John 3:6-8

⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' ⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

• In v6-8, Jesus explains the priority of God in working salvation in each man.
• “Flesh gives birth to flesh” – Paul uses “flesh” synonymous with “sin nature” to describe sinfulness and moral depravity; John uses “flesh” differently – to show weakness or feebleness, and frailty, especially regarding spiritual things (John 1:13; 6:63). No matter what “flesh” does, it can’t arouse spiritual life or understanding (1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:7).
• “The Spirit gives birth to spirit” – Only the Spirit can work regeneration in fallen man. Only the Spirit can bring spiritual life and understanding, and He does so apart from any human contribution. Every NT writer labors to show this truth. John 1:13; Acts 13:48; 14:16; 18:27; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Romans 9:16.
• John, like Peter and Paul, works hard to show that Jews must not trust in their heritage, lineage, or ancestry (Romans 2:28-29). This verse points forward to John 3:16 and looks back to v4 regarding spiritual dullness (deadness – Ephesians 2:1-5). Also note John 8:31-48 (John 10 “You not do believe because you are not my sheep”).
• The flesh is crooked; the Spirit is straight. It’s a total contrast (Romans 8:1-11). The kingdom of God is not for flesh. We must be spirit.
• This verse, along with others, refutes the idea that you must incline yourself to believe or have faith in order to be born again. The opposite is true. Flesh cannot incline itself to be spiritual. Man contributes nothing to regeneration. Grace is truly grace. Why would you need the re-birth if you could have faith prior to re-birth? Regeneration precedes and is the source of faith. MONERGISM.
• In v7, the first you is singular and the second you is plural. Jesus tells Nicodemus that he should know this truth. It’s the simplest and most important of spiritual truths. Those Old Testament passages above should have come to his mind. Since they didn’t, Jesus offers an analogy:
• “Wind” and “spirit” are the same Greek word. Try reading this verse interchanging “wind” and “spirit.” This is typical of John.
• “The wind blows wherever it pleases” – Man does not determine where or when or how powerfully the wind blows. We can use its power when it comes (windmills), but we can’t control the jet stream. The same is true with the Spirit.
• There are two valid interpretations of what Jesus means when He says, “So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
  • Such is the power and efficacy of the Spirit in regenerating men. Augustine – “The Spirit does as He pleases.” The Spirit regenerates the elect, as His role in the Covenant of Redemption made between the Three Persons of the Triune Godhead.
  • You can see the effects of the Christian, but you’re not sure why they do what they do (1 Corinthians 2:15). Christians are often accused of narrow-mindedness – the opposite is true!
    • “Flesh” knows nothing of spiritual things. This understanding foreshadows John 3:11-13 and compliments v4.
• In common language, Jesus might be saying, “You think the wind is awesome and powerful? Consider the Holy Spirit!”
• God freely displays His power in the physical realm (nature). Why should it surprise that He does so in the spiritual realm?
  • Romans 1:18-32 – The truth that God is eternally powerful and divine in nature is clearly seen in creation (WIND), yet men suppress that truth by their wickedness (John 3:19-21).
  • 2 Peter 3:3-7 – Scoffers deliberately forget that by God’s Word the heavens and earth (WIND) were formed (John 3:19-21).
• Jesus has corrected Nicodemus by clearly showing him that the spiritual and not the physical is of utmost importance.