"But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water." (2 Peter 3:5). Every creature was formed out of water and by water.

It is already written about that world, "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." (Genesis 1:2). And again, "And God said, 'Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.' So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so." (Genesis 1:6-7).

The upper water is clean, but the lower water is dirty. The creatures that live in the upper clean water are one kind, and the creatures that live in the lower dirty water are another.

Therefore the earth formed by the upper water is glorious, but the earth formed by the lower water is dishonorable. Thus, it is written, "But he continued, 'You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.'" (John 8:23).

And, his apostle also said, "There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:40-44).

Jesus answered Nicodemus, "...I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again (born from above)." (John 3:3). And again, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:5). This is the message of the cross.

A man who is born of the lower water is a dishonorable natural body, but a man who is born of the upper water is a glorious spiritual body. Therefore, it is said that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again of the upper water and the Spirit. No one can be transformed into Jesus Christ's likeness, who is first born of the upper water and the Spirit, unless he is born again of the upper water and the Spirit.

The Lord prayed to God the Father in heaven, "I have given them Your word (the word of God hovering over the upper waters); and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." (John 17:14-16).

Therefore, the children of God the Father in heaven are born again of water and the Spirit, not of the Spirit alone. And they become one spiritual body with Christ.

The Bible says about the body that is born again, "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." (1 Corinthians 6:13).

The children of God, whose faith in this truth is substantiated, will be transformed like his glorious body on that day--the day of the Lord. It is written, "who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:21).

Therefore, Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:5).

...born again of "water and the Spirit," not of the Spirit alone. Amen. Thank you, Lord.

The Last Brother, Kim Yun-gu.