When Jesus talked about being "born again" Nicodemus couldn't get his head around the idea that a new birth must come from a new source.  It doesn't matter how religious you are, Jesus said, "No one can enter the Kingdom. . . .without being born of water and the Spirit."  (John 3:5) NLT

"Water", as in the breaking of water, refers to your natural birth.  "Spirit," as in being convicted by the Holy Spirit of sin and drawn to Christ, refers to your new birth.  But the new birth doesn't merely blot out your past and give you a fresh start.  God says, "I will put a new way of thinking inside you ... and give you obedient hearts.  I will put my Spirit inside you and help you live by my rules."  God doesn't just tell you what to do, He gives you the power to do it!

"But if that is true why do I keep falling?"  Why did you keep falling after your first birth?  Because you weren't born wearing walking shoes!  No, you had to learn.  And when you did, you stumbled more than you walked.  "Yes, but I fall so often."  When you tripped as a toddler you didn't say, "Oops, I've fallen again, maybe I was never born in the first place."  Mistakes don't invalidate your spiritual birth, they're part of growing up.  Some of us just grow up faster than others.  So be encouraged!  "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.

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