Postil on the Gospel of John: On Rebirth (1550 ['1547']) - Page 20

...[born] from ^h above, he cannot ⁱ see the ⁱ Kingdom of God.

h And is formed into the image of God.

i God’s Kingdom is a kingdom of light, of life, of the spirit, of love, of peace, and of righteousness. Satan’s kingdom stands in opposition to all of this.

i Nor can he know the King of the Kingdom, for both the King and the Kingdom are spiritual; to see them requires a different kind of eyes.

Nicodemus says to him: "How can a man be ^k born when he is old? Can he also enter again into his mother’s womb and be ^l born?"

l Nicodemus reveals his ignorance and shows that he understands nothing except what is human.

k The spirit in Christ speaks with Nicodemus, yet he understands only the flesh. Here the masters of scripture falter; they can only say and think, How? original Latin: "Quomodo"

Christ reveals the manner of the spiritual birth.

Jesus answered: "Truly, truly I say to you, unless ^m someone is born from above out of ⁿ water and spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God."
m The beginning of Christian teaching is the New Birth from God, from which the inheritance of heavenly goods comes to the children of God.
n WATER here signifies God’s living word, which is of one essence with the spirit and pertains to the rebirth.

o Concerning two kinds of birth and two kinds of people: consider whose child you are, the flesh’s or the Spirit’s. p The flesh does not know God; it loves the world, follows after its fleshly lusts, and judges everything according to the flesh.

"That which ^o is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the ^q spirit is ^q spirit."
q That is spirit; that is, a New Creature, spiritually minded. A Christian, though he is indeed in the flesh, is yet inward and invisible; he is recognized by his fruits in love.
q John 1 calls this being "born of God." Therefore, the Holy Spirit is God.
q Whoever clings to the Lord The transcription reads "Herzen" (heart), but refers to 1 Corinthians 6:17, "He who is joined to the Lord." is one spirit with him. 1 Corinthians 6.