Today's lesson comes from the Apostle Paul and his letter to the Philippians, brothers,

For let this mind be anew, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,

being made in the likeness of men, and inhabit found as a man.

He humbled himself becoming obedient

unto death even to the death of the cross, for which cause God also hath exalted him,

and hath given him a name which is above all names, that in the name of Jesus every knee

should bow of those that are in heaven on earth and under the earth, and that every

tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

A continuation of the Holy Gospel, according to St. John, in that time there was a man of the Pharisees

named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him,

Rabbi, we know that thou art come a teacher from God.

For no man can do these signs which thou dost unless God be with him.

Jesus answered and said to him, amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith to him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second

time into his mother's womb and be born again? Jesus answered, amen, amen I say to thee,

unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.

Wonder not that I said to thee, you must be born again. The spirit breatheth where he will,

and thou hearest his voice, but thou knowest not whence he cometh, and whither he goeth,

so is everyone that is born of the spirit. Nicodemus answered and said to him, how can these things be done?

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