Now, if the children, whom the Lord had commanded to be circumcised on the eighth day,[210] obtained mercy from him, and he promised to give them the land, and that they should possess it, how much more should now his grace be upon the children for whom Christ died?
[210] From this our opponents, nevertheless, form an argument, which they, though without foundation, bring against us.
_In the second place_, our opponents say, that the Lord said to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5. From this, they say, it follows, that no one can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be baptized with water.
_Answer._--These words of Christ must not be understood with reference to children; for the passage which the Lord spake to Nicodemus, namely: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God, declares differently; for here we hear that Christ presented to Nicodemus regeneration, which takes place only through the word of God, as has above, in my confession, been sufficiently explained; and then Nicodemus said: How can a man, when he is old, enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born again?
Mark, he says, when he is old;[211] from which we well perceive, that the Lord did not speak of children. And thereupon Christ says: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
[211] Nicodemus, though ignorant in the matter itself, understood well enough, that this did not have reference to children; hence he asked: How can a man be born, when he is old?
That this is not spoken of children, the following words prove, namely: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.[212]
[212] From the words: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh,” Thomas concludes that this relates only to the adult; since no newborn infants, but only the adult can live after the flesh, and, consequently, must be born again.
By these words Christ indicates that the regenerated man becomes spiritual, and is born of the Spirit, and of a spiritual nature; as Peter says: “We are become partakers of the divine nature, if we flee the corruptible lusts of this world.” By this every one may know whether he is born of the Spirit, namely, if he has the nature of the Spirit, even as one that is born of the flesh, has the nature of the flesh, each in his order. Birds have their peculiar nature; so also wild animals; likewise man; each is minded like him of whom he is born.[213]
[213] The descent of every one is known by his peculiar nature; for like produces like. Hence, if infants are truly regenerated of the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the latter must be evident in them from the workings of their nature. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc. Gal. 5:22.
Thus, he that is born of the Spirit, is also spiritually minded; hence Paul says: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Finally Christ says to Nicodemus: If I have told you earthly things, and ye cannot comprehend or believe, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Here the Lord deems it greater to comprehend heavenly things, than earthly things; but children comprehend nothing of earthly things, how much less of heavenly.