, we must “look like” the Spirit in humility and holiness.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ this season, we should make this connection. The Lord was born OF Mary so that we would be born OF the Spirit.