Many people have assumed that Jesus' statement here only applies to Jews, since He was addressing Jews here.
But the rest of the New Testament reveals that all of mankind is born in sin under the dominion of Satan. To move from Satan's kingdom to God's kingdom, we must be born again (spiritually) by believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We must believe that He died on the cross for our sins and that He rose again from the dead.
Paul, writing to Gentile Ephesians, used the word "we" to indicate that he (a Jew) was born in the same condition as them:
Ephesians 2:1-9 "And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation [lifestyle] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [made us alive] together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Many people have assumed that Jesus' statement here only applies to Jews, since He was addressing Jews here.
But the rest of the New Testament reveals that all of mankind is born in sin under the dominion of Satan. To move from Satan's kingdom to God's kingdom, we must be born again (spiritually) by believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We must believe that He died on the cross for our sins and that He rose again from the dead.
Paul, writing to Gentile Ephesians, used the word "we" to indicate that he (a Jew) was born in the same condition as them:
Ephesians 2:1-9 "And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation [lifestyle] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [made us alive] together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Well said