⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.^{(A) 6} Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[a] gives birth to spirit.^(B)

⁵ he saved us,^(A) not because of righteous things we had done,^(B) but because of his mercy.^(C) He saved us through the washing^(D) of rebirth and renewal^(E) by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us^(F) generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

⁸ For it is by grace^(A) you have been saved,^(B) through faith^(C)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

² I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit^(A) by the works of the law,^(B) or by believing what you heard?^{(C) 3} Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?^[a]

² who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge^(A) of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,^(B) to be obedient^(C) to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:^(D)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.^(E)