Being Born Again

John 3:1-7 – There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 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. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

As Nicodemus conversed with Jesus, He explains that a man cannot see the kingdom of God unless is he born again. Though Nicodemus considered the physical aspect of being born again (enter the second time into his mother’s womb), Jesus had another meaning altogether…

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Here, Jesus tells Nicodemus what it means to be born again – being born of water and of the Spirit. In being born again, we will receive another ‘birth’ – one spiritual (and eternal) implications.

Born of Water

Being born of water represents the water baptism Jesus commanded His disciples to accomplish in making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). (The Greek word for baptize is baptizo, to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk), to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe, to overwhelm.) Through repentance and baptism, you are forgiven for your sins (Acts 2:38) and identified with Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:3-4 – Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Born of the Spirit

Being born of the Spirit can be broken in two ‘phases’ as one represents a rebirth on earth and the other into eternal life (the crux of Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus). As we are buried with Jesus unto death (via baptism), we walk in the newness of life (on earth) and will rise with Him in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:42-57). Walking in the newness of life represents a life that follows after the Spirit of God instead of the flesh and sin (Romans 6:5-11).

In being born of water and spirit, you enter into a regeneration that will ultimately allow you to eternally dwell in the kingdom of God:

Titus 3:3-7 – For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Through our belief in Jesus, repentance, and baptism,we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) and become heirs of God (Romans 8:12-17), sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee (down payment) of our future inheritance, eternal life (Ephesians 1:13-14). When the time comes for us to receive our inheritance, we will receive the full measure of being born of the Spirit:

1 Corinthians 15:42-57 – So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The full measure of being born of the Spirit is receiving an incorruptible (spiritual) body. See, where we were physically born into ‘Adam’ and sin (Psalm 51:5), through Jesus Christ, we are reborn into Him, and will receive a new body that is able to see and enter into the kingdom of God:

John 3:6-7 – 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.

For additional information on being born again, please read our book, Advancing the Kingdom: God’s Plan for Redeeming His Creation/