What Does it Mean to be Born Again?

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot be in God’s kingdom.” Nicodemus said, “But if a person is already old, how can he be born again? He cannot enter his mother’s womb again. So how can a person be born a second time?” But Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born from water and the Spirit, you cannot enter God’s kingdom. Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit. Don’t be surprised when I tell you, ‘You must all be born again.’” – John 3:3-7

Jesus’ words to Nicodemus can be confusing. When I first read it, I wondered how he could be born again since he never died in the first place. As I continued doing Bible studies, going to Church, and seminary, I found out that Jesus was referring to a spiritual rebirth. It means a spiritual transformation that only comes from God. The phrase “born again” can be translated as “born from above.” Nicodemus needed a spiritual rebirth. He came to Jesus perhaps for His instruction at night but was told by Jesus that he really needed to be born again. This change comes from God. He gives a person a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). He removes the stubborn disobedience to a spiritual responsiveness. People can be obedient and listen to God with help from the Holy Spirit.

This was important because the Pharisees – which Nicodemus was – were known for strictly observing the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees primarily for their hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and elevating man-made traditions over God’s commands, prioritizing outward appearances over internal heart transformation. Jesus had a problem with the Pharisees because He knew their faith was not genuine. He told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again meaning a changed heart. Nicodemus took what Jesus said literally and wondered how a grown-up could be born again. Like Nicodemus, I wondered the same thing. He pondered the idea of a physical impossibility of a man entering his mother's womb again in order to be born a second time.

Jesus also told Nicodemus that he needed to be born from the water and the Spirit which may mean being baptized. This can be confusing because such teaching seems contrary to the rest of the Bible. In the scriptures salvation comes by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Baptism is intended for those who have already been saved but not as a means of salvation.

There is power in the Word of God; there is no salvation apart from it. So it is also suggested by some that the water mentioned by Jesus in John 3: 5 refers to the Word of God because in Ephesians 5:25, 26 water is closely associated with the Word of God. In 1 Peter 1:23 and James 1:18 a new birth is said to take place through the Word of God. It is the message contained in the Word of God that must be appropriated by the sinner before there can ever be a new birth.

Prayer for the day:

Dear heavenly Father,

You are our Holy Father. It is by Your Spirit that we can be made new. We need Your Spirit because we cannot have a new way of living without Him. Please transform our hearts to be like Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the light. Please help us to shine like Him in this dark world. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!