Ever tried to grind your way into grace? We’ve all felt the pull to treat faith like a performance, counting spiritual reps and expecting salvation as a medal at the finish line. Today we slow down with John 3 and sit beside Nicodemus—a respected teacher who saw Jesus’ miracles and still missed the heart of it—to hear why new birth is something only God can do.

We start with the tension everyone feels: effort matters in life, yet Jesus says, “You must be born again.” What does that mean? We unpack the much-debated phrase “born of water and the Spirit” by tracing how Scripture uses water as cleansing, healing, and life. From living water at the well to rivers flowing in John 7, and the washing of water by the word in Ephesians 5, we connect the dots: the Spirit applies the word to cleanse and renew, not as a ritual we control but as a gift we receive. Along the way, we clear up common assumptions about baptism, flesh out why moral effort can’t earn heaven, and highlight the simple, freeing response—don’t resist the Spirit’s work.

Nicodemus asks the question we all ask: How can these things be? We explore Jesus’ picture of the wind, the mystery and evidence of the Spirit’s movement, and the striking “we speak” that echoes both the Trinity’s unified witness and the prophets’ testimony. Every sign points forward to the cross, where the sinless Lamb does the ultimate work we could never do, opening the kingdom to those who come with empty hands and trusting hearts. We close by inviting you to keep your spiritual fervor and recover awe: stay near the word that washes, welcome the Spirit who renews, and walk with a community that keeps your heart warm.

If this conversation stirred something in you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find these teachings. Your story matters—what does being “born again” mean in your life?

Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com.