That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Nicodemus was baffled, this doctrine of new birth was altogether strange to him. The necessity falls only on the elect, God's chosen and redeemed; they must be regenerated because their carnal minds are enmity to God, and they cannot inherit His kingdom while enslaved to that corrupt nature.
AI summary
All men are by nature sinful; none are renewed except by the Spirit of God. If man did the work himself, it would remain carnal and impure. The proof that you are born of the Spirit is holiness, your purity in life is the measure of your new birth.
AI summary
Christ argues from opposites: flesh begets flesh, and we are born wholly carnal, body and soul alike, our entire nature corrupt. The Popish divines who limit this to the sensual part alone understand nothing of what Christ means. Our reason and affections are poisoned because they are carnal; the whole man is condemned by a single word.
AI summary