Born-again. The dictionary defines born-again as a person converted to a personal faith in Christ. Christians often refer to themselves as born-again. But what does that really mean? Obviously once born, we can’t go back into our mother’s womb and be born again. Being born happens to us, not by us. So just how are we born-again?
Countless books and articles have been written in an effort to explain how to be born-again. In fact, when googling “born-again” I found a “wiki how-to” with illustrations on steps to take to be born-again. The pictures were entertaining, but not all that helpful. So instead of consulting the latest book, article, or the internet on the subject, the best bet is to go directly to the original source: the Bible.
JESUS AND NICODEMUS
The first time “born-again” is used in the Bible is in John 3 during Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, and Jewish religious teacher. Nicodemus had heard of Jesus and His miracles and knew that there was something special about Him so he went to Jesus to find out more. As a member of the Jewish ruling council, Nicodemus had everything to lose if others found out, but this was was a risk Nicodemus was willing to take.
In Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, He used an analogy, as He often did, to bring home an important point. Jesus compared physical birth to spiritual birth and explained to Nicodemus, that “no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3 Nicodemus’ response was one of disbelief. He asked, “How can someone be born when they are old?” Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Nicodemus knew there was no way he could make himself be born-again physically; and if he could not make himself be born-again physically, then he could not make himself be born-again spiritually either. This revelation alarmed Nicodemus as he was a Pharisee who lived by the law. His obedience to the law was how he expected to earn his salvation. It was how he expected to get to Heaven. Now Jesus was telling him that the only way to Heaven was to be born-again, something Nicodemus could never do on his own: Nicodemus could not earn his own salvation; he could not work his way to Heaven.
Sensing Nicodemus’ confusion, Jesus went on to further explain what He meant to be born-again. He said, “no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit.” Nicodemus likely understood what Jesus meant by “being born of water and spirit” because as a Jewish teacher, he knew the Old Testament like the back of his hand.
In Ezekiel 36:2-8 God says:
“ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.”
In Ezekiel 11:19, God says:
“And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.”
God promised the children of Israel that a time would come when He would sprinkle them with clean water, purifying them of their sins; and then He would give them a new heart, putting a new spirit in them. He promised them a fresh start. When Jesus told Nicodemus that to enter the Kingdom, you must be born of water and spirit, He was pointing to these Old Testament promises which were to be fulfilled through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
BORN OF GOD
As the Old Testament points to the coming spiritual regeneration of sinful man, the New Testament tells of its fulfillment through Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, the term born-again is synonymous with being born from above or being born of God.
“Yet to all who did receive him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13
This verse makes clear that to be born-again is not accomplished through:
- natural descent (we don’t have to be born Jewish to see Heaven as the Pharisees taught); or
- human decision (something we do to earn our way to heaven); or
- through a husband’s will (through natural conception and birth).
Instead being born-again is accomplished through a miraculous act of God. God gives those who receive Jesus and believe in His name the right to become children of God. They are born-again into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Titus 3:5 summarizes being born-again like this:
“He has saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”
Those who are born-again are born of water and spirit: they are cleansed of their sin and made new again by the Holy Spirit. They are given a new heart and a fresh start. They are born-again!
So if this is an act of God, not of man, how do we become born-again? Peter helps answer that question in 1st Peter 1:23-25.
“…for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is through the living and enduring word of God.”
We are born again through the Word of God. The Word of God is the word about Christ; it is the Gospel. In order to receive Jesus, we must first hear the message of the Gospel. Once we hear the message of the Gospel and believe what we hear, then through a miraculous work of God we are washed “with water through the word” and God sends His Holy Spirit to make us new again. We become a new creation. Ephesians 5:26, 2 Corinthians 5:17
Being born-again happens to us, not by us. We are not born-again by doing good works. We are not born-again by engaging in religious acts such as baptism. We are not born-again by how well we know the Bible, how many times we attend church, or how much we tithe. We are born-again by a miraculous work of God.
SEEKING THE TRUTH IN JESUS
Some part of Nicodemus must have questioned whether following the law was enough to get him to Heaven. Some part of him must have suspected a piece of the puzzle was missing. Certainly, he understood the consequence of being wrong: eternal separation from God, separation from all that is good. The risk was too great for him to ignore. So he sought the Truth in Jesus and he found it.
Like Nicodemus, we too must seek Jesus. We must seek the truth. We must go to Him no matter the cost. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. God promises us that if we seek Him, we will find Him, if we seek Him with all of our heart. Jeremiah 29:13.
So heed the call and follow the truth to the feet of Jesus. Ask Him to wash away your sins, to give you a new heart and a fresh start. Ask Him to be born-again into the Kingdom of Heaven. Ask and you shall receive! Matthew 7:8
You will be born-again into the Kingdom of Heaven!
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Making Him Known February 28, 2025 9:13 am